GX8 v GX9 for image quality only

[jeffharris]

Photongraphy wrote:b

OP asks a question [IQ (only!)], and a lot of opinions follow on totally unrelated aspects of the gear in question [lenses, EVF, etc]... only 1 or 2 bother to answer the question. Probably with the best intentions, but it is remarkable.

Welcome to the DPREVIEW M4/3 Forum. You must be new here. Spinning off in different directions or simply ignoring the OP’s initial question are typical here.

As far as the OP’s question, I’d prefer a better handling camera (GX8) that’s a real pleasure to use, to one with perhaps marginally better image quality (GX9).

The lack of an AA filter producing slightly “better” images is debatable. Maybe if I were a chronic 300%+ pixel peeper it might matter. It doesn’t.

The terrible EVF and not very good ergonomics immediately disqualify the GX9 in my book. The GX8 is simply a much better all-around camera. EVF, external controls, weather sealing…

Good light, good composition, better lenses, or just plain being a better photographer mean a whole lot more.

 

[Marty4650]

You can bring either camera. Both are capable of taking great photos. I know this because I live pretty close to the Blue Ridge Parkway and have always gotten great shots using everything from my Olympus E-510, Olympus E-30, Olympus EM-5, Panasonic GM1, and Olympus E1. Most of which are older and "less advanced" than your GX8 and GX9.

Unless you need high resolution shots for publication or billboards, or high end video, either camera should do fine. Just make sure you bring your 12-60mm f/2.8-4.0 and 15mm 1.7 lenses. You will be treated to magnificent vistas and great landscape opportunities. Leave your telephoto lenses home, unless you plan to shoot photos of birds and squirrels.

Good luck on your trip. I bet you will have a great time, and come home with some really great photos!

 

[Thomas Kachadurian]

Unless you need high resolution shots for publication or billboards, or high end video, either camera should do fine. Just make sure you bring your 12-60mm f/2.8-4.0 and 15mm 1.7 lenses. You will be treated to magnificent vistas and great landscape opportunities. Leave your telephoto lenses home, unless you plan to shoot photos of birds and squirrels.

Good luck on your trip. I bet you will have a great time, and come home with some really great photos!

We are mostly going to be car based, so I'm bringing almost everything.

7.5mm Loawa, 10mm Loawa, 15mm PL, 20mm f1.7 Lumix, 42.5 f1.7 Lumix, 12-60 PL, 40-150 Lumix, 100-400PL. GX9 and G9II

For long hikes I'll take just the GX9, 7.5, 15, and 40-150.

Walking around town I'll go with GX9, 10mm, 20mm, and 42.5

Shorter hikes and from the car I'll use the G9II, 7.5, 12-60, 100-400. I have a little sling bag that holds the 100-400 and one other lens that I can wear for hours. Just to see, I spent an entire day at work with the 100-400 and 12-60 on my back.

I'm taking the 100-400 specifically if we happen to encounter birds.

Tom

--
www.kachadurian.com
Call me crazy. I happen to like photos of cats.

 

[Beromo]

Since your focus is on image quality (which is of course important) I would go for the GX9. The GX8 even with the patches still has some shutter shock with slower shutter speeds (below 1/250) because of the firmer shutter springs in the GX8. The GX9 has the newer mechanism with less spring tension, so less shock. If you shoot a lot in low light this can make a lot of difference in my experience.

Still love my GX8 which feels more 'substancial' (I know, that's subjective).

 

[Mark P Thornton]

> The GX9 has the newer mechanism with less spring tension, so less shock.

The GX9 shutter is a completely different design, and is very good. So quiet I usually don't bother with the electronic shutter mode.

 

[ChristianC1975]

I am packing for a trip (Blue Ridge Parkway), and I was planning on taking a G9II body and also a GX9 for the days we are doing a lot of hiking. I was going to leave the GX8 home to trim a bit of weight.

There was a thread this morning in the M43 Facebook group asking GX8 or GX9. I noted that in photos the GX8 and the GX9 look very similar in size, but that in reality the GX8 is quite a bit bigger. I keep the GX9 in my briefcase at all times because it's smaller.

While I was packing I decided to make a quick comparison. It turns out, there really isn't that much difference. On my scale, the GX9 is 459 grams, and while the grip on the GX8 makes it look bigger, on the scale it's only 20g heavier, weighing in at 479 grams.

I love the GX8, it's got the great viewfinder and just generally better ergonomics, so for 20 more grams, I thinking the GX9 is going to stay home.

Having used both cameras extensively, I know this, The GX9 raw files have better balanced color, but I can get the GX8 files exactly where I want them, it just takes more work.

Here's my question. Is there a reason to choose one over the other purely for image quality?

I know the GX9 is newer tech, but how much? Is the IS better on the newer GX9? I have a tremor so IS really is important.

I just shoot stills, so video doesn't matter at all. I suppose could just do some AB Testing myself and figure this out, but time is short and we're leaving this weekend.

Help a brother out and share any insights or knowledge you might have on these two cameras.

Thanks,

Tom

GX9 with better IBIS and no shutter shock, worth it.

The shutter shock in the G7 and GX8 is quite bad.

 

[2ndact scene1]

• alcelc wrote:

More Data:

I just did a quick test. I wear glasses, so while the GX8 viewfinder is way clearer and brighter, it's wider field is almost too wide for me to see the whole frame without moving my eye around.

The GX9 viewfinder is narrower and much harder to get my eye exactly aligned. But when I do, I can see the whole frame when wearing glasses. I've always had a bias to the GX9 and I never understood why until now.

Had you tried sunglasses?

Please make no mistake, I favour a smaller GX, so don't perfer GX8. However if sunglass would be used in your trip, this might worth to consider too.

I also shoot often with manual focus lenses. And the focus point magnification of the GX9 is the whole frame, and on the GX8 it's an inset.

I think I'm going with the GX9.

Tom

 

[alcelc]

• alcelc wrote:

More Data:

I just did a quick test. I wear glasses, so while the GX8 viewfinder is way clearer and brighter, it's wider field is almost too wide for me to see the whole frame without moving my eye around.

The GX9 viewfinder is narrower and much harder to get my eye exactly aligned. But when I do, I can see the whole frame when wearing glasses. I've always had a bias to the GX9 and I never understood why until now.

Had you tried sunglasses?

Please make no mistake, I favour a smaller GX, so don't perfer GX8. However if sunglass would be used in your trip, this might worth to consider too.

I also shoot often with manual focus lenses. And the focus point magnification of the GX9 is the whole frame, and on the GX8 it's an inset.

I think I'm going with the GX9.

Tom

I owned a GX9 for about a year. I sold it for several reasons but the EVF was one of the main ones. I just felt I could not get a clear look at what I was shooting. Ironically, I looked at the camera in B&H Photo's showroom in NY before I bought it and thought the EVF was OK. But that was indoors under bright lighting (I didn't buy it from B&H because they had none in stock). A couple of days ago I was at a local store buying a lens. They looked around for a body with a charged battery for me to try it out. What they found was a GX8. I haven't seen or touched one in several years. The EVF seemed pretty good and the camera was very comfortable in the hand. I was tempted to buy but it really did not fit my plans. Just based on the EVF and the slightly larger body, I would go with the GX8 over the GX9.

The evf of GX8 is so good without doubt.

However, it is a matter of size over comfortability. If size means nothing to you, GX8 is of course a better camera over the GX7/85/9. Not only the gorgeous evf, the more substantial front grip also made it better (larger) too.

But for people prefer RF form factor camera generally will also prefer a smaller size body (otherwise, why not look for a DSLR form factor body?). I am among them, rather willing to trade comfortability for a smaller soap like design body. By the end it is a purely personal preference, nothing is better than the other.

Regarding the evf of GX9, I suspect that you might have not set the diopter properly.

Not sure had you adjusted the diopter accidentally without your notice? It could be happened easily for a tilt-able evf when go in/out from camera bag. :-(

 

[2ndact scene1]

• alcelc wrote:

More Data:

I just did a quick test. I wear glasses, so while the GX8 viewfinder is way clearer and brighter, it's wider field is almost too wide for me to see the whole frame without moving my eye around.

The GX9 viewfinder is narrower and much harder to get my eye exactly aligned. But when I do, I can see the whole frame when wearing glasses. I've always had a bias to the GX9 and I never understood why until now.

Had you tried sunglasses?

Please make no mistake, I favour a smaller GX, so don't perfer GX8. However if sunglass would be used in your trip, this might worth to consider too.

I also shoot often with manual focus lenses. And the focus point magnification of the GX9 is the whole frame, and on the GX8 it's an inset.

I think I'm going with the GX9.

Tom

I owned a GX9 for about a year. I sold it for several reasons but the EVF was one of the main ones. I just felt I could not get a clear look at what I was shooting. Ironically, I looked at the camera in B&H Photo's showroom in NY before I bought it and thought the EVF was OK. But that was indoors under bright lighting (I didn't buy it from B&H because they had none in stock). A couple of days ago I was at a local store buying a lens. They looked around for a body with a charged battery for me to try it out. What they found was a GX8. I haven't seen or touched one in several years. The EVF seemed pretty good and the camera was very comfortable in the hand. I was tempted to buy but it really did not fit my plans. Just based on the EVF and the slightly larger body, I would go with the GX8 over the GX9.

The evf of GX8 is so good without doubt.

However, it is a matter of size over comfortability. If size means nothing to you, GX8 is of course a better camera over the GX7/85/9. Not only the gorgeous evf, the more substantial front grip also made it better (larger) too.

But for people prefer RF form factor camera generally will also prefer a smaller size body (otherwise, why not look for a DSLR form factor body?). I am among them, rather willing to trade comfortability for a smaller soap like design body. By the end it is a purely personal preference, nothing is better than the other.

Regarding the evf of GX9, I suspect that you might have not set the diopter properly.

Not sure had you adjusted the diopter accidentally without your notice? It could be happened easily for a tilt-able evf when go in/out from camera bag. :-(

 

[brentbrent]

But for people prefer RF form factor camera generally will also prefer a smaller size body (otherwise, why not look for a DSLR form factor body?).

Possible answers to that question:

1. Preference for the clean look of RF form factor, without the hump that is just a vestige of those old mirror-slap days;

2. Preference for viewfinder in the left corner, less nose contact with touch LCD;

3. Tilt EVF.

Small size is great, but tons of folks complain to no end about the EVF in the GX7, GX85, and GX9. You can't get the great GX8 EVF without accepting the GX8 size. So I'm of the view that a RF form factor camera doesn't have to be GX9 size.

By the end it is a purely personal preference, nothing is better than the other.

Yup. And I'm sure Panasonic has sold a lot more of the smaller GX bodies than the GX8. But maybe if they released an up-to-date GX8 successor they'd be surprised. (I'm not holding my breath.)

--
Brent

 

[digifan]

I'ld go for a weathersealed GX7 with latest tech any day, even if it would have field sequential EVF. But if it would have an oled like the G80 it would be perfect.

I downgraded to GX7 due to size and usability.

They only gripe I have with GX7 is the placement of the (Disp)display button which I am occasionally hitting with my thumb.

 

[jeffharris]

I'ld go for a weathersealed GX7 with latest tech any day, even if it would have field sequential EVF. But if it would have an oled like the G80 it would be perfect.

I downgraded to GX7 due to size and usability.

The only gripe I have with GX7 is the placement of the (Disp)display button which I am occasionally hitting with my thumb.

That goes with every Panasonic camera I’ve owned. Drives me nuts.

You really gotta wider if they do actual usability studies on prototypes or or just send them into production.

 

[jalywol]

The only gripe I have with GX7 is the placement of the (Disp)display button which I am occasionally hitting with my thumb.

That goes with every Panasonic camera I’ve owned. Drives me nuts.

They did figure it out after the GX8, which had the worst placement of all! I had to rig up a little foam cushion around that button so I wouldn't keep accidentally pushing it ,

No problem with any bodies since then, fortunately.

-J

 

[jeffharris]

The only gripe I have with GX7 is the placement of the (Disp)display button which I am occasionally hitting with my thumb.

That goes with every Panasonic camera I’ve owned. Drives me nuts.

They did figure it out after the GX8, which had the worst placement of all! I had to rig up a little foam cushion around that button so I wouldn't keep accidentally pushing it ,

No problem with any bodies since then, fortunately.

UNfortunately, NO bodies have even remotely interested me since the GX8.

 

[MrTaikitso]

Never had a GX9, but just bought another GX8 on eBay (silver) and it's as good today as it was in 2015 when I had my first one! So versatile, plus the ergonomics and swivel VF have never been matched. Was disappointed when the less versatile GX9 was launched. Other than lack of USB-C charging, the GX8 could pass for a 2024 camera. IQ is excellent, as per my two posts here over the last few weeks.

But I'll let you decide based on feedback from GX9 owners too.

 

[Thomas Kachadurian]

For the follow-up to this see: https://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/4758812