Panasonic GX8 - Is it too big?

I have an Olympus E-M5 with the kit lens 12-50, Olympus 45mm lens, Sigma 30mm lens. I don't tend to take this with me out and about as it's a bit bulky to chuck in the pocket and it doesn't have 4k video. I tend to use it at home for the odd snap here and there.

I'm looking for a more portable setup (to complement or replace my E-M5) to use for shooting 4k videos and photos of my kids at home and out and about. The Panasonic GX8 seems to tick most of these boxes: quick autofocus, touch tiltable screen, 4k video, time lapse.

Ok, the question is - Is the GX8 as huge as it seems? Or does it seem smaller in the hands? If that makes sense...

Thanking you in advance.

tjmckay4 wrote:

Ok, the question is - Is the GX8 as huge as it seems? Or does it seem smaller in the hands? If that makes sense...

Thanking you in advance.

The size is perfect! Do not worry. The size issue has been totally blown out of proportions.

Robiro wrote:

tjmckay4 wrote:

Ok, the question is - Is the GX8 as huge as it seems? Or does it seem smaller in the hands? If that makes sense...

Thanking you in advance.

The size is perfect! Do not worry. The size issue has been totally blown out of proportions.

Thanks mate. I'm seriously looking at to replace my E-M5 rather than keeping the Olympus and buying a Nikon DL24-85 when it's out.

Couple of questions:

• What's 4k video like without a stabilised lens?
• Does it have the normal filters/scene modes like other Panasonics? I love the miniature effect

tjmckay4 wrote:

I have an Olympus E-M5 with the kit lens 12-50, Olympus 45mm lens, Sigma 30mm lens. I don't tend to take this with me out and about as it's a bit bulky to chuck in the pocket and it doesn't have 4k video. I tend to use it at home for the odd snap here and there.

I'm looking for a more portable setup (to complement or replace my E-M5) to use for shooting 4k videos and photos of my kids at home and out and about. The Panasonic GX8 seems to tick most of these boxes: quick autofocus, touch tiltable screen, 4k video, time lapse.

Ok, the question is - Is the GX8 as huge as it seems? Or does it seem smaller in the hands? If that makes sense...

Thanking you in advance.

I was initially not happy about the larger size myself but after using it extensively I've come to the conclusion that it's actually just right. I've shot the smaller LUMIX cameras and they are great if you aren't using them in serious situations but I believe Panasonic has figured out a camera can get too small. The GX8 is bit larger than what we've seen but having a larger form factor makes placement of buttons, dial etc. more effective. The real beauty of the GX8 is the much smaller lenses in the MFT world. That is where we all save substantially with this smaller system.

tjmckay4 wrote:

Robiro wrote:

tjmckay4 wrote:

Ok, the question is - Is the GX8 as huge as it seems? Or does it seem smaller in the hands? If that makes sense...

Thanking you in advance.

The size is perfect! Do not worry. The size issue has been totally blown out of proportions.

Thanks mate. I'm seriously looking at to replace my E-M5 rather than keeping the Olympus and buying a Nikon DL24-85 when it's out.

Couple of questions:

• What's 4k video like without a stabilised lens?

Dunno. I ain't no video guy.

• Does it have the normal filters/scene modes like other Panasonics? I love the miniature effect

I highly recommend downloading and reading the GX8 manual. It is all there.

You can wait for the GX80:

http://www.43rumors.com/ft5-new-image-of-the-black-gx80-and-full-spec-list/

tjmckay4 wrote:

I have an Olympus E-M5 with the kit lens 12-50, Olympus 45mm lens, Sigma 30mm lens. I don't tend to take this with me out and about as it's a bit bulky to chuck in the pocket and it doesn't have 4k video. I tend to use it at home for the odd snap here and there.

I'm looking for a more portable setup (to complement or replace my E-M5) to use for shooting 4k videos and photos of my kids at home and out and about. The Panasonic GX8 seems to tick most of these boxes: quick autofocus, touch tiltable screen, 4k video, time lapse.

Ok, the question is - Is the GX8 as huge as it seems? Or does it seem smaller in the hands? If that makes sense...

Thanking you in advance.

I own and love the GX8 and an EM10. I dont find the GX8 that big at all. But, many do, and for them it looks like Panasonic has answered that call with an entry level version of the GX8 called the GX80:

http://www.43rumors.com/ft5-new-image-of-the-black-gx80-and-full-spec-list/#disqus_thread

Bhima78 wrote:

tjmckay4 wrote:

I have an Olympus E-M5 with the kit lens 12-50, Olympus 45mm lens, Sigma 30mm lens. I don't tend to take this with me out and about as it's a bit bulky to chuck in the pocket and it doesn't have 4k video. I tend to use it at home for the odd snap here and there.

I'm looking for a more portable setup (to complement or replace my E-M5) to use for shooting 4k videos and photos of my kids at home and out and about. The Panasonic GX8 seems to tick most of these boxes: quick autofocus, touch tiltable screen, 4k video, time lapse.

Ok, the question is - Is the GX8 as huge as it seems? Or does it seem smaller in the hands? If that makes sense...

Thanking you in advance.

I own and love the GX8 and an EM10. I dont find the GX8 that big at all. But, many do, and for them it looks like Panasonic has answered that call with an entry level version of the GX8 called the GX80:

http://www.43rumors.com/ft5-new-image-of-the-black-gx80-and-full-spec-list/#disqus_thread

Thanks for that mate, glad you like it. Yeah, saw the GX80 rumor the other day but the latest news looks the goods!

It's bigger than average M43 bodies but to me it's not too big.

It surely depends on where you live, but it's always best to find some electronics store nearby and try it with your own hands. I also thought it would feel big and uncomfortable, but it actually feels very nice in hand and surprisingly light weight too. Now I'm sure that someday I will upgrade to the GX8

EarthQuake wrote:

Robiro wrote:

tjmckay4 wrote:

Ok, the question is - Is the GX8 as huge as it seems? Or does it seem smaller in the hands? If that makes sense...

Thanking you in advance.

The size is perfect! Do not worry. The size issue has been totally blown out of proportions.

Well, if the OP finds the EM5 too large, he'll find the GX8 even larger, so I'm not sure how that means the size is perfect. Perfect for you, perhaps. For the OP? Hard to say.

True, according to camerasize.com the GX8 is way bigger. I'm just wanting a gauge on what GX8 owners think. I love the fact that it has a fully articulated screen meaning you could put the camera in a pram, bag, back of a car and not worry about the screen getting scratched.

Small guy: Yes

Medium guy: Mmm, so so

Big guy: No

MrTaikitso wrote:

Small guy: Yes

Medium guy: Mmm, so so

Big guy: No

Swap guy with hands.

MrTaikitso wrote:

Small guy: Yes

Medium guy: Mmm, so so

Big guy: No

Are you referring to the size of your Johnson?     I prefer the Big guy.      

Lena

Len_Gee wrote:

MrTaikitso wrote:

Small guy: Yes

Medium guy: Mmm, so so

Big guy: No

Are you referring to the size of your Johnson? I prefer the Big guy.

Lena

Easy now, this is DPreview, and it's not after the 9pm watershed.

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Like others here, I suffer from chronic GAS.
Gear Acquisition Syndrome.
a few hundred nautical miles SW : 17º 52S, 149º 56W

Panasonic made the correct choice in sizing the GX8 where it is today. Any smaller, and it would be unwieldy with the larger m43 lenses available.

In my opinion, the GX7 is about as small of a camera that I'd comfortably want to go (yes, I have one of those too). My hands are average sized.

The GX8 is a downright tiny camera compared to my Canon DSLR.

Very happy with the GX8 here in terms of sizing...I have the Olympus Pen-F as well, and it's definitely smaller, but lacks 4K video and weatherproofing. Even the 12-35 f/2.8 Panasonic lens balances better on the GX8, let alone the 100-300.

The reason that I didn't buy a GX8 wasn't because it was too big. The G7 I purchased instead is actually slightly larger in several dimensions.

The felt "right" the first time I picked one up. Having all the features I wanted for £600 less than the GX8 might have been a factor too...