G7 to GX80 big enough improvement? Just for stablisation?

I have a G7 with Kit Lens 14-44

Looking at the GX80 with 12-60

I wondered if the 12mm would be a little wider which is what I need, and also if the stablisation is the only advantage on the two cameras?

It seems a lot of money for an upgrade just for a stable body and slightly wider lens?

There's also the quieter shutter which has virtually eliminated shutter shock.

HRPOWER wrote:

I have a G7 with Kit Lens 14-44

Looking at the GX80 with 12-60

I wondered if the 12mm would be a little wider which is what I need, and also if the stablisation is the only advantage on the two cameras?

It se->ems a lot of money for an upgrade just for a stable body and slightly wider lens?

I have both cameras and both lenses (if you refer to Panasonic Leica 12-60).

G7 -> GX80 :

Advantages (gx80 OVER g7):

better shutter mechanism, likely to have solved the shutter shock  issue affecting the G7.

RF style that is very likeable (for me)

No Anti-Aliasing filter

5 axis IBIS

Give ups:

Much worse EVF. GX80 has a sequential field LCD EVF that's quite tiny in respect to the larger OLED evf of the G7

weight: g7 is actually or feels actually lighter than GX80 and has a much better grip to hold onto.

Many more physical buttons allowing you to enter specific functions in a timely fashion.

3.5mm microphone jack, very usefulk for video.

Similarities:

Same IQ, same functions (4K photo, post focus)

The PL 12-60 is a fine lens with a convenient range. The 14-140 is more versatile as it provides a whopping 10x zoom, whilst maintaining a rather acceptable IQ in a compact body.

14-140 maybe the only lens to bring if your are space limited on a trip

12-60 has a wider view of the scene and better overall IQ, with high contrast and pleasant color rendering, that is common to higher graded lenses.

Hope this helps you.

Cheers

Felice

HRPOWER wrote:

Ok - so maybe I should sell one of the camera's to make room for it

I like the fact it has a headphone out too.

This is a very useful post indeed.

In terms of the lens, or the camera, do you think it might allow a bit more light in? I sometimes film inside moving cars and sometimes I have major exposure issues.

In terms of image quality and sensor sensitivity they are quite similar. If you need more light you need a faster lens. A prime like the Panasonic 15mm f1.7 is definitely going to help.. overall for video both cameras should have the same quality with the g7 offering a microphone jack that's missing on the gx80...

larsbc wrote:

* note: Panasonic in-lens stabilization only works with Panasonic cameras.

Panasonic in-lens stabilization does work with Olympus cameras. Olympus cameras have a feature called 'Lens I.S. Priority', which allows the camera to utilize the I.S. in Panasonic lenses.

HRPOWER wrote:

Ok thank you!!!!!!!!!

was that lens you mentioned stablised -hard work finding stablised glass that starts with a 12

As said by member before me, there are 7 zoom lenses (3 from Olympus and 4 from Panny) started with 12 and 6 of them are OIS (4 Dual IS compatible).

Panny cameras, since GX8, started to support DUAL IS or DUAL IS-2 (a stop more effective stabilisation).

The DUAL IS of GX8 is the earliest (GX8 itself does not use a true 5 axis floating sensor), GX85 and its successor GX9 which use 5 axis floating sensor for the DUAL IS. G85/95, G9 and GH5 supports DUAL IS-2.

The stabilization rule of Panny is simple.

• OIS but non DUAL IS compatible lens = OIS or nothing.
• DUAL IS compatible lens= DUAL IS or nothing.
• Non OIS lens = IBIS or nothing.

All of the latest zoom lenses of Panny support DUAL IS. The older 14~45 (I suppose you are using it) is not DUAL IS compatible. On GX85, as per my home testing, can expect 3~3.5 stops of stabilisation. Using a DUAL IS compitable lens, e.g. 12~35 f/2.8, is 5 stops, the pancake 12~32, is 4~4.5 stops because of the ergonomic concern.

I suppose  the two 12~60 (one from Panny and one from Panny Leica) should have not less than 5 stops stabilisation also.

Unlike Tele lenses that 25mm difference is not obvious, on wide angle side, the 2mm of a 12 (eq AoV of FF 24mm) has quite substantial difference from a 14. A reason for me to replace 14~45 with 12~35 despite of its satisfactory IQ.

To the heart of this question, yes, GX85 has quit substantial change from G7. However as GX85 is a lower spec model to G7, if you compare G7 to G85 or G95, the improvement is more significant.

From the sounds of your replies you’d be better off spending the money on 12-35 2.8 of you want lens stabilization.  Or the 12mm f2 Olympus, 15mm 1.7 PL or 16mm 1.4 Sigma for unstabilzed  light in. Ultimate low light at 12mm is PL 1.4 also no stabilization.  But, in your shoes I’d likely pick lens over body.

alcelc wrote:

HRPOWER wrote:

Ok thank you!!!!!!!!!

was that lens you mentioned stablised -hard work finding stablised glass that starts with a 12

As said by member before me, there are 7 zoom lenses (3 from Olympus and 4 from Panny) started with 12 and 6 of them are OIS (4 Dual IS compatible).

Panny cameras, since GX8, started to support DUAL IS or DUAL IS-2 (a stop more effective stabilisation).

The DUAL IS of GX8 is the earliest (GX8 itself does not use a true 5 axis floating sensor), GX85 and its successor GX9 which use 5 axis floating sensor for the DUAL IS. G85/95, G9 and GH5 supports DUAL IS-2.

The stabilization rule of Panny is simple.

• OIS but non DUAL IS compatible lens = OIS or nothing.
• DUAL IS compatible lens= DUAL IS or nothing.
• Non OIS lens = IBIS or nothing.

All of the latest zoom lenses of Panny support DUAL IS. The older 14~45 (I suppose you are using it) is not DUAL IS compatible. On GX85, as per my home testing, can expect 3~3.5 stops of stabilisation. Using a DUAL IS compitable lens, e.g. 12~35 f/2.8, is 5 stops, the pancake 12~32, is 4~4.5 stops because of the ergonomic concern.

I suppose the two 12~60 (one from Panny and one from Panny Leica) should have not less than 5 stops stabilisation also.

Unlike Tele lenses that 25mm difference is not obvious, on wide angle side, the 2mm of a 12 (eq AoV of FF 24mm) has quite substantial difference from a 14. A reason for me to replace 14~45 with 12~35 despite of its satisfactory IQ.

To the heart of this question, yes, GX85 has quit substantial change from G7. However as GX85 is a lower spec model to G7, if you compare G7 to G85 or G95, the improvement is more significant.

I have G7  and GM5 (both no IBIS) and GX8  (IBIS and dual IS compatible), 5 Panasonic OIS lenses (42.5, 12-60, 14-140,12-32, 35-100), and 3 non-OIS primes (Panasonic 20mm and 25mm f1.7  and Olympus body cap 9mm f8 fisheye.

My experience is that,in real life, Panasonic OIS is very efficient, more on long lenses, and dual IS brings only small improvements over OIS alone.

IBIS is only really useful when shooting with non OIS lenses.

As you have G7, you must know whether shutter shock is really an issue for your kind of photography.

As for me, even with the 14-140, with the auto-eshutter feature, I seldom experienced it and I am quite happy with both GX8 and G7. GM5 is supposed not to be prone to shutter shock thanks to electronic first curtain shutter, same technology as GX80.