Looks mighty familiar…

Panasonic just announced the Lumix DC-GX9. And while it seems like a pretty capable camera compared to the competition from other manufacturers, it doesn’t stack up so well against its predecessors.

If we were to trust Panasonic’s naming scheme (I wouldn’t advise you to do so, it seems they themselves are puzzled as to how their cameras are named), the GX9 would be the successor to the GX8. The new, top of the line rangefinder-styled body.

Taking a closer look at the GX9 though, it much more resembles the GX85, which played second fiddle to the GX8 in Panasonic’s previous generation of rangefinder Micro 4/3 cameras. It gives up the large, chunky, and rather comfortable grip of the GX8, for a sad little bump to take its place.

Look at the back of the camera (as well as the spec sheet), and another disappointment becomes apparent to current GX8 users seeking an upgrade. The EVF has been downsized, from the gorgeous 0.77x equivalent OLED EVF of the GX8, to a relatively small 0.7x EVF, in exchange for an increase in resolution from 2.36 million dots to 2.76 million dots. That doesn’t sound too bad, does it?

Unfortunately, as current GX85 or GX7 users would tell you, the numbers do lie. The EVF is a similiar unit to that used in the aforementioned GX7 and GX85, and comes with two major issues.

Firstly, it’s a 16:9 panel, rather than a 4:3 panel. While this may be optimal for recording video, when one shoots stills, you end up with dead space on both sides of the image. Thus, the actual magnification falls to a paltry 0.525x equivalent, on par with the dark tunnels you’d find in entry level DSLRS like the Rebel SL2 (0.54x equiv) and the D3400 (0.57x equiv). Not befitting of a $999 camera aimed at enthusiasts, if you ask me.

Secondly, it’s a field sequential display, that can result in colour tearing when panning the camera. Some are more sensitive to this effect than others: it can be quite off-putting and nauseating to some, or completely unnoticeable to others. Even if you’re not affected by the colour tearing though, it does give the impression of a ‘laggy’ viewfinder.

So for many GX8 users, other than a new shutter that reduces the severity of the infamous shutter shock issue, as well as an improvement to the IBIS system (4-axis to 5-axis), a shift to the GX9 would seem more like a downgrade. The grip has shrunk significantly, the EVF is a throwback to that of the GX7, and you even lose a mic jack. Ouch.

What about in comparison to the GX85, the GX9’s predecessor in spirit but not in name?

Here, the case for the GX9 doesn’t seem nearly as difficult. You get a bump to the new-ish 20 megapixel sensor in the same body size and more controls on the back of the camera body, at the cost of pretty much nothing. A minor update that brings an improved sensor and handling is always welcome. The real issue is whether the GX9 is worth the extra $400 over the discounted price ($599) of the GX85.

It’s hard to deny: if you’re a GX8 user, this announcement is quite the disappointment if you wanted an update with most of the capabilities of the G9, in the body of the GX8. But looking back, I would argue that both the GX8 and GX85 were ahead of their time. They were among the first camera bodies to bring features like IBIS, 4K video, a touchscreen that the manufacturer actually incorporates into their user interface, as well as other features like 4K Photo and focus stacking, all in a relatively small package. Thus, it’s understandable for the GX9 to not seem like a huge step up compared to those two bodies.

At the end of the day, a camera is more than the sum of its specifications. The GX9 is definitely not a bad camera, and I can see it holding its own against competition like the X-E3 and A6300. It’s just not a very compelling upgrade for existing GX8 users, or for GX85 users who don’t need the extra resolution.