The Panasonic G series of compact system cameras might be challenging to navigate due to the presence of the G, GM, GF, and GH lines. However, the GX series is more sophisticated than the GF and GM cameras, and their bodies are rectangular and flatter than those of the G and GH lines, which are shaped similarly to SLRs. Moreover, the most recent addition to the series, the GX8, is an improvement over its predecessor, the highly popular GX7, which will remain in production for the foreseeable future.
Panasonic is expecting that the GX8 will be as well-liked among photography enthusiasts as the GX7 was, and it gets off to a strong start by including the company’s first sensor of the Four Thirds kind, which has a pixel count that is greater than 16 million. Moreover, it boasts an effective pixel count of 20.3 million. Panasonic claims that this enables the camera to create the most outstanding image quality possible from any G-series camera, outperforming both the flagship GH4 and the recently announced G7.
Panasonic Lumix GX8 Build Quality
As previously stated, the GX8 sports a flatter and more rectangular form than the G7 and the GH4. Despite this, it features a substantial and efficient front grip and a shallow thumb ridge that provides precisely the right amount of hold; However, it wouldn’t hurt for this feature to be a bit more apparent and more ergonomically formed.
On the back of the camera, I find enough room for my thumb to fit, but individuals with larger hands may find that their thumb feels a little confined and may occasionally press the Quick Menu or Display buttons by accident. Again, Again, I see enough space to accommodate my thumb on the back of the camera.
Despite this, the GX8 has a body of magnesium alloy, giving it a more premium feel than the G7. Additionally, it is resistant to dust and splashes, allowing it to be utilized in more challenging environments. The new camera is also visibly more significant than the GX7 in every dimension, although it has a more streamlined appearance and a more substantial front grip than its predecessor.
Panasonic Lumix GX8 Performance
Because it includes an electronic viewfinder capable of reviewing photos and previewing images with the settings applied, looking through the photographs I took with the GX8 did not result in any big surprises. Overall, the camera generates colors pleasing to the eye and decent exposures.
Because it is the first Micro Four Thirds camera to provide a pixel count of more than 16 million, there is a great deal of curiosity about how much information the GX8 can record and how well it can reduce noise. The good news is that both of these aspects have been improved.
The degree of detail the camera can capture may be remarkable when using the correct lens. At the lowest sensitivity setting, it produced images with the same level of clarity as the 24-megapixel Sony Alpha A6000, and its JPEGs made images with a more comprehensive dynamic range. While it does not have the same nifty trick for enhancing resolution as the Olympus OM-D E-M5 II, it performs pretty well compared to that camera.
Panasonic Lumix GX8 Image Quality
During this evaluation, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX8 captured photographs of exceptionally high quality. It can produce pictures devoid of noise from ISO 100 to 1600, after which it generates some noise (although very little) from ISO 3200. ISO 6400 makes rather noticeable noise and a loss of fine detail, and although the fastest settings of ISO 12800 and 25600 produce considerably more noise, they are still useable for small prints and usage on the web.
The images were a little soft right out of the camera with the default level of sharpening, and they need additional sharpening in an application like Adobe Photoshop. Alternatively, if you don’t like the default results, you can change the setting in the camera itself. You may quickly and personalize the appearance of the JPEG photographs that the camera captures thanks to the vast number of filters and photo styles included.
Your nighttime shot turned out wonderfully, and using the maximum shutter speed of 60 seconds allowed you to capture much light. We had difficulty distinguishing between the various Intelligent Resolution settings. However, the HDR mode and Intelligent D-range were both helpful in bringing out more clarity in the camera’s shadows and highlights.
By simply moving the camera in a sweeping motion, which is made possible by the innovative Panorama mode, you may capture panoramic photos with ease and then, if you so want, apply one of the creative effects to them.
Panasonic Lumix GX8 Specs
| Body type | Rangefinder-style mirrorless |
|---|---|
| Body material | Magnesium alloy |
| Sensor | |
| Max resolution | 5184 x 3888 |
| Other resolutions | 4:3 (3712 x 2784, 2624 x 1968), 3:2 (5184 x 3456, 3712 x 2480, 2624 x 1752, 1824 x 1216), 16:9 (5184 x 2920, 3840 x 2160, 1824 x 1024), 1:1 (3888 x 3888, 1968 x 1968, 1712 x 1712) |
| Image ratio w h | 1:1, 4:3, 3:2, 16:9 |
| Effective pixels | 20 megapixels |
| Sensor photo detectors | 22 megapixels |
| Sensor size | Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm) |
| Sensor type | CMOS |
| Processor | Venus Engine |
| Color space | sRGB, Adobe RGB |
| Color filter array | Primary color filter |
| Image | |
| ISO | Auto, 200-25600 (expands down to 100) |
| Boosted ISO (minimum) | 100 |
| White balance presets | 5 |
| Custom white balance | Yes (4 slots) |
| Image stabilization | Sensor-shift |
| Image stabilization notes | Dual IS uses sensor and lens shift (when available) |
| Uncompressed format | RAW |
| JPEG quality levels | Fine, standard |
| File format | JPEG (Exif v2.3)Raw (Panasonic RW2)MPO |
| Optics & Focus | |
| Autofocus | Contrast Detect (sensor)Multi-areaCenterSelective single-pointTrackingSingleContinuousTouchFace DetectionLive View |
| Autofocus assist lamp | Yes |
| Digital zoom | Yes (2x-4x) |
| Manual focus | Yes |
| Number of focus points | 49 |
| Lens mount | Micro Four Thirds |
| Focal length multiplier | 2× |
| Screen/viewfinder | |
| Articulated LCD | Fully articulated |
| Screen size | 3″ |
| Screen dots | 1,040,000 |
| Touch screen | Yes |
| Screen type | OLED |
| Live view | Yes |
| Viewfinder type | Electronic |
| Viewfinder coverage | 100% |
| Viewfinder magnification | 1.54× (0.77× 35mm equiv.) |
| Viewfinder resolution | 2,360,000 |
| Photography features | |
| Minimum shutter speed | 60 sec |
| Maximum shutter speed | 1/8000 sec |
| Maximum shutter speed (electronic) | 1/16000 sec |
| Exposure modes | ProgramShutter priorityAperture priorityManual |
| Built-in flash | No |
| External flash | Yes (via hot shoe) |
| Flash modes | Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, forced on, forced on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync w/redeye reduction, forced off. |
| Flash X sync speed | 1/250 sec |
| Continuous drive | 10.0 fps |
| Self-timer | Yes |
| Metering modes | MultiCenter-weighted spot |
| Exposure compensation | ±5 (at 1/3 EV steps) |
| AE Bracketing | ±3 (3, 5, 7 frames at 1/3 EV, 2/3 EV, 1 EV steps) |
| WB Bracketing | Yes |
| Videography features | |
| Resolutions | 3840 x 2160 (30p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p) |
| Format | MPEG-4, AVCHD |
| Videography notes | The 100Mbps bit rate for 4k |
| Microphone | Stereo |
| Speaker | Mono |
| Storage | |
| Storage types | SD/SDHC/SDXC card |
| Connectivity | |
| USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
| HDMI | Yes (micro-HDMI) |
| Microphone port | Yes |
| Headphone port | No |
| Wireless | Built-In |
| Wireless notes | 802.11b/g/n with NFC |
| Remote control | Yes (wired and via smartphone) |
| Physical | |
| Environmentally sealed | Yes (Water and Dust resistant ) |
| Battery | Battery Pack |
| Battery description | Lithium-ion battery & charger |
| Battery Life (CIPA) | 330 |
| Weight (inc. batteries) | 487 g (1.07 lb / 17.18 oz) |
| Dimensions | 133 x 78 x 63 mm (5.24 x 3.07 x 2.48″) |
| Other features | |
| Orientation sensor | Yes |
| Timelapse recording | Yes |
| GPS | None |
Panasonic Lumix GX8 Verdict
The 20-megapixel GX8 boasts some impressive specifications and a sturdy build; moreover, it sports a touchscreen that can be tilted to facilitate more straightforward image creation. The autofocus, metering, and white balance systems all function admirably, and the 4K Photo modes are simple to operate and produce 8MP images of excellent clarity.
