A refresh for the Lumix GX8 will soon be available. The Panasonic GX9 will be released April 1st. It will be available in a kit with a 12-60mm lens for just under $1,000. If you are familiar with the GX line of rangefinder style cameras, you will find a camera similar to previous models, but lacking some of the functionality of the GX8 that it is replacing. As I was comparing the two models, I had to keep double checking to make sure I was looking at the right camera, as some of the specs seem to have been downgraded in the GX9 model from what was available before. The max shutter speed has gone from 1/8000 to 1/4000. Continuous shooting speed has gone from 10 down to 9 frames per second. And there was some weather and dust resistance in the GX8, while the GX9 specs show that it is NOT environmentally sealed. One of the biggest downgrades is that the screen has gone from fully articulated on the GX8 back to tilting on the Panasonic GX9, similar to the older GX7. The GX9 has a built in flash again, which went away in the GX8 after being available on the GX7. It’s not very powerful, but it does give you a little fill flash in a pinch. I never used it a lot on the GX7, but it did occasionally save me from having to dig the external flash out of my camera bag when I just wanted to pop a little extra light on my subject to fill in some shadows. One thing that some people will find a nice change in the GX9 is that the low pass filter has been removed from the sensor, giving it a little better resolution. And the GX9 has bluetooth, which previous models were lacking. Aside from those last two features, I’m disappointed with this addition to the Lumix lineup.
I’ll be watching the reviews when this camera becomes available, but I won’t be rushing out to buy one. So far, the most excitement I’m feeling on this one is that maybe some GX8’s will be coming up for sale at reduced prices.
Lumix GX8
- 20 Megapixel Micro 4/3 sensor
- ISO 200-25600 (expands down to 100)
- Sensor shift image stabilization, Dual IS uses sensor and lens-shift (when available)
- 49 auto focus points
- 3” full articulated touch screen LCD
- 60 sec minimum shutter speed
- 1/8000 maximum shutter speed
- 1/16000 maximum shutter speed (electronic)
- No built in in flash
- Hot shoe for external flash
- 10 fps continuous shooting
- 3, 5, and 7 frame bracketing (+- 3 stops)
- Video formats: MPEG-4, AVCHD
- Memory card formats: SD/SDHC/SDXC
- Has a microphone port but no headphone port
- Built in wireless
- Environmentally Sealed for some dust and water resistance
- Battery life 330 shots
- 17.18 oz / 487 g
- Dimensions: 133 x 78 x 63 mm (5.24 x 3.07 x 2.48″)
- Supports time lapse recording
Lumix GX9
- 20 Megapixel Micro 4/3 sensor
- ISO 200-25600
- Dual IS image stabilization, uses sensor and lens shift if available
- 49 auto focus points
- 3” tilting touch screen LCD panel on the back with live view
- 60 sec minimum shutter speed
- 1/4000 maximum shutter speed
- 1/16000 maximum shutter speed (electronic)
- Built in flash
- Hot shoe for external flash
- 9 fps continuous shooting
- 3, 5, and 7 frame bracketing (+- 3 stops)
- Video formats: MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
- Memory card formats: SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I supported)
- Does not have microphone or headphone port
- Built in wireless
- Not environmentally sealed
- Battery life: 260 shots
- 14.36 oz / 407 g body weight
- Dimensions: 124 x 72 x 47 mm (4.88 x 2.83 x 1.85″)
- Supports time lapse recording