Giving up on Panasonic gx7... I think.

Thanks for all the replies guys. Very useful. I'm now thinking I'll sell the body but not the lenses. My reasons for this are as follows:  I've heard that the gx80 doesn't have the so-called shutter shock that this cam does. I always noticed that the gx7 shutter was pretty noisy. I remember handling the gx80 in a shop and preferring the size to the gx7. I also understand that it has a superior IS system than the the 7 and a better and faster autofocus system.

This is quite a list of upgrades if they are all true and what is more these can be had used for very low prices. What do you guys think about the gx80?

The Canon gx7 markii has arrived and I'm liking the feel of it but so far I haven't had much chance to get out there and shoot with it. I hope it doesn't suffer too much from the dreaded dust on the lens problem, which I hear it is prone to.

robmarshall77 wrote:

Thanks for all the replies guys. Very useful. I'm now thinking I'll sell the body but not the lenses. My reasons for this are as follows: I've heard that the gx80 doesn't have the so-called shutter shock that this cam does. I always noticed that the gx7 shutter was pretty noisy. I remember handling the gx80 in a shop and preferring the size to the gx7. I also understand that it has a superior IS system than the the 7 and a better and faster autofocus system.

This is quite a list of upgrades if they are all true and what is more these can be had used for very low prices. What do you guys think about the gx80?

If you like it, it solves all the problems of the GX7...except the menu system is the same, which you mentioned you had some issues with.  The AF is a little better, but is still not going to be the greatest for tracking, if that's what you are looking for.

I'd suggest you get one of the 20MP bodies instead, if you were going to stick with Panasonic.

HOWEVER, I think you might want to look at Canon's M series of cameras instead, as you seem to be much more comfortable with their user interface, if you still want an interchangeable lens system.  The M50, for instance, might suit you better, as it also has PDAF tracking, if you are looking for that, too.

The Canon gx7 markii has arrived and I'm liking the feel of it but so far I haven't had much chance to get out there and shoot with it. I hope it doesn't suffer too much from the dreaded dust on the lens problem, which I hear it is prone to.

Thanks for your reply. Yes, the m series Canons are something I thought about. Do you have any experience with them yourself?

robmarshall77 wrote:

Thanks for your reply. Yes, the m series Canons are something I thought about. Do you have any experience with them yourself?

Yes, I do.  I bought an RP a year or so ago, so I decided to switch my smaller bodied cameras from M43 to the Canon M series.  I got an M50, which is a very nice little camera, with the 15-45mm and the 55-200mm kit.

Advantages?  Better sensor, good handling, good EVF.  It is missing a second control wheel, which is a bit annoying, but can be set up to work around that.

Disadvantages?  For me, since I shoot long telephoto quite extensively, there is no native long (over 200mm) lens; you have to use adapted EF lenses for that, and they are a lot bigger.  So, I ended up going back to M43 primarily because there are lots of native, high quality, long lenses.

However, as a stand-alone system, if the M series native lens selection has what you need it's quite a good option. IQ is excellent, and it's an enjoyable system to use.

If you can find a way to try one out in person, you should be able to judge whether you are more comfortable with it than with your M43s.

-J

Well, not sure this thread is dead, but I'm going to try to revive because of my excitement at another camera acquisition: the Fuji x-t20 and excellent 18-55 kit lens. A used buy, again at an excellent price and condition, I'm already in love with this little camera.

Great size and weight (small but not too small, light but not too light), solid build quality, really good feeling in the hand, fantastically customizable, lovely non-attention grabbing looks, best kit lens I've ever tried, Fuji film simulations a real Aladdin's cave waiting to be discovered, I could go on. As you can tell, I quite like this camera and am excited about the future with it.

Strange thing is, I also really like the little Canon. Some of you more experienced photographers are probably thinking.... duh... well, yeah, you have to have different tools for different jobs. Thing is I started out looking for a one size fits all Swiss army style tool, but I now I think I am going to join the ranks of people who own more than one camera, even as smart phones makers are trying to convince us that we don't need any camera except theirs!