The Panasonic G85 (North America)/G80 (Europe) is a versatile mirrorless camera featuring excellent 5-axis image stabilization, 4K video recording capabilities, and fast autofocus, among various professional-grade features. With its weather-sealing and reasonable price point, it’s suitable for a wide range of users from amateurs to professionals. Let’s take a detailed look at its performance and features.
๐ Panasonic G85/G80 Key Specifications
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Sensor | 16MP Live MOS Sensor (AA filter removed) |
| Processor | Venus Engine |
| Image Stabilization | 5-axis in-body + Dual IS 2 |
| Autofocus | DFD (Depth From Defocus) technology |
| Continuous Shooting | Up to 9fps (AF-S), 6fps (AF-C) |
| Video | 4K 30p/24p, Full HD 60p |
| Viewfinder | 2.36M dot OLED EVF (0.74x magnification) |
| Monitor | 3-inch 1.04M dot vari-angle touch LCD |
| Weather-sealing | Supported |
| Weight | Approx. 505g (including battery and memory card) |
๐จ Design and Ergonomics: Harmony of Robustness and Usability
Solid Body and Grip
The Panasonic G85/G80 adopts a typical DSLR-style design. While the exterior may not be particularly beautiful, its design focuses on practicality. The solid grip provides stable handling, and the button layout is well-designed with user convenience in mind.
Weather-Sealing
The G85/G80 features weather-sealing typically found in professional cameras. This is a significant advantage for outdoor shooting, allowing worry-free photography even in adverse weather conditions.
Intuitive Operability
Dual control dials and custom buttons allow for quick and intuitive operation. The touchscreen is particularly convenient for moving AF points or navigating menus. Even when using the viewfinder, the touch pad AF feature allows for easy focus adjustment.
๐ธ Image Quality: Improved Resolution and Sharpness
Potential of the 16MP Sensor
The G85/G80 uses a 16MP Live MOS sensor and, unlike previous models, has removed the AA (anti-aliasing) filter. This results in resolution comparable to 20MP sensors, particularly noticeable when shooting stationary subjects.
Improved Low-Light Performance
While noise control at high sensitivities still falls short of full-frame sensors due to the limitations of the Micro Four Thirds sensor, the G85/G80 shows improved noise suppression compared to previous models, providing usable image quality up to ISO 3200.
Outstanding Color Reproduction
Panasonic’s unique color processing technology allows the G85/G80 to provide natural and attractive colors. JPG outputs, in particular, show excellent color rendition that can be used straight out of the camera.
๐ Autofocus System: Fast and Accurate DFD Technology
DFD (Depth From Defocus) Technology
The G85/G80 incorporates Panasonic’s proprietary DFD technology in its autofocus system. This technology combines the accuracy of contrast AF with the speed of phase-detect AF, enabling very fast and accurate focusing.
Real-World Experience
In practical use, the G85/G80’s autofocus is very impressive. It focuses almost instantly on static subjects and shows decent performance when tracking moving subjects. The autofocus performance doesn’t degrade significantly in low-light conditions, making it highly practical.
AF Customization
The G85/G80 offers various AF modes and customization options. Users can fine-tune AF sensitivity and speed according to their shooting style, allowing for flexible response to various shooting situations.
๐ 5-Axis Image Stabilization: Key to Stable Shooting
Powerful 5-Axis IBIS System
One of the G85/G80’s standout features is its in-body 5-axis image stabilization (IBIS) system. This system provides correction for five types of camera movement: vertical, horizontal, rotational, pitch, and yaw.
Dual IS 2 Technology
It supports Dual IS 2 technology, which uses both the lens OIS and body IBIS simultaneously. This can provide up to 5 stops of shake correction, allowing for sharp photos even at slow shutter speeds.
IBIS Real-World Experience
In practical use, the G85/G80’s image stabilization performance is very impressive. Sharp photos could be obtained even at slow shutter speeds around 1/4 second. This is a significant advantage, allowing for sharp photos in low-light conditions while maintaining low ISO.
๐ฅ Video Features: Professional-Grade Video Production Tool
4K Video Recording
The G85/G80 supports 4K 30p/24p video recording. The quality of 4K footage is very sharp and captures rich details. The quality is particularly impressive when downsampled to 1080p.
Utilizing 5-Axis IBIS
The 5-axis image stabilization is also a great help in video recording. It allows for stable footage even when shooting handheld without a tripod, enabling mobile shooting.
4K Photo Mode
The 4K Photo mode, utilizing 4K video technology, allows for extraction of 8MP still images at 30 frames per second. This is very useful for capturing decisive moments, particularly in sports or wildlife photography.
Additional Video Features
The G85/G80 provides a microphone input jack for connecting external microphones. It also supports unlimited video recording, allowing for long-duration shoots without restrictions. However, the lack of a headphone jack limits audio monitoring capabilities.
๐ฑ User Interface: Harmony of Intuitiveness and Customization
Touchscreen Utilization
The 3-inch 1.04M dot vari-angle touch LCD enables intuitive operation. Various functions such as menu navigation, focus point selection, and shutter release can be quickly operated via touch.
Custom Buttons and Dials
The G85/G80 provides multiple custom buttons and dual control dials. Users can assign frequently used functions to these buttons to increase shooting efficiency.
Intuitive Menu Structure
Panasonic’s menu system is intuitive and well-structured, making it easy for even beginners to understand and use. The My Menu feature allows users to collect frequently used menu items, adding to the convenience.
๐ Battery Life and Connectivity: Design Focused on Practicality
Improved Battery Life
The G85/G80 provides a basic battery life of 330 shots. However, using the power-saving mode can extend this to up to 800 shots, offering DSLR-like battery performance.
Wireless Connectivity
Built-in Wi-Fi allows easy connection with smartphones or tablets. This enables remote shooting or image transfer, increasing usability.
USB Charging Support
The camera supports battery charging via USB, which is convenient for outdoor shooting. It allows for charging anytime, anywhere using a power bank.
๐ Comparison with Competitors: G85/G80’s Position in the Market
Comparison with Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II
The Olympus E-M5 Mark II is also a mid-range model in the Micro Four Thirds system, similar to the G85/G80 in many aspects. Both cameras offer excellent image stabilization and weather-sealing. However, the G85/G80 has an advantage in its ability to shoot 4K video.
Comparison with Sony A6300
The Sony A6300 uses an APS-C sensor, giving it an advantage in low-light performance. It also features a more advanced AF system. However, the G85/G80 offers more effective image stabilization and a more convenient touchscreen interface.
Comparison with Canon 80D
The Canon 80D is a DSLR offering an optical viewfinder and longer battery life. However, the G85/G80 has advantages in its more compact size, 4K video recording, and more effective image stabilization.
๐ก Pros and Cons Analysis: Strengths and Weaknesses of the G85/G80
Pros
- Excellent 5-axis image stabilization system
- 4K video recording support
- Weather-sealing
- Fast and accurate DFD autofocus
- Intuitive touchscreen interface
- Improved resolution due to AA filter removal
Cons
- Limited high ISO noise control due to Micro Four Thirds sensor
- Buffer limitation during continuous shooting
- Shorter battery life compared to DSLRs (when not using power-saving mode)
- Lack of headphone jack
๐ญ Use Cases: Utilizing the G85/G80
Travel and Landscape Photography
The G85/G80 is ideal for travel and landscape photography due to its compact size, weather-sealing, and excellent image stabilization. Its light weight makes it comfortable to carry for long periods, and it can be used confidently in adverse weather conditions.
Video Production
The 4K video recording capability and effective image stabilization make the G85/G80 an excellent tool for video production. It’s particularly suitable for YouTube content creators or independent filmmakers.
Event and Wedding Photography
Fast autofocus, quiet shutter sound, and stable 4K video recording capability make the G85/G80 suitable for event and wedding photography.
Sports and Wildlife Photography
The 6fps continuous shooting speed and 4K Photo mode are useful for capturing fast-moving subjects. The weather-sealing also allows for confident use outdoors.
๐ Conclusion: A Versatile All-Rounder Mirrorless Camera
The Panasonic G85/G80 is an excellent all-rounder mirrorless camera capable of handling various shooting situations. It offers professional-grade features such as powerful 5-axis image stabilization, 4K video recording capability, fast autofocus, and weather-sealing at a reasonable price.
While there are some limitations due to the Micro Four Thirds sensor, such as high ISO noise control and battery life, these drawbacks are not significant issues in most common shooting situations and are well compensated by the G85/G80’s other advantages.
The G85/G80 excels in a variety of scenarios, from travel and landscape photography to video production and event shooting. It’s a versatile camera that can satisfy both beginners and advanced users.
Considering its performance relative to its price, the Panasonic G85/G80 is a very attractive choice. It’s highly recommended for those starting with mirrorless cameras, as well as professionals looking for a lightweight second body. With the G85/G80, your photo and video work will become even more enriched.
Learn more about the G85/G80 on Panasonic’s official website
Unleash your creativity with the G85/G80. This versatile camera with professional-grade features will be your reliable shooting partner.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the key features of the Panasonic G85/G80?
How is the battery life of the Panasonic G85/G80?
How is the video performance of the Panasonic G85/G80?
Is the Panasonic G85/G80 suitable for professional photography?
This comprehensive review of the Panasonic Lumix G85/G80 highlights its position as a versatile and capable mirrorless camera that offers a range of professional features at a competitive price point. The camera stands out for its excellent image stabilization system, 4K video capabilities, and weather-sealed body, making it suitable for a wide range of photographic and videographic applications.
The G85/G80’s 16MP Micro Four Thirds sensor, while not the highest resolution on the market, delivers good image quality, particularly with the removal of the anti-aliasing filter. This decision enhances the camera’s ability to capture fine detail, which is especially noticeable in still subjects and landscape photography.
One of the most praised features of the G85/G80 is its 5-axis in-body image stabilization (IBIS) system, which is further enhanced when used with Panasonic’s Dual IS 2 compatible lenses. This stabilization system allows for sharp handheld shots at slower shutter speeds and smoother video footage, greatly expanding the camera’s usability in various shooting conditions.
The camera’s autofocus system, utilizing Panasonic’s Depth from Defocus (DFD) technology, is noted for its speed and accuracy, particularly with static subjects. While it may not match the tracking capabilities of some hybrid phase-detect systems, it performs admirably in most situations.
Video capabilities are another strong point for the G85/G80. The ability to shoot 4K video, combined with the effective stabilization system, makes it an attractive option for vloggers and independent filmmakers. The inclusion of a microphone input further enhances its appeal for video production.
The review also highlights the camera’s intuitive user interface, with a responsive touchscreen and customizable buttons allowing for quick and easy operation. The weather-sealed body adds to its versatility, making it suitable for outdoor shooting in challenging conditions.
While the G85/G80 has many strengths, the review honestly addresses its limitations, such as the smaller sensor size affecting high ISO performance and the lack of a headphone jack for audio monitoring. However, these drawbacks are generally outweighed by the camera’s overall performance and feature set.
In conclusion, the Panasonic Lumix G85/G80 is presented as an excellent all-rounder, suitable for a wide range of photographic and videographic tasks. Its combination of features, performance, and price make it a compelling option for both enthusiasts and professionals looking for a versatile and reliable camera system.
