GX1 upgrade to GX7 or E-P5...justified on image quality only?

I jumped from Gen 1 (E-P1) to Gen-ish 3 (G3 / EPM1) - the biggest two thing I noticed was the AF speed improvement (E-PM1) and ability to crop 'more' (G3). I actually still like the images my E-P1 turns out. Personally, I'd follow a similar pattern today - skip a generation or two as the incremental improvements don't do much for me; in the meantime invest in good glass.

 

Dynamic range will be the biggest and most obvious difference between the GX1 and the latest generation of sensors, although not so much if you shoot in the higher contrast and more saturated jpeg modes. In my brief experience with the GX1 I found it to be plenty sharp with the right lens and don't think that you will see much difference in resolution at low ISOs.

 

My move from E-P1 and E-PM1 to GX7 was pretty significant, life became an awful lot better after, buy only in terms of the range of light I could shoot in and speed. A keeper from the E-P1 looks as good (maybe better!!) as a keeper from the GX7, just it's easier to shoot a keeper with the GX7


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High-ish (1600-3200) ISO are much better on the gx7. SS will allow you to use the 20 one stop faster (if that means anything) and the raws at lower isos are more malleable. That's it pretty much imho-speaking of iq alone. I do however think that the 7 is much more useable in many respects than the 1. Focus peaking for macro, wysiwyg in m mode, evf, tilting screen...

 

I upgraded from a GX1 to E-P5 and I much prefer the images from the Pen. They seem sharper, have more punch, and better colors. I much enjoy the dual control dials on the E-P5 to the fiddly and tiny single control wheel of the GX1. The E-P5 feels better to my hands and has a far better EVF, it's actually the best viewer I've ever used beyond a 35mm rangefinder or large format camera. I ended up selling the GX1 just to get rid of it cause I knew I'd never use it again. I've never used the GX7 so I can't comment on that other than I know it has the advantage of better high ISO handling, built in EVF, peaking, and superior video.

The E-P5 also has way better Auto WB control and handles low ISO better than the GX1 as well. The only downside is that the Pen made me buy more M43 lenses...

 

For me the biggest difference between my GX1 and my E-M5/E-PM2 is the dynamic range. I can pull a lot more out of seemingly blown highlights and shadows.