Panasonic Lumix GX1 vs. Sony nex-7

[Deep6 7]

As being reported by Alex, we tested both housings in Cebu during mid/late Feb. And here's the galleries:

 

NA-NEX7 for Sony Nex-7

 

and

 

NA-GX1 for Panasonic GX-1

 

I hope you enjoy watching them!

 

Edward

Yes indeed! Thank you. I have been waiting to see your work. I see you went for "super macro" with the NEX - 30mm + wet diopter, so I can't really compare to the GX1 - 45mm. the venerable Nikonos 15 holds up well, but the 7-14 seems more versatile and sharper. What is you opinion?

 

I think Oly will release a 60mm macro soon; this could be interesting. I hope to check out some Nauticam setups later this summer.

Bob

[Longimanus1975 1]

Edward, what did you think of the 2 cameras in general? What worked best for you?

 

Would really like some feedback on both if that is possible

[Edward Lai 36]

Hi Bob,

 

We could be too much addicted to shooting "super marco" the more we go to Cebu, because of the vast variety of smaller subjects available there. Well, at least we managed to shoot more than 1:1 magnification with the 30mm Sony E-mount marco lens (with add-on wet diopter), although at times we had to get extremely close to the subjects.

 

Sometimes the shorter Sony 30mm lens worked better in low visibility as we could get closer, and allowed us to shoot larger subjects. As Puffer Fish pointed out, we sometimes found the Panasonic 45mm a bit on the long side. But it was easier to use because of more room for lighting.

 

The Nikonos 15mm lens did amazed us in terms of color rendition and sharpness, thought it should perform much better in clearer water. Still looking forward to testing it and the Sea&Sea 12mm more in coming months, hopefully in better visibility.

 

Have to agree that lens choices are more versatile in the Panny/Oly clamp. The Oly 9-18mm, for example, works quite well in a smaller (4~ inches) dome port and provides quite a useful wideangle range.

 

As to Longimanus' question, it is difficult to compare the cameras as they are of different level. The Nex-7 seemed to be a little bit faster in focus acquisition, it has an electronic viewfinder, better video and higher resolution; and its more expensive. Other than these, the GX-1 holds up pretty well as one of the better m4/3 camera for underwater.

 

Edward

[chris_l 6]

As being reported by Alex, we tested both housings in Cebu during mid/late Feb. And here's the galleries:

 

NA-NEX7 for Sony Nex-7

 

and

 

NA-GX1 for Panasonic GX-1

 

I hope you enjoy watching them!

 

Edward

 

 

What lense for the whale shark with the GX1?

 

Thanks for posting the excellent galleries?

[Aliens 3]

I really enjoy the trinavi dials on the NEX7 quick to change speed, aperture and EV. It is a beautiful camera. Well worth the money for serious photography yet small. Happy with the macro and the pancake with a dome

[Edward Lai 36]

What lense for the whale shark with the GX1?

 

Hi Chris,

 

Those two photos were shot with a Panny 7-14 lens behind a 6" dome port.

 

Edward

[sweesin 0]

Hi Chris,

 

Those two photos were shot with a Panny 7-14 lens behind a 6" dome port.

 

Edward

 

Ed,

so when the GX1 housing will be ship out?

can't wait to test it

 

swee

[Edward Lai 36]

Ed,

so when the GX1 housing will be ship out?

can't wait to test it

 

swee

 

Hi Swee, that will be the end of March. Ed

[jgrjr777 0]

Edward

 

Could you elaborate on the NEX-7 GX-1 focus differences? Could you compare with some DSLRs so we could get a feel for the differences.

 

Here is a pargraph lifted from DPReview about the NEX-7.

With static subjects, the NEX-7's autofocus is generally fast and accurate. It's not as blisteringly quick as the latest Micro Four Thirds cameras such as the Olympus PEN E-P3 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1, but on the whole it's fast enough - there aren't many subjects that won't wait that extra fraction of a second for the camera to focus. Also, while it may be slower than many similarly-priced SLR/lens combinations, it's essentially immune from the front- and back-focusing problems that can affect the phase detection AF systems of SLRs.

 

Speed is not everything in AF.

 

You found the NEX-7 to be better than the GX-1. In what way? Focus tracking, focus aquisition ect...

 

I owned an Olympus EP1 for a while and could not deal with the bad AF. Now I own a GX-1 and find it an amazing improvment.

[Aliens 3]

Would agree. First because they have different lens, second because of price and lastly because of their directed target market.

 

Would suggest, for example, that if video was a main point, then one should be comparing the NEX-7 with the GH2, and not the GX1.

 

But it is the lens that define these camera's more than anything else, and if one likes shooting macro the difference is huge.

 

You have two actually very good macro lens, both can do 1 to 1 images, but after that, you can have a 30mm (for sony) that is roughly equal to a 45mm (full frame) versus a 45 mm that is equal to a 90mm. The Panasonic has very good edge sharpness wide open, the Sony really bad edge sharpness wide open (but fairly good when stopped down). Wide angle lens present a similar huge difference..with the 7 -14 PANASONIC being about as wide a flat field wide ange as there is.

 

I happen to own the panasonic 45 and where I dive, find the field of view a bit too narrow (I sometimes shoot thru a dome just to get a bit wider field of view) and would love to have something similar to the sony.

 

And I love the sensor in the NEX 7. However both cameras can take excellent images and even though I love the camera and that 30mm macro, will be getting a GX-1 because of size and cost.

 

Appreciate choice on cost. This was a major upgrade for me coming from a G12 in the Canon housing. I decided the best I could get/afford and hope to grow in to it as new lens come out

[Edward Lai 36]

Edward

 

Could you elaborate on the NEX-7 GX-1 focus differences? Could you compare with some DSLRs so we could get a feel for the differences.

 

Here is a pargraph lifted from DPReview about the NEX-7.

With static subjects, the NEX-7's autofocus is generally fast and accurate. It's not as blisteringly quick as the latest Micro Four Thirds cameras such as the Olympus PEN E-P3 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1, but on the whole it's fast enough - there aren't many subjects that won't wait that extra fraction of a second for the camera to focus. Also, while it may be slower than many similarly-priced SLR/lens combinations, it's essentially immune from the front- and back-focusing problems that can affect the phase detection AF systems of SLRs.

 

Speed is not everything in AF.

 

You found the NEX-7 to be better than the GX-1. In what way? Focus tracking, focus aquisition ect...

 

I owned an Olympus EP1 for a while and could not deal with the bad AF. Now I own a GX-1 and find it an amazing improvment.

 

Hi jgrjr777,

 

This is such a difficult question to answer! Do remember that AF performance has a lot to do with the lenses attached. In our case we could be biased comparing our 'feel' using the 30mm E-mount on the Nex-7, and the 45mm on GX-1. Not to say the Sony 30mm is better, it is likely it needs less mechanical movement focusing on similar sized subjects with its wider angle of view.

 

When shooting a moving subject underwater, for example a portrait shot of a swimming fish of say 6-8 inches long, the phase angle detection focusing system in DSLRs coupled with good lenses still seems to be more reliable than mirrorless cameras, including any contrast detection AF cameras for that matter. The only mirrorless camera we found to perform well (in good light) is the Nikon V-1 which has FA detection AF.

 

I haven't used focus tracking underwater so can't commend.

 

Both the Nex-7 and GX-1 are very much improved from the earlier models in their focusing speed. Again, all these are very subjective especially from one who are used to shooting DSLRs.

 

Edward

[jgrjr777 0]

Thanks Edward

 

You are right the 45 is a little slow to focus. I was not thinking of that. Ok for macro but otherwise not the fastest of the m4/3 system. Was the focus better on the 7-14?

 

I have been considering a compact system so your report was very helpful. I will wait to see how the new Olympus does.

 

I am trying to get a feel for how much you give up in AF performance on these mirrorless systems.

[rayhazelton 0]

Hi Edward. Can you tell me how you had the Nex7 set up.

I have recently purchased an NEX7 and my aim at present is to buy a Nauticam housing but I don't want to buy the wrong port and focussing parts.

I am very pleased with the NEX7 so far but I have my reservations about the likely image quality using the pancake lens with a fish eye or wide angle adapter.

Having paid £1000 for the camera body I want a lens that will do it justice underwater and a fast lens would seem a better solution.

What is your experience and what do you see as the ideal (almost) solution.

Just to say that macro is not my principal interest although it might be nice to do that as well

 

Apologese to everyone else if this is the wrong forum for this question. I have just joined the site and not entirely sure the best way to use it.

 

 

 

As being reported by Alex, we tested both housings in Cebu during mid/late Feb. And here's the galleries:

 

NA-NEX7 for Sony Nex-7

 

and

 

NA-GX1 for Panasonic GX-1

 

I hope you enjoy watching them!

 

Edward

[Edward Lai 36]

Hi Edward. Can you tell me how you had the Nex7 set up.

I have recently purchased an NEX7 and my aim at present is to buy a Nauticam housing but I don't want to buy the wrong port and focussing parts.

I am very pleased with the NEX7 so far but I have my reservations about the likely image quality using the pancake lens with a fish eye or wide angle adapter.

Having paid £1000 for the camera body I want a lens that will do it justice underwater and a fast lens would seem a better solution.

What is your experience and what do you see as the ideal (almost) solution.

Just to say that macro is not my principal interest although it might be nice to do that as well

 

Apologese to everyone else if this is the wrong forum for this question. I have just joined the site and not entirely sure the best way to use it.

 

Hi Rayhazelton,

 

We just used a flat port with 67mm thread at the front for the 30mm Marco, and focusing gear was not used. We do consider the AF capability of the camera good enough for most situation.

 

There are many good feedback in various forum discussions regarding the quality of photographs taken with the 16mm pancake lens, either using it alone or with the wide angle converter or fisheye converter.

 

The 18-55mm kit lens is also quite well accepted.

 

Thanks.

[sweesin 0]

Wow, finally nauticam annouced GX1 housing, looking good!!

but bad news is, according to our local dealer the shipment date is not end of march, but delay till mid of May.

could anyone confirm this?

[spencerjb22 4]

I invested in a m43 system, whilst it was easy to use, good IQ and light weight, something to consider is the cost of lenses plus ports. Each lens required a port specifically for that lens and the costs/investment I found was very expensive. If money is not an issue, then it's a great choice, however for me I need to sweat the asset and had to re-consider my options.

 

I use my SLR on land, with a decent lens collection already, I have now housed that and I have found it a much cheaper option and it has dual use for me. The m43 camera was v nice, but It still couldn't compete in many ways that were important to me than my d90.

 

M43 is a great choice, but i've read people say total cost of ownership will be a lot cheaper than SLR, I think this is far from the truth in my experience and i'd look at the type of lenses you 'might' like in the future. The 'used' market is quite small also, so buying new all the time is also quite costly. I'd way it all up before diving in.

[vansciverdiver 0]

Hi, I'm Ruth, a newbie to this forum. Watched this for a while, but never posted before. Started with housed film cameras in the 90s, then to DSLRs and now I'm seriously considering the Sony NEX-7. I love the high res, small size, ability to carry on. I'm worried about what I will give up going from DSLR to this. I'm considering getting the nauticam housing with the ports for the 18-55 lens and the 30mm macro. The wide angle looks interesting, but I am a little worried about the image quality of the 16mm pancake with the fisheye converter and I can't seem to find the lens for sale ANYWHERE (except on ebay)! Does anyone know any rumors about why it has been backordered for so long? Regardless I am not totally convinced of its optical quality. Also what do people think about the future longevity of the NEX line? I don't want to invest in one that stops being supported the minute I dump a pile of money in it. Many thanks for any replies!

[Deep6 7]

Hi, I'm Ruth, a newbie to this forum. Watched this for a while, but never posted before. Started with housed film cameras in the 90s, then to DSLRs and now I'm seriously considering the Sony NEX-7. I love the high res, small size, ability to carry on. I'm worried about what I will give up going from DSLR to this. I'm considering getting the nauticam housing with the ports for the 18-55 lens and the 30mm macro. The wide angle looks interesting, but I am a little worried about the image quality of the 16mm pancake with the fisheye converter and I can't seem to find the lens for sale ANYWHERE (except on ebay)! Does anyone know any rumors about why it has been backordered for so long? Regardless I am not totally convinced of its optical quality. Also what do people think about the future longevity of the NEX line? I don't want to invest in one that stops being supported the minute I dump a pile of money in it. Many thanks for any replies!

I am no expert nor do I have the Nex-7. From the reviews that I have read, only the Zeiss 24 mm for E-mount is equal to the resolving power of the Sony 24 mp sensor. Of course, proper down sizing the images can reduce this problem. I like almost everything about the Nex-7 except the ambitious 24 mp sensor for APS-C format, lens size, and the most critical is the lack of lenses. Just my $0.02.

Bob

[A.Y. 15]

... I'm seriously considering the Sony NEX-7. I love the high res, small size, ability to carry on. I'm worried about what I will give up going from DSLR to this. I'm considering getting the nauticam housing with the ports for the 18-55 lens and the 30mm macro. The wide angle looks interesting, but I am a little worried about the image quality of the 16mm pancake with the fisheye converter and I can't seem to find the lens for sale ANYWHERE (except on ebay)! Does anyone know any rumors about why it has been backordered for so long? Regardless I am not totally convinced of its optical quality.

 

Sony will announce a few E-mount lenses this week and I'm really hoping one of them will be the wide-angle zoom. In fact I'm holding off getting an aluminum housing/port for my NEX-5N, waiting to see which manufacturer will come out with a setup for this upcoming lens. We'll know in a few days I do have the 16mm/WA converter and have some full-resolution images and 1080 60p videos here.

 

The reasons why so many NEX lenses are out of stock is because Sony is unable to keep up with demands as the NEX system has been selling better than projections.

 

Also what do people think about the future longevity of the NEX line? I don't want to invest in one that stops being supported the minute I dump a pile of money in it. Many thanks for any replies!

 

IMO, Sony is very serious with the NEX line and the long-term outlook is very promising. The line now consists of several consumer cameras camcorders all the way up to a $10,000 professional camcorder that delivers 1080 240p - one of the most talked about cameras in the entertainment industry right now since none of the offerings from Canon, Nikon... in the same price range can even do 1080 60p at the moment.

 

The NEX system is only two years old, while the FT has been around since 2003, MFT since 2008, and the Nikon one since 2012.

Edited May 15, 2012 by A.Y.

[derway 2]

Hi Ruth.

 

Welcome to wetpixel.

 

For me, the nex system does not have enough lenses, even to support the nex5 resolution, for underwater use.

 

The nex7 is such high resolution that most of the existing lenses do not do it justice.

 

The latest micro 4/3 camera, the olympus omd, has a sensor only 20% smaller than the apc, and IQ just as good as the APC cameras.

 

Plus there is a full range of lenses from panasonic and oly, and sigma, now, that fully cover the underwater photographers wishes.

 

You cannot just buy a sensor, or a camera. The system for micro 4/3s is ready now.

 

The olympus omd has the fastest auto focus of any mirrorless camera so far, which is something reviewers are saying is not so good in the nex7..

 

Good luck.

Don

[bkkchriss4 0]

I have been considering the NEX-7 and the GX1 or OM-D for a while now. Just ordered an OM-D.

 

I played with the NEX-7 and really loved the camera, but was not thrilled by the lenses. There are some good lenses for land, the Sony Zeiss 25mm, the Sigma 30mm, the Sony 50mm, but none of these really are that suitable for uwp. The 30mm Macro seems like a good lens but focuses so close that its a bit difficult underwater. The high m pixel sensor on the NEX-7 seems to really need the higher end, expensive, bigger lenses. The Nauticam housing is beautiful though.

 

I liked the GX1 but really decided I wanted a viewfinder (for land use mainly, but would be nice underwater as well if its as usable as the NEX-7 is in its Nauticam housing).

 

I went with the OM-D after all the review and comparisons to other mirror less and DSLRs but most important due to the great lens selection.

 

Housings from multiple manufactures should be out in the coming months.

[holloways 2]

This is a great thread for me as I am struggling trying to decide between the NEX7, the GX1 and the new Oly OMD. I have a trip mid June - so I think the Oly is out of the contest.

 

I am concerned about the lack of in-camera image stabilization for both the NEX7 and the GX1. Am I making too much of it? Is in-lens image stabalization just as good? Which lenses would you recommend for both the NEX7 and GX1 (I'll probably get one for each wide angle and one for macro)?

 

I hear Sony is coming out with a new crop of lenses - anybody know when orr what?

 

Finally - do you know who - if anyone - might give a student discount on the purchase of a complete system?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have been considering the NEX-7 and the GX1 or OM-D for a while now. Just ordered an OM-D.

 

I played with the NEX-7 and really loved the camera, but was not thrilled by the lenses. There are some good lenses for land, the Sony Zeiss 25mm, the Sigma 30mm, the Sony 50mm, but none of these really are that suitable for uwp. The 30mm Macro seems like a good lens but focuses so close that its a bit difficult underwater. The high m pixel sensor on the NEX-7 seems to really need the higher end, expensive, bigger lenses. The Nauticam housing is beautiful though.

 

I liked the GX1 but really decided I wanted a viewfinder (for land use mainly, but would be nice underwater as well if its as usable as the NEX-7 is in its Nauticam housing).

 

I went with the OM-D after all the review and comparisons to other mirror less and DSLRs but most important due to the great lens selection.

 

Housings from multiple manufactures should be out in the coming months.

[derway 2]

Hi Holloways.

 

What camera system do you have now? I forget.

 

The sony nex lenses coming this year, are not looking very good for underwater photo use.

 

And for the price of the nex7, you could buy a fantastic nikon d7000, and inexpensive ikelite housing, and have a great, though heavier system.

 

The only system that is lower weight, with nearly as good image quality, is micro 4/3. The sony nex system has the same size sensor as every DSLR, so it needs lenses that are just as big around, and fat and heavy.

 

I would be very surprised if the gx1 housings will be out in time for june. The panasonic implementation of Aperture priority exposure mode, does not let you adjust the slowest shutter speed it will use, when the flash is on. It uses 1/60 second, which is slow enough to blur fish that dart out of the way. So, you will be forced immediately to use full M - manual exposure mode. Maybe you already are..?? The panasonic auto ISO is not allowed to be used in M mode either.

 

All of these problems are handled nicely, with the olympus A mode and M mode w auto iso.

 

You could get an olympus epl2 or epl3 system, right now, very cheaply, and keep most of the ports and lenses, if you even want to upgrade later on.

[Deep6 7]

Hi Holloways.

 

What camera system do you have now? I forget.

 

The sony nex lenses coming this year, are not looking very good for underwater photo use.

 

And for the price of the nex7, you could buy a fantastic nikon d7000, and inexpensive ikelite housing, and have a great, though heavier system.

 

The only system that is lower weight, with nearly as good image quality, is micro 4/3. The sony nex system has the same size sensor as every DSLR, so it needs lenses that are just as big around, and fat and heavy.

 

I would be very surprised if the gx1 housings will be out in time for june. The panasonic implementation of Aperture priority exposure mode, does not let you adjust the slowest shutter speed it will use, when the flash is on. It uses 1/60 second, which is slow enough to blur fish that dart out of the way. So, you will be forced immediately to use full M - manual exposure mode. Maybe you already are..?? The panasonic auto ISO is not allowed to be used in M mode either.

 

All of these problems are handled nicely, with the olympus A mode and M mode w auto iso.

 

You could get an olympus epl2 or epl3 system, right now, very cheaply, and keep most of the ports and lenses, if you even want to upgrade later on.

Getting a PEN now with an Olympus u/w housing could be a stop gap solution if you what the EM-5 later (uses the same M4/3) lenses. As Don about shooting with a PEN. I didn't know you can't use TTL with S or M in the GX1.

Bob

[derway 2]

Bob, the limitation is not with TTL, but auto iso, in M mode, (which all the olympus micro 4/3 cameras can do).

 

And the gx1 has no user adjustment for the slowest shutter speed used, in A mode, with flash on. It just defaults to 1/60 which will blur too many shots, in my experience.

 

All the oly micro 4/3 cameras let you set the slowest shutter speed in A mode, to what ever you want.

 

Of course, all the 'pros' around here, will tell us to grow up and use full M mode and Manual strobe. Maybe Holloways is ready to take that step...??