On a completely different subject, after spending most of this month looking at a number of wonderful looking images - all produced with the relatively diminutive Lumix GX9 - and after reading Matt's lengthy and occasionally philosophical analyses of some of the many irritations which he has experienced with his GX9 - I decided to throw caution to the winds and have just purchased a lightly-used GX9. So... when the honeymoon is over, I'm going to blame you, Matt!
Though I've been an enthusiastic and generally happy user of the GX8 for the past few years, I still missed the smaller (and to my way of thinking, almost perfect) dimensions - or form factor, if you will - of the earlier GX7, one of my all-time favorite cameras. The GX9 is really nothing more than an updated GX7 for most intents and purposes; the GX7 had, I thought, a nicer (feeling) and larger built-in grip - but my new GX9 came with the optional factory grip which actually makes the camera feel much nicer in hand. My other big hesitation was sacrificing the quite wonderful, large and detailed EVF of the GX8 for something smaller (and using lesser technology, alas) - but weirdly enough, so far at least, I am finding the GX9's EVF to be surprisingly nice. Viewfinders are highly subjective (he said) but I'm finding this one superior to the GX7's - and usable to the point where I find myself already lifting the camera, frequently, to frame and compose eye-level --- and my biggest fear had been that it (the EVF) would just plain suck. It doesn't. (Or maybe I've become slightly less demanding... or maybe my eyes just don't work as well these days... who knows?)
Moral of the story: a Single-in Challenge can be dangerous to one's wallet, pocketbook, or purse. (Although, in my case, selling my now-departed GX8 almost covered the cost of the lightly-used GX9 + grip, so I can't complain too much.)
You know, Miguel, something about this is profoundly funny to me that I'll explain in a minute - but I *actually* have something to add to my prior mumblings about the camera, and now that you detail your impressions, I think I dare to share it: Over the last couple of weeks, I tried to find anything, just about anything in the entire market that could replace it, and - there's virtually nothing, maybe except the Pen-F, but I find that camera pretty expensive for what it is (after all, it doesn't offer any decisive advantages over something like a E-M10 IV by now), and as you say, the GX9 works fantastically well with the 15mm. Not even Fuji does anything superior - and that's been made clear by the arrival of the X-E4. All in all, apart from sort of cross-grading by picking up a E-M10 IV instead, there's nothing I could do. And that wouldn't tick the rangefinder style box ... So, my search ended with nothing to show. I *could* go for a Sony A6100, but nah ... for all its virtues, it'd feel like a downgrade (I still own the A6000, I know that type of camera).
However, now for the more interesting - if somewhat predicatable - part: Another thing a SiJ does is make you very familiar with your chosen kit - this has been one of the key purposes of the format for a while now, and one many of us have exploited.
The funny thing is: Now that the challenge is drawing to a close, I'm mostly comfortable with the GX9 (again?) - the struggles and all the fighting with what the camera is were definitely worth it. Yes, the niggles remain, but they're just that: niggles.
That said, I'm not sure it'll stay with me long term - but since there's currently nothing to replace it with in a meaningful manner, I'll keep it for the foreseeable future.
The bottom line: We all know, but seldom consider, that
comparison is the death of appreciation. If you just use the GX9, it's a very competent, well built camera with a great set of features, period. And, as many of you have pointed out so accurately, of course(!) it can be enjoyed, and also tailored to one's tastes.
Enjoy the camera - I fully agree with what Andrew said in the "GAS" thread: This is the best value in
right now,
at least if you buy new.
M.