Panasonic Lumix G85 (G80)
Announced September 19, 2016
PixelMeter The PixelMeter is our 1–100 aggregate of reviewer scores from trusted publications and creators. Weighted by source tier — not a raw average, and not PetaPixel’s own review.
Reviewer Consensus
Strong
The Panasonic Lumix G85 is a capable, weather-sealed mirrorless camera that balances enthusiast-level controls with effective in-body image stabilization and 4K video recording. Although it utilizes a smaller sensor that struggles in low light, the camera remains a highly versatile and robust tool for hybrid shooters.
Weighted from 32 reviewer scores
Pros
- Robust, weather-sealed magnesium alloy construction
- Excellent 4K video quality with professional features like log profiles and no recording crop
- Fully articulating touchscreen and customizable physical control layout
- Highly effective 5-axis in-body image stabilization that works with lenses
- Fast and accurate autofocus performance for stills
Cons
- Inconsistent or unreliable continuous autofocus during video recording
- Absence of a dedicated headphone jack for audio monitoring
- Poorly placed microphone jack that obstructs the articulating screen
- Poor low-light performance and limited dynamic range due to the smaller sensor
- Lack of in-camera USB battery charging
- Launch price $899 (USD)
- Sensor 16MP Micro Four Thirds CMOS
- Video 4K 30p
- Stabilization In-body IS
- Burst 40 fps electronic 9 fps mechanical
What the Reviewers Say
All 32 expert reviews, weighted into the PixelMeter score.
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- DPReview 84/100
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.
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The G85 gains some notable upgrades, particularly regarding the camera body and 4K video, yet without abandoning the mid-range price point of its predecessor. We were very impressed by its overall performance and capabilities during our lab and real-world testing.
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Panasonic’s Lumix G80 / G85 is a feature-packed camera that stacks-up very well against its rivals.
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Otherwise though overall guys this is one of the best video cameras for under a grand and it just handles well, it's nice quality, a really really good package.
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Externally, while the Panasonic Lumix G80 / G85 may look very similar to the Panasonic Lumix G7, the G80 offers a weather-sealed camera body, new shutter unit and image stabilisation (IS) system, along with the latest 4K shooting features.
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The new Lumix DMC-G80 camera completes the Panasonic range of enthusiast-focused compact system cameras.
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The Panasonic G80 is a great camera for those who want a camera that’s easy to use, but also has the ability to shoot great photos and videos.
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The Panasonic Lumix G85 (aka the G80) was launched back in 2016 - and our review dates back from when this camera was first launched. But that is a long time ago in mirrorless camera terms.
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The Panasonic Lumix G80 may not be the most radical upgrade we’ve seen in recent times, but there’s still an awful lot to like about it.
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I love this camera; it's it's great.
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I think right now this is the best all-arounder out there.
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Once again, Panasonic has produced a mirrorless camera that caters for both still photography and movie enthusiasts.
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As an overall package, however, the Panasonic Lumix G80 cements the company's position as one of the market leaders. It's a strong performer with a great specification for the price point. That is exactly what will lure people to it.
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The Panasonic G80 is pricier than the G7 was at launch, but this feels like a big step up with its weather sealing, bigger viewfinder, sensor-shift stabilisation and posher kit lens.
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The G80 is a bit of a surprise. It doesn’t have the killer looks to rival other CSCs, but once you start using it, that just doesn’t matter.
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To sum up this video, Panasonic G80 or G85 is a camera that provides great user experience, makes you enjoy photography as much as possible, provides great features like inbody image stabilization, weather sealing, great controls, rotating touchscreen, 4K photo and so on.
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So if you're a cinematic DP or someone that's almost always color correcting and adjusting their image in post and you need your camera to have a robust, solidly built body that's going to hold up on a professional or semi-professional film set, this camera is a great deal.
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If in-body image stabilization and great autofocus is mandatory to you, I would definitely suggest you pick this camera up.
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The G85 is a great all-rounder. I won’t gild the lily any more that, other than to suggest your budget should extend to putting some quality glass on it.
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The Panasonic Lumix G80 may just be the one that makes you think twice.
- MakeUseOf 8/10
[T]he G80 is certainly not a budget camera, although it makes up for this by including many features not often found on mirrorless cameras.
- GadgetGuy 4.6/10
I enjoyed using the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G85 a great deal. It will work as point and shoot, and will reward the enthusiast who wants to accumulate some lenses and learn the full capabilities of a very powerful camera, as described in that 338 page manual.
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The performance offered by the device surpasses the expectations that one might have from a mirrorless camera at this price point.
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Certainly, if I had to choose one camera body only for all my photographic tasks, the G80 would be it.
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So it's a big price difference, but it also has the internal 4K, all that stuff.
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These cameras aren't in the same class, but using this over the last few days, it's become very clear to me that this is very, very good at what it does.
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I think for the kind of price point that you'd be paying for something like this and the 14 to 45, this is going to be a great system which is going to take you quite a long way.
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To sum this up this camera is amazing. I would highly recommend it.
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[T]his little camera is an absolute game changer. Seriously, I’m absolutely in love with it.
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The 4K footage that comes out of this guy is absolutely stunning, and with the combination of in body image stabilization and optical image stabilization to form what Panasonic calls a dual image stabilization, the videos taken from the Panasonic Lumix G85 (G80) remain [...]
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In this video I'm going to tell you why in my opinion this camera which is the Panasonic Lumix G85 (G80) is the best 4K mirrorless camera under $1000.
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I'm feeling really confident that I'm going to use that camera a lot.
