Lumix GX8 review — Epic Every Day Carry?
Panasonic Lumix GX8
The Lumix GX8 was the first Micro Four Thirds camera on the market with a 20-megapixel micro four thirds sensor, and the first to feature Panasonic’s dual image stabilisation. I absolutely love being able to keep my camera on me, and this camera is perfect and lightweight enough to do just that, even with a weighty lens such as the Lumix Leica 12-60mm f2.8-4.
While this camera has very limited video features due to it being a bit… ya know… older now… I think the photo quality still holds up perfectly well! And, another huge plus for Every Day Carry: The Lumix GX8 is weather sealed. Yay! Here are some of my favourite photos that I’ve taken so far with the Lumix GX8 as my main every day carry camera.
Images taken with the Lumix GX8 and Edited with Lightroom Presets Bundle
What I Love About the Lumix GX8
Electronic Viewfinder
The Lumix GX8 features an electronic viewfinder (EVF), which I’m usually quite indifferent about, to be honest. However, during a recent trip to LA under the blazing sun, I found the EVF to be really blummin’ handy. The intense sunlight made the rear LCD screen pretty difficult to view. The EVF was a life saver in the harsh lighting.
I also love the design of this particular EVF too, it’s movable. How novel! so you can look directly down into the camera if you angle it up. It’s a bit weird? But I guess it might come in handy if the camera is on a tripod for example.
Grip of the Lumix GX8
The larger grip on the Lumix GX8 makes it very easy to carry around all day, and super easy to use one handed. It’s a lot more comfortable than the more flat-styled cameras, without adding too much to the overall footprint of the design. I think certain modern Lumix cameras, like the Lumix S9, for example (blog review here) might have benefited from a similar design.
Battery Life
The battery life on the GX8 is superb. I managed to use the camera for 10 days straight during a recent trip to the US without needing to swap to a new battery very often, even with extensive shooting and reviewing of images each day. So far I have no regrets about choosing this camera as my main everyday carry at the moment, as it has consistently proven to be reliable, durable, and capable of delivering high-quality images. And the cracking battery life is just the cherry on top.
Images taken with the Lumix GX8 and Edited with Lightroom Presets Bundle
Video Features of the Lumix GX8
The dual IBIS in the Lumix GX8 doesn’t extend to the video, unfortunately, so you need a stabilised lens to get the best, most stable, video out of this camera. Using a stabilised lens like the 12-60mm can give you some really nice footage to work with. It has the Cine D profile built-in, so out of the camera it looks nice, but you can also grade it to your personal taste. I’d say this camera is more photo-centric and wouldn’t recommend it for users who really want brilliant video features. But for capturing simple video clips of day to day life, it’s more than capable.
It even has a mic input, which is cool. Though it’s a smaller 2.5 port and you need an adapter to get the most out of it. Which is, ya know… less cool.
You can get 4k 24p and some HD 60p, so not too shabby at all really!
Conclusion and Alternatives
I’m a fan of the GX8 for sure! I even took it out in a very rainy Liverpool for some night photography, and got some great images. I think if you want weather sealing on an older, more affordable camera, you’re looking at the Lumix GX8, or one of the Olympus EM5 series of cameras (check out my YouTube review here).
If you’re not fussed about video or the weather sealing, then the more modern, photo-centric Lumix GX9 might float your boat, or the absolutely iconic Lumix GX80/85 which is a STUNNING every day carry camera. You can read my full review here, as well as the million and one videos I’ve done on that camera.
Also, finally… I have a handy blog post wrapping up the first 10 cameras I’ve tried as part of my Tiny Camera Series, which might help you figure out which camera is best for you! You can read it here.
Looking for a Preloved GX8?
If you’re interested in the Lumix GX8, check out MPB for the best used prices:
And if you like the edit on these photos and want to try them for yourself, check out the Lightroom Preset Packs at the Micro Four Nerds Store.
