What lenses to get for your Panasonic Lumix GX85?
Released in June 2016, the Panasonic Lumix GX85 is a hybrid camera with a 4/3 micro 4/3 16 Megapixel sensor, without a low-pass filter (which makes it possible to obtain clearer images). In terms of features, it has a tilting touch screen, it can film in 4K, and above all, it has the integrated five-axis stabilization that prevents jerks in video and misses fewer photos if you shoot by hand.
Add to that a quiet shutter release mode, a very practical electronic viewfinder and features like the Panasonic post-focus (but totally gadget in my opinion), and you have one of the best value for money of any hybrid on the market today. Its size makes it ideal for travellers who need an easy-to-carry device.
We can blame it for a rather weak autonomy, the absence of tropicalization and a handle not strong enough that makes it difficult to get started, but overall it’s really a superb device, even in 2018 (I tested it on Noobvoyage – see the test).
Here is a selection of the best lenses compatible with the Panasonic Lumix GX85 to help you choose the right lens for travel, portrait and landscape photography.
Please leave a comment if you have any suggestions or ideas to improve this list!
Note: Product links in this article lead to Amazon.com
Summary
- Panasonic Lumix G 25mm f/1.7
- Panasonic Lumix G 42.5 mm f/1.7
- Panasonic Lumix G 20 mm f/1.7 II ASPH
- Olympus M. Zuiko Digital ED 9-18mm f/4.0-5.6
- Panasonic Lumix 100-300mm f/4.0-5.6
- Comparative Table
- Useful accessories
- Links
1. Panasonic Lumix G 25mm f/1.7
Weight: 125 g
Filter size: 46 mm
Simply one of the best value for money for the GX85. First of all, in terms of design this 25mm f/1.7 is extremely light and compact. Equivalent to a 50mm on a full format, it’s in fact a standard focal length that offers about the same rendering as the human eye.
The aperture of f/1.7 allows you to have a nice background blur if you take portrait photos, with a natural look even in low light. The focus is perfectly silent, which is a plus for the video.
Even if it’s made of plastic, it does not give an impression of fragility, even if it’s not tropicalized. It does not integrate optical stabilization, which is not really a problem since the GX85 has 5-axis stabilization directly in the case.
Easy to use and sold at a reasonable price, it deserves a place in the bags of all GX85 owners.
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2. Panasonic Lumix G 42.5mm f/1.7
Weight: 130 g
Filter size: 37 mm
The lens to have if you want to make a portrait, compact, lightweight and solid, and that offers excellent performance. In short, nothing to reproach it for in terms of optical quality, on the contrary, we obtain superb images with a particularly high sharpness. Its focusing distance of 31cm allows it to be used in proxy photography. The maximum aperture of f/1.7 is particularly useful for shooting in low-light conditions and provides a very beautiful background blur. However, according to some returns, the vignetting is quite marked.
It also has integrated optical stabilization, and a relatively quiet autofocus. A serious option if you want to take portrait photos with your Lumix GX85.
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3. Panasonic Lumix G 20mm f/1.7 II ASPH
Weight: 87 g
Filter size: 46 mm
One of the best lenses to own for your Lumix GX85: the Panasonic Lumix 20mm f/1.7 offers excellent image quality with very good sharpness and contrast, for extreme compactness and a light weight that allows you to take your GX85 anywhere.
It’s one of the lightest lenses available for any device! Its f/1.7 aperture allows you to take pictures in low light and get a nice background blur, and the focal length makes it very versatile, whether for landscape or street photography.
Some negative points though: the autofocus is relatively slow, compared to 25mm f/1.7 for example, and it does not have integrated image stabilization (not a concern for the GX85 though). However, if your priority is compactness and discretion, it’s an ideal lens for your Lumix GX85.
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4. Olympus M. Zuiko Digital ED 9-18mm f/4.0-5.6
Weight: 155 g
Filter size: 52 mm
On paper, this lens has nothing for him: a weak aperture of f/4-5.6, an all-plastic design that looks very “toy”, it’s not stabilized or tropicalized… so why is it in this list of the best lenses for Lumix GX85? The answer: it simply makes (very) beautiful images.
We can also add the fact that it’s super light and compact… and that there is hardly any competition in the range of wide angles for hybrid devices with Micro 4/3 sensors. There is indeed the alternative of the Panasonic 7-14mm, but it’s much more expensive and it’s impossible to put a filter on the curved glass of it. The 9-18mm is therefore the lens to have if you want to take a wide angle picture with your GX85.
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5. Panasonic Lumix 100-300mm f/4.0-5.6
Weight: 520 g
Filter size: 67 mm
With a focal length equivalent to 200-600mm on a full-format camera, it’s simply an impressive zoom that can be used for animal photography, or during a trek. Its internal stabilization works very well, especially in combination with the GX85’s five-axis stabilization, and allows you to get superb photos even remotely by hand, with lots of detail.
There are some limitations however: it will have to be photographed in good light conditions, and it weighs relatively heavy compared to the other lenses in this selection, but given the price at which it’s sold and its performance, it’s a must-have if you want to take pictures from a distance.
6. COMPARATIVE TABLE
All of the Panasonic Lumix GX85 compatible lenses mentioned above are included in this comparison chart to help you choose the right equipment. You will be able to compare them according to their price, the weight and the utility of each one to choose which will suit your budget and your style of photo.
| Lens | Price | Weight | Aperture | Utility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Panasonic Lumix G 25mm f/1.7 |
$$$$$ | 125g | f/1.7 | street photography / portrait |
| Panasonic Lumix G 42.5mm f/1.7 | $$$$$ | 130g | f/1.7 | portrait |
| 3. Panasonic Lumix G 20mm f/1.7 II ASPH | $$$$$ | 87g | f/1.7 | street photography / pancake |
| Olympus M. Zuiko Digital ED 9-18mm f/4.0-5.6 | $$$$$ | 155g | f/4.0-5.6 | wide angle (architecture, landscape) |
| Panasonic Lumix 100-300mm f/4.0-5.6 | $$$$$ | 520g | f/4.0-5.6 | zoom |
7. USEFUL ACCESSORIES
A small selection of useful accessories to have in addition to your lenses and your Lumix GX85:
8. LINKS
- All GX85 compatible lenses on Panasonic.com
- GX85 reviews round-up