So—big surprise—the G9 is not what I thought it would be. First of all, that idea I had about using the same sensor as the GX8? Out the window. The G9's sensor/processor makes pictures look quite different than pictures from the GX8. In some ways the files are better. And I don't think I like them quite as well—I miss the GX8's special sauce. But they're different.

Meanwhile, wow, what a great camera. This is just great fun to use. One can deconvolute all the details to death, and I'm sure I will, but mainly it's just plain holy mama Nürburgring-shredding fun. Right off the bat, I started thinking of it as Porsche-like: lean, mean, clean.

It fits you like a glove, it works like an extension of your mind, it's tossable, it's quirky; yeah, it's a bit too big and heavy (like the 911 keeps getting bigger and bigger); it's fast fast fast—and also quick (not quite the same thing). It's nimble. It handles great. It's not a FF muscle car. It's just great fun, and there's every reason to want to keep one in the garage for weekends. (Er....)

More as we wend along toward 2019. I just wanted to chime in with my first impression of the G9: it's the Porsche 911 of cameras.

Hope you had a nice Christmas! More soon.

Mike

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(To see all the comments, click on the "Comments" link below.)

Featured Comments from:

Jim Kirkpatrick: "I switched from FF (Canon) to Micro 4/3 a while back to save weight. I started with an Olympus OM-D EM-1 Mark II (what a mouthful) but found that, while I liked the images it produced, the controls, and, most glaringly, the menus, gave me heartburn. I switched to the G9 early this year and have been very happy. The G9 has a personal menu where you can stash frequently used items, and that's very useful. Having worked at a Porsche dealer in the '80s and being a Porschephile in heart, I concur with your assessment. My G9 fits me like a supple driving glove"

Dave Van de Mark: "'...It's tossable...'? I get everything else but not this.

"Glad you appear to like it a lot, but so far no comment—yet—about it being a 'keeper.'"

Mike replies: Sorry, stock car-journo term. Easy to toss around turns; more figuratively, easy to drive free and loose. Even more figuratively still, invites you to take it out and toss it around.

No decision yet, but I'll let you know.

Peter: "Before unpacking the purchased Lumix G9, Michael, I request that you extend your experiment and rent a Lumix GX9. (Upon your prognostication earlier in the year, I waited for a few months for Panasonic to introduce the GX8 Mark II—but gave up and bought a GX9 a few months ago. Not a Porsche—maybe a Miata?) Using the 'compare' feature on the B&H website shows GX9 maintains a lot of the tech advances of the G9, losing a few features like the larger viewfinder size and longer battery life because of the smaller form factor. The GX9 digital files are different from the GX8 files, though it may be because the GX9 eliminated the low-pass filter. I’m not sure the difference shows up in standard print and screen view but GX9 files are much sharper and clearer at the pixel-peeping level. The GX8 did not stop me using my FF Canon DSLR but since the GX9 arrived, the Canon has mostly stayed on the shelf. I am enamored with the Lumix GX series with its Leica-look."

RubyT: "I'd like to second Peter's delight with the GX9."