So I ordered this last night and it'll be here tomorrow now, it was on sale at NewEgg for 339 which is why I ordered it. But upon reading here you guys seem to not like this camera much and recommend the GX1 over it? The GX1 is about 110 bucks more (current amazon price) so now I'm a bit worried. I don't know if I could stretch the extra 110 bucks, but am I going to not like this camera much? Should I return it and try and spring for the GX1?

It might help to know your background, as far as cameras are concerned. Mostly point and shoots? DSLRs?

The GF5 is a smaller camera with simpler controls. It's designed as a step-up from P&S. The GX1 is more of an enthusiast's camera. It's better built and has more features that an experienced photographer would want.

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Olympus E-M5, 45/1.8
Lumix 14/2.5, 20/1.7, 25/1.4, 45/2.8, 12-35mm, 14-42mm X, 14-45mm, 45-175mm X
Minolta MD 50/1.4, 85/2, 135/2.8

I've mostly owned P&S's in the past. The last was an FZ5 I think it was, but I've been looking at DSLR's for quite a while and then decided to go 4/3rds as I like the platform better I think. Maybe sticking with the GF5 would be ok for a few months and then upgrade? Give it to the wife or something lol.

There's probably nothing you can do with the GX1 that you can't do with the GF5 (except mounting a flash, but that would be silly on a small camera anyway).

All current m4/3 bodies are very capable and the differences are not as big as internet forums make them out to be. Use your GF5 to learn the ins and outs of photography. Develop skills and an eye for good images. Learn some post processing. These things will put the quality of your photography above any 'upgrade' you can spend money on.

Also use that money you saved towards a nice quality lens. Oh yeah one more thing... have fun!

...in the back of my mind I seem to recall the GF5 being praised above all other Lumix bodies for its great Jpeg colours, although now the £1000 GH3 would probably take the biscuit.

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Oly e-P1&17mmF2.8 e-600, e-410&40-150MkI, E-1&14-54MkI, Tokyo-Koki 300mm
Lumix G1&Yashinon45F1.7, e-pL1&CZJ135F3.5, e-P2&45mm. e-pL2&30mmF2.8

I've had the GF3 gave to mom in law (loved the pix it took) now have GF1 / GH1. GF1 is same size as GX1 and I regret not having the GF3 just on size and convenience alone. You will not see a huge improvement in picture quality to GX1 (mostly bump in low light performance which you'll see in links below). I would suggest you save that $100 and put it towards a good pime if you don't have one already. In particular get the 20mm due to it's low light performance and size with the GF3/5 bodies for your indoor shots. If you got the kit use the 14-42mm for your outdoor and you should cover %95 of your regular shots you took with your p&s with a lot more quality and character.

Best resources I found to compare cameras.

ISO performance (download the jpg or raws and see shutter speed to achieve exposure to really compare iso performance):
Studio shot comparison: Digital Photography Review

Compare camera sensors:
DxOMark - Compare Camera Sensors

Feel free to browse my photostream to see all the shots I took with the GF3 (check exif info). I've uploaded a good amount of pix (mind you post processed with lightroom). It will give you an idea what your GF5 can do. Matter of fact the GF5 has better low light performance than the GF3 I owned. I would love to have the GF5 as my go everywhere camera. Remember the best camera is the one you take with you.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ageslani/

GX1 is substantially bigger imo. Here's another site to compare bodies (put gx1 and gf5 you'll see what I mean):

Compare camera dimensions side by side

Hope that helps! Don't do the round robin nonsense I'm doing. Selling my GF1 / GH1 and hopefully getting GF3/5 and GH2. Oh not to confuse you I got the GH1 to replace my video camera. I love shooting vids and wanted manual controls and didn't realize GH1 didn't do 1080 / 30p so going GH2. Don't let that throw you off. GF3/5 makes great videos.

If you coma from P&S then you better start shooting in raw and process the shots in Lightroom. The difference in IQ you get while using LR and RAW is tremendous.
Your money will be better spent if you purchase Adobe Lightroom and study how to use it/.

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Cameras Panasonic G5 and G2
lenses Rokinon 7.5, P14-42, P14-45, P20, P45-200, P100-300
Adapted lenses Olympus 50mm F1.8 OM , JCPenney 135/F2.8 OM, Teleplus 2X MC7 Macro

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ehudlavon/

But ... but ... but ... it has a mode DIAL! Physical dial!


Side note: no add-on EVF with the GF5, which made it a no-go for me from the start.

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Olympus E-M5, 45/1.8
Lumix 14/2.5, 20/1.7, 25/1.4, 45/2.8, 12-35mm, 14-42mm X, 14-45mm, 45-175mm X
Minolta MD 50/1.4, 85/2, 135/2.8

I recommend Olympus m4/3 bodies because the latest 16MP sensors are better than Panasonics according to DxOMark - Compare cameras side by side

Olympus E-PM2 ($500 kit):
Overall Score: 72
Color depth: 22.7 bits
Dynamic range: 12.2 EVs
Low-Light: 932 ISO

Panasonic Lumix G5:
Overall Score: 61
Color depth: 21.4 bits
Dynamic range: 11.6 EVs
Low-Light: 618 ISO

Panasonic Lumix GH2:
Overall Score: 60
Color depth: 21.2 bits
Dynamic range: 11.3 EVs
Low-Light: 655 ISO

Also Olympus m4/3 bodies have image stabilization built-in, which means they work with ALL lenses, including legacy manual lenses.

I can't really spend 500 at the moment though. Its Christmas time and funds are quite stretched lol.