Panasonic Lumix GX9 review

If the Lumix GX9 appears to be like acquainted, that’s as a result of externally it’s virtually indistinguishable from the Lumix GX8, Panasonic’s earlier premium rangefinder-style mirrorless digicam. The Lumix GX9 doesn’t exchange the cheaper however similar-looking Lumix GX85 (GX80 outdoors the US), however we will assume it’ll take over from the Lumix GX8.

Whereas issues could look the identical on the surface, a number of issues have modified inside, though the Lumix GX8, launched manner again in 2015, was arguably forward of its time, and the enhancements listed here are refined reasonably than revolutionary. Panasonic is pitching the Lumix GX9 at newbie photographers who need a ‘skilled’ expertise.

The distinction between this digicam and Panasonic’s new Lumix G9 is that the Lumix GX9 is a smaller, extra compact digicam designed for portability – therefore the ‘road’ digicam label. The G9 is an even bigger digicam styled like a DSLR and higher suited to sports activities, motion, greater lenses and extra bold kinds of images.

Options

• Micro 4 Thirds Reside MOS sensor, 20.3MP
• Three-inch vari-angle touchscreen, 1,240,000 dots
• Four-stop built-in picture stabilization

Panasonic makes use of Micro Four Thirds sensors, that are smaller than the APS-C sensors in most interchangeable lens cameras, however match them fairly effectively for efficiency and picture high quality. 

The Lumix GX9 comes with 4K video, as we’d count on from Panasonic, and the corporate has additionally enhanced its 4K Picture modes. Right here, the digicam makes use of its 4K video processing energy to seize photographs designed to be exported as 8MP stills. The 4K burst mode captures frames at a powerful 30fps, and the GX9’s new auto marking function places markers within the burst the place there’s a big change within the body contents that will help you discover key moments later.

The 4K Submit Focus mode is much more spectacular. The digicam captures a brief burst utilizing each focus level, and in playback mode you may merely faucet on the image to decide on the main target level you need. This lets you do one thing which feels prefer it should be not possible: focus after you’ve taken the shot. And new within the Lumix GX9 is in-camera focus stacking, so that you not want a pc to merge a sequence of photographs with totally different focus factors right into a single picture that’s sharp from entrance to again – one thing that is not possible to attain in macro photography with a single publicity.

There are additionally new focus and aperture-bracketing modes, and Panasonic has prolonged the battery life in Energy Save mode to 900 photographs, and elevated the common burst price to 9fps (with focus locked on the primary body) or 6fps with autofocus.

Inside, the in-body picture stabilization system has been enhanced with 5-axis compensation, which works alongside Panasonic’s in-lens optical stabilizers to allow you to make use of shutter speeds 4 stops slower than would in any other case be doable and nonetheless obtain sharp photographs.

The Lumix GX9 now has Bluetooth in addition to Wi-Fi, and analog movie followers will probably be happy to listen to there’s a brand new L.Monochrome picture type, together with a Grain impact out there in three totally different strengths for enhancing that ‘movie’ look.

Construct and dealing with

• Rangefinder physique with tilting EVF and LCD
• Exterior EV compensation dial and focus lever
• Weighs 450g

The Lumix GX9’s physique could also be designed within the type of a compact rangefinder digicam, nevertheless it’s truly fairly substantial, and no smaller than a Sony A6000-series digicam (such because the Alpha A6300) and even the compact DSLR-style mirrorless Fujifilm X-T20. This does give the Lumix GX9 a high quality ‘really feel’, though given the scale of the physique it’s a disgrace there aren’t a number of extra exterior controls.

There’s a mode dial on the highest plate and, stacked beneath it, a EV compensation dial, and the main target lever on the rear of the digicam can be utilized to modify between AF-S (single shot), AF-C (steady AF) and Guide focus modes, however different routine settings just like the drive mode, 4K Picture modes, focus level choice, ISO and white steadiness settings depend on buttons and the Lumix GX9’s on-screen interface. 

Whereas the GX9’s weight and solidity give it a ‘correct digicam’ really feel, its reliance on menus and icons for routine changes could be tiresome. The touchscreen is responsive and efficient, although, and you should utilize the dual management dials for menu and have navigation reasonably than tapping on the display.

The highest dial is straightforward to spin along with your forefinger. The rear dial is squeezed in above the thumb relaxation on the again of the digicam and isn’t fairly really easy to make use of, nevertheless, and it has a ‘click on’ motion which you’ll be able to typically have interaction unintentionally if you meant to spin the dial.

The digital viewfinder is excellent, and even affords a 90-degree tilt for viewfinder followers who discover themselves working at awkward angles. The rear display additionally tilts, however stops wanting a fully-articulating pivot, so it doesn’t work as effectively when the digicam is held vertically.

Picture high quality

• ISO200-25,600 (expandable to ISO100-25,600)
• No optical low move filter
• Monochrome Picture Types

We’ll must spend extra time with the digicam to completely evaluate efficiency and picture high quality to get the complete image on how the Lumix GX9 performs, however did get to shoot with the digicam.

Panasonic has eliminated the low-pass filter from the sensor within the Lumix GX9 to additional improve high quality element rendition. This does enhance the chance of moiré results (interference patterns) in high quality textures and particulars, seen in among the photographs we took with the digicam, nevertheless it squeezes absolutely the most element from the sensor. We clearly could not have a look at uncooked information both, so test again as soon as we have got full evaluate pattern.

Early verdict

With a launch value of £699 body-only (US and Australian pricing remains to be to be confirmed), the Lumix GX9 appears to be like good worth. 

It’s effectively made and full of high-end options. We tried it with Panasonic’s retracting 12-32mm zoom, which is an efficient measurement match for the GX9’s physique; longer lenses, such because the Panasonic and Leica 12-60mm lenses, may make it slightly extra front-heavy, however there’s a 14-42mm equipment lens choice too.

Although the emphasis is on basic digicam styling and dealing with, we predict the Lumix GX9’s attraction lies extra in its digital seize and processing applied sciences than in its bodily design. If you happen to’re actually into knobs and dials reasonably than menus and icons, you could be disillusioned.