Upgraded. GX85 to GX9

I've had my GX85 since it came out, nearly 6 years, and I've been happy with it.  On paper the GX9 wasn't enough to get me to upgrade.  But I had a good year with online image sales so I thought I'd give it a try - extra cash lying around.  I found an open box unit, shutter count 55, including the add-on grip for $500.  I couldn't say no.  It arrived just like a new one.

I do like the noticeable things - the tilting viewfinder like my old GX7 had, tweaks with buttons & dials, better menus and a few more megapixels.  They add up to a more enjoyable experience.  But the big one, for me, was the understated JPEG engine update.

I've shot raw exclusively for many years.  With every camera I purchase I shoot raw + JPEG for a while, I tweak the raws and compare.  The OOC JPEGs have never been able to satisfy me so I use only raw.  But the GX9 is a game-changer for me.  WOW!  I could go on about why it makes such a difference in my workflow, but suffice to say it's big.  Happy camper.

nevada5 wrote:

I've had my GX85 since it came out, nearly 6 years, and I've been happy with it. On paper the GX9 wasn't enough to get me to upgrade. But I had a good year with online image sales so I thought I'd give it a try - extra cash lying around. I found an open box unit, shutter count 55, including the add-on grip for $500. I couldn't say no. It arrived just like a new one.

I do like the noticeable things - the tilting viewfinder like my old GX7 had, tweaks with buttons & dials, better menus and a few more megapixels. They add up to a more enjoyable experience. But the big one, for me, was the understated JPEG engine update.

I've shot raw exclusively for many years. With every camera I purchase I shoot raw + JPEG for a while, I tweak the raws and compare. The OOC JPEGs have never been able to satisfy me so I use only raw. But the GX9 is a game-changer for me. WOW! I could go on about why it makes such a difference in my workflow, but suffice to say it's big. Happy camper.

Over the years, I've mostly enjoyed this series of cameras...

GX80 - bought unseen, tempted by a promo offer, but sold quite quickly afterwards (wrongly thinking the E-M10ii might better suit a left-handed & left eyed user)

GX7 - kept, a much-loved joy to shoot with!

GX9 - quite an improvement

GX80 - turns out to be the most convenient of three for day-to-day use.

Altogether a nice trio - but raising repeated "which to take" problems!

Peter

Still loving my Gx85, but then I have 2 g9's:)

Jeff4500 wrote:

Still loving my Gx85, but then I have 2 g9's:)

Way too big for an amateur like me!

My Lumix "second cameras" - as backup and for evenings etc - have been their GF7 (two: one kept, one passed on to a good friend), the GM1 (sold as stupidly small with a fixed screen) and most recently their marvellous pocket-rocket, the GX800/GX850.

May not be quite as lovely to hold to behold and to use as the GF7, but very much my "camera to grab if the house is on fire" choice!

Peter

.

I've shot raw exclusively for many years. With every camera I purchase I shoot raw + JPEG for a while, I tweak the raws and compare. The OOC JPEGs have never been able to satisfy me so I use only raw. But the GX9 is a game-changer for me. WOW! I could go on about why it makes such a difference in my workflow, but suffice to say it's big. Happy camper.

Agree! Love my GX9 and the jpgs are indeed a very nice improvement over the GX80/85, color wise. To the point where I prefer them over Canon, Sony and -yes- Olympus. Perhaps I should say 'on par' with Canon, which I typically also like.

That said, I do like the operation of the camera too (more than the APSC competitors I tried), and with a grip the handling with larger lenses is perfectly fine.

Congrats with the upgrade, enjoy it!

When I added the Gx9, I kept the Gx85. I keep the 100-400 on the 9 and the 12-35 on the 85.

The 200-600 stays on the a7Riii.

Isola Verde wrote:

nevada5 wrote:

I've had my GX85 since it came out, nearly 6 years, and I've been happy with it. On paper the GX9 wasn't enough to get me to upgrade. But I had a good year with online image sales so I thought I'd give it a try - extra cash lying around. I found an open box unit, shutter count 55, including the add-on grip for $500. I couldn't say no. It arrived just like a new one.

I do like the noticeable things - the tilting viewfinder like my old GX7 had, tweaks with buttons & dials, better menus and a few more megapixels. They add up to a more enjoyable experience. But the big one, for me, was the understated JPEG engine update.

I've shot raw exclusively for many years. With every camera I purchase I shoot raw + JPEG for a while, I tweak the raws and compare. The OOC JPEGs have never been able to satisfy me so I use only raw. But the GX9 is a game-changer for me. WOW! I could go on about why it makes such a difference in my workflow, but suffice to say it's big. Happy camper.

Over the years, I've mostly enjoyed this series of cameras...

GX80 - bought unseen, tempted by a promo offer, but sold quite quickly afterwards (wrongly thinking the E-M10ii might better suit a left-handed & left eyed user)

GX7 - kept, a much-loved joy to shoot with!

GX9 - quite an improvement

GX80 - turns out to be the most convenient of three for day-to-day use.

Altogether a nice trio - but raising repeated "which to take" problems!

Peter

I spent several hours one afternoon on the balcony of my friend's condo looking across the East River toward Manhattan making controlled, tripod-mounted test shots of almost every camera and lens in my gear list. The results were interesting. Among them, I found that the GX9 offers visibly better resolution and detail than my GX7, GX8 and GX85, thanks to 1) the absence of an AA filter, and 2) the 20MP sensor. This prompted me to make the GX9 my minimum requirement for lightweight but committed photo outings. For more casual use, I take my LX100, and for ambitious work I bring my a7RIII. I'll be selling off the others.

FWIW, in terms of resolution, the tiny, affordable 12-32/3.5-5.6 and 35-100/4.0-5.6 held up surprisingly well against my f2.8 zooms, my 14-140/3.5-5.6, and even most of my MFT primes. Not quite as good, but definitely good enough to deliver excellent IQ from the GX9's sensor. The GX9 with these two zooms is now my casual-but-serious lightweight kit for use in decent light.

Jeff4500 wrote:

Still loving my Gx85, but then I have 2 g9's:)

Likewise. The gx80 is still my 'little' wonder. but I do also have to G9s to enjoy.

For the past 10 days offsite I traveled with the GX80 alone and a handful of small lenses.

That was a liberating moment for me :).

As for the GX9, I guess i belong to that (small?) portion of unsatisfied users.

I purchased two and both of them had a heavily underperforming (malfunctioning ?) IBIS.

Didn't want to give it a third try

Totally agree about the jpeg engine and another feature I like is the in camera charging.

Had a fair few m4/3 cameras and the GX9 is my favourite especially for travelling. Even better since I paired it with the 12-45, its the perfect combination. One other bonus and this goes for m4/3 in general has been the advent of DxO PureRaw.

One thing I would like is the inclusion of a remote shutter release jack. I have heard people say the ibis doesn't work, but never seen that problem. Ok not as effective as the G9, but still very decent and wouldn't want to be without it.

Jacques Cornell wrote:

Isola Verde wrote:

nevada5 wrote:

I've had my GX85 since it came out, nearly 6 years, and I've been happy with it. On paper the GX9 wasn't enough to get me to upgrade. But I had a good year with online image sales so I thought I'd give it a try - extra cash lying around. I found an open box unit, shutter count 55, including the add-on grip for $500. I couldn't say no. It arrived just like a new one.

I do like the noticeable things - the tilting viewfinder like my old GX7 had, tweaks with buttons & dials, better menus and a few more megapixels. They add up to a more enjoyable experience. But the big one, for me, was the understated JPEG engine update.

I've shot raw exclusively for many years. With every camera I purchase I shoot raw + JPEG for a while, I tweak the raws and compare. The OOC JPEGs have never been able to satisfy me so I use only raw. But the GX9 is a game-changer for me. WOW! I could go on about why it makes such a difference in my workflow, but suffice to say it's big. Happy camper.

Over the years, I've mostly enjoyed this series of cameras...

GX80 - bought unseen, tempted by a promo offer, but sold quite quickly afterwards (wrongly thinking the E-M10ii might better suit a left-handed & left eyed user)

GX7 - kept, a much-loved joy to shoot with!

GX9 - quite an improvement

GX80 - turns out to be the most convenient of three for day-to-day use.

Altogether a nice trio - but raising repeated "which to take" problems!

Peter

I spent several hours one afternoon on the balcony of my friend's condo looking across the East River toward Manhattan making controlled, tripod-mounted test shots of almost every camera and lens in my gear list. The results were interesting. Among them, I found that the GX9 offers visibly better resolution and detail than my GX7, GX8 and GX85, thanks to 1) the absence of an AA filter, and 2) the 20MP sensor.

Just to outline that the GX80/85 does also lack the AA filter.

i do understand the extra resolution but honestly, i wouldn't write home about it.

what to me makes moire sense is the updated jpeg engire which does, in fact, mimic G9s. G9 has a wonderful color rendition. better than my other Olympus cameras, including that 20mp jewel of the PEN-F..

It might have well been that the 3rd attempt turned fine. I got lazy after i purchased my first G9...

I really like the Gx9 factor, though.

Oh well, i never know. Maybe i will be tempted again

I did the same thing a couple years ago after the GX85 being my daily driver since release. I don't own the GX9 anymore, and transitioned over to what is (currently) a preference for SLR-placed EVFs (hence the EM5 mkII). But the files out of the GX9 are fantastic. Standard JPEG, with -1 saturation is capable of a wonderful gently old-timey look, and of course L Monochrome D with a little grain is really beautiful. And the RAWs are really very good. It's a "jack-of-all-trades" camera that manages to miss a little in ergonomics and overall feel for me, but certainly does a lot of things better than nearly anyone gives it credit for.

Felice62 wrote:

Jacques Cornell wrote:

Isola Verde wrote:

nevada5 wrote:

I've had my GX85 since it came out, nearly 6 years, and I've been happy with it. On paper the GX9 wasn't enough to get me to upgrade. But I had a good year with online image sales so I thought I'd give it a try - extra cash lying around. I found an open box unit, shutter count 55, including the add-on grip for $500. I couldn't say no. It arrived just like a new one.

I do like the noticeable things - the tilting viewfinder like my old GX7 had, tweaks with buttons & dials, better menus and a few more megapixels. They add up to a more enjoyable experience. But the big one, for me, was the understated JPEG engine update.

I've shot raw exclusively for many years. With every camera I purchase I shoot raw + JPEG for a while, I tweak the raws and compare. The OOC JPEGs have never been able to satisfy me so I use only raw. But the GX9 is a game-changer for me. WOW! I could go on about why it makes such a difference in my workflow, but suffice to say it's big. Happy camper.

Over the years, I've mostly enjoyed this series of cameras...

GX80 - bought unseen, tempted by a promo offer, but sold quite quickly afterwards (wrongly thinking the E-M10ii might better suit a left-handed & left eyed user)

GX7 - kept, a much-loved joy to shoot with!

GX9 - quite an improvement

GX80 - turns out to be the most convenient of three for day-to-day use.

Altogether a nice trio - but raising repeated "which to take" problems!

Peter

I spent several hours one afternoon on the balcony of my friend's condo looking across the East River toward Manhattan making controlled, tripod-mounted test shots of almost every camera and lens in my gear list. The results were interesting. Among them, I found that the GX9 offers visibly better resolution and detail than my GX7, GX8 and GX85, thanks to 1) the absence of an AA filter, and 2) the 20MP sensor.

Just to outline that the GX80/85 does also lack the AA filter.

Yes, but it's a 16MP sensor. The GX9 is 20MP.

i do understand the extra resolution but honestly, i wouldn't write home about it.

It's not dramatic, but 20MP helps if you're making 24" prints of detailed subjects. It's pretty competitive with my 24MP a7III at base ISO. The difference between the others and my a7III is more stark.

what to me makes moire sense is the updated jpeg engire which does, in fact, mimic G9s. G9 has a wonderful color rendition. better than my other Olympus cameras, including that 20mp jewel of the PEN-F..