GAS What was your best purchase of 2022?

I purchased a Panasonic G95 and a Pixel 7 this year. Quite happy with both. The G95 is a nice upgrade to the G85 and I like it better than the G9 I had. For me it is the real Goldilocks camera. However if I had to pick one of them as my best purchase it would be the Pixel 7. It is just a fantastic camera with the bonus of a built in phone.
What aspects of the G95 make you like it more than the G9? I'm looking for an excuse to go smaller but the somewhat heavy 4K crop of the G95 annoys me a lot. I liked my G85 very much.
 
What aspects of the G95 make you like it more than the G9?
For me the biggest thing was size and weight. My breaking point was when I took the G9 and G85 with me on a photo heavy vacation (trains in West Virginia). I had intended the G85 as my backup body. Instead I found myself with the G85 in my hand and the G9 in the bag. By the end of the trip the G9 was left in the room and I only had the G85 with me. It is just more comfortable for me to shoot with, especially when shooting all day. I ordered a G95 and sold the G9 shortly after the trip.

The other thing that I prefer in the G85 and G95 over the G9 is the front dial. I know that this is subjective and some will prefer the dial on the G9. I like the dial surrounding the shutter button though.

Also carrying the G9 and G85 meant two different batteries types and chargers. Now with the G85, G95 combo I am just dealing with one battery type.

I also prefer the two dial controls (mode selection dials on top) on the G85 and G95. I didn‘t ever get comfortable with the stacked dual dial on the G9.

You didn’t ask but here is what I miss from the G9 in order of how badly I miss them:
1. Near focus/far focus assignable to buttons. That is what I assigned to the front functions buttons. I love that function for forcing the camera to pull focus on something close rather than something in the distance.
2. That beautiful viewfinder.
3. Pre-burst shooting in regular photo mode.
That’s it, not much on the wants list.

I don’t shoot much video so the 4K crop isn’t an issue for me. If you loved your G85 you know the feel of the camera. The G95 improves handling by getting the same rear wheel as the G9. The WB and ISO buttons are on the top of the camera freeing up the rear controller. They changed it from a 4 way controller to a dial. For me it makes a big difference.

That’s all I can think of at the moment but if you have any specific questions just ask.
Todd
 
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Well, the lightly used G9 that just arrived certainly qualifies for my best camera deal of 2022. Best purchase? Too soon to tell.

Even though I bought a Gh6 I'm keeping my 2 G9's. As photo cameras they are the best price/value ratio in camera land, plus I think for hand feel the best camera I've ever had. I had one G9 for 4 years and the other for 2 and I see them being used for a long time.
 
I have two "best" purchases - my old computer died, and I got a new Ryzen 9 5900x 12 core with 64K of 3600 memory and Radeon RX 6700 XT 12 gig Gpu computer. Not cheap but for stills & video a workhorse. When November Black Friday came, I complete my M43 setup with the Gh6/PL12-60 big price reduction (I added an 8-18 from MPB to replace my OLY 9-18). I have been a stills and video shooter for a very long time, sometimes professional, sometimes just for fun. For documentary and wildlife work the Gh6 with m43 lenses is the best tool for me. The camera is large for an M43 stills camera, but as a pro level video camera it is tiny. The new computer and the high bit rate files from the Gh6 are so smooth to edit that I feel I'm doing Hollywood quality. I am now done for a long time (or at least my wife says so), but having a professional system from start to finish was worth it.
 
For me the biggest thing was size and weight.
Yes, that is my only gripe with the G9. Well, that and it is sometimes slow to start-up. G85 and GX9 have always been reliable quick to turn on.

I also prefer the two dial controls on the G85 and G95. I didn‘t ever get comfortable with the stacked dual dial on the G9.
What do you mean by stacked dual dial? The G9 has front and rear command dials plus the ring around the back controller can also act as a dial.

You didn’t ask but here is what I miss from the G9 in order of how badly I miss them:
1. Near focus/far focus assignable to buttons. That is what I assigned to the front functions buttons. I love that function for forcing the camera to pull focus on something close rather than something in the distance.
2. That beautiful viewfinder.
3. Pre-burst shooting in regular photo mode.
That’s it, not much on the wants list.
Thanks for mentioning that, it's something I was interested in, too.

I don’t shoot much video so the 4K crop isn’t an issue for me. If you loved your G85 you know the feel of the camera. The G95 improves handling by getting the same rear wheel as the G9. The WB and ISO buttons are on the top of the camera freeing up the rear controller. They changed it from a 4 way controller to a dial. For me it makes a big difference.

That’s all I can think of at the moment but if you have any specific questions just ask.
Todd
Thanks very much for your detailed reply.
 
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Carl Zeiss Jena 5cm F1.5 Sonnar, from the first batch of 100 made. 1932. I consider this a once-in-a-lifetime find.
 
What do you mean by stacked dual dial? The G9 has front and rear command dials plus the ring around the back controller can also act as a dial.
The mode selection dial on the G9 moved over to the left side to make room for the top display screen. I’m sure stacked dual dial isn’t the appropriate term but I prefer the G85/G95 setup with the mode selection and frame rate dials separate rather than having them combined on the G9. That bottom frame rate dial is just too difficult for me to change while looking through the viewfinder. On the G85/G95 I can easily go from single shot to continuous shooting and not miss a stride.
 
Long rambling preamble...
I think I'm fairly much over photo GAS at the moment. I'm really happy with my two Oly bodies, and pile of lenses which are mostly never used. I'd like to upgrade to maybe an E-M5iii or E-M1ii, but I just can't justify the cost even to myself! I am struck by the fact that lots of my favourite shots were taken 8-10 years ago with my Pana G3 (which I still have) and P20 lens. All I would really get from a body upgrade is weather sealing, and much better AF for birds, but both of those things constitute a very small fraction of my photography. I have no desire to try new systems either. I also find it depressing how much more expensive stuff has got - I paid £229 for my E-M10ii body brand new, now the used kit goes for far more.

I did buy a lenscap in 22 to replace a lost one.

BUT in 22, I also got a MacBook Air M1 for photo editing, and I am really hugely enjoying it. I've never had a Mac before, but I am a massive Unix/Linux fan (still use them at work). With a combination of discounts, store vouchers and old expense claims, if I squint enough, I can convince myself the Mac was almost free (!).

So I'm enjoying editing old photos, all stored on a NAS, but also still out there trying to take more shots that I really like again.

And I have recently noticed that my tripod is >30 years old and weighs approx 50kg...
 
The mode selection dial on the G9 moved over to the left side to make room for the top display screen. I’m sure stacked dual dial isn’t the appropriate term but I prefer the G85/G95 setup with the mode selection and frame rate dials separate rather than having them combined on the G9. That bottom frame rate dial is just too difficult for me to change while looking through the viewfinder. On the G85/G95 I can easily go from single shot to continuous shooting and not miss a stride.

Oh, I understand, now. Thanks for the explanation.
 
Well It was an expensive year for me. Bought a Gh6/PL8-18/12-60 and a new very powerful desktop editing computer. But by far the best purchase was joining Camraderie. The desktop was because my computer died, and the Gh6/lenses was because my mom died and I used part of the inheritance to purchase the always wanted pro level video setup (not that the G9 is not a very good video camera, for it is). Every time I use it, I will think of her. I wanted a place to replace Mu-43 and that makes my subscription the most important and best expenditure of 2022.
 
Well It was an expensive year for me. Bought a Gh6/PL8-18/12-60 and a new very powerful desktop editing computer. But by far the best purchase was joining Camraderie. The desktop was because my computer died, and the Gh6/lenses was because my mom died and I used part of the inheritance to purchase the always wanted pro level video setup (not that the G9 is not a very good video camera, for it is). Every time I use it, I will think of her. I wanted a place to replace Mu-43 and that makes my subscription the most important and best expenditure of 2022.
Sorry hear about your Mother. Mine died when I was in my twenties. She was a good Mother, and I think of her often.

Congrats on the new camera, and all important computer. My new one works superbly.
 
Thanks John, my mom was 99......
That's a pretty good innings! Mine was only 63 y.o. :(

I reckon I'm doing well so far at 76 y.o. next birthday. The wonders of medical science and excellent care from my doctors/specialists have kept me going long after dear old Mother Nature reckoned that I was for the tip!

Meticulous attention to my health care and medication regime has definitely paid off for me.
 
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