Panasonic Lumix G85 targets outdoor photographers
Panasonic combines the G7 and the GX85 into the G85/G80, ruggedizes it and bulks up the video features.
Panasonic takes its Lumix G7 mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera upstream -- literally -- with the Lumix G85, an updated and more rugged version of a combination of a slightly redesigned G7 body with the internals of the GX85/GX80, intended to appeal to the outdoor photographer. In addition to incorporating the antialiasing-filter-free sensor and image processor and stabilization system from the GX85, the G85 improves on the G7 body with dust-and-splash resistance and the ability to take a battery grip. Plus it adds some more advanced video capabilities and improved image stabilization.
The camera will ship in October with a body-only price of $900 and a $1,000 kit with the 12-60mm f3.5-5.6 lens announced in February 2016. I don't have non-US pricing or availability yet, but those directly convert to roughly £690/£770 and AU$1,200/AU$1,335. In the UK the name will be the G80.
Shop for Panasonic Lumix G85 (with 12-60mm lens)
See all pricesWhat's new
- Design. In addition to the weather sealing and support for a battery grip (DMW-BGG1), Panasonic tweaked the design for improved usability. The SD card slot is now on the grip, where it belongs, and it adds electronic first-curtain shutter (EFCS) for decreased shutter vibration. It also has a magnesium front panel for increased rigidity which decreases vibration, as well. And the viewfinder has slightly more magnification.
- Performance. Panasonic incorporated a new gyro in the body to beef up its 5-axis hybrid image-stabilization system, dubbed "Dual IS 2." While the continuous-shooting frame rate with autofocus remains essentially unchanged, it's got a deeper buffer for a decent number of raw shots.
- Video. While the camera has the usual Panasonic 4K video-enabled features such as focus stacking and Live Crop, it also gains clean HDMI out (4:2:2), monochrome preview and the ability to fiddle with the luma value. In the US, you can shoot a single 4K video clip for up to 45 minutes rather than being forced to cut off at 29:59 (which is an artifact of European regulations). However, it lacks support for V-Log profiles.
My take
I tend to like Panasonic's cameras because of the balance of speed, size, features and photo quality, and the G85/G80 combines the best of both worlds from its latest mirrorless models. Olympus' OM-D models, probably the E-M5 Mark II, are its closest competitors, but the EM5M2 is two years old and needs a general update to bring it into 2016.
Comparative specs
Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II | Panasonic Lumix DMC-G7 | "Panasonic Lumix DMC-G85 DMC-G80 (UK) " | "Pansonic Lumix DMC-GX85 DMC-GX80 (UK)" | |
Sensor effective resolution | 16.1MP Live MOS | 16MP Live MOS | 16MP Live MOS | 16MP Live MOS |
Sensor size | 17.3 x 13mm | 17.3 x 13mm | 17.3mm x 13mm | 17.3mm x 13mm |
Focal-length multiplier | 2.0x | 2.0x | 2.0x | 2.0x |
OLPF | Yes | Yes | No | No |
Sensitivity range | ISO 100 (exp)/ISO 200 - ISO 25600 | ISO 100 (exp)/ISO 200 - ISO 25600 | ISO 100 (exp)/ISO 200 - ISO 25600 | ISO 100 (exp)/ISO 200 - ISO 25600 |
Burst shooting | "5fps unlimited JPEG and raw (10fps with fixed focus and IS off)" | "6fps 100 JPEG/13 raw (8fps with focus fixed on first frame; 40fps with electronic shutter)" | "6fps 300 JPEG/45 raw (9fps with focus and exposure fixed on first frame)" | "6fps at least 100 JPEG/13 raw (10fps with electronic shutter and focus fixed on the first frame)" |
"Viewfinder (mag/ effective mag)" | "EVF 100% coverage 2.36 million dots 1.3x - 1.48x/ 0.65x - 0.74x" | "OLED EVF 100% coverage 2.36m dots 1.4x/0.7x" | "OLED EVF 100% coverage 2.36m dots 1.5x/0.74x" | "EVF 100% coverage 2.8m dots 1.4x/0.7x" |
Hot shoe | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Autofocus | "81-area Contrast AF" | "49-area DFD Contrast AF" | "49-area DFD Contrast AF" | "49-area DFD Contrast AF" |
AF sensitivity | n/a | -4 - 18 EV | -4 - 18 EV | -4 - 18 EV |
Shutter speed | 60 - 1/8000 sec; bulb to 30 minutes; 1/250 sec x-sync (Super FP to 1/8000) | 1/4000 to 60 secs (up to 1/16000 with electronic shutter); bulb to 2 minutes; 1/160 sec x-sync | 1/4000 to 60 secs (up to 1/16000 with electronic shutter); bulb to 2 minutes; 1/160 sec x-sync | 60 -1/4000 sec; max 1/16000 sec with electronic shutter; 1/160 sec x-sync; bulb to 2 minutes |
Shutter durability | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Metering | 324 area | 1,728 zone | 1,728 zone | 1,728 zone |
Metering sensitivity | -2 - 20 EV | 0 - 18 EV | 0 - 18 EV | 0 - 18 EV |
Best video | "H.264 QuickTime MOV 1080/60p, 50p (52 Mbps); 30p, 25p, 24p (77 Mbps)" | "H.264 QuickTime MOV UHD/30p, 25p, 24p @ 100Mbps; 1080/60p, 50p, 25p, 24p @ 28Mbps " | "H.264 QuickTime MOV 4K UHD/30p, 25p, 24p @ 100Mbps; 1080/60p, 50p, 25p, 24p @ 200Mbps " | "H.264 QuickTime MOV 4K UHD/30p, 25p, 24p @ 100Mbps; 1080/60p, 50p, 25p, 24p @ 200Mbps " |
Audio | Stereo; mic input; headphone jack on HLD-8G grip | Stereo; mic input | Stereo; mic input | Stereo |
Manual aperture and shutter in video | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Maximum best-quality recording time per clip | 4GB | 29:59 mins | "45 mins (in US only) 29:59 elsewhere" | 4GB/29:59 minutes |
Clean HDMI out | Yes | n/a | Yes | n/a |
IS | "Sensor shift 5 axis" | Optical | "Sensor shift Dual IS 2 5 axis" | "Sensor shift Dual IS 5 axis" |
LCD | "3 in/7.5cm Articulated touchscreen 1.04m dots" | "3 in/7.5cm Articulated touchscreen 1.04m dots" | "3 in/7.5cm Articulated touchscreen 1.04m dots" | "3-inch/7.5 cm Tilting touchscreen 1.04 million dots" |
Memory slots | 1 x SDXC | 1 x SDXC | 1 x SDXC | 1 x SDXC |
Wireless connection | Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi |
Flash | Included add-on | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Wireless flash | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
Battery life (CIPA rating) | "310 shots (1,220 mAh)" | "360 shots (1,200mAh)" | "330 shots (LCD); 320 shots (VF) (1,200 mAh)" | "290 shots (LCD); 270 shots (EVF) (1,025 mAh)" |
Size (WHD) | "4.9 x 3.3 x 1.8 in 124 x 85 x 45 mm" | "4.9 x 3.4 x 3.1 in 124.9 x 86.2 x 77.4 mm" | "5.1 x 3.5 x 2.9 in 128 x 89 x 74 mm" | "4.8 x 2.8 x 1.7 in 122 x 71 x 44 mm" |
Body operating weight | "15.7 oz 446 g" | "14.7 oz 418 g" | "17.1 oz (est.) 505 g (est.)" | "15.3 oz 434 g" |
Primary kit | "$1,100 (body only) £950 (with 14-42mm PZ lens) AU$1,400 (est.) (with 14-42mm lens)" | "£550 (with 12-60mm lens) $700 AU$900 (with 14-42mm lens)" | "$1,000 (with 12-60mm lens)" | "$800 £600 AU$1,200 (with 12-32mm lens)" |
Release date | February 2015 | June 2015 | October 2016 | May 2016 |