- Location
- Melbourne, Australia
Here's the thing, I love my Leica M8.2. I have used it for paid work and I love it. But it's getting old and I am not trusting it as much, there is some banding that appears in lower light situations for example, and there are times when I wish I had files larger than 10MB so that the client has the option of larger prints. The biggest thing is the M8.2 cannot handle low light situations very well, I tried taking it to a paid gig to photograph a bar a year ago and it just couldn't handle the low light without a lot of noise. I had to resort to my Canon 7D which got the job done. The other thing is the UV/IR filter, the filter creates unwanted flares and light spots when there is a light source in the frame unfortunately. Very very annoying.
My ideal upgrade would be the M240 (or perhaps M9/M-E) which I would be more than confident I could perform most kinds of photography, paid and personal. But since I can't afford it....
...I was looking at the GX7 particularly since I recently purchased the excellent Voigtlander 17.5mm f/0.95 m43 lens for the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera. It's such a good lens that I've been really wanting to stick it on a capable m43 stills camera. I like the GX7 over the OMD because the GX7 has much better video features, I like the articulating VF and screen, and I also like the way the GX7 looks aesthetically. From the reviews it appears to have decent focus assist which looks like it might be a good alternative to rangefinder focusing. The GX7 also does 1/8000 shutter speed which I think is great. Paired with the f/0.95 Voigtlander and M lenses via an adapter, I could have all the shallow depth of field options I need if necessary.
So either I go with the GX7 if it is up to the task, or I go the other direction and put the money into the standard industry full frame Canon 5DmkIII workhorse which can be had for under $3000. I've never worked with full frame but in the video world, full frame results in better low light performance with less noise and better IQ overall. The 5DmkIII is also a second generation DSLR with video features that has less moire and aliaising artifacts, and I'll never have a client questioning whether why I've turned up to a pro gig with anything other than a pro-looking DSLR (not that anyone's ever questioned the M8.2).
I guess it's really a question of whether the m43 sensor in the GX7 is up to the task - whether it can handle large prints, whether it can handle low light and noise for low light event photography.
That's all that comes to mind at the moment.
My ideal upgrade would be the M240 (or perhaps M9/M-E) which I would be more than confident I could perform most kinds of photography, paid and personal. But since I can't afford it....
...I was looking at the GX7 particularly since I recently purchased the excellent Voigtlander 17.5mm f/0.95 m43 lens for the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera. It's such a good lens that I've been really wanting to stick it on a capable m43 stills camera. I like the GX7 over the OMD because the GX7 has much better video features, I like the articulating VF and screen, and I also like the way the GX7 looks aesthetically. From the reviews it appears to have decent focus assist which looks like it might be a good alternative to rangefinder focusing. The GX7 also does 1/8000 shutter speed which I think is great. Paired with the f/0.95 Voigtlander and M lenses via an adapter, I could have all the shallow depth of field options I need if necessary.
So either I go with the GX7 if it is up to the task, or I go the other direction and put the money into the standard industry full frame Canon 5DmkIII workhorse which can be had for under $3000. I've never worked with full frame but in the video world, full frame results in better low light performance with less noise and better IQ overall. The 5DmkIII is also a second generation DSLR with video features that has less moire and aliaising artifacts, and I'll never have a client questioning whether why I've turned up to a pro gig with anything other than a pro-looking DSLR (not that anyone's ever questioned the M8.2).
I guess it's really a question of whether the m43 sensor in the GX7 is up to the task - whether it can handle large prints, whether it can handle low light and noise for low light event photography.
That's all that comes to mind at the moment.