Why Panasonic needs the G8

While Panasonic is fiddling about with successive M43 ILC models none of which gets everything right, I made this picture with a Sony RX100(4) which does get at least the sensor, lens and autofocus right.  But the controls are small and cramped and there is not much on which to get a grip.

Panasonic needs the G8  because they messed up the G7.

Panasonic produced the G1 in 2008.  This was the first mirrorlesss interchangeable lens camera (MILC) of the modern era (the Leica M series cameras are technically MILCs but from the film era).

Since then we have had the G2, G3, (no G4) G5, G6 and now G7.

In May of 2014 I posted an opinion piece titled “Why Panasonic needs the G7” which you can read here.

I put the view that Panasonic needs to create a line of cameras in a particular style and stick to it. 

Of course they might elect to run several lines within their overall portfolio.

The most successful makers of cars, cameras, mobile phones and so forth understand this concept of lineage and consistency of concept, brand, style and market sector.  Think Toyota Corolla, Canon EOS and so forth.

But Panasonic has been chopping and changing, flipping and flopping all over the place with styles, configurations and model lines leading, I suspect,  to consumer confusion and disengagement.

Certainly Panasonic’s market share has not been particularly impressive over the last 8 years and  according to some sources has actually been declining in the last two years.

I think one reason for this could be that potential buyers don’t know what Panasonic stands for and are uncertain what to expect from the brand. 

For some reason unknown to me Panasonic has added to the confusion by calling all its cameras “Lumix” a sub brand which I suspect is still quite unknown to many camera buyers.

The current Lumix ILC collection has 5 model lines:

Entry: GF and GM

Mid range: G and GX

Premium/Pro: GH

In 2014 I put the view that Panasonic needed to consolidate and clarify these lines to one model from each of the three levels.

I now think that entry level ILCs are outperformed by and could be replaced by advanced compacts.

I posted about this here.

Thus the Lumix ILC camera lineup could look like this:

Mid range; 

Hump tops represented by the G series.

Flat tops represented by the GX series.

Premium/Pro

GH series.

I suspect that the G series has not been selling very well.

Someone, maybe the product development people at Panasonic might think that is because buyers prefer the flat top style and maybe some of them do.

But I think the real reason is that  Panasonic has been a serial offender at delivering underspecified, underperforming G models while reserving most of the new tech goodies for the GX models.

In fact the hump top body shape has many ergonomic and practical advantages over the flat top shape. The EVF can be larger, with a larger eye cup, a much more anatomical handle design can be utilised and there are more options for the camera top control layout.

The G7 is a nice camera to hold and operate apart from the deplorable cursor button module. Pity about the technology inside.

What is wrong with the G7 ?

Unfortunately, quite a lot.

* It uses the old spring loaded shutter which causes image degradation due to shutter shock with several popular lenses.

They should have fitted the electromagnetically actuated one which went into the GX80.  Maybe that was not ready for the G7 release and that could have been reason enough not to release the G7 until it was ready.

* The ‘fix’ for this in the G7 is E-Shutter which prevents shutter shock but drops image output from 12 bits per channel to 10 bits per channel. This in turn leads to blotchy green artefacts in shadows pulled up in Photoshop or other image editor. There are other problems with E-Shutter such as incompatibility with flash.

* The Cursor Button module (a.k.a. 4 way controller) on the G7 is flat and very difficult to find and operate by feel. Panasonic keeps fiddling around with the detail design of its Cursor button modules, usually to the detriment of usability.   They should simply use the one from the FZ1000  in every camera. This uses the ideal ‘rocking saucer’ design which works very well.

* Some potential buyers have interpreted the G7’s light weight and tendency to creaky (capable of slight deformation when pressed firmly)  body panels as ‘poor build quality’.  I don’t think the G7 has poor build quality at all but that is the impression some buyers get so they go elsewhere.

* Wrong sensor. Panasonic should have fitted the G7 with either the 20Mpx chip which went into the GX8 or the 16Mpx one without AA filter which went into the GX80/85.

* No IBIS.

What do we have ?

Basically the model with the best ergonomics (the G7) is grievously underspecified in the technology department and the models with the awkward ergonomics (G8 and G80) have the better technology.

Not a single one of them has the good ergonomics and all the good technology in the same package.

What does the G8 need ?

* A refined and upgraded version of the current shape, size and control layout, see my Mockup #13 below.  Inclusion of a JOG lever would be highly desirable.

 Even if they simply used the existing body and control layout and just used the Cursor Button Module (4 way controller) from the FZ1000  that would be satisfactory as an interim measure until they can design a model with a JOG lever.

* The new electromagnetic shutter mechanism, as per the GX80.

* IBIS as per the GX80.

* A really good OLED EVF.

* Either the 20Mp sensor or the 16 Mp one without AA filter.

* Heavier construction to impart a feeling of solid build quality.

What about the GX series ?

Panasonic has been messing around with the GX series since the GX1, with no clear direction emerging. This can only lead to confusion and frustration as potential buyers realise that one model has one set of desirable features and some undesirable features while the next model has a different set of  desirable and undesirable features and the feature set in the GX series is different from that in the G series.

I don’t know about other users but my response to this has been to get out of M43 cameras altogether.

If Panasonic wants to run the G (hump top) and GX (Flat top) series alongside each other that is their decision to make. But as a consumer I want to see all the good technology and capability in both series at the same time.

Summary

I think Panasonic’s current M43 ILC product development situation is a complete mess.

They could go some way towards rectifying the situation by releasing a G8 with all existing features from the G7  plus those itemised above.

It might cost a bit more but what is the point of a low price if the functionality is not there ?

What about the GX80 ?

It occurs to me that someone reading this might wonder why I don’t simply buy a GX80/85 and stop complaining about the G7.

There are several reasons, all ergonomic. To summarise:

* The GX80 has a mini handle not a proper contoured anatomical handle. I have been using cameras for over 60 years and have figured out that I strongly prefer a full anatomical handle. This is more comfortable, more secure and allows the user to hold the camera easily while walking, ready for instant use. In addition this handle type allows a more functional disposition of control modules on the camera top plate.

* The thumb support on the GX80 is similar to that on the GX7 which I found inadequate.

* The monitor screen is not of the fully articulated type which I prefer.

* Several reviewers have reported the rear dial is difficult to operate for various reasons one being that the thumb working the dial bumps into the index finger when this is on the shutter button.

* The GX80 still has the old, 'dumb' auto ISO implementation. This does not allow the user to set and vary minimum shutter speed and does not vary shutter speed with zoom. Nikon and Sony have this sorted out very nicely. Panasonic needs to upgrade their auto ISO algorithms right now. 

I hate using cameras with suboptimal ergonomics and operational characteristics.

This is Mockup #13, my interpretation of the ideal G8 camera. I actually made Mockup #13 before the G7 came out. By chance they are the same size.
Mockup #13 has numerous ergonomic refinements including the inverted L shaped handle canted back 10 degrees, quad control set near the shutter button, JOG lever, twin control dials, triple set-and-see dials. You can see that all the controls are large, nothing is crowded yet due to correct ergonomic positioning none of the buttons or dials will be activated accidentally.

What about Sony ?

The reader might also reasonably ask: If I am so dis-satisfied with Panasonic M43 offerings why don't I move over to Sony ?

Well, I did in the form of the RX100(4) compact. 

The main reason I have not purchased an A6000 or A6300 is the dearth of good quality native E Mount zooms.

The M43 system has a much larger and better selection of high quality primes and zooms.