Still Using the GX7

Trevor Carpenter wrote:

I've owned 10 Panny cameras and the only one I didn't love was the GX7. It worked OK, took decent pictures it just didn't give me that buzz.

It’s the only one I kept. Funny how different it can go.

2022 birds here
https://photos.app.goo.gl/Re2apxHeTvjfWwdX9
https://photos.app.goo.gl/icaW1QuPjmL6KpUG7
Some 2021 birds and another couple of non bird folders here
https://photos.app.goo.gl/2f8EfHRBJ3cZUpi59
https://photos.app.goo.gl/3XVgSVTZhPeMDea56
https://photos.app.goo.gl/sz5qxnChtabDnyDC7
https://photos.app.goo.gl/fechw9ho1YTDyEdE6

tashiacis wrote:

FadedPhotoGuy wrote:

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.

Nine years on my GX7 is still being used if it stops working I will take my Pen F that I bought in Tuva a few years ago out of its box and use that.

Why would you leave a good camera like the Pen-F in its box just gathering dust? Cameras are tools meant to be used. No? Why not use it? Or are you afraid it might get scratched and depreciate in value?🤔  
JMHO, cameras are not to be considered trophies.

tashiacis wrote:

one blind eye wrote:

tashiacis wrote:

FadedPhotoGuy wrote:

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.

Nine years on my GX7 is still being used if it stops working I will take my Pen F that I bought in Tuva a few years ago out of its box and use that.

Why would you leave a good camera like the Pen-F in its box just gathering dust? Cameras are tools meant to be used. No? Why not use it? Or are you afraid it might get scratched and depreciate in value?🤔
JMHO, cameras are not to be considered trophies.

If you know where Tuva is you you understand the price.

I received a brand new unopened Contax T3 from a uncle about 10 years ago it sat in the box until my Contax T2 gave up the ghost in January this year . I had the pleasure of opening and using a brand new film camera.

The same will happen to the Pen F

ps scratches and dings is a apt description of my cameras, they have no resale value whatsoever

Now I understand. Since you are in the Russian Federation, the value of your brand new in box Pen-F will only go up in value the more you keep it  considering the sanctions and devaluation of the ruble.   I hop you will eventually enjoy the Pen-F.  It’s a wonderful camera to use.

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 have three that I haven't yet found time to sell on eBay. Yes, the grip was better than the GX85 and GX9, but the GX9 is a better camera in so many other ways that it's now my default mini camera for casual carry.

Kiev I 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 purchased a GX7 recently and I am starting to know it. This is my first in the "rangefinder style". My first impression was a strong issue with the gripping, too small for my giant hands and no much to hold with the right hand. Yet I added a small bracket on the right side and now it is better. With the bracket included the size is alike the old Leica M3.

A GX8 might be your Goldilocks camera, with its slightly larger grip, much bigger EVF and higher-resolution sensor. I love mine so much I can't bring myself to sell it, even though I use my GX9 or a7RIII all the time now. The GX8 actually has more room on its grip than my a7RIII. GX8 owners around here seem to be die-hard fans.

Jacques Cornell wrote:

Kiev I 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 purchased a GX7 recently and I am starting to know it. This is my first in the "rangefinder style". My first impression was a strong issue with the gripping, too small for my giant hands and no much to hold with the right hand. Yet I added a small bracket on the right side and now it is better. With the bracket included the size is alike the old Leica M3.

A GX8 might be your Goldilocks camera, with its slightly larger grip, much bigger EVF and higher-resolution sensor. I love mine so much I can't bring myself to sell it, even though I use my GX9 or a7RIII all the time now. The GX8 actually has more room on its grip than my a7RIII. GX8 owners around here seem to be die-hard fans.

I just bought a brand new GX8 to replace the one I bought in 2015.

Handling, ergonomics, external controls and, YES, the EVF are far superior to the GX7-series cameras. Add an external grip to a GX9 or GX80/85 and the size and weight are nearly identical to the GX8 without the advantages.

OK, the IBIS and the mechanical shutter are slightly better, but not enough to counter the GX8 advantages.

The GX8 is a GREAT camera. STILL!

My wife and I got lucky last November to make plans to go to Portugal in what turned out to be a brief gap between two surges in infections. Great trip. We were impressed by Portugal’s very high vaccination rate and universal compliance with mask requirements on buses and trains.  We felt safe from infection and in every other way as well.  We almost missed our outward flight (from the US) because of technical issues with the Portuguese Government locator system.  You have to take those hurdles seriously.   Getting a test the day before we left Lisbon was very easy and inexpensive.

Portugal is a great place for travel photography, though my choice of cameras (Olympus TG6 and Ricoh GR) for minimal size and weight, turned out not to be ideal.

Of relevance here is that I just exchanged the Ricoh and a Canon Rebel (that I thought would be good for travel but had too many limitations)  for an Fuji x100S. I used it for a trip to NYC last weekend but the autofocus was terrible and metering unreliable. So I returned it early last week for a GX7, 12-32mm and a 20mm f/1.7.   They should arrive in about a week. Part of me thinks it is crazy buying a 10 year old camera but the GX7 is the right size, reportedly has great low light focusing, very fast focusing for photography, a flip screen (wanted one for quite a while), a high flash sync speed for fill flash, an inexpensive, apparently decent quality zoom (also have been wanting a very compact standard zoom for a long while) and various other features.   I just hope IQ is decent.  It is not a big financial investment but it is a significant investment of time and mental energy to learn a new system.  I remain optimistic but part of me thinks I am nuts thinking this will work!  This thread is making me feel more confident though.

I still have and use a Canon 5D that is approaching its 20th birthday. Sometimes I get too ambitious with it and get nothing but mush but in good light, results from its 12MP sensor are excellent.  So maybe is younger cousin the GX7 will do OK!

2ndact scene1 wrote:

My wife and I got lucky last November to make plans to go to Portugal in what turned out to be a brief gap between two surges in infections. Great trip. We were impressed by Portugal’s very high vaccination rate and universal compliance with mask requirements on buses and trains. We felt safe from infection and in every other way as well. We almost missed our outward flight (from the US) because of technical issues with the Portuguese Government locator system. You have to take those hurdles seriously. Getting a test the day before we left Lisbon was very easy and inexpensive.

Portugal is a great place for travel photography, though my choice of cameras (Olympus TG6 and Ricoh GR) for minimal size and weight, turned out not to be ideal.

Of relevance here is that I just exchanged the Ricoh and a Canon Rebel (that I thought would be good for travel but had too many limitations) for an Fuji x100S. I used it for a trip to NYC last weekend but the autofocus was terrible and metering unreliable. So I returned it early last week for a GX7, 12-32mm and a 20mm f/1.7. They should arrive in about a week. Part of me thinks it is crazy buying a 10 year old camera but the GX7 is the right size, reportedly has great low light focusing, very fast focusing for photography, a flip screen (wanted one for quite a while), a high flash sync speed for fill flash, an inexpensive, apparently decent quality zoom (also have been wanting a very compact standard zoom for a long while) and various other features. I just hope IQ is decent. It is not a big financial investment but it is a significant investment of time and mental energy to learn a new system. I remain optimistic but part of me thinks I am nuts thinking this will work! This thread is making me feel more confident though.

I still have and use a Canon 5D that is approaching its 20th birthday. Sometimes I get too ambitious with it and get nothing but mush but in good light, results from its 12MP sensor are excellent. So maybe is younger cousin the GX7 will do OK!

The GX7 is a good camera, but are you not concerned about the shutter shock?
Or do you just use electronic all the time?

Enjoy. It’s a nice camera.

BTW, I’m thinking of having mine converted to shoot IR.

OBE

I haven’t heard much about that.  Not a single review I have read or YouTube video I have seen, including the “is the GX7 still good in 2019, 2020, 2021” variety has mentioned it.  But as Panasonic redesigned the shutter on later models, there must be some fire along with a lot of smoke.  Yes, electronic shutter is an option but finding out which lenses and which shutter speeds are impacted will be the first step. I understand it effects zooms more than primes? If it is an issue, I will be back here asking questions and researching posts from the last 9 years!

2ndact scene1 wrote:

I haven’t heard much about that. Not a single review I have read or YouTube video I have seen, including the “is the GX7 still good in 2019, 2020, 2021” variety has mentioned it. But as Panasonic redesigned the shutter on later models, there must be some fire along with a lot of smoke. Yes, electronic shutter is an option but finding out which lenses and which shutter speeds are impacted will be the first step. I understand it effects zooms more than primes? If it is an issue, I will be back here asking questions and researching posts from the last 9 years!

I found that the 14-140mm f3.5-5.6 (version 1) showed a bit of shutter shock at lower shutter speeds. I think it was 1/80th or something around there. Probably a bit higher and slower, too. (The GX8 was 1/60th to about 1/250.) I used Silent Mode 95% of the time, so it was rarely an issue.

Unless you're shooting moving things or inside moving things, the electronic shutter is great. OR if any artificial lighting is causing banding.

Also, the GX7 (GX8, too) outputs 12-bit files when the electronic shutter is active. I'm pretty sure the GX80/85 only outputs 10-bit files. Not sure about the GX9.

thinkinginimages wrote:

I've never run into "shutter shock" with my GX7 or any of my lenses.

I think it's pretty minor. A rarity.

Pretty much any mechanical shutter can produce it under the right (or wrong?) circumstances. It gets assigned to M4/3 because of general hatred of the system for whatever reason.

You've read the reviews where minuscule "problems" are blown out of proportion then magnified by non-users.

thinkinginimages wrote:

I think there might be conditional cases with any camera system. My running guess is that it shows up when the variables line up just right.

Shutter shock is certainly not a new "thing". If anyone wants to see a camera "jump" try an old Mamiya RB67. Granted that's more "mirror shock", but the concept is the same.

My Pentax 67 was the worst.  The cameras shutter would make the camera recoil like  a magnum 357.  Could not shot the camera during wedding services.  It sounded like a gun going off.  😁

one blind eye wrote:

thinkinginimages wrote:

I think there might be conditional cases with any camera system. My running guess is that it shows up when the variables line up just right.

Shutter shock is certainly not a new "thing". If anyone wants to see a camera "jump" try an old Mamiya RB67. Granted that's more "mirror shock", but the concept is the same.

My Pentax 67 was the worst. The cameras shutter would make the camera recoil like a magnum 357. Could not shot the camera during wedding services. It sounded like a gun going off. 😁

I've been to concerts where a photographer is wandering around with their camera in a big soundproofed box to mask that DSLR shutter ka-CHUNK sound! Looks really silly.

jeffharris wrote:

thinkinginimages wrote:

I've never run into "shutter shock" with my GX7 or any of my lenses.

I think it's pretty minor. A rarity.

Pretty much any mechanical shutter can produce it under the right (or wrong?) circumstances. It gets assigned to M4/3 because of general hatred of the system for whatever reason.

You've read the reviews where minuscule "problems" are blown out of proportion then magnified by non-users.

Most of my experience is with Canon and Canon has been using Electronic First Curtain Shutter (EFCS) for decades to eliminate shutter shock. A year or so ago there was one of those passionate DPREVIEW forum debates in the Canon M forum about EFCS having a negative impact on bokeh and why does Canon make EFCS mandatory etc. The M6ii apparently was the first Canon camera that made EFCS optional or just eliminated it all together. So the pro EFCS/anti shutter shock forces duked it with the anti EFCS forces/pro Bokeh forces. My main takeaway was that actual research into shutter shock without EFCS showed it was rare and was limited to just a few zoom lenses (which in the EF-M system could be most of the ones available!) and rarely occurred with prime lenses.

So I am not worried. In fact, I just made a credit card payment to MPB in Brooklyn and my GX7 should be on its way to me in a couple of days.