Lumix GX8 as a Holiday Camera. Does it “Cut the Mustard” 

The GX8 is one of the best cameras ever produced for M4/3 system. Panasonic really dropped the ball with this camera. Sony picked it up, and called it the A7C. I use this camera with Leica prime lenses and there is no difference in image quality compared to my full frame cameras. The 4:3 aspect is nearly perfect for social posts. Everyone is losing their minds over the Fuji X100V but I really wish there was a direct follow up to this body design and quality.

i have and love my GX8, wish it could have IBIS when shooting 4k video, but it only works for FullHD

I used a GX85 for five years, since I got into MFT. I recently bought a GX8 because I wanted a physically bigger camera, the swivel screen, an angled viewfinder, the mic input, mix n match with lenses. I think I'll be keeping the GX85 because I do like having a smaller camera, especially with a pancake zoom, but I'm so glad I got the GX8. I would have preferred an updated version of the GX8, maybe with a 24MP sensor - but there isn't one.

Very nice review. I've got 2 GX-8s and you nailed each and every feature and quirk. I use mine for 4K video. They have the mic jack (which the 7 and 9 don't).

Fully agree Brian. Bought as a second body to accompany my G9. Absolutely love this camera. Mostly use with PL 12-60 and more recently with the Oly 8-25. Maybe there’ll be a GX8 Mk 2 when the G9 Mk 2 is released …

I took my GX8 on holiday last October and loved every minute. I have always enjoyed using this camera and the results never cease to amaze me. I do have the same ergonomic issue as yourself that I constantly press the display button with my thumb. What were they thinking!. I too would love to have seen an update to this model that included some of the tech from the G9, like his res mode, pre burst and the better IBIS, but the layout including that exposure comp dial, rangefinder style and Fn button locations are almost perfect. Even though I have a G9 & now an OM-1 I will continue to use my GX8, as it just has that special something that makes it a real pleasure to use.

I was so disappointed with the GX9 that I bought a GX8 while they were still available ! It's the best Lumix camera for street photography and I'll never part with mine. It's also a great all rounder for landscape, snaps, portraits etc.

After 12 years using a Sony A55 or a Nikon 1, I an now a few days into a GX8, which I got a little cheaper than average due to a missing front control wheel. With very careful application of superglue using a bamboo skewer, I may have solved that problem. We will find out. My first surprise is how bright the viewfinder and screen are. The Sony was good for its time, but the Panasonic is a revelation! And the 25mm f 1,8 lens is pretty good for low light compared to the Sony's f 3,5 kit lens, of course. I am missing the 14-42 though, which didn't come with the camera. One thing which pushed me toward the Lumix was going interstate last year and attending a presentation, where the Nikon 1 was unobtrusive and light even with the 30-110 (80-300 equiv) zoom, and the Panasonic certainly doesn't match that at about 220g heavier, but it is smaller and lighter with the lenses attached than the Sony, though not by much. I am not complaining about the tiltable EVF at all, though. It would have been handy at that presentation, as covering your face with a camera is a bit more noticeable than looking down at a camera almost in your lap. I am impressed so far.

It was a real shame that Panasonic hadn't switched to pdaf when Sony introduced the A6000 in 2014. I read that fakes of the GX8 were below expectations - many asked for it but few bought it. Or does look big though and not pocketable. The GX9 lacks a good evf, battery life and pdaf. I hope Panasonic try again with a gx model now they have pdaf sensors

I have the GX8 and the very diminutive GM5. I’m debating which one to take on a vacation to Italy next month, and which lenses (I have many to choose from). Any advice? Thanks. Love your channel!

The GX-9 is the ultimate MFT street shooter. Tilt only screen, and better sensor performance than in the previous models. No issues with shutter vibration. The Lumix GX-9 + 12-60mm lens for $799 USD is a bargain. The GX-8 and most all MFT cameras are fun to use, and render a good image. If someone wanted a really small travel camera in MFT, the Lumix zoom cameras, or the PEN PL-8 are great. A PL-8 with the Lumix 14mm is pocketable. With the 25mm Olympus, not bad at all for compactness. Years ago, I got a very good deal on a new Olympus OMD-EM 10 mk II, which looks great and is an easy carry. Got it in black. Silver is nice too -- note that numbers are easier to read in all light situations with black dials. Which looks best? A matter of taste, I suppose. I have a GX-85 with a silver top -- seems more attractive on that model. Recently got the Olympus 25mm f1.8 lens, and the decoration ring, for some odd reason, is stuck. The final solution? I left it on and bought a Sioti vented metal lens hood for ten dollars, and gave it the Leica rangefinder style. ;) Take care, Loren

I agree the GX8 is my knockabout camera 👍

Love my GX8 & LX100ii to the point I actually sold my G9 as was never using it. always picked up one of the others. Image quality is brilliant as is the feel of them in hand.

I picked up a silver GX8 a couple of weeks ago. I love the look and feel of this camera. I even got the 12-32mm pancake zoom and 35-100mm in silver to match. I keep it in a small zipper case with the pancake lens on it and slip the 35-100 in my pocket. It is such a fun setup to shoot with and I am really enjoying it! Previously, my everyday fun camera was the G95 with 14-140mm. I like this setup better.

Thanks for the review. I own a GX7 and a G9 but I’m thinking of trading in the GX7 for the GX8. So I’m slightly perturbed to hear you say they are difficult to find! It looks like it will fit better in the hand that my GX7, and like you I’m used to the menu system on Panny cameras.

Thank you Brian for the video. I agree with most of your statements about the GX8. But different from you I never made friends with the exposure compensation dial. I normally adjust the compensation when I look at the screen or into the EVF. And then I don‘t have any profit from the printed / engraved numbers on the dial. I would have appreciated much more if the dial was to override the shutter speed. I often experience situations when I would like to dial in the shutter speed BEFORE I lift the camera to my eye. And for that the „hardware“ numbers would be ideal. Like with cameras „in the old days“. Have a nice vacation!

I was gifted this camera a few years back along with some beautiful glass such as the 42.5 f1.2 & 12-32 f2.8 was such a great start into mirrorless. I must admit after over a decade of just using whatever phone I had around busy mum life moving to mirrorless was a learning curve for me. I've added a secondhand gx9 bundle that had 25 f1.4 which I haven't really enjoyed as much, definitely found it better for street photography or tripod portrait situations but will always use the gx8 out for landscapes. I added a em5iii with the 75 f1.8 and the latest 9m f1.7 which I love but find the cameras do seem to work better with their own native lenses. Agree the function button features on the gx8 have made it alot better for me as well. I have been pondering moving back to a pro full frame kit but tbh the lenses I currently have make that decision very hard, I think if there was a micro 4/3rds with the same focusing system as the new s5ii I'd be all over it. But until then I'm very happy with great glass, filters, and slow photography:)

Just got one. Mine cost £313 and it looks mint, with 6 months guarantee from Wex. One thing that surprised me is the speed of auto focus. I'm getting very few out of focus shots. It's almost instantaneous. Looks like you're having a good holiday. Thanks for the video.

im saving up to get this wonderful little camera 2nd hand great review and a perfect holiday camera for me.

Built like a brick outhouse😂😂😂😂😂😂

Thank you for the fantastic insight.

Hi Brian it's Ken here again. I bought a GX8 back in January 2023 as a back up to my G9. But I find the G9 stays in the cupboard and the GX8 is my go to camera. | tend to use either my 12-60mm or my 14-140mm. Sometimes I shoot jpeg and raw, but mostly just jpeg. I note that you use mostly Creative style Vivid. Can I ask if you use the Vivid with Contrast at 0, Sharpness at 0, Noise Reduction at 0 and Saturation at 0. Or do you change those settings to something else like + or - . I would be very interested to hear / see your answers. Cheers for your reply, Ken.

Hello. Thank you for this. How do get along with the lumix 14-45mm lens in low light shooting for sharp photographs and higher ISO’s ?. What would you set as the highest ISO on this camera ?

Hi, great channel. I just traded my GX85 in for a GX8. Like the size of it. Just went for a 3 month long trip to Thailand for testing it out. I think it will fit me perfectly, bigger than the GX85. Took some primes with me 15mm/1.7, 25mm/1.4, 45mm/1.8 and zoom 12-60/3.5-5.6 and 35-100/4-5.6. Keep up the good work. Realy like Your channel.

Every time I hear the British say on holiday I think what holiday is there in March.😂 Are you in Florida? The background looks like my state.

I am a hiker and use the GX8 as my unique camera. Either with the Laowa 10, Lumix 20 and m.Zuiko 45 (or Lumix 35-100/4-5.6), either simply with the Nokton 17.5. I prefer the latter when I sleep in remote huts of the Alps, to photograph the starlit or moonlit landscape (because wide open it reproduces better the uncertain and soft margins between elements we perceive at night, while the others are way too sharp straight from max aperture and thus spoil the game). I love the system for its compactness: anything stays in a small bag around my neck, with both options. It is reasonably light, too. The battery lasts 3 days, so I have a spare one and I can stay long enough far away from charges (That’s why I skipped the GX9, whose better IS would be appreciated, because it has a smaller battery). I do not need operational speed: most of my pictures are better served by manual focus, although I use S-AF when I am lazy.

Just so you know, I'm going to be in trouble and I'm going to be blaming YOU! 😁 Having watched this video I got curious about the GX series and then got too curious. Net result is I have just bought a used GX80, it arrives next week.

Thanks for the video. Very timely indeed. I got back into photography last year and bought a GX9 (new) and GX8 (used) a couple of months ago. Loving both of them. Primarily using the GX8 for wildlife photography and I have the PL 100-400 attached to it pretty much permanently as a "walk around" setup. The GX9 is for more general use, usually just the kit lens (12-32). We're going back to Rhodes in June and later this year, were lucky to have a Caribbean cruise booked. I'm thinking of taking both, as holiday cameras... The GX9 should be great for resort, city and evening/night (it has a flash of course too), and I'm thinking the GX8 could make a perfect camera for beach and boat trips (as it's water resistant). I've fallen in love with MFT and Lumix in particular, so have literally today just ordered a G9 and then it and the GX8 will make a perfect pair for exploring wildlife photography further. Thanks again for the videos, I've watched loads and they've helped a lot... Enjoy your holiday🙂

Have a GX8 but tend to use my GX80 for most of my photography as it is easy to carry and use. GX8 tends to be used for more demanding work such as Macro.

What do you think about the GX9 vs. the GX8? I’ve read the GX9 is more of an upgrade to the GX 85 than the GX8. The latter has a mic input vs. the former. Both have 20MP sensor and IBIS. Mask On Nurse Marty (Ret)

Which one is a better travel camera from your point of view - g100 or gx8?

The reported shutter shock has put me off buying this camera, although the firmware update might sway me into getting one to try out. I would like to see an updated version, bringing back the viewfinder and weather sealing of the gx8. Let’s hope Lumix are listening.

I have a pair of GX8s (in black), had them for a long time now. I had one and just loved the ergonomics so it made sense to me to have another to avoid lense changing too much. The EVF is fantastic and with diopter adjustment. In old age I have become slightly long-sighted so I wear reading glasses for close up work. The camera is sufficiently tactile that I can use it without resorting to grabbing my glasses to read a dial setting. I rarely use the flip screen for te same reason, but the EVF works superbly for me. The weight of the camera seems about the right compromise, enough mass to be a stable platform. Shutter shock might have been an issue with a few shots taken on one day with the 14-140 but I am far from sure. All of my lenses and the camera bodies have the latest firmware. I am very happy with the cameras and find it hard to criticise them, on one occasion I did corrupt a memory card by pushing my luck with a discharged battery, rather than panic I swapped memory card, battery and continued. On the computer I could retrieve all of the pictures fine before reformatting in the camera. The "intimidation factor" of a smallish camera is minimal and maybe an undersold "feature". The IBIS frankly amazes me, I have used some insanely slow shutter speeds handheld. Low light performance is not great compared to a larger format but maybe I was driving the camera badly... enjoy your holiday, my GX8s may go on one themselves in a few weeks...