suntouched Loc: Sierra Vista AZ

I've looked at all of the links provided by everyone and all of my questions have been answered. At dpreview there is visual comparison of the same images taken with the 100-400 mm lens on the Panasonic Gx8 and Olympus EM-1. And then Cox's preview and video and info from the Lumix Lounge. My Olympus 12-40 mm lens and 45 will work well on the Panasonic with in camera stabilization but dual stabilization will not be enabled. Seems that this lens is made for action shots and has a limiter for quicker refocus. All very good information- all positive. Thanks very much.

Jerrin1 Loc: Wolverhampton, England

I nearly bought a GX8 last week but settled for 2 x Olympus OM D EM 1 bodies instead of one of each. I liked the extra pixels on the GX8 but the thing that turned me away is that there is no battery grip. I have always used them and now I have changed to M43 find two batteries per camera is a must. Don't know how fast you get through batteries on a shoot but thought I would mention it. I am very happy with my EM 1's and they were about the same price as the GX8.

lukan Loc: Chicago, IL

I've always loved Olympus and have had several of their film and digital bodies over the years, including the E-M1. I had my kit stolen a couple years ago, and after a brief foray into Canon 1DX land, have returned to Micro 4/3 mirrorless via the GX8. I love the new sensor, the significantly better light sensitivity (than the E-M1) and the overall feel of the GX8. Panasonic G lenses (the f2.8 zooms) are simply excellent. All the accessories are top-quality and well-matched as a system. Oly produces great jpegs but the GX8's are very close with the proper in-camera adjustments. You can use Oly glass on the GX8 seamlessly, but the dual IS is available only with the Panasonic lenses.
I got the GX8 because it is newer technology than the E-M1 and I needed a lighter kit than my 40-lb load that the Canon gear added up to. The video functions on the GX8 are phenomenal and have become my "sports/ action" mode. You can pull 8MP stills off the 4K burst mode at 30 fps!
I'm waiting for the new E-M1 and new GH4 to decide which will be the GX8's big brother, but so far I'm very pleased with the GX8 and its capabilities in portrait, landscape, as well as action/ sports situations.

Ksocha Loc: Bethesda, MD

I have both the Panasonic GX8 and the Oly OM1D. The Panasonic website lists all lenses that are compatible with the dual IS system. Once you see that a firmware update is available for another lens you must update the firmware for that lens.

I've done so for a number of lenses and, if memory serves, some Oly lens are on the list. I use all the Oly lenses I own on the GX 8, and frankly haven't checked lately to see what additional firmware updates are available because the Panasonic in body stabilization works very well indeed.

The camera is all Panasonic says it is. The fully articulating screen, the retro look, the video, the burst function are all great.

If I had to think of things you might not like, it is a bit heavy (but I like that feeling myself), I can't really see the benefit of the increased number of pixels, the firmware update process took me a while to figure out, and the jpg colors don't have the same "pop" as I get from the Olympus. That last is easily fixed by using raw and at least one pro has told me that the GX8 color is more true to life.

Ksocha Loc: Bethesda, MD

A few shots with the GX8. My first effort last October with this camera. The shot of the game was with the inexpensive Panny zoom (300 at the long end). As you can see the Panasonic stabilization works well.

Notre Dame Campus


Evening shot under stadium lights


Notre Dame USC

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Oly cameras are known for their excellent "out of the box" JPEG pop. Panny bodies can be tweaked (through the common menu settings) to get a similar look.

As a pro who managed a digital lab for a while, I have to confirm that the more neutral look is preferred by the "portrait and social" segment of the market.

Our segment was school portraiture. We had all our employee photographers switch their Canons away from 'Standard,' to the 'Neutral' Picture Style, which is similar to the default setting on the Panasonic bodies. It's a little flatter look, but reproduces skin tones and subtle colors more accurately. Honesty is important when your national student population contains people of all races wearing every color of the spectrum.

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

You forgot to add...
The 75mm will change your life...
:-)

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Ditto, Clint. I don't have it, but it's on my wish list... Right up there with that Leica 42.5mm f/1.2...

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Please let us know what you do, and what you think of your decision once you try the gear.

suntouched Loc: Sierra Vista AZ

I will do that- thanks for your input

Kuzano

Confusing and interesting. Is there such a thing as an Olympus M.Zuiko lens with IS in the lens, since all Oly's since the E520 have had IBIS in all bodies... DSLR-PEN-OM-D.

http://hazeghi.org/mft-lenses.html

:?: :?: :?:

suntouched Loc: Sierra Vista AZ

You are right- my error.

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

I may be fully wrong. I have three Panasonic lenses, one Panasonic M4/3 camera and know nothing about Olympus. My comment about Oly IS not working on the GX8 is based only on one thing I think I remember reading.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

I seem to remember reading something recently about Olympus starting to put in-lens stabilization in some of their new lenses, especially long ones. The thought is that Panasonic users will buy more of them if the stabilization works with the GX7 and GX8 and later models, AND, that Panasonic had a good idea with dual IS. There's a video on Panasonic's web site that compares dual IS (GX8 IBIS plus in-lens stabilizer) with a couple of other brands. Panny wins, hands down. So I don't think it will be long before Oly and Panny get better at sharing their lens functionalities.

Beagleman Loc: Indiana

Let me share my recent experience, FWIW: I was trying to get into Micro 4/3rds but the local camera store did not have the E-M1. I studied and researched and on the basis of the much easier to navigate Panasonic menu, I got a Panasonic GH3 which was a very good price since it had been superceded by newer models. I ordered the Panasonic 12-35 f/2.8 and I already had the Oly 45 f/1.8. When I got the GH3, the Olympus lens just WOULD NOT install on the GH3. It would turn part way, but not all the way. The 12-35 wasn't much better but I could get it in place with considerable effort. So, finally I returned both the camera and lens. I took the Oly 45/f1.8 to a camera store and woola, the Oly fit on Oly cameras just fine! So, even though the GX8 looked tempting, I didn't risk getting into the same mess again and having to do more returns...I bought an Olympus E-M10 II and am happy so far (except for lack of a good grip.) In the meantime I got the Panasonic 35-100 f/4-5.6 and it works fine on the Olympus. Maybe I just got a freak GH3, but I wonder about Oly lenses on Panny cameras. So if you can handle the GX8 before purchase, try a couple of Oly lenses on it to be sure.

--Beagleman