Good cheap second to my g85

I have researched this to death. The G85 is my primary for video and action wildlife shooting as well as some starry nights. I am looking for a smaller and cheaper "backup" camera. The Gx8 is obviously the answer having the microphone input but it appears it can no longer be had aside from high connoisseur used pricing. Maybe one day there will be a real replacement. The Gx7 seems adequate as a backup and used around $230 vs the Gx85 which is about $350 used but not sure as a backup camera is worth the extra $$ As someday I'll use the G85 as the backup and when I can afford it, the Gh5 my mainstay.

It's 2020, is the GX7 still adequate as a backup or will the GX85 DFD really be important for photographing moving objects? Is $450 a reasonable price for used GX8, all things shutter shock considered?

Isonychia wrote:

I have researched this to death. The G85 is my primary for video and action wildlife shooting as well as some starry nights. I am looking for a smaller and cheaper "backup" camera. The Gx8 is obviously the answer having the microphone input but it appears it can no longer be had aside from high connoisseur used pricing. Maybe one day there will be a real replacement. The Gx7 seems adequate as a backup and used around $230 vs the Gx85 which is about $350 used but not sure as a backup camera is worth the extra $$ As someday I'll use the G85 as the backup and when I can afford it, the Gh5 my mainstay.

It's 2020, is the GX7 still adequate as a backup or will the GX85 DFD really be important for photographing moving objects? Is $450 a reasonable price for used GX8, all things shutter shock considered?

the gx80/85 is mostly your camera squished into a smaller body.

paying extra for the gx8 I wouldnt/didnt do, I'd love the weather sealing, but like you my bigger camera has that.

ibis in 4k, the gx8 I believe only used it in 1080p (and stills of course), someone correct me if I'm wrong on that, and aside from the shutter shock, I love the g85/gx85 for the soft shutter sound very much.

I think if your g85 still makes you happy a gx85 would do the same in a smaller body, the evf isnt as good in the gx85 but depending on you sensitivity it may still be fine.

Or save and get a G9, unless you're a very serious video person the G9 does a great deal for the price if you can deal with the 30min record limit and 10min in 4k60. Its also somewhat better AF in video and stills with a faster burst make it a great choice for action photography, however it doesnt do birds in flight very well compared to an em5iii or em1ii/iii.

Good luck!

Tom Caldwell wrote:

Is the GX8 actually smaller?

I have the GX85 and GX7 and frankly I use them interchangeably and don’t really notice the difference despite the “updates” they are basically much the same camera in use.

AFAIK these cameras are only “smaller” because they are flat tp humpless and (almost) gripless - they pack in a bag much easier.

Nor would I consider them second-rate as backup.

The GX85 has Dual IS and 4K and overall the interface/options is going to be more similar given it is from the same era as the G85. I remember one sticking point for example is the older cameras like GX7 don't have Auto-ISO in manual mode (but GX85 does, although it still doesn't have EC in manual). You do lose the tilt EVF though.

Do you really need backup camera? And why?

Isonychia wrote:

I have researched this to death. The G85 is my primary for video and action wildlife shooting as well as some starry nights. I am looking for a smaller and cheaper "backup" camera. The Gx8 is obviously the answer having the microphone input but it appears it can no longer be had aside from high connoisseur used pricing. Maybe one day there will be a real replacement. The Gx7 seems adequate as a backup and used around $230 vs the Gx85 which is about $350 used but not sure as a backup camera is worth the extra $$ As someday I'll use the G85 as the backup and when I can afford it, the Gh5 my mainstay.

It's 2020, is the GX7 still adequate as a backup or will the GX85 DFD really be important for photographing moving objects? Is $450 a reasonable price for used GX8, all things shutter shock considered?

I suggest you also look at the G7.

Its design, ergonomy, size and handling are very close to G85, it has 4K features, nice OLED EVF, fast DFD-AF, microphone port, fully articulated screen, same battery as G85, making it worth as a second camera for a G85 owner.

https://www.dpreview.com/products/panasonic/slrs/panasonic_dmcg7/review

As it doesnt have IBIS and may show shutter shock with some lenses, it can be had for very cheap, even new in some countries.

Got mine in 2017, bundled with 14-140. I used it a lot until I bought a new GX8 in a firesale.

Shooting with Pany OIS lenses, I get confident sharp shots at 1/10 at the wide end (12-14), and 1/25 at the long end (100/140). With the e-shutter, there are no shutter shock issues, even with the 14-140, which is said to be very prone to it between 1/60 and 1/320.

Some G7+14/140 in the 1/60 to 1/320 SS from my dpreview gallery:

Some other from my flickr gallery showing OIS effectivity on G7+14-140:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/70066783@N06/32753987767/in/album-72157691094528173/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/70066783@N06/32754065437/in/album-72157691094528173/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/70066783@N06/47697324061/in/album-72157691094528173/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/70066783@N06/32774143157/in/album-72157691094528173/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/70066783@N06/47717974141/in/album-72157691094528173/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/70066783@N06/47665056362/in/album-72157691094528173/

Isonychia wrote:

I have researched this to death. The G85 is my primary for video and action wildlife shooting as well as some starry nights. I am looking for a smaller and cheaper "backup" camera. The Gx8 is obviously the answer having the microphone input but it appears it can no longer be had aside from high connoisseur used pricing. Maybe one day there will be a real replacement. The Gx7 seems adequate as a backup and used around $230 vs the Gx85 which is about $350 used but not sure as a backup camera is worth the extra $$ As someday I'll use the G85 as the backup and when I can afford it, the Gh5 my mainstay.

It's 2020, is the GX7 still adequate as a backup or will the GX85 DFD really be important for photographing moving objects? Is $450 a reasonable price for used GX8, all things shutter shock considered?

Dirt cheap, weather sealed and superb IBIS? I'd look at the M5.2.

Still a great camera, if you don't mind Olympus menus.

You can also hook headphones provided you attach the battery grip to it.

Cheers

JakeJY wrote:

Tom Caldwell wrote:

Is the GX8 actually smaller?

I have the GX85 and GX7 and frankly I use them interchangeably and don’t really notice the difference despite the “updates” they are basically much the same camera in use.

AFAIK these cameras are only “smaller” because they are flat tp humpless and (almost) gripless - they pack in a bag much easier.

Nor would I consider them second-rate as backup.

The GX85 has Dual IS and 4K and overall the interface/options is going to be more similar given it is from the same era as the G85. I remember one sticking point for example is the older cameras like GX7 don't have Auto-ISO in manual mode (but GX85 does, although it still doesn't have EC in manual). You do lose the tilt EVF though.

100%.

More over, the 4K video, 4K photo, post focus, 4 bracketing in stead of 1 on GX7, the fantastic Dial Operation Switch, DFD, and a new m-shutter... Not to mention that removal of AA filter makes SOOC jpg from GX85 visibly sharper. Also the improved jpg engine allows GX85 to use ISO3200, a stop higher than GX7 for cleaner SOOC JPG as well. Then while GX7 can produce hot pixel free image upto <5" without LENR, GX85 can do upto 60".

A lot of  reasons to go for GX85 rather than GX7, except for the upward tilteable evf, deeper hand grip and 12 bits e-shutter.

Not only a backup cam, should also be a reliable one and we are familiar with it.

A few years ago a trip overseas, my main camera dropped into a river. Out of service for 3 whole days, around 1/3 of that trip.

Fortunately I had a backup. Unfortunately the backup was a low end tough camera originally prepared for poolside/beach shooting or compact setup for light using only. When used it as my main camera, slow zoom, slow AF, limited zoom range, difficult to operate, few seconds to save an image... My wife asked me better to throw it away... 😔😪

Lesson learnt, now my backup must be a trusty model that I am happy to use as my main camera.

alcelc wrote:

Not only a backup cam, should also be a reliable one and we are familiar with it.

A few years ago a trip overseas, my main camera dropped into a river. Out of service for 3 whole days, around 1/3 of that trip.

Fortunately I had a backup. Unfortunately the backup was a low end tough camera originally prepared for poolside/beach shooting or compact setup for light using only. When used it as my main camera, slow zoom, slow AF, limited zoom range, difficult to operate, few seconds to save an image... My wife asked me better to throw it away... 😔😪

Lesson learnt, now my backup must be a trusty model that I am happy to use as my main camera.

So, as far as I can see you travel with 2 camera bodies minimum. And of course you keep your travel bag light.

I'm probably older, and I do not travel in wilderness. If something happened to camera, I'll buy "backup" as soon as I get a camera shop - next day is the longest.

Sheers

S.

I know you wanted something smaller, but still, maybe, another G85? Or G7, which is quite a bit lighter.

Second Greek is Perseus.

Dear Tom, we have to move on.

I still love my Nokia 3310, one of my earliest GSM phone. Although I upgraded uncountable number of time among brands, it is still a reliable handset to me unlike others had death battery, death display, rubberized cases... However I can't resist 4G and the forthcoming 5G. It retired many years ago.

I still love my G1 very much since after moving to digital, various compacts couldn't give me the enjoyment on flexibility on lenses of slr. G1 was my first digital ILC that I could enjoy the experience of swapping lenses again. Better than that, I could recalled the good old vintage MF lenses into active uses again.

So like all retire cameras, I keep G1 for appreciation and never sell them. But I know I have more powerful tool to do a job easier and better.

I suppose you still hang on to GM5 just because it has no successor. If there is a newer option, you might go for the new one? 🙂

ATM GX7 is now my backup cam.

Wishing you a merry X'mas.

s_grins wrote:

alcelc wrote:

Not only a backup cam, should also be a reliable one and we are familiar with it.

A few years ago a trip overseas, my main camera dropped into a river. Out of service for 3 whole days, around 1/3 of that trip.

Fortunately I had a backup. Unfortunately the backup was a low end tough camera originally prepared for poolside/beach shooting or compact setup for light using only. When used it as my main camera, slow zoom, slow AF, limited zoom range, difficult to operate, few seconds to save an image... My wife asked me better to throw it away... 😔😪

Lesson learnt, now my backup must be a trusty model that I am happy to use as my main camera.

So, as far as I can see you travel with 2 camera bodies minimum. And of course you keep your travel bag light.

I'm probably older, and I do not travel in wilderness. If something happened to camera, I'll buy "backup" as soon as I get a camera shop - next day is the longest.

Sheers

S.

Yeah well if you are around your home , this is a non issue , but when you travel overseas , it is different

for me even if I am in a studio , I need a back up body . even if a camera does not  die down suddenly on you, there can be other instances like a camera "freeze" or something

in my opinion the best option is to have a identical camera , same make but also same model

Harold

Tom Caldwell wrote:

Brilliant capture of Adonis - I truly like the mobile phone camera efforts that you have captured in the composition. If anything highlights the uselessness of the mobile phone it is the necessary angle of view these wide angled contraptions require that must have produced some quite interesting perspective shots ....

Thank you Tom (and sorry for hijacking this thread, I just wanted to show how good was the G7).

I took several pictures of Michelangelo David, but the one with the mobile phone cameras shooters tells effectively the most interesting story.

I was told Michelangelo was the first sculptor to spend so many hours polishing the Carrare marble.

I added the picture of the beautiful Perseus by Benvenuto Cellini, as I enjoyed playing in lightroom to enhance the subtle bronze shades.

I really enjoy M43 cameras, my GM5 with the kit 12-32 has delivered some pretty nice close-up shots in the crowded museums, with Lightroom helping me to correct the often oblique perspective in such sessions:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/70066783@N06/46780585745/in/album-72157691094528173/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/70066783@N06/40730183313/in/album-72157691094528173/

A hint of the crowd in Uffizi gallery this day:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/70066783@N06/40730335453/in/album-72157691094528173/