Panasonic Lumix GX85 (GX80)
Announced April 5, 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 GX85 is a capable, compact mirrorless camera that balances strong 4K video and stills performance with a well-built, portable design. While it lacks some professional conveniences like a microphone input and weather sealing, it remains a highly regarded, budget-friendly option for street and travel photography.
Weighted from 28 reviewer scores
Pros
- Versatile 5-axis in-body image stabilization
- High-quality 4K video and photo capture
- Fast and responsive autofocus system
- Compact, ergonomic, and well-built body
- Detailed images from sensor without low-pass filter
Cons
- Absence of microphone and headphone ports
- Mediocre electronic viewfinder performance
- Limited battery life and lack of included charger
- Screen lacks full articulation for vlogging or selfies
- No weather sealing
- Launch price $799.99 (USD)
- Sensor 16MP Micro Four Thirds CMOS
- Video 4K 30p
- Stabilization In-body IS
- Burst 40 fps electronic 8 fps mechanical
What the Reviewers Say
All 28 expert reviews, weighted into the PixelMeter score.
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- DPReview 82/100
The GX85 is a sound choice for those seeking a lightweight interchangeable lens camera offering excellent stills and video quality, good ergonomics and solid autofocus.
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The Panasonic GX85 comes close to offering the ideal blend of image quality, functionality, speed and size in our book, packing a ton of advanced features and performance into a compact, well-built body, all at a fair price.
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I think this is a great stills camera, and I use Micro Four Thirds myself, even though for the same price point you can get Sonys and Fujis with bigger sensors, better low-light performance, yada-yada-yada.
- WIRED 7/10
Even with the flawed EVF, you're still getting a lot of camera for $700. In fact the GX85, despite a couple shortcomings, is one of the year's best Micro Four Thirds camera releases. Its smaller design makes it a good choice for travel and street photography.
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The Panasonic Lumix GX80 offers a compelling set of features and shows that Panasonic are continuing to innovate in the digital camera market, with a new shutter unit designed to reduce shutter vibration as well as reduce shutter sound.
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[T]he GX80 represents excellent value for money because it has an extensive feature set, great image quality, and its in a more portable and arguably more attractive body that the GX8, being as it is more similar to the popular old GX7.
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The GX80 is a great compact system camera, with a small body, good handling and a huge range of interchangeable lenses.
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In terms of bang for your buck, the Panasonic was a good deal when it was first launched seven years ago.
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The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX85 is a compact mirrorless camera with quick autofocus, strong image quality, and 4K video capture.
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The Panasonic GX80 consistently performs to a high level. It's compact in size but with an excellent EVF and tilting screen, is packed with useful and fun-to-use features and is extremely well specified.
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[T]hose are minor gripes and aside from that I think as a stills camera I think this is an incredible bang for your buck if you're looking to get into a Micro Four Thirds system this is an excellent starting point.
- CNET 8.2/10
[I]t’s one of the better cameras in its price class, especially if you want the advantages a mirrorless confers over a similarly priced dSLR: it’s smaller, as fast or faster, has a more advanced autofocus system and a boatload more features including 4K video.
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The Panasonic GX80 is one of the best deals on a micro four thirds cameras, or even a mirrorless camera that you can find today.
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Resolution-wise there’s not much difference between them (16MP vs 20MP), so if you’re looking for an enthusiast-orientated, compact, interchangeable-lens camera with 4K support the GX85 is an attractive option.
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I love the Panasonic GX85.
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Just because it's smaller and more affordable than its bigger brother doesn't mean it's scrimped on the features front at all - indeed it's added many that other Lumix G-series models lack.
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There’s nothing particularly radical about the GX80, but I often find that it’s mid-range models like this that provide the best value.
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[Y]ou’re getting a lot for your money.
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Altogether, Panasonic made a really capable camera in a tiny package. What I think stands out is overall simplicity of use.
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[A] very, very good camera. There's not really one groundbreaking feature in it, but it's a small, well-built camera with a ton of features.
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With its compact form factor and extensive feature set, the Panasonic Lumix GX85 is a multi-purpose camera that will serve its owner well in almost all situations, especially when you want a discreet shooter for street or other candid work.
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I think that Panasonic have got the balance just about right with the Panasonic Lumix GX85 (GX80). I think it's a superb camera.
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Add the eagerness of the state-of-the-art focusing performance, the compact dimensions, and stunningly sharp micro four/ third image quality and a notably reasonable price, and you have a compelling camera, period.
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This is a very cheap camera actually, it's quite the budget camera, but you can see in my videos what it is actually capable of.
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I'd say it's still a great value in that $400 to $500 range.
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I do take others, but the main one I take is the Panasonic Lumix GX85 (GX80), and I can highly recommend this camera for anyone who wants a nice discreet camera but something you can use for other purposes as well.
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For travellers I’d recommend the Panasonic Lumix GX80 as an excellent all-round camera. It will help you take better photographs when you need something that’s a step up from your camera phone.
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Lumix GX80 is definitely my favourite small camera. And I hope this review is going to make your decision on buying your perfect camera easier.
