Replace Panasonic GX9 with Olympus EM5Mk3? Wait for EM1Mk3?

I had an Olympus EM5Mk2 / Panasonic GX7 combination for several years. Really liked the EM5Mk2 but wish it had better focusing. Eventually traded up to the Panasonic GX9 for its improved DfD focusing. Last year, I also traded up to the EM1X (yes, it's a great camera, and no, it's not that big). I have a good selection of Olympus lens (primes and pro zooms) but only a few Panasonic lens.

I really like the form factor of the GX9, and I use it on trips if I'm shooting just street/travel images and want as small of a kit as possible. I usually use the kit lens 12-60 for general shots, and an Olympus 17mm f1.8 with it for low light or if I want to be more discrete. Other times I sometimes pair my Olympus 12-40 with the Panasonic GX9. However, I've never been completely happy with the focusing.

After I bought the EM1X, and especially after the Olympus EM5Mk3 was released, I considered trading in the Panasonic GX9 for the EM5Mk3 and just consolidating everything to Olympus. I still like the GX9 versatility with its range finder-esque handling, flexible viewfinder and screen, and pop up flash. And it's still in good shape - haven't used it enough really to part with it just yet. But I like the phase detect AF that Olympus has finally brought to the EM5, and figured that would address my focusing needs.

However - and I guess this is my ignorance - I never realized that Panasonics DfD focusing does not work with non-Panasonic lens! Maybe that's why I've never been impressed with its focusing: 2/3 of the time, I'm coupling the GX9 with an Olympus lens. I've also read some reviews that the Panasonic G95 DfD outperforms the Olympus EM5Mk3 phase detect. Maybe not by much, but it was noticeable apparently.

So, assuming that the DfD outperformance would also apply to my Panasonic GX9, would I be better off: 1) Getting one or two choice Panasonic lens to work with my GX9 for street shooting? Or 2) should I just go all Olympus and trade the GX9 in for an Olympus? The first option is maybe a bit cheaper and I retain the GX9's form factor. Option 2 means I have all the lens already - not much else to buy. Plus its water resistant. I'm not sure which makes more sense.

And I'll just toss waiting for the Olympus EM1Mk3 as a potential third option. Just because.

I was in a very similar position to you using a GX9 and Olympic 12-40 on my travels. Also had an Olympus E-EM1 and an assortment of mixed lenses.

Sold the Olympus gear and went completely Panasonic, prefer the simplicity of their cameras and the more compact high quality lenses.

Now use the GX9 with either the 8-18,12-35 or 35-100 zooms plus 12 and 25 f/1.4 primes.

Just bought a G90 (95) to go with it, really pleased with my choice and not regretting parting with the Olympus kit.

Trolleyman wrote:

I was in a very similar position to you using a GX9 and Olympic 12-40 on my travels. Also had an Olympus E-EM1 and an assortment of mixed lenses.

Sold the Olympus gear and went completely Panasonic, prefer the simplicity of their cameras and the more compact high quality lenses.

Now use the GX9 with either the 8-18,12-35 or 35-100 zooms plus 12 and 25 f/1.4 primes.

Interesting that you went the Panasonic route. I admit I have maybe a bit too much invested in Olympus lens to leave completely, and I prefer their menu system over Panasonic's - well, maybe not too much. They're all kind of messy these days. LOL

Panasonic has a 12mm prime?

Ozonation wrote:

Trolleyman wrote:

I was in a very similar position to you using a GX9 and Olympic 12-40 on my travels. Also had an Olympus E-EM1 and an assortment of mixed lenses.

Sold the Olympus gear and went completely Panasonic, prefer the simplicity of their cameras and the more compact high quality lenses.

Now use the GX9 with either the 8-18,12-35 or 35-100 zooms plus 12 and 25 f/1.4 primes.

Interesting that you went the Panasonic route. I admit I have maybe a bit too much invested in Olympus lens to leave completely, and I prefer their menu system over Panasonic's - well, maybe not too much. They're all kind of messy these days. LOL

Panasonic has a 12mm prime?

The 12mm is a lovely lens, sharp at f1.4, all metal and weather resistant. They also do a superb 42.5 f1.2. Really liking the 8-18, more compact than the Olympus 7-14 and can use filters if required. Also the two zooms have ois so can utilise dual is with the bodies. Only got the G90 today, but first impressions are good, can charge in body via usb like the GX9.

Trolleyman wrote:

The 12mm is a lovely lens, sharp at f1.4, all metal and weather resistant. They also do a superb 42.5 f1.2. Really liking the 8-18, more compact than the Olympus 7-14 and can use filters if required. Also the two zooms have ois so can utilise dual is with the bodies. Only got the G90 today, but first impressions are good, can charge in body via usb like the GX9.

How do you find the autofocusing on the GX9 using Panasonic lenses? Is DfD as fast as it should be?

Ozonation wrote:

Trolleyman wrote:

The 12mm is a lovely lens, sharp at f1.4, all metal and weather resistant. They also do a superb 42.5 f1.2. Really liking the 8-18, more compact than the Olympus 7-14 and can use filters if required. Also the two zooms have ois so can utilise dual is with the bodies. Only got the G90 today, but first impressions are good, can charge in body via usb like the GX9.

How do you find the autofocusing on the GX9 using Panasonic lenses? Is DfD as fast as it should be?

Seems perfectly adequate to me, fact that I can't think of any issues sort of says it all really. Before going to m4/3 I used Fuji, focusing is equal to that and I believe that has quite a good reputation.

Never tried it on anything moving fast or erratically,  but that's not the sort of photography  I do. Anyway you have the E-M1X for that sort of thing, for my uses I'm very satisfied with the Panasonic set up

Skeeterbytes wrote:

What do you like shoot? What are your favorite focal lengths, and do you ever use teles or super teles?

I'd wait and see what the E-M1iii brings before making any move. We're half a month away, apparently. It, and a potential new standard zoom, may shift the landscape somewhat.

The E-M5iii would make an excellent tiny companion to your E-M1X, if you want similar performance and menu system in something a quarter of the size.

Cheers,

Rick

Disclosure: I also shoot Fuji and Nikon. I used to shoot a ton of sports at the university/collegiate level. So my Nikon gear is sort of a legacy hold over. These days I switched over mainly to fashion, modelling, and portraiture, with a mix of street and landscape thrown in. About 6 years ago, I figured I would slowly migrate to mirrorless or smaller formats. I've tried to be selective and have traded in or bought things on sale, so over time I actually have complete systems for m4/3, Fuji, and Nikon, with Nikon having the least investment these last several years.

If I shoot primes, my most used lengths are 35mm and 85mm FF equivalents. I don't really like the 50mm, but it is useful. Other than that, I'm then up to the 200mm FF equivalent or so. So, the 70-200 or equivalent is my go to. I rarely shoot wider than 24mm FF eq.

If I'm travelling, like I said, I'd probably pack a 35mm equivalent or so, and a travel zoom, and maybe one other prime, like a 56mm equivalent. Occasionally when I travel I also connect with other photogs or models to do some environmental portraiture.

Good point about the EM1Mk3. Maybe I'll just wait. There is just a deal right now on the EM5Mk3 plus the 14-150. I find that travel zoom range useful for how I shoot.

Ozonation wrote:

Skeeterbytes wrote:

What do you like shoot? What are your favorite focal lengths, and do you ever use teles or super teles?

I'd wait and see what the E-M1iii brings before making any move. We're half a month away, apparently. It, and a potential new standard zoom, may shift the landscape somewhat.

The E-M5iii would make an excellent tiny companion to your E-M1X, if you want similar performance and menu system in something a quarter of the size.

Cheers,

Rick

Disclosure: I also shoot Fuji and Nikon. I used to shoot a ton of sports at the university/collegiate level. So my Nikon gear is sort of a legacy hold over. These days I switched over mainly to fashion, modelling, and portraiture, with a mix of street and landscape thrown in. About 6 years ago, I figured I would slowly migrate to mirrorless or smaller formats. I've tried to be selective and have traded in or bought things on sale, so over time I actually have complete systems for m4/3, Fuji, and Nikon, with Nikon having the least investment these last several years.

If I shoot primes, my most used lengths are 35mm and 85mm FF equivalents. I don't really like the 50mm, but it is useful. Other than that, I'm then up to the 200mm FF equivalent or so. So, the 70-200 or equivalent is my go to. I rarely shoot wider than 24mm FF eq.

If I'm travelling, like I said, I'd probably pack a 35mm equivalent or so, and a travel zoom, and maybe one other prime, like a 56mm equivalent. Occasionally when I travel I also connect with other photogs or models to do some environmental portraiture.

Good point about the EM1Mk3. Maybe I'll just wait. There is just a deal right now on the EM5Mk3 plus the 14-150. I find that travel zoom range useful for how I shoot.

My E-M5 III is my small body companion to my E-M1 II.... or, serves as my solo travel camera with the 14-150 (great with the 5.3) and paired with the Olympus 8mm FE Pro f1.8 for interior low light galleries and cathedrals. This combo fits easily into a small shoulder bag and is so light I sometimes forget it is there.

Heres a pic with the 8mm FE Pro in-camera corrected to 5.5mm.

And, a couple with the 14-150 at a botanical garden visit.

gary0319 wrote:

My E-M5 III is my small body companion to my E-M1 II.... or, serves as my solo travel camera with the 14-150 (great with the 5.3) and paired with the Olympus 8mm FE Pro f1.8 for interior low light galleries and cathedrals. This combo fits easily into a small shoulder bag and is so light I sometimes forget it is there.

Heres a pic with the 8mm FE Pro in-camera corrected to 5.5mm.

And, a couple with the 14-150 at a botanical garden visit.

Wow! Those are fantastic images. I can shoot them, but I don't really consider myself a nature or landscape photographer, so I admire those who have the patience to do so.

Ozonation wrote:

gary0319 wrote:

My E-M5 III is my small body companion to my E-M1 II.... or, serves as my solo travel camera with the 14-150 (great with the 5.3) and paired with the Olympus 8mm FE Pro f1.8 for interior low light galleries and cathedrals. This combo fits easily into a small shoulder bag and is so light I sometimes forget it is there.

Heres a pic with the 8mm FE Pro in-camera corrected to 5.5mm.

And, a couple with the 14-150 at a botanical garden visit.

Wow! Those are fantastic images. I can shoot them, but I don't really consider myself a nature or landscape photographer, so I admire those who have the patience to do so.

Thanks, I have been mostly a critter and bug guy, but have recently been dipping my fingers into other venues. Olympus has such a great variety of bodies, lenses and specialty features, like the Monochrome profiles for shooting B&W with my Pen F, or the in-camera fisheye to rectilinear with the E-M1 II/X and 5.3 that makes architecture and ultra wide landscapes exhilarating... that things are never dull and repetitive.

Henry Richardson wrote:

Seems like a no-brainer.

It isn't that big, but it's bigger than I would prefer for casual photos and street photography. I bought it for sports/event/even portraiture shoots.

Lovely shots, the bee, THE BEE! my goodness I love that shot!

kalisti wrote:

Lovely shots, the bee, THE BEE! my goodness I love that shot!

Thanks.

For some strange reason the match of the 14-150 with the E-M5 III seems to work exceptionally well. I have used my same 14-150 on at least a half dozen different Olympus bodies, and none of them gets the results like the 5.3. My dealer says Olympus did some special 5.3 match tuning for the 14-150;  I’m sure he was pulling my leg...... maybe.

gary0319 wrote:

For some strange reason the match of the 14-150 with the E-M5 III seems to work exceptionally well. I have used my same 14-150 on at least a half dozen different Olympus bodies, and none of them gets the results like the 5.3. My dealer says Olympus did some special 5.3 match tuning for the 14-150; I’m sure he was pulling my leg...... maybe.

Interesting. The 14-150 just "looks" like a good match for the EM5.3. I think that was part of my motivation for this thread: should I go all in and go for the EM5.3? Good food for thought.

I now own the Pen F, E-M1 Mk2 and the E-M1X.  So different set of cameras from you.  Anyhow, I don't use my Pen F, that much.  I still like it for the few times I go out on a family outing and family/social activities are more important than photography.  Most of the time the E-M1 Mk2 serves as my general small camera.  I love it but I do notice are much better the E-M1X is.  I guess it came down to the dual processing power of the E-M1X.  My E-M1X is currently my most use camera because I like its performance and handling more than the E-M1 Mk2.  I don't like the extra bulk of the E-M1X, but do like its performance.  So I have my name at my local camera store to get me on the pre-order list when the E-M1 Mkiii is announced.  I kind of expect the E-M1 Mkiii to have the performance of the E-M1X in the body size of the E-M1 Mkii plus a much improved EVF and AF joystick.  I do expect it to cost about what the E-M1 Mkii costed at released, which was $1,999 USD.

So if you like your E-M1X and want a slightly smaller camera that is not too small I would wait until the E-M1 Mk3 is announced to see if it is something you would like.  If small size is more important than ergonomics and performance then look at the E-M5 Mk3.

Anyhow you should only have a few more weeks to know if the upcoming E-M1 Mk3 would be something you would be interested in.

Skeeterbytes wrote:

What do you like shoot? What are your favorite focal lengths, and do you ever use teles or super teles?

I'd wait and see what the E-M1iii brings before making any move. We're half a month away, apparently. It, and a potential new standard zoom, may shift the landscape somewhat.

The E-M5iii would make an excellent tiny companion to your E-M1X, if you want similar performance and menu system in something a quarter of the size.

The E-M5iii does not have the performance of the E-M1X.  The E-M5iii has almost the same performance as the E-M1ii.  The performance of the E-M1X is noticeably better than the E-M1ii.

Menu-wise the E-M1X has "My menu", while the E-M5iii does not.

Cheers,

Rick