Panasonic has unveiled a new mirrorless camera that touts a 20.3MP sensor, making it the first Micro Four Thirds camera to have such a large sensor.
The new Lumix GX8 the successor to the Lumix GX7, and while the the newer camera retains the old school rangefinder design of its predecessor, Panasonic has included a number of new marquee features that it hopes will attract more photographers in a market that is already teeming with mirrorless cameras.
Chief among these features is the ability to shoot 4K videos, or videos with a resolution of 3,840 x 2,160 at 30p or 24p in MP4. Users can also extract photos from 4K videos and keep the EXIF data of each photo intact for easier organizing later. The camera also comes with a 2.5 mm microphone jack for recording audio along with video, something that was not available in the GX7.
The GX8 also touts Dual Image Stabilizer (Dual IS), which combines the Body IS and Lens IS to provide better optical image stabilization and reduce shake effect in both wide-angle and telephoto shots. Panasonic's new Dual IS is compatible with all Panasonic lenses, but it does not work for 4K video recording, only for taking still photos and HD videos.
Of course, such high-end features will not come without a hefty price tag. Panasonic sells the GX8 for $1,200, which is considerably higher than the $800 that Panasonic asked for the GX7 when it debuted a few months ago.
For that price, buyers can 4K video recording and Dual IS combined with a 20.3MP Digital Live MOS sensor with a maximum ISO of 25,600, which should make it excellent when shooting in low-light conditions. The camera can also shoot 6 frames per second in continuous autofocus and 8 frames per second in continuous burst mode while in single autofocus.
Panasonic also says that the new Venus Engine with a quad-core CPU enables faster image processing, improves color reproduction and provides excellent diffraction compensation in images taken with a small aperture, thus resulting in clear, vivid images even when shooting in low-light conditions.
Like its predecessor, the GX8 features a 3-inch 2.36M touchscreen OLED that tilts up to 250 degrees and rotate by 180 degrees to help make shooting photos above and below easier. It is housed inside a magnesium alloy die cast frame that is dust and waterproof and comes in black and black and silver.
Panasonic will start selling the Lumix GX8 in mid-August.
