GX7 upgrade

Looking to potentially upgrade from GX7 mainly for IBIS, 4K, quieter shutter, ideally faster AF and whatever else the new cams have. The GX9 is obvious choice but not heard great things about the IBIS. Also considering Olympus EM1 II because - well never had an Olympus and might be good to try something different. Could go for EM5 but I thought I'd go big and I would like 4K video. In UK the EM1 can be had for 915 at hdewcameras. Anyone else made this jump? Anything to report? Did it feel too big? I have a few lenses none big. All Olympus lenses except one Panasonic. I shoot mainly stills but would like to do more video. G9 also an option I suppose but seems like it's even bigger and heavier than EM1. I do want to keep size down. I shoot urban landscapes, some street, events, portraits.

GX9 IBIS works great. There does seem to be an issue with the latest firmware (1.2) and dual-IS though. I havent upgraded to that firmware so mine works very well. Not sure if you could downgrade if you got one with 1.2 already on it.

Edit: looks like 1.3 came out a couple of weeks ago. Not sure if that solves the problem or not...

I went from GX7 to GX8. It's one heck of a camera and I'm not really tempted by the G9/GX9.

The GX8 is still available new, at a good price.

https://bjphoto.net/ProductDetails.aspx?ProductIndex=1&product_key=BJDMC511GX8KPAC_0.PNG&manufacturer=PANASONIC&model=DMCGX8K

The G85 is slightly newer, has a few more features and is less expensive.

GX85 has some upgrades from GX7, but some downgrades as well, and it never tempted me (I still own a GX7).  GX9 is a true upgrade, though more expensive than the GX85.  I haven't used it, and I haven't heard the concerns about IBIS.

I love the G9, a very capable camera, and the size works well for me.  I find it big enough to enable a wonderfully ergonomic layout of controls.

Since you don't seem to be attached to the rangefinder body style, you might also consider the G85, which is feature-filled and reasonably priced.  Uses the 16MP sensor, but aside from that there's not much not to like.

technotic wrote:

Thanks Brent. No, I'm not particularly attached to the range finder style but I would prefer it. At this point I'm ruling out 16MP cams because no 4K and I want at least some resolution improvement. I think the choices for me are GX9, EM1 II, possibly G9. I don't think I'd go GX85 as the GX9 is just better and not that much more.

G85 shoots 4K video, received gold award review from DPR. https://www.dpreview.com/reviews/panasonic-lumix-dmc-g85-g80

I haven't had any issues with my GX9's IBIS. I've actually been quite impressed with the stabilisation, even if it isn't quite on a par with the best from Olympus.

Other than the less comfortable grip, slower flash sync speed, and a few minor design annoyances, it's definitely a nice overall upgrade from the GX7.

technotic wrote:

Looking to potentially upgrade from GX7 mainly for IBIS, 4K, quieter shutter, ideally faster AF and whatever else the new cams have. The GX9 is obvious choice but not heard great things about the IBIS. Also considering Olympus EM1 II because - well never had an Olympus and might be good to try something different. Could go for EM5 but I thought I'd go big and I would like 4K video. In UK the EM1 can be had for 915 at hdewcameras. Anyone else made this jump? Anything to report? Did it feel too big? I have a few lenses none big. All Olympus lenses except one Panasonic. I shoot mainly stills but would like to do more video. G9 also an option I suppose but seems like it's even bigger and heavier than EM1. I do want to keep size down. I shoot urban landscapes, some street, events, portraits.

A couple months ago i was planning my upgrade from an EM1 (still have the EM1). For the record in the past i have owned a GX7 on two occasions, and a GX8 in between those (the GX7 was way ahead of it's time). If i remember the GX8 doesn't use IBIS for 4k video shooting, if true you might steer clear of it since 4k is important to you.

So for my recent purchase i was looking at everything from the GX85 up to the flagships for both Oly and Panny. I had actually bought a GX850 just to have a front facing screen but returned it and ended up buying a G9, my final decision between the G9 and EM1-II was decided by a few things.

The G9 has, AFAIK, the biggest VF put in any digital camera, only matched when you look back at old film cameras. Some people say there's a pincushion shape to it, as if it's not good bc of that. I believe it's actually a curved EVF, so you see the curve line on top and bottom as it slightly wraps around. I think people are mistaking this for a flat pincushion design, which would be odd.

It's not a huge angle of curve and it actually looks more natural bc it's so freaking big. it's the only EVF i have used where i don't really miss an OVF. 3.7 million dots and .84x mag, it's awesome. Coming from the 16/9 GX7 EVF, you will feel like you are in an alternate universe, it's quite amazing. I also have an EM1 and i read the EM1-II has the same EVF as the mark 1. Not a bad EVF but it's not cutting edge, this mattered to me.

Another point was the top LCD on the G9. It's very convenient, it's much easier for me to glance at the top plate and adjust dials than adjust everyting through the EVF, and it uses less juice to do so than having the LCD on. Almost no ML have the top plate, i think just the dead NX1 and the medium format Fuji.

Also, from using my EM1 vs 3 Panasonic bodies, i think Panasonic has much better menus, assuming they didn't drastically improve the EM1-II. Another point, i don't now how important high rez mode is to you but the G9 can deal with object motion without those odd artifact lines.

One last advantage over lower end models (not sure if the new EM1 has it) is a full auto ISO design. One thing i loved about my Nikons is when using auto ISO in aperture mode, i could set my minimum SS to any setting. The G9 finally has it and it does one better, you can tie the minimum SS listing to any button (i have mine as up on the D pad), so one quick press and then adjust the dial to what setting you want. Even Nikon doesn't offer that, you had to menu dive to change the SS limit.

Im partial to Panasonic but the EM1-II is amazing too, maybe some Olympus guys can offer some advantages to that side. The way i look at it, if you upgrade now to a flagship, you are less likely to have GAS as soon in the future and the improved performance might allow you to capture images lower end cams can't. Good luck.

GV27 wrote:

GX9 IBIS works great. There does seem to be an issue with the latest firmware (1.2) and dual-IS though. I havent upgraded to that firmware so mine works very well. Not sure if you could downgrade if you got one with 1.2 already on it.

Edit: looks like 1.3 came out a couple of weeks ago. Not sure if that solves the problem or not...

What problem? - Peter

technotic wrote:

I've decided to go with EM1X.

Quite a change from the GX7!

Look forward to your opinions after you've had it a few months.

There are two types of GX7 users:

1. Those that upgraded to the GX8 and love it, despite its many warts, and some of which then upgraded to the G9 and love it.
2. Those that upgraded to the GX8 and hated it, and then got the GX85 or GX9, and love it.

Really, the only big weakness of the GX9 is the EVF. It's a pretty safe choice if you like the GX7. It's a better GX7 (and is even called the GX7-iii in Japan).

Try the GX8 and G9 just to make sure that they aren't the camera upgrade you're looking for.

The PenF is also a good option to consider in m43 world.