Amazon.com: Customer reviews: PANASONIC LUMIX GX8 Body Mirrorless 4K Camera Body, Dual I.S. 1.0, 20.3 Megapixels, 3 Inch Touch LCD, DMC-GX8KBODY (USA BLACK)

Reviewed in the United States on October 20, 2015

I am a big fan of MFT cameras and I'm also a big fan of the GX8. I've had it for just over a month and I am impressed. I was previously using an EM-5, which is a great camera as well, but the video always disappointed me. Also the auto focus, while good, was never great to me. I also, like so many others, added the grip so I could handle the camera better. So after many great reviews of Panasonic's cameras, this one included, I dove in. What struck me when I first powered it on was the menus. I think they look great, are easy to navigate, and for me are better then the Olympus. This camera also feels solid and good in my hand. It's meaty enough to hold comfortably no matter what angle I'm shooting at. I've read reviews and complaints that it's not as small as the EM-5/10 cameras but honestly almost everyone I know with those cameras adds a grip, as do most users online. It's sort of like years ago when cell phones were getting smaller and smaller. Eventually they just didn't feel good in the hand and you had to hold onto them with your finger tips. Oh yeah and the viewfinder is BIG and very nice. And the swivel feature is useful.
Anyway last but not least, the IQ is great. It's different than that of the OMDs but just as good. I shot jpegs and raw and both were very good. The color of the jpegs was pleasing and can be tweaked if you like it warmer or colder. The raw files offer a lot of headroom in PS and won't disappoint. The camera focuses fast, faster than the EM-5, and does so even in low light. The dials are intuitive and the big compensation dial is nice to have. I've recently paired it with the X Vario 12-35 F2.8 and it's a great combo. The lens itself is very nice and the stabilization combined with the in-body is very solid. It's not quite as nice as the EM-5 mark 2, but very adequate.
So in closing. Is it perfect in every way? No. Is it as small and light as a pocket cam? No. But it is indeed a great MFT camera with a host of nice features in a solid feeling body. I hope Panasonic and Olympus keep innovating and making great cameras.

30 people found this helpful

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Not milking cows in Wisconsin.

Almost great camera - the jury is still out.

Reviewed in the United States on September 16, 2015

Verified Purchase

I own several Lumix bodies - most notably a GX7 (the predecessor to this unit).

I also own three Panasonic/Lumix lenses - all zooms - a 14-42mm, a 45-200mm / F4.0-5.6 / MEGA O.I.S. and a 100-300mm / F4.0-5.6 / MEGA O.I.S.. NIce set of lenses that cover a wide range of shooting situations. I bought these to work with my previous GX7. The GX7 was a 'just OK' camera - it did the job but didn't do it with much special flare or endearing characteristics.

On the other hand, the GX8 is a really, really great camera. It' doesn't hold a candle to my D800E but it doesn't weigh over a kilogram (with lens) and doesn't scream to the hoi polloi 'I have a Nikon - bow down and worship me.'

On first take the GX8 feels right in the hand - it has a nice curved right edge and feels like something you could hold all day w/o feeling like you were trying to take photos with a brick. It also exposes many of its key controls on dials accessible to the right thumb (I'm left handed but have been shooting with righey cameras long enough to have reprogrammed my brain to act light some dumb righty). But you have to read the directions to make full use of the dials - there are a few 'gotchas' hiding in those dials for the uninformed (such as your untruly).

The images I have gotten from this camera are in the upper 2/3 range of what I get from my D800E - good, great but not world-beating. On the other hand (left in this case) I have only two weeks of experience with the body.

I will try to update this review as time passes - I have a trip to Yerp (Europe for those not living in the American midwest) coming up and hope to get some images of spires, rivers, alleys, refugees, and maybe some idiot politicians (wish me luck there).

If you are looking for a very nice 4/3 rangefinder camera you can't go wrong with this unit, provided you are familiar with the Lumix lineup. It's the best I have used to date but the jury is still out - and comparing it with a D800E is not fair. Or maybe it is fair - is the time of the monster DSLR past? Where's the meteor?

wb

I just uploaded a photo - 45-200 mm lens @200mm, F 5.6, 1/1000 sec, ISO 500, mounted on a tripod. Knocked down to B&W by Google. Subject is a plastic water bottle hit by a .17 HMR round. This is one frame from a sequence shot using the '4k pre-burst' mode. Otherwise the camera was set to auto-everything.

10 people found this helpful

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Michael Smith

E-M1 image quality better.

Reviewed in the United States on July 22, 2016

Verified Purchase

I owned two different GX8s and returned both of them. I really liked the layout of the controls and the clarity of the EVF. I also own an Olympus E-M1 and prefer the GX8 when considering the layout of the controls and the ease of operation. However, the image quality of the E-M1 was better, even though the GX8 sensor has more megapixels. I tried various settings on the GX8 and was never able to improve the image quality to equal or exceed the E-M1. The primary lens that I used was the Leica 100-400 (which is a great lens). One would think it would produce the best results when paired up with the Lumix camera...but it was not to be. One other issue I had with the GX8 is the top of the camera body got very warm after extended use. Only had that problem with one of the GX8s that I owned. Probably just defective. I still have a soft spot in my heart for the GX8, but can not get past the IQ issue.

8 people found this helpful

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GummyInCali

Finally found my favorite camera? Spoke too soon. NEVER BUY THIS CAMERA,.

Reviewed in the United States on February 7, 2017

Verified Purchase

LATEST UPDATE: SEPT 2017
I thought this could be a camera I could use everyday. I was totally wrong! I am on the 8th month of using it when there is a lint of all places, INSIDE THE EVF! Are you kidding me Panasonic?? How did it get there? My suspicion is the tilting EVF. Since it is not totally sealed it can get in through an opening where the thin flex cable is located. Just totally poor quality control. Never in any of my other mirrorless cameras did I have this issue. Sure the camera performs well but this is just unacceptable. There is no way to remove it unless it is going to be sent back to Panasonic. Truly dissappointing.

First off I am an enthusiast so this review is not a typical rant of a pro but a personal experience of the average photographer. This is just my second micro 4/3 camera, my first one is the Panasonic G85 (check out my review on this camera here on Amazon). I was immediately enamored with with the G85 that I decided sticking with micro 4/3 as my go to system. The G85 is an underrated camera. Sure it has its quirks but nevertheless image and build quality is very good, is it is easy to use and it has a well thought out interface to name a few. Same goes true with the GX8. I could not say that about my Sony a6000 that I sold a long time ago, even with the new Sony a6500. I read from reviews that the touch screen of the a6500 is atrocious. The main reason I would not go back to Sony is the limited lens selection for aps-c. I also had a Nikon D610 and a bunch of full frame lenses that I just recently sold. I love the image quality of D610 and the reasonable price and lens selection of full frame but it has become cumbersome to take with me on my travels. If you do not print billboard sized photos, why need a full frame camera? Getting the GX8 instead is the best decision I ever made but why did I rate it only as 4 stars and the G85 as 5 stars even with its flaws? Here's why:

Pros:
Very good image quality, 20 MP as opposed to the G85 16MP. I sometimes crop aggresively but as my skills improve this will be less frequently avoided.
Intuitive user interface (my favorite and main reason I switched to micro 4/3)
Fast autofocus despite being contrast based
Build quality is very good, weather and dust sealed
IBIS, which is very helpful in most of my needs
Good selection of lenses
Mobile app performs really well (Check my review of the G85)
Less cumbersome than a DSLR, portable
OLED EVF and responsive touch screen

Cons:
IBIS is only 4 axis and it is disabled in video. Lens stabilization ( if available) only is enabled for video. G85 has 5 axis IBIS. (-1 star)
No focus bracketing
No direct dial access to timelapse feature and 4k photo (this has been addressed w/ the G85)
No phase detect autofocus but still quite happy with Panasonics DFD

The GX8 is a little bigger than a Sony a6500 and the same size as Sony A7R or A7II (my second camera), but it is my go to every day camera.
My current gear:
Panasonic GX8, Panasonic 12-35mm f2.8, Panasonic 35-100mm f2.8 (with me all the time)
Sony A7II (sold Nikon D610 and returned Sony A7R), Sony Zeiss 16-35mm f4 (for landscapes), Sony Zeiss 55mm f1.8 and Nikon 85mm f1.8G (for portraits)

Images taken with the Panny 12-35mm f2.8 and 35-100mm f2.8

20 people found this helpful

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Eric honestly opinionated K.

An amazing prosumer mft camera that excels in video.

Reviewed in the United States on November 7, 2018

Verified Purchase

I bought this as a long-awaited upgrade to my venerable GF1(2010) after much research. I heard great things about the GX9 so was debating between the two but I think I made the right choice. The build quality is fantastic - solid and weighty which in my hands is comfortable to hold all day and is stable. Also, the OLED viewfinder - it's an understatement to say that it's such a joy to shoot looking into that magnificent thing. Bright and large, it helped in my composition. Menus are a dizzying array due to so many functions packed into this one camera but intuitive - I just have to learn the camera more - I'll say it's definitely NOT for beginners.
Video is excellent with my panasonic 12-35mm lens and panorama and filter functions are fun to use and useful.
I didn't find battery life terribly short though some reviews would say otherwise - I was able to be out all day shooting without running low. It helps that this battery is also used on my fz200 superzoom so I didn't have to buy extra. Weather-wise I did not have any problem carrying it around in light drizzles. Overall a great investment if you're looking for a great versatile stills & video prosumer camera without all the bulk of a DSLR.

7 people found this helpful

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Honest Abe

Impressive camera

Reviewed in the United States on December 14, 2016

Verified Purchase

I have had this camera and used it for almost a year. I have many panasonic lenses and one olympus lens and all work with the GX8. However only the new ones will have the dual stabilization-I don't know if it really makes a difference. I have also have several panasonic and canon cameras and consider myself a serious amateur photographer so here it goes. I will only highlight some key points as full reviews are readily available.

So for the older folks or hikers, it is light and compact for all that it does. The pictures quality is excellent using full pixels and especially with the raw function. It fits in the hand easily but there are Many buttons so you have to be careful and learn all the functionality. It take time to learn all the settings and operations. If not used frequently you can easily forget which buttons do what. That said it will do most anything including 4K. I use it mainly for stills but it does work well for me on simple videos. The viewing and focusing is fast and the viewfinder allows one to take photos from almost any position.
However this is not a camera for the point and shoot crowd. There are many other cameras that are easier (and cheaper) to use for this purpose, so I give five stars, even though not perfect, for the serious photographer.

12 people found this helpful

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James Biesty

Really Wanted a dedicated 3.5mm audio jack.

Reviewed in the United States on May 9, 2016

Verified Purchase

I'm a novice photographer at best and a beginner/intermediate with Video. I wanted to get something that had a better sensor/quality than most dedicated camcorders and also start snapping off a few good pics here and there as I travel for work. I really liked this camera and for me it was better in terms of pic/video quality than the GH4. It was also smaller and easier to hold than the GH4. Felt like a great camera to take videos and pics with on the go. The deal breaker for me was the shared mic/remote port. Instead of one 3.5mm mic port and one 2.5mm remote port it was a shared 2.5mm jack. I wanted to use a remote and a mic at the same time so it wouldn't work. If it wasn't for that this would be a perfect Camera/Camcorder solution. Instead of going with the GX8 I'm now contemplating the GH4 or thinking about waiting for the GH5 to come out down the line.

7 people found this helpful

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Cal Blue

Great MFT Camera

Reviewed in the United States on May 19, 2017

Verified Purchase

Love this camera!

Large, bright viewfinder. Still images are very high quality. Video quality is impressive and is particularly good for interview type shooting with proper lighting.

Respectable low light still image performance. Good tactile feel - nice weight and balance. Handles well.

Beautiful design - retro Rangefinder look - very attractive.

Battery life not stellar - recommend getting several spares.

Very customizable settings using hard controls and menu.

Good enough for most pro work except perhaps high speed action; however the 4K still mode offers 8MP images @ 30fps, which with good lighting can capture impressive action shots.

2 people found this helpful

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Helmut Schillinger

The movable viewfinder is a great bonus. The in body shake reduction in combination ...

Reviewed in the United States on May 26, 2017

Verified Purchase

A very well designed camera to hold and use. Why using a mirror reflex design at all when these cameras are sans mirror anyway? The movable viewfinder is a great bonus. The in body shake reduction in combination with a lens that incorporates shake reduction is fantastic.
Did I mention the in camera stitching of panorama sequences? I remember when I had to do this teadiously with software on my computer.
In my opinion a range finder style camera is so much more elegant than the bulky mirror reflex style, which was always a necessary compromise. For traveling and comfortable carrying this is the ideal camera body and format, unless you are addicted to 35mm brand vanity or really need the bulky format for professional reasons. I have been a professional photographer all my life, and recently had an exhibit with very large prints for the first time, but people really could not find room on the walls for large prints. I never had that problem in the past with 20x24 and below work. So, in reality, the enlargement detail of a full frame digital camera is a waste most of the time. You may be too young to remember, but before digital we had photographic artwork too, and 35mm for gallery exhibits was only good for small prints. And a great many street and nature photographers did not go beyond their 35mm format, I did all formats then, from 35mm to widely to medium format to view camera to super large format. Yet I am still very pleased with what this new 4/3 format can offer, in terms of portability, ergonomics (the digital full frame 35mm cameras are way bulkier than there film counterparts) and affordability. I am not so much talking about the camera body but about the lenses, tripods and the sheer staggering memory requirements. A modern 35mm DSLR photographer does not travel light anymore. The industry appeals to our brand vanity, and to the desire of the average non professional photographer to appear "professional" at all cost. I simply don't buy into that.

8 people found this helpful

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Don

NO SUPPORT FOR CORDED OFF-CAMERA FLASH

Reviewed in the United States on March 2, 2016

Verified Purchase

This is really a nice camera, but if you're planning on using this as a professional, consider the following:

I was heading out the door to shoot an event last Saturday, so I mounted my GX8 on my camera bracket, connected my off-camera Velo flash cable and took a few test shots. What! The flash didn't fire. I've used this cable with my E-M1, and it worked perfect. Now I see that B&H advertises that the Velo cable works with Olympus and Panasonic cameras, but excepts the GX8, the G7, so I tested it with the GM5, and that one doesn't work either. No big deal. I could have shot this event with my Nikon since I have a Nikon Flash and cable that supports off-camera flash. But, this presents a big problem for people who want to shoot off-camera flash. I emailed Velo, and they told me that they have no plans to make a compatible cable. I searched the web, and I can't find anyone who makes a cable. I left this message for Panasonic, but no response yet. The long and short of this is that if you were planning on using the GX8 professionally, you may want to wait for an answer.

Edit: 4-17-16. I ordered and tried the Vitrox cable made for Canon as suggested in one comment, and that one does not work. With the Vello, the camera communicated with the flash in TTL and could read the zoom focal length and all other TTL information, it just couldn't trigger the flash. The Vitrox did nothing.

6 people found this helpful

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