Panasonic 20mm 1.7 II - which body?

Put yourself in my shoes - You've read great things about the 20mm Panasonic lens and love the idea of great IQ with a compact body - so you're browsing eBay when you see a 20mm 1.7 MK II , make an offer which is then accepted - problem is you don't have a mft body.

Which inexpensive compact body would you buy - I'm looking at E-P5 vs GX7 - but other suggestions would be welcome

GF7 or if an EVF is essential then a GX80.

Donald M Mackinnon wrote:

Thanks but I'm not sure why you suggest the GF7 over the GX7 - my thinking is firstly aesthetical in that I imagine the 20mm would look clumsy on small body like a GF7.

Also no IS? hence E-P5 or GX7 - not sure about GX80 as I only do jpeg and some on here do not report kindly on GX80 jpeg output

I shoot raw and always process, but the natural profile and monochrome profiles I would shoot jpeg only no problem.

So I'd second the GX80 vote, probably GX80 vs GX7 would be the two I'd look at and compare.

Donald M Mackinnon wrote:

Thanks but I'm not sure why you suggest the GF7 over the GX7 - my thinking is firstly aesthetical in that I imagine the 20mm would look clumsy on small body like a GF7.

Also no IS? hence E-P5 or GX7 - not sure about GX80 as I only do jpeg and some on here do not report kindly on GX80 jpeg output

I use 20/f1.7 on my GF9 often, sometimes taking it as only camera combo for travel. It fits nicely, there is nothing "clumsy" about small lens on the small body.

No IS? No problem, just pretend you are shooting with Fujifilm. 😁

Donald M Mackinnon wrote:

Put yourself in my shoes - You've read great things about the 20mm Panasonic lens and love the idea of great IQ with a compact body - so you're browsing eBay when you see a 20mm 1.7 MK II , make an offer which is then accepted - problem is you don't have a mft body.

Which inexpensive compact body would you buy - I'm looking at E-P5 vs GX7 - but other suggestions would be welcome

I recently sold my 20mm f1.7 II along with my Panasonic GM5 and Panasonic GX7. Also used the 20mm on my GX9. If you want really compact camera with an EVF, then a GM5 in mint condition with the 20mm is actually pocketable. But, the GM5 is hard to find, so the GX7 is another great option. Both cameras use the same processor and sensor, so you would get the same excellent images with either.

Never had an EP5 but I did own an EPL5 for a while and it is also an excellent camera. Unfortunately, as I discovered, any camera without an EVF is a deal breaker for me because I need to put on my reading glasses to clearly see the LCD. So after awhile, glasses on and glasses off got real old and I felt like I was in training with Mr Miaggi.

The GX80/85 has better IBIS than the GX7, but it was a downgrade in several other respects from the GX7 to hit a lower price point. Some differences are listed here: https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/59716801 (one correction: the flash on the GX85 can be tilted).  The GX9 is a real upgrade over both of them.

I can't compare the GX7 and GX80/85 in terms of jpgs. I still like my GX7, and it's a fine match for the 20mm lens.

Not a Oly user, so concentrate on Panny.

I would say GX85 instead of GX7.

Reasons:

5-axis IBIS for the non stabilized 20 f/1.7. Could expect 2~3 stops of effective stabilization. GX7 has a very primitive IBIS (first Panny has IBIS), which is jist better than nothing only.

Removal of AA filter on GX85' sensor making it a lot sharper on SOOC than GX7. Panny said about 10% sharper. In my experience the effect could be more.

A stop higher ISO (3200 of GX85 vs 1600 of GX7) to me (on SOOC JPG basis).

GX85 is 4K ready, support tye high speed shooting (4K Photo mode), a few very useful features...

Only drawback on GX85 (to me) are: fixed evf and 10bits e-shutter.

If the price difference is small, GX85 could be a better option.

Donald M Mackinnon wrote:

Put yourself in my shoes - You've read great things about the 20mm Panasonic lens and love the idea of great IQ with a compact body - so you're browsing eBay when you see a 20mm 1.7 MK II , make an offer which is then accepted - problem is you don't have a mft body.

Which inexpensive compact body would you buy - I'm looking at E-P5 vs GX7 - but other suggestions would be welcome

Personally - although a fine camera mechanically - I would avoid the E-P5, whose processing engine predated the introduction of chromatic aberration correction (which didn't arrive until TruePic VII, in the later - original - E-M1).

See...

http://homepages.ihug.com.au/~parsog/olyepl1/80-Oly-timeline.html

Haven't used the P5 and 20mm in settings that create such problems, but have encountered them with other lenses attached - particularly the Lumix 14mm f2.5 and Oly's own 9-18mm WA zoom, and even the 12/60 Lumix kitlens.

In this one, not only the reddish and greenish edges of ordinary CA but also the much more annoying purple against the bright sky - both curable on resorting to Lightroom...

The E-PL8 might be of interest? Can even use it with an addon EVF - if you later decide you need one - the VF-4, based around the same unit used in the E-M1.

Peter

Donald M Mackinnon wrote:

Interesting the E-PL8 should be mentioned as I have just been looking at it as an option - good IBIS and IQ

Perhaps not perfect and (especially if also carrying the separate EVF and flash) not very light - but it is an enjoyable camera to use!

Imaging Resource have a good field report, here...

https://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/olympus-e-pl8/olympus-e-pl8A.HTM

Don't think he mentioned it but hidden away there's a useful anti-shock setting, to circumvent the sort of problems faced by several cameras of that era...

Peter

Donald M Mackinnon wrote:

Thanks but I'm not sure why you suggest the GF7 over the GX7 - my thinking is firstly aesthetical in that I imagine the 20mm would look clumsy on small body like a GF7.

I have GM1/5 and GF7 plus G80/G9 and, recently, added GX80. The 20mm, being compact, makes a pocketable combo on the GF7. At 20mm, IS is less important. The GX80 does have IS and, of course, the EVF.

Also no IS? hence E-P5 or GX7 - not sure about GX80 as I only do jpeg and some on here do not report kindly on GX80 jpeg output

Not sure why the GX80 JPEGs would be inferior to the GX7 but I’ve not used one so can’t compare. Also, I always shoot Jpeg+RAW

uniball wrote:

Donald M Mackinnon wrote:

Thanks but I'm not sure why you suggest the GF7 over the GX7 - my thinking is firstly aesthetical in that I imagine the 20mm would look clumsy on small body like a GF7.

Also no IS? hence E-P5 or GX7 - not sure about GX80 as I only do jpeg and some on here do not report kindly on GX80 jpeg output

It certainly looks and feels clumsy on my GM1. Mine lives on a GX85, now GX9. Balances well, slow focus, lovely render.

I bet the 14mm is a winner on the gm1/5, about as small as lenses (with AF) get