Panasonic Lumix DMC-G85 / G80 reviews roundup: Should you buy it?
Here’s a roundup of all the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G85 / G80 reviews, ratings and impressions from the web. Discover its strengths and weaknesses here!
Released in October 2016, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G85, also known as G80, features a 16MP Four Thirds MOS sensor, a 5-axis image stabilization with Dual I.S. 2, a Depth from Defocus autofocus, a 2.36M dots OLED electronic viewfinder, and a fully articulated 3” touchscreen.
The camera snaps pictures in RAW and JPG formats, at up to 6 fps with continuous autofocus. It can also shoot videos in 4K at up to 30fps. The Wi-Fi connectivity allows for the remote control of most settings. Snaps and videos are recorded on a single UHS-II SD card slot. The battery will last up to 320 shots compatible with USB charging. The Lumix DMC-G85 weighs 453 g with the battery and the SD card included, or 728 g with the kit lens.
So what do the critics think of the Panasonic Lumix G85 / G80?
Overall most reviews say that the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G85 stays a relevant entry-level camera for beginners. The image quality is good, despite the outdated 16MP sensor. The camera is well stabilized and its autofocus is fast enough. The 4K video mode is appreciable, offering a very decent output. It comes equipped with handy tools such as Focus Stacking, Post Focus, and even 4K photos bursting at 30 fps.
The controls are extensive but most of them have to be selected through menus, which is not the best for a quick snap. The battery life is pretty weak, so a power bank or spare batteries will be a necessity. As most Four Third cameras, the DMC-G85 is not so great in low light settings, but the built-in flash will certainly help for night photography.
- Fine Detail Performance: 16 megapixel micro four thirds sensor with no low pass filter resulting in a near 10 percent boost in fine detail resolving power over existing 16 megapixel micro four thirds...
- Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera: With 12 60 millimeter lens, Shoot lighter and faster with the modern hybrid photography performance of a mirrorless camera and nearly half the bulk of most...
- Class Leading Dual Image Stabilization: In body 5 axis dual image stabilization works in both photo and motion picture recording including 4K video to produce clear handheld shots even in low light...
Most reviews like…
- fair price tag
- 4K video mode
- Focus Stacking option
- stabilization
- weather sealing of the body
- Wi-Fi connectivity
Most reviews don’t like…
- outdated 16MP sensor
- weak dynamic range
- low battery life
- noticeable crop in 4K video mode
- controls only accessible through menus
- kit lens is quite limited
For more infos about the positive and negatives sides of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G85 / G80, check out the selection of reviews below:
Websites Reviews
Dpreview.com – 84% (Gold Award) – ‘The G85 is an extremely appealing camera for enthusiast photographers. Light-weight and weather-sealed, it offers dual control dials, a fully articulating touchscreen and ample customization. Still image quality is excellent, the same goes for 4K and HD video quality. Autofocus is reliable, even when it comes to subject tracking and 5-axis in body stabilization allows for easy hand-held shooting. Simply put, this camera should fulfill the needs of many with ease.’
Ephotozine.com – ★★★★★ (Editor’s choice) – ‘The Panasonic Lumix G80 offers compelling features including a weather-sealed body, delivering impressive image quality for stills and video, and is one of the best mirrorless cameras currently available.’
Expertreviews.co.uk – ★★★★★ – ‘Packed with useful features, the Panasonic G80 is superb for stills and even better for video’
Photographyblog.com – ★★★★½ – (Highly recommended) ‘In summary, the Lumix DMC-G80 brings together almost all of the cutting-edge technologies that Panasonic have recently introduced into one camera. If you prefer your mirrorless camera to look and feel like a DSLR rather than a rangefinder, then the new Panasonic G80 is an excellent choice.’
Photoreview.com.au – 9/10 (Editor’s choice) – ‘On the quality side, the review camera turned in a sterling performance with the Lumix G-Vario 12-60mm f/3.5-5.6 ASPH. POWER O.I.S lens and we would recommend this kit to anyone looking for a walkaround combo. It’s a neat partnership that works equally well for shooting stills and movie clips.’
Techradar.com – ★★★★½ (Recommended) – ‘While not quite perfect, the G80’s feature set and performance make it one of the most compelling mid-range mirrorless propositions around.’
Amazon users reviews
- Fine Detail Performance: 16 megapixel micro four thirds sensor with no low pass filter resulting in a near 10 percent boost in fine detail resolving power over existing 16 megapixel micro four thirds...
- Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera: With 12 60 millimeter lens, Shoot lighter and faster with the modern hybrid photography performance of a mirrorless camera and nearly half the bulk of most...
- Class Leading Dual Image Stabilization: In body 5 axis dual image stabilization works in both photo and motion picture recording including 4K video to produce clear handheld shots even in low light...