Still Using the GX7

There used to be a few more Panasonic posters a while back but they seem to have disappeared.

I guess that I was too busy using my camera and got to the party just as everyone was leaving. I did post some prayer flags in honour of the GM5

Maybe lurking is better than posting

I'm still using one and most likely it will become my main ILC if I go ahead with my plans to sell my G9, which is a great camera technically but simply too large for my current purposes; I have recently decided that if I have to carry a body that big it may as well be FF.

I'm toying with the idea of selling the GX7 as well in order to upgrade, but it works well and is a good travel camera.

Pete_W wrote:

NorCal Jim wrote:

Although I am perfectly happy with my older Olympus cameras ( 2 x Pen E-P5s, E-M5ii and Pen-F), I have considered getting an updated Panasonic camera with the features that I liked most in my GH3. The G95 had these features but spoiled them with low battery life and excessive crop in 4k video and slow motion video.

I read this a lot (i.e. low battery life on the G95) but as an owner of this model, it's not been my experience.

I'm not saying that the CIPA ratings are wrong, but I guess it comes down to how the camera is used. I shoot mainly stills, I don't chimp between shots and have the auto-review turned off, and I switch the camera off if there is going to be a few minutes before I am likely to take my next shot. It starts up so quickly that turning off isn't a problem.

Hi, Pete!

Thanks for your comments.  Battery life was one of the many things that I liked about the GH3.  So, when I saw the external control layout that looked so much like the GH3 but with updated tech, I was very impressed.  I was further impressed with no artificial video recording limit (all of my cameras have this limit).  The pairing of a camera with no video recording limit with a battery that can't take better advantage of the no recording limit is off-putting.  For your application, the battery capacity doesn't impact you negatively.  For one who wants to use the video function, it would.

There is something else that bothers me with a company that has repeatedly demonstrated the ability to equip its GH cameras (that have a similar profile to the G95) with large batteries and yet decides to reduce the size of the battery in the G95.  I understand that manufactures want to preserve a distinction between their flagship and their lower tier cameras, but I don't think hobbling a lower tier camera is the way to go about preserving that distinction.  I want to see the manufacturer's best effort in the cameras they produce.

Jim

FadedPhotoGuy wrote:

Anyone else still using the GX7? I actually 'downgraded' from the GX85 which in many (most) ways is a superior camera because the ergonomics of the GX7 are just so much better for me. Honestly, in the unlikely event there is ever a GX10 I hope Panasonic looks backwards as to how a body and controls should be shaped.

I still use the GX7. Overall, it's a fine camera. Sure, something newer would be...newer. Unless the image quality is significantly better it's a big investment. Otherwise it's a big investment for a new feature or two.

Just to add to this, I still have and use my GX1. What a sweet little camera.

I do miss my GH3, though. I used that camera (hard) until the rear display start to get fussy. Great handling camera, but very different from my GX7. I should replace it someday, but I'm not capturing much video these days.

I don't chase new cameras "just because" and Panasonic cameras evolve at their own pace.

jeffharris wrote:

tashiacis wrote:

There used to be a few more Panasonic posters a while back but they seem to have disappeared.

I guess that I was too busy using my camera and got to the party just as everyone was leaving. I did post some prayer flags in honour of the GM5

Maybe lurking is better than posting

There are so many tedious and repetitive threads here, I prefer lurking to posting these days.

Also, with the serious dearth of new M4/3 hardware releases, aside from cheap knock-off manual lenses, the reason to come here has receded.

So you are only interested in new camera releases. Hmm!  Is the GH5II, GH6, OM-1 not sufficient for this quarter of the year so far? Is the G9 and other models such as the Olympus E-M1X just too old hat and boring for you?

The most repetitive posts here just now are about the new O-M1, because it is a new release that many seam to be particularly interested in but can’t get their hands on. That is surely to be expected. Nobody is forced to read them of course and most have an obvious subject line so can easily be ignored.

After a few years reading posts, it is inevitable that people get bored with content as they have heard and seen so much of it before. The same can be said of any magazine and I used to subscribe to quite a few car ones. No longer though, as they do indeed bore me these days.  So don’t feel bad about it but don’t blame the forum either, it’s just that we’ve been there and done that, kind of.

jeffharris wrote:

FadedPhotoGuy wrote:

Anyone else still using the GX7? I actually 'downgraded' from the GX85 which in many (most) ways is a superior camera because the ergonomics of the GX7 are just so much better for me. Honestly, in the unlikely event there is ever a GX10 I hope Panasonic looks backwards as to how a body and controls should be shaped.

I finally just sold my GX7. Even though I really liked it during the few years I used it. After I upgraded to the GX8, every time I picked up the GX7, which wasn't often, I put it down and got my GX8. It's flat out better in so MANY ways!

I definitely know what you mean about the GX7's handling. It's SO much better than the GX85 or GX9. In some respects, especially ergonomically, both were real downgrades from the GX7. I suppose the grip was too expensive to produce, or something.

Hopefully Panasonic sees fit to produce a GX8 version 2, not another GX7-series camera.

I have the cheapish JJC grip on my GX80 [GX85] and it also fits the GX9. It is advertised mostly as a grip for the GX9.  It makes a big difference to the camera's handling

So you are only interested in new camera releases. Hmm! Is the GH5II, GH6, OM-1 not sufficient for this quarter of the year so far? Is the G9 and other models such as the Olympus E-M1X just too old hat and boring for you?

Sure but I  think that the poster is referring to something akin to the Panasonics such as GX7 , GX9 style of camera. Yes OM did release a EP7 but that has no VF and was limited in its worldwide release.

larsbc wrote:

FadedPhotoGuy wrote:

Anyone else still using the GX7? I actually 'downgraded' from the GX85 which in many (most) ways is a superior camera because the ergonomics of the GX7 are just so much better for me. Honestly, in the unlikely event there is ever a GX10 I hope Panasonic looks backwards as to how a body and controls should be shaped.

I absolutely agree. While I have sold my GX7 and replaced it with a GX9, I do feel that Panasonic nailed the ergonomics with the GX7 and neither of the subsequent models can match it. They should also skip the retro look and get rid of the exp comp dial or at the very least, move it so that the rear command dial falls naturally under the thumb, just like it does on the GX7.

That’s where the E-M10 beats it. The dials are prominent, ergonomically placed from the Mkii onwards, and easily adjusted.

Panasonic deep menu is superior although both have great quick menu’s and touch panels.

There is something very sexy about the current Panasonic, from GX80 onwards, shutter sound that is irresistible.

Isola Verde wrote:

I'm also left-eyed, and defy anyone right-eyed to try using the EVF of any of these cameras my way for a day's outing!

A central or RHS EVF would be most appreciated.

Odd thing to say since the viewfinders are hard on the left on these cameras and therefore suit right eye viewing better than left eye viewing. I’m puzzled.

.................

[ Edited to add: I still very much want to see another "range-finder" style camera from Panasonic and....]

What else I would like to see on any GX10 - if a 7-grip clone doesn't suit everyone - would be the sort of screw-on additional grip that Olympus provided for cameras such as the PL5 (but with two or even three "depths" to span the different sizes of hand).

Something along the lines, if a little less gross, than was proposed in this old thread..

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/3360566

Peter

Panasonic did offer a ridiculously expensive grip for the GX85 and GX9 but JJC make a very good one for less cost

https://www.amazon.co.uk/JJC-DMW-HGR2-Panasonic-DMC-GX80-DC-GX9-GX9-GX80-GX85/dp/B0833YJX2Q

tashiacis wrote:

So you are only interested in new camera releases. Hmm! Is the GH5II, GH6, OM-1 not sufficient for this quarter of the year so far? Is the G9 and other models such as the Olympus E-M1X just too old hat and boring for you?

Sure but I think that the poster is referring to something akin to the Panasonics such as GX7 , GX9 style of camera. Yes OM did release a EP7 but that has no VF and was limited in its worldwide release.

The big thing in the camera world at the moment is ‘mirrorless’. In the M4/3 world this is old hat of course and the system is fairly mature, which I reckon is a ‘good thing’. So while all the latest stuff may be new and exciting to some brand owners, there’s only incremental changes to M4/3 cameras. To those that are new to the format of course, this is again all new, mysterious and exciting.

The main thing I would wish for is that Panasonic make their GX line weather resistant like the E-M5 line, and build in a grip up the front right, as they do on the G series but without growing the overall size much. Basically build in the JJC type optional grip as part of the body. For this smaller range of cameras, the GX, they really should not grow any bigger. The bigger models are well represented already. They shouldn’t waste their time on 6K or 8K video on these either. 1080P is the most that the majority use in practice but simple 4K modes are good. Leave the specialist stuff to the GH models.

Aberaeron wrote:

larsbc wrote:

FadedPhotoGuy wrote:

Anyone else still using the GX7? I actually 'downgraded' from the GX85 which in many (most) ways is a superior camera because the ergonomics of the GX7 are just so much better for me. Honestly, in the unlikely event there is ever a GX10 I hope Panasonic looks backwards as to how a body and controls should be shaped.

I absolutely agree. While I have sold my GX7 and replaced it with a GX9, I do feel that Panasonic nailed the ergonomics with the GX7 and neither of the subsequent models can match it. They should also skip the retro look and get rid of the exp comp dial or at the very least, move it so that the rear command dial falls naturally under the thumb, just like it does on the GX7.

That’s where the E-M10 beats it. The dials are prominent, ergonomically placed from the Mkii onwards, and easily adjusted.

In terms of the control dials, I agree.  But I really hate the power button placement on the EM10 (and on the EM5.2 that I had).