- Location
- Seattle
- Name
- Andrew
So, I'm a longtime member of the Mu-43 forum and shoot that format full time. However, I documented over there how I feel the Panasonic GX85 I have lends itself particularly well to certain shooting situations - it's a great street, travel, landscape camera. It has many features I need for these particular uses, such as a comfortable grip (with the Gariz half case added), lightning quick AF (my street setup is a custom pattern of AF points along with the shutter set to take the photo on half-press, which eliminates the time it takes for your brain to register that AF has occurred and to fully depress the shutter), an EVF, tilt screen for chest-level composing, and a bunch of other all-around perks to using Panasonic's smart and versatile cameras.
But, there are certain things I just can't quite get with the GX85, and everyday carry is one of them. I've owned some of the smallest M4/3 bodies available, and some of the smallest pancake lenses, but even so the package is bulky enough to only fit in large pockets. Where I felt my photography has been lacking is a camera I have with me in even more cases. So, I needed a tiny camera. Realistically, if I ever expected to carry it reflexively instead of only when I made a concerted effort, it had to be really small. I considered the original Fuji X100 as I'd heard so many good things about the file output (they were all correct!) but I couldn't get used to the dated menu system and the size really wasn't any better than my GX85 with a pancake prime. It pretty much came down to the Fuji X70 or the GR II (although I briefly flirted with the idea of a used Sony RX1, before I came to my senses). Aesthetics said go with the Fuji, but the truth is, I just don't like the Fuji build quality or menu system. Am I crazy? People fawn over those cameras, but they feel hollow and delicate to me. Plus, the results from the 28mm lens on the X70 are clearly inferior to that of the GR II. Not to mention, I really don't like the way the X-Trans sensor renders foliage.
So I pulled the trigger on a new GR II (it helped to get $90 off through eBay's coupon the other day). I've had it for a day, and I'm already really liking it, though I need to go through the manual to understand the menus a little better. This thing is a tiny, light brick, and it's hard to believe there's a sensor in this thing that's larger than the one in my GX85! Initial file quality tests are superb.
I remember reading the DPR interview with Ricoh/Pentax earlier this year, and they did mention that "research" for the next GR was happening. It sounded to me like the next model is probably at least a year out. Maybe an announcement end of this year with a release next Spring? I'd have held off if the rumors had been right about a new camera this year, but it really didn't sound like it will happen.
Now, my only question is, is it worth it to spend $70 on an accident+service warranty through SquareTrade for any future dust issues?
But, there are certain things I just can't quite get with the GX85, and everyday carry is one of them. I've owned some of the smallest M4/3 bodies available, and some of the smallest pancake lenses, but even so the package is bulky enough to only fit in large pockets. Where I felt my photography has been lacking is a camera I have with me in even more cases. So, I needed a tiny camera. Realistically, if I ever expected to carry it reflexively instead of only when I made a concerted effort, it had to be really small. I considered the original Fuji X100 as I'd heard so many good things about the file output (they were all correct!) but I couldn't get used to the dated menu system and the size really wasn't any better than my GX85 with a pancake prime. It pretty much came down to the Fuji X70 or the GR II (although I briefly flirted with the idea of a used Sony RX1, before I came to my senses). Aesthetics said go with the Fuji, but the truth is, I just don't like the Fuji build quality or menu system. Am I crazy? People fawn over those cameras, but they feel hollow and delicate to me. Plus, the results from the 28mm lens on the X70 are clearly inferior to that of the GR II. Not to mention, I really don't like the way the X-Trans sensor renders foliage.
So I pulled the trigger on a new GR II (it helped to get $90 off through eBay's coupon the other day). I've had it for a day, and I'm already really liking it, though I need to go through the manual to understand the menus a little better. This thing is a tiny, light brick, and it's hard to believe there's a sensor in this thing that's larger than the one in my GX85! Initial file quality tests are superb.
I remember reading the DPR interview with Ricoh/Pentax earlier this year, and they did mention that "research" for the next GR was happening. It sounded to me like the next model is probably at least a year out. Maybe an announcement end of this year with a release next Spring? I'd have held off if the rumors had been right about a new camera this year, but it really didn't sound like it will happen.
Now, my only question is, is it worth it to spend $70 on an accident+service warranty through SquareTrade for any future dust issues?