Before I start this thread, I want to say that this camera is not a bad camera and it takes fabulous pictures. Its just not the right camera for me. If you may become insulted about what I have written (thought none of it is offensive), you should stop reading now 
. Now that we got that out of the way.
I have a Canon T2i with the 15-85mm EF-S lens (as well as 3 other Canon EOS lenses) and an EOS M that I picked up at the fire sale prices. Let me say this before I start, there is nothing wrong with the equipment or the kinds of pictures the EOS systems take. My primary goal was to get a much smaller camera than my T2i that had the functionality of a DSLR. That is the primary reason I bought my EOS M, the EOS M takes pictures that look like it came out of a DSLR but its focus is a bit slow and it has no viewfinder. I wanted something more enthusiast oriented.
I had a Panasonic GF1 prior to the Canon's a number of years ago that I liked but I sold it because both the EVF and back screen drove me crazy in bright sunlight as it was difficult to see. The Panasonic software was fine and the camera was quick enough. But in the end I sold it after 6 months as I just couldn't stand the screen and EVF.
I decided I need to look at m4/3 again. I have always like the sleekness of the Leica cameras and the minimalist look so when the GX7 came out last year I kept my eye on it. And recently the price came down a lot, I picked it up with the kit lens for $750 + a $100 gift card. Not too shabby if you ask me when it was like $1200 a year ago. I played with it in the store a lot before I bought it. I also looked at the OMD EM5 a lot but I wasn't so thrilled with the body nor Olympus's software.
First the things I liked:
-The camera was very well made. Mostly all metal except for the covers on the top and the battery door.
-It started very fast.
-The focusing was very fast. I was impressed as it was almost as fast as a DSLR.
-The pictures it took were great. Very close to what came out my T2I and EOS M.
-It was very light, you could carry this all day with no problems.
-The kit lens was very sharp in terms of optical quality.
-The style of the camera is very nice, it really does look like a baby Leica.
-The silver paint on the body was very nice.
-The tilting EVF is kind of cool as was the tilting back display.
-The back display was very vivid and clear.
-In general this is a very responsive camera.
Now the things I didn't like and why I sent it back:
-Absolutely HATED the ergonomics of it. Though I played a lot with it in the store, its a whole other thing when you have it home for hours. Its got a decent grip but the buttons seemed to be in all the wrong places relative to my fingers. Especially when it was up to my eye. The buttons in particular I am talking about were the shutter release, the the scroll wheel under the shutter, the scroll wheel in the back and the AE lock button. These buttons definitely do not fall to hand as they say. In my opinion this camera is more about style than function. I guess you could get used to it but its definitely not ergonomic like a DSLR. Even when I forced my fingers to it, I had a hard time locating them when it was up to my face.
-The battery door is very flimsy. That little clip button to keep it locked looks very fragile. They should have made it metal like the rest of it.
-The camera though made of metal at times feels kind of hollow. My EOS M is much more solid.
-Not a fan of the eyelet strap attachments. I have seen the eyelet inserts on other cameras wear out where the ring goes through just from swinging back and forth while hanging.
-All the covers on the top of the camera are painted plastic. They are eh, just ok. On the silver one its very obvious its plastic, not so much on the black. But the cut lines of the various cover could be much tighter.
-The EVF was ok but not great. It felt really tiny when looking though it. The opening was small and the sensor to turn the screen off was too big. Though it was better than my GF1's its not the same as optical. It also seemed like the saturation was jacked up but that could have been the settings. It felt like I was looking at a tiny old TV at times.
-The touch screen was good but was not as good as the EOS M's. In particular some of the icons are cryptic and hard to decipher. Some of the menus are very dense and you need to understand them before you mess with them. Also at times some of the items appear touchable and they are not. On the EOS M everything you see can be touched and manipulated.
-The on/off switch is kind of fiddly. I like the fact its decisively clicks on/off but I think the placement of it was not so good.
-The command mode dial on the silver one is difficult to see in certain light. The letters and symbols are painted on and not very legible depending on the light.
-The leather texture on the right side grip does not extend all the way around the camera.
Overall its a very nice camera but its not for me. Though its very stylish looking as it looks like a Leica I think the ergonomics of it leave a lot to be desired
especially if you come from a DSLR. I get the whole rangefinder thing but I think the DSLR style (notice that I didn't say DSLR camera) is more ergonomic for a more serious user. Just my opinion.
I still like the idea of m43 as both the body and lens are tiny. It shows APS-C performance in a smaller sensor which shrinks everything. Thats never a bad thing. I have been looking at the Panasonic G6 as its more shaped like a regular DSLR as well as the Olympus OMD again.
. Now that we got that out of the way. I have a Canon T2i with the 15-85mm EF-S lens (as well as 3 other Canon EOS lenses) and an EOS M that I picked up at the fire sale prices. Let me say this before I start, there is nothing wrong with the equipment or the kinds of pictures the EOS systems take. My primary goal was to get a much smaller camera than my T2i that had the functionality of a DSLR. That is the primary reason I bought my EOS M, the EOS M takes pictures that look like it came out of a DSLR but its focus is a bit slow and it has no viewfinder. I wanted something more enthusiast oriented.
I had a Panasonic GF1 prior to the Canon's a number of years ago that I liked but I sold it because both the EVF and back screen drove me crazy in bright sunlight as it was difficult to see. The Panasonic software was fine and the camera was quick enough. But in the end I sold it after 6 months as I just couldn't stand the screen and EVF.
I decided I need to look at m4/3 again. I have always like the sleekness of the Leica cameras and the minimalist look so when the GX7 came out last year I kept my eye on it. And recently the price came down a lot, I picked it up with the kit lens for $750 + a $100 gift card. Not too shabby if you ask me when it was like $1200 a year ago. I played with it in the store a lot before I bought it. I also looked at the OMD EM5 a lot but I wasn't so thrilled with the body nor Olympus's software.
First the things I liked:
-The camera was very well made. Mostly all metal except for the covers on the top and the battery door.
-It started very fast.
-The focusing was very fast. I was impressed as it was almost as fast as a DSLR.
-The pictures it took were great. Very close to what came out my T2I and EOS M.
-It was very light, you could carry this all day with no problems.
-The kit lens was very sharp in terms of optical quality.
-The style of the camera is very nice, it really does look like a baby Leica.
-The silver paint on the body was very nice.
-The tilting EVF is kind of cool as was the tilting back display.
-The back display was very vivid and clear.
-In general this is a very responsive camera.
Now the things I didn't like and why I sent it back:
-Absolutely HATED the ergonomics of it. Though I played a lot with it in the store, its a whole other thing when you have it home for hours. Its got a decent grip but the buttons seemed to be in all the wrong places relative to my fingers. Especially when it was up to my eye. The buttons in particular I am talking about were the shutter release, the the scroll wheel under the shutter, the scroll wheel in the back and the AE lock button. These buttons definitely do not fall to hand as they say. In my opinion this camera is more about style than function. I guess you could get used to it but its definitely not ergonomic like a DSLR. Even when I forced my fingers to it, I had a hard time locating them when it was up to my face.
-The battery door is very flimsy. That little clip button to keep it locked looks very fragile. They should have made it metal like the rest of it.
-The camera though made of metal at times feels kind of hollow. My EOS M is much more solid.
-Not a fan of the eyelet strap attachments. I have seen the eyelet inserts on other cameras wear out where the ring goes through just from swinging back and forth while hanging.
-All the covers on the top of the camera are painted plastic. They are eh, just ok. On the silver one its very obvious its plastic, not so much on the black. But the cut lines of the various cover could be much tighter.
-The EVF was ok but not great. It felt really tiny when looking though it. The opening was small and the sensor to turn the screen off was too big. Though it was better than my GF1's its not the same as optical. It also seemed like the saturation was jacked up but that could have been the settings. It felt like I was looking at a tiny old TV at times.
-The touch screen was good but was not as good as the EOS M's. In particular some of the icons are cryptic and hard to decipher. Some of the menus are very dense and you need to understand them before you mess with them. Also at times some of the items appear touchable and they are not. On the EOS M everything you see can be touched and manipulated.
-The on/off switch is kind of fiddly. I like the fact its decisively clicks on/off but I think the placement of it was not so good.
-The command mode dial on the silver one is difficult to see in certain light. The letters and symbols are painted on and not very legible depending on the light.
-The leather texture on the right side grip does not extend all the way around the camera.
Overall its a very nice camera but its not for me. Though its very stylish looking as it looks like a Leica I think the ergonomics of it leave a lot to be desired
especially if you come from a DSLR. I get the whole rangefinder thing but I think the DSLR style (notice that I didn't say DSLR camera) is more ergonomic for a more serious user. Just my opinion.
I still like the idea of m43 as both the body and lens are tiny. It shows APS-C performance in a smaller sensor which shrinks everything. Thats never a bad thing. I have been looking at the Panasonic G6 as its more shaped like a regular DSLR as well as the Olympus OMD again.
