Buyer's Regret: GX8

Wow, what a disappointing camera!

The more I use it, the more I wish I had purchased a Oly Pen-F. It is big and bulky. OK. But the color calibration is off, tinting to yellow. Sure, I can tweak it and by making the proper adjustments, set it to what would be 'normal' without adjustments. Or I can send it back. Too late to return it. Very disappointing. I have already posted about the horrible placement of buttons on the rear. Just about every time I reach for my camera, I have to reset the display mode.

In general, I have liked Panasonic. I owned a FZ8. That one wasn't so good. But the GH2 worked just fine, and I totally enjoyed using the GX7. I thought the GX8 would be much like the GX7 and with improvements. The GX7 was one of the most enjoyable cameras I have owned.

I'll send it back, get it calibrated correctly (don't they check that before shipping from the factory???) and use it as my secondary camera, maybe a third-adary behind a PL7 which I think handles better.

Maybe I'm just mistaken...I thought I bought a camera when in fact I really bought an expensive lemon.

Fulcanelli wrote:

Wow, what a disappointing camera!

The more I use it, the more I wish I had purchased a Oly Pen-F. It is big and bulky. OK. But the color calibration is off, tinting to yellow. Sure, I can tweak it and by making the proper adjustments, set it to what would be 'normal' without adjustments. Or I can send it back. Too late to return it. Very disappointing. I have already posted about the horrible placement of buttons on the rear. Just about every time I reach for my camera, I have to reset the display mode.

In general, I have liked Panasonic. I owned a FZ8. That one wasn't so good. But the GH2 worked just fine, and I totally enjoyed using the GX7. I thought the GX8 would be much like the GX7 and with improvements. The GX7 was one of the most enjoyable cameras I have owned.

I'll send it back, get it calibrated correctly (don't they check that before shipping from the factory???) and use it as my secondary camera, maybe a third-adary behind a PL7 which I think handles better.

Maybe I'm just mistaken...I thought I bought a camera when in fact I really bought an expensive lemon.

I upgraded to GX8 from GH2 and could not be happier. (Well, I could - with GH5).

No more nose pushing against the LCD. Button placement - pretty much OK.

Shoot RAW, develop in SilkyPix, avoid yellow-shift.

Fulcanelli wrote:

Wow, what a disappointing camera!

The more I use it, the more I wish I had purchased a Oly Pen-F. It is big and bulky. OK. But the color calibration is off, tinting to yellow. Sure, I can tweak it and by making the proper adjustments, set it to what would be 'normal' without adjustments. Or I can send it back. Too late to return it. Very disappointing. I have already posted about the horrible placement of buttons on the rear. Just about every time I reach for my camera, I have to reset the display mode.

In general, I have liked Panasonic. I owned a FZ8. That one wasn't so good. But the GH2 worked just fine, and I totally enjoyed using the GX7. I thought the GX8 would be much like the GX7 and with improvements. The GX7 was one of the most enjoyable cameras I have owned.

I'll send it back, get it calibrated correctly (don't they check that before shipping from the factory???) and use it as my secondary camera, maybe a third-adary behind a PL7 which I think handles better.

Maybe I'm just mistaken...I thought I bought a camera when in fact I really bought an expensive lemon.

Every camera I've ever owned has required a period of ME adjusting to IT.

I went from GH2 to GX7, with a brief dalliance with a GX1…  to GX8. For me the GX8 is the best of the bunch on pretty much every level.

I hit the DISP button on ALL of them at first. It took a little time and micro adjustments of MY grip to keep from hitting it. That doesn't excuse the placement. For me, the GX7 was much worse, especially with the grievous placement of the right side strap lug.

I also added Fotodiox thumb grips to both the GX7 and GX8, which probably  helps me avoid the DISP button, too. Lately, I find it mysteriously switching to burst mode. Hmmmm.

As for yellow-ish tint, I've not seen that, but I generally shoot RAW. When I do shoot JPEGs I've always thought the GX8 delivers excellent color. Maybe yours does need recalibration or adjusting the color settings.

Fulcanelli wrote:

Wow, what a disappointing camera!

The more I use it, the more I wish I had purchased a Oly Pen-F. It is big and bulky. OK. But the color calibration is off, tinting to yellow. Sure, I can tweak it and by making the proper adjustments, set it to what would be 'normal' without adjustments. Or I can send it back. Too late to return it. Very disappointing. I have already posted about the horrible placement of buttons on the rear. Just about every time I reach for my camera, I have to reset the display mode.

In general, I have liked Panasonic. I owned a FZ8. That one wasn't so good. But the GH2 worked just fine, and I totally enjoyed using the GX7. I thought the GX8 would be much like the GX7 and with improvements. The GX7 was one of the most enjoyable cameras I have owned.

I'll send it back, get it calibrated correctly (don't they check that before shipping from the factory???) and use it as my secondary camera, maybe a third-adary behind a PL7 which I think handles better.

Maybe I'm just mistaken...I thought I bought a camera when in fact I really bought an expensive lemon.

I am glad you expressed your opinion and you are not the first to complain about the bulkiness of the GX8. I am not sure why people feel the need to rush in to defend it. No camera is for everyone. Why hold onto something you do not like? Sell it, take your licking and buy the camera you want.

Fulcanelli wrote:

Wow, what a disappointing camera!

The more I use it, the more I wish I had purchased a Oly Pen-F. It is big and bulky. OK. But the color calibration is off, tinting to yellow. Sure, I can tweak it and by making the proper adjustments, set it to what would be 'normal' without adjustments. Or I can send it back. Too late to return it. Very disappointing. I have already posted about the horrible placement of buttons on the rear. Just about every time I reach for my camera, I have to reset the display mode.

In general, I have liked Panasonic. I owned a FZ8. That one wasn't so good. But the GH2 worked just fine, and I totally enjoyed using the GX7. I thought the GX8 would be much like the GX7 and with improvements. The GX7 was one of the most enjoyable cameras I have owned.

I'll send it back, get it calibrated correctly (don't they check that before shipping from the factory???) and use it as my secondary camera, maybe a third-adary behind a PL7 which I think handles better.

Maybe I'm just mistaken...I thought I bought a camera when in fact I really bought an expensive lemon.

GX8 is the first M43 camera where I live the colours. Never have a problem with white balance. Then again, I am strictly a RAW person. Maybe the jpeg engine is off on your camera. Or the auto white balance. I'm presuming you can find that to your liking? Set it once and forget?

As for your problem with button placement, nothing you can do with it. Love it with mine but if you can't stand it and it always causes you angst I would just sell it. Leaving it as a secondary or specially tertiary is just a waste for something that still has value when you sell it. Try a GX85 or G85 or that Pen-F you mentioned. There is also the E-M line as well. Go to the store and handle the cameras and find one that suits your hands.

I have had no issues with my copy of the GX8. No disappointment here.  It was, and remains, my only foray into the Panasonic side of micro four thirds. A very fine camera indeed, and like any Olympus camera, of which I have several, one has to learn and understand the intricacies of the gear.

Complaining to the world does no good, having it serviced then taking the opportunity to learn and work with it does.

traveler_101 wrote:

Fulcanelli wrote:

Wow, what a disappointing camera!

The more I use it, the more I wish I had purchased a Oly Pen-F. It is big and bulky. OK. But the color calibration is off, tinting to yellow. Sure, I can tweak it and by making the proper adjustments, set it to what would be 'normal' without adjustments. Or I can send it back. Too late to return it. Very disappointing. I have already posted about the horrible placement of buttons on the rear. Just about every time I reach for my camera, I have to reset the display mode.

In general, I have liked Panasonic. I owned a FZ8. That one wasn't so good. But the GH2 worked just fine, and I totally enjoyed using the GX7. I thought the GX8 would be much like the GX7 and with improvements. The GX7 was one of the most enjoyable cameras I have owned.

I'll send it back, get it calibrated correctly (don't they check that before shipping from the factory???) and use it as my secondary camera, maybe a third-adary behind a PL7 which I think handles better.

Maybe I'm just mistaken...I thought I bought a camera when in fact I really bought an expensive lemon.

I am glad you expressed your opinion and you are not the first to complain about the bulkiness of the GX8. I am not sure why people feel the need to rush in to defend it. No camera is for everyone. Why hold onto something you do not like? Sell it, take your licking and buy the camera you want.

It's a matter of blaming the tool before becoming familiar with it.

I HATED my GX7 at first. It took a while to get used to it, but I never wrote biiitching posts because it was such an awful camera, I spent time with it and grew to really enjoy it!

I just replaced my old faithful Bosch barrel-handled jigsaw with a new one. It's really LOUD, feels funny and the first handful of times I used it the cuts were pretty bad. Now that I've used it a bit, I love it!

Did you test it at the store...
There is a lot you can do at the store..
I have tried handling of numerous cameras...
and it only takes 30 minutes to find out how it handles..
Typically this is my test Flow.
Manual Mode
Change Aperture
Change Shutter Speed
Change ISO
Move the Focus areas
Change Shutter Drive Modes
Change WB
Test capability for back Button Focus
Test capability to do DOF Lock
Test Peaking 
Test Magnify
Test Manual Focus
Cycle through diffrent display settings
Try a Small / Long Lens
Shoot high speed sequential
Test Playback mode
Test Playback using EVF
if I find nothng major I asume any minor quirks could be improved by getting used to the new body.

We have seen lots of good reports of the GX8 on this forum, so you might have a lemon. But…

Color: "correct" color is very subjective. I have found Panny color in the G6, GX7, and G85 to be excellent. you can tweak it for personal taste. You see the GX8 color as yellowish? Pull the yellow back in the in-camera styles/modes (I added a bit on the G6 and GX7). Nothing could be simpler. Which style/mode are you shooting in? I generally use "Vivid" these days.

Have you tried using the "Reset" menu item (just in case your GX8 has been adjusted off correct/normal)?

The GX8 is big? Goodness -- what a surprise! Why I didn't get it, actually, and got the GX7 instead. You have had the GX7? You didn't notice the GX8 as comparatively big? Come on, that is not about being a lemon.

Buttons a problem? We have had threads about problem buttons and the solutions here. Best one I have seen is someone who got corn plasters and punched holes in the middle of them, then set them around the buttons to protect them from accidental touching.

I had a problem with accidental touching on the G6 and simply built up a bit on the back right of the camera to lift my thumb clear of them. Worked fine. NO problems at all with the GX7 and G85.

As for switching to the Pen F -- I wonder whether you would be complaining about the Oly menus? They drove me nuts. And I would find that front button/switch thing a darned nuisance, I'm sure. Plus I suspect the Pen F's EVF is no better than the one on the GX7 which I find to be a bit small, but can't complain about because, oddly, it was like that when I bought and I noticed that in the store.

No text.

Sion H wrote:

I'm not a fan of the bulk (almost feels hollow) and the IBIS.

I can't understand why everyone doesn't get the g80 if they want a weathersealed Panny now it's available.

Low-profile, streamlined body, tilty EVF, 20MP…

traveler_101 wrote:

Fulcanelli wrote:

Wow, what a disappointing camera!

The more I use it, the more I wish I had purchased a Oly Pen-F. It is big and bulky. OK. But the color calibration is off, tinting to yellow. Sure, I can tweak it and by making the proper adjustments, set it to what would be 'normal' without adjustments. Or I can send it back. Too late to return it. Very disappointing. I have already posted about the horrible placement of buttons on the rear. Just about every time I reach for my camera, I have to reset the display mode.

In general, I have liked Panasonic. I owned a FZ8. That one wasn't so good. But the GH2 worked just fine, and I totally enjoyed using the GX7. I thought the GX8 would be much like the GX7 and with improvements. The GX7 was one of the most enjoyable cameras I have owned.

I'll send it back, get it calibrated correctly (don't they check that before shipping from the factory???) and use it as my secondary camera, maybe a third-adary behind a PL7 which I think handles better.

Maybe I'm just mistaken...I thought I bought a camera when in fact I really bought an expensive lemon.

I am glad you expressed your opinion and you are not the first to complain about the bulkiness of the GX8. I am not sure why people feel the need to rush in to defend it. No camera is for everyone. Why hold onto something you do not like? Sell it, take your licking and buy the camera you want.

I'm very happy with my GX8 and I have exactly as much right to defend it as the OP has to tear it down.

1. Sion H wrote:

I'm not a fan of the bulk (almost feels hollow) and the IBIS.

I can't understand why everyone doesn't get the g80 if they want a weathersealed Panny now it's available.

Why? Try that Sony sensor and you'll know...

Bulky yes I agree but hollow No!

Can't feel hollow if it seems bulky.

Impossible. Bulky means over laden and

hollow means empty!:-O

At least that is how I understand the meaning

of those words.

What do you mean?

There is a saying in retail, "your first markdown is your best markdown". Trade in th GX8 while you still have a low shutter count and the camera is in pristine condition and get something else. IIRC both Adorama and B&H will offer you trade in deals  when you are buying new gear. Needless to say you shouldn't expect to get as much on a trade in as you would receive if you sold it privately.