From E-PL8 to GX-9 – marked improvement?

Hi all, thanks for your aspects! For me (OP) the perhaps short time from buying a new camera to photogenic travel is no problem - i'm just a hobbyist, so if i should ruin a scene because of lacking experience with the new gear, who cares (well i do, but uselessly); and one good use for dull long distance flights is acquainting yourself with a new cam (of course check overall functioning before). I acted that way for a long time.

Charging the cam on a laptop sounds nice as i carry a laptop anyway. So i could transfer new pics (even if it takes long), then turn cam off and charge camera. I also charge the mobile by computer, much more convenient for me than a dedicated mobile charger. I noted that my bluetooth loudspeaker cannot be charged on any computer's USB, only by a dedicated USB charger, so that's why i asked if the Pana charges connected to a computer as well - it would be much more convenient for me. (Outdoors, I also carry a battery pack for the mobile anyway, because i depend on GPS, so it'd be great to charge the camera by battery pack.)

But let's not get OT and stay focussed - would switching from E-PL8 to GX-9 bring marked improvements? I got some good hints from you already, rather not expecting great improvements and hinting at GAS (well, how did you know?), but am still interested in further opinions.

Thanks!

G, thanks.

G Rash wrote:

I'm a fan of the 20mp sensor in the GX9/G9, but I think you'll be disappointed if you're expected a big jump in image quality over the 16mp sensor in the E-PL8. The Standard jpg setting on my G9 gives a jpg very similar to the Natural setting on my Oly bodies. There should be slight improvement in detail over the 16mp bodies, but nothing that will leap out at you. The primary improvements of the GX9 are mostly the convenience items you listed earlier. For travel, I particularly like the micro USB charging option on most Panasonic bodies.

If you don't like the jpgs out of camera, one alternative approach would be to shoot raw and convert using a color profile you find pleasing. Olympus Viewer software will convert and is free once you put in the serial number of your Olympus camera body. If you hate raw, then mess around with the various jpg options and see if you can come up with something you like.

h2k wrote:

Hello, I ponder changing from Oly E-PL8 to Pana GX-9, if it's a marked improvement. Your say?

My requirements:

• need a light, small cam that slips easily into smaller bags (and can be used with a handsling, not a usual camera strap)
• I only use foldable screen (though side-hinged preferred). Will never use GX-9's EVF (nice it's hidable at least).
• I shoot 99% JPG and no video
• mostly usual hobby staff like landscape, outdoors, flowers. Few people, no kids, no pets, no sports
• resolution of E-PL8 usually enough for me

Improvements I'd personally enjoy in GX-9:

• built-in flash
• hopefully nicer menus (find Oly horrific)
• good grip with add-on (albeit expensive)
• USB charging (also possible when connected to laptop?)
• nicer JPEGs? (I for one don't like Oly JPGs that much, still miss 2002 Canon JPGs)

I'm aware of E-PL9 offering at least built-in flash. If one of those cameras had a side-hinging screen, I'd take that one. Otherwise I'm done with Oly.

Gear I own now:

• Pana 35-100 f2,8 v.1
• Pana 20 f1,7 v.1 (used for objects and pub crawls)
• Laowa MF 7,5 f2,0
• Pana 14-45 ca. f4,5 (not used; my brighter Pana standard zoom 12-35 broke irreparably and isn't replaced, but the 14-45 is so dull by comparison)
• no flash

Lenses I might or might not get soon:

• Pana 50-200 f2,8-f4 (stronger replacement for 35-100)
• Pana 8-18 f2,8-f4 (would be my "standard zoom")
• Pana 42,5/1,2

I'll go on a photogenic foreign trip on January 3rd. I wonder if right after Christmas, online prices on the GX-9 would be better than right now. I'd buy body only (easy in my jurisdiction), as there is no kit with an interesting lens.

And most of all, would the GX-9 bring a marked improvement? Do you see any alternative till late December?

Thanks!

The GX9 is a fair bit bigger and heavier than an EPL8.  I have the GX9 and EPL7 which is similar size to the 8.  Now the GX9 is not a 'big' camera, but noticeably larger and heavier than the EPL series.  The GX9 built in flash is nice to have and the VF while small has good resolution.  I would rather use the add on VF for my EPL7 than the one on the GX9, but the one on the GX9 you can never forget!  Oh and it tilts.  Haven't used that much, but could come in handy.

IQ differences are minor.  Do not switch mainly due to IQ.

While Panny generally has much better menus than Oly, I have been surprised how much more complex the GX9 menus are compared to my earlier Panny cameras.  Still better than Oly, but they are complex enough that it generally takes a bit of time to find what I want.   Just an inevitable consequence of camera complexity I guess.

The grip on the GX9 isn't much better than the grip on my EPL7.  The add on grip would probably help with larger lenses, but I haven't tried it yet.  It is on my wish list.

If you are not unhappy with your EPL8 I would sit tight and see what if anything happens in m43.  All development has been in bigger cameras, but who knows O & P may get back to what m43 is all about and make some new smaller cameras.

Jonathan, thanks for your considerations!

jwilliams wrote:

h2k wrote:

Hello, I ponder changing from Oly E-PL8 to Pana GX-9, if it's a marked improvement. Your say?

My requirements:

• need a light, small cam that slips easily into smaller bags (and can be used with a handsling, not a usual camera strap)
• I only use foldable screen (though side-hinged preferred). Will never use GX-9's EVF (nice it's hidable at least).
• I shoot 99% JPG and no video
• mostly usual hobby staff like landscape, outdoors, flowers. Few people, no kids, no pets, no sports
• resolution of E-PL8 usually enough for me

Improvements I'd personally enjoy in GX-9:

• built-in flash
• hopefully nicer menus (find Oly horrific)
• good grip with add-on (albeit expensive)
• USB charging (also possible when connected to laptop?)
• nicer JPEGs? (I for one don't like Oly JPGs that much, still miss 2002 Canon JPGs)

I'm aware of E-PL9 offering at least built-in flash. If one of those cameras had a side-hinging screen, I'd take that one. Otherwise I'm done with Oly.

Gear I own now:

• Pana 35-100 f2,8 v.1
• Pana 20 f1,7 v.1 (used for objects and pub crawls)
• Laowa MF 7,5 f2,0
• Pana 14-45 ca. f4,5 (not used; my brighter Pana standard zoom 12-35 broke irreparably and isn't replaced, but the 14-45 is so dull by comparison)
• no flash

Lenses I might or might not get soon:

• Pana 50-200 f2,8-f4 (stronger replacement for 35-100)
• Pana 8-18 f2,8-f4 (would be my "standard zoom")
• Pana 42,5/1,2

I'll go on a photogenic foreign trip on January 3rd. I wonder if right after Christmas, online prices on the GX-9 would be better than right now. I'd buy body only (easy in my jurisdiction), as there is no kit with an interesting lens.

And most of all, would the GX-9 bring a marked improvement? Do you see any alternative till late December?

Thanks!

The GX9 is a fair bit bigger and heavier than an EPL8. I have the GX9 and EPL7 which is similar size to the 8. Now the GX9 is not a 'big' camera, but noticeably larger and heavier than the EPL series. The GX9 built in flash is nice to have and the VF while small has good resolution. I would rather use the add on VF for my EPL7 than the one on the GX9, but the one on the GX9 you can never forget! Oh and it tilts. Haven't used that much, but could come in handy.

IQ differences are minor. Do not switch mainly due to IQ.

While Panny generally has much better menus than Oly, I have been surprised how much more complex the GX9 menus are compared to my earlier Panny cameras. Still better than Oly, but they are complex enough that it generally takes a bit of time to find what I want. Just an inevitable consequence of camera complexity I guess.

The grip on the GX9 isn't much better than the grip on my EPL7. The add on grip would probably help with larger lenses, but I haven't tried it yet. It is on my wish list.

If you are not unhappy with your EPL8 I would sit tight and see what if anything happens in m43. All development has been in bigger cameras, but who knows O & P may get back to what m43 is all about and make some new smaller cameras.

Jake, thanks.

JakeJY wrote:

I have read the JPEGs in GX9 improved a lot from the GX85, but not sure how it compares to EPL8.

You talk about a side hinge screen, but note the GX9 is a bottom hinged tilt only screen. It can tilt up by around 80-90 degrees and down by 45 degrees. It does not support selfies like the EPL8 or side hinged screens do.

USB charging is possible connected to computer (at least it is on my GX85), but camera has to be off. If it's on, it'll ask you to do a usb data connection, which runs on the battery. Note the regular ports on a laptop may be slower than the charger. Some laptops have charging dedicated ports that may be faster than regular ports (and stay on even if laptop is on sleep).

Page 24 says it's possible to charge using laptop. Page 22 says camera must be off (same as my GX85).
ftp://ftp.panasonic.com/camera/om/dc-gx9_en_adv_om.pdf