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PANASONIC LUMIX GX85 Camera with 12-32mm Lens, 4K, 5 Axis Body Stabilization, 3 Inch Tilt and Touch Display, DMC-GX85KK (Black USA)
Brand | Panasonic |
Model Name | Panasonic Lumix GX85 |
Maximum Webcam Image Resolution | 19 MP |
Photo Sensor Size | 17.3 x 13.0mm |
Image Stabilization | 5-Axis, Hybrid |
Min Shutter Speed | 1/4000 seconds |
Metering Description | 3D Color Matrix |
Exposure Control Type | aperture-priority, shutter-speed-priority, manual-and-automatic |
Form Factor | Compact |
Effective Still Resolution | 16 |
About this item
- New 5-axis in-body sensor stabilizer works with LUMIX 2-axis optically stabilized lenses in video and still capture modes using class-leading Dual Image Stabilization
- Eliminates the need for low-pass sensor filters while boosting fine detail resolving power by nearly 10% over existing 16-Megapixel MFT sensors
- Shoot lighter and faster with the modern hybrid photography performance of a Mirrorless camera and nearly half the bulk of most DSLRs
- Thumbwheel controls, integrated viewfinder and touch control enabled tilting LCD maximize control of the photographic experience
- Capture spontaneous moments with 4K imaging performance in both 4K video and exclusive 4K PHOTO and Post Focus. Dust reduction system: Supersonic wave filter
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This Item PANASONIC LUMIX GX85 Camera with 12-32mm Lens, 4K, 5 Axis Body Stabilization, 3 Inch Tilt and Touch Display, DMC-GX85KK (Black USA) | Recommendations | dummy | dummy | dummy | dummy | |
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Price | — | -17% $999.99$999.99 List: $1,199.99 | $449.00$449.00 | $699.99$699.99 | $647.99$647.99 | -29% $497.99$497.99 List: $699.99 |
Delivery | — | Get it as soon as Wednesday, Mar 13 | Get it Mar 14 - 21 | Get it as soon as Wednesday, Mar 13 | Get it as soon as Wednesday, Mar 13 | Get it as soon as Wednesday, Mar 13 |
Customer Ratings | ||||||
Image stabilization | 4.5 | 4.9 | — | 4.8 | 4.6 | 4.1 |
Picture quality | 4.6 | 4.6 | — | 4.8 | — | 4.6 |
Auto focus | 4.3 | 4.4 | — | — | 4.2 | 4.0 |
Battery life | 3.8 | — | — | 4.0 | — | 4.4 |
Sold By | — | Amazon.com | Wall Street Photo Authorized Seller | Amazon.com | Adorama | Amazon.com |
display type | LCD | OLED | LCD | LCD | LCD | LCD |
display size | 3 inches | 3 inches | 3 inches | 3 inches | 3 inches | 3 inches |
lens type | Close-Up | Zoom | — | Zoom | Wide Angle, Telephoto | mirror-lens |
zoom type | Depth From Defocus | — | Optical | Digital Zoom, Optical Zoom | Optical Zoom | Digital zoom |
shooting modes | Movie,Program,Automatic,Aperture Priority,Shutter Priority,Manual | Automatic | Aperture Priority | 16 | Automatic | Silent Shooting |
connectivity tech | NFC, HDMI, USB | Wi-Fi, Micro USB, Bluetooth, GPS | — | Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi, USB | HDMI, USB |
video resolution | FHD 1080p | 3840 x 2160 (4K) / 5fps, 10fps, 15fps, 30fps | FHD 1080p | 4K DCI 2160p | 2160p | 4K UHD 2160p |
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DPReview First Look: Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX85
DPReview
From the manufacturer
Big photos just got Easy.
New, surprisingly compact LUMIX GX85 puts the power to take stunning, professional photos in the palm of your hands.
Photo Credit (all): Joseph Linaschke
Panasonic Image App
Instantly share your print-ready photos, even control the camera remotely via your smartphone.
- Remote Shooting
- Instant Sharing
- Social Media Connection
Never miss THAT moment again.
with exclusive 4K Photo technology
The magic begins with newly stabilized, ultra fast 3-frames-per-second 4K video. Then, select and edit frames in-camera so you can take, create and share the perfect shot, instantly.
- POST FOCUS: Focal point selection
- 4K LIVE CROPPING: Pan or zoom to crop
- LIGHT COMPOSITION: Exposure correction
5-Axis Dual Image Stabilization
2 axis in-lens, 3 axis in-body, magnetically coupled. 100% active in 4K video recording.
Eye Viewfinder
Electronic eye viewfinder for bright shooting environments.
Touch Enabled Tilting Display
Touch control LCD tilts 80° up and 45° down.
Surprisingly Compact
GX85 is roughly half the bulk of a DSLR.
Intuitive Design
Familiar DSLR-like controls with an ergonomic grip. Front/rear thumbwheel dials control the main aperture and shutter speed settings while easily switching to handle temporary WB and ISO adjustments.
EVF
Tilt Display
Compact
Controls
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High Speed Auto-FocusingPanasonic's Depth-From-Defocus (DFD) Auto Focus (AF) technology instantly calculates subject distance, then drives the focus mechanism with one quick, continuous movement for faster AF speeds. |
Venus Engine + Live MOS SensorCombining the 16MP Digital Live MOS Sensor and Venus Engine renders clear images with minimum noise, even in low-light situations. Shoot true-to-life images with excellent resolution, high contrast and impressive color. |
RAW File ProcessingRAW-format images can easily be developed in-camera with adjustments including color space, exposure, white balance, contrast, highlight and shadow, saturation, noise reduction, sharpness, intelligent resolution + more. |
27+ Lens Options27 (and counting) lens options, including prestigious Leica lenses, for a vast array of shooting situations. The Macro-Four Thirds system continues to set the standard for size, weight and overall image quality. |
What's in the box
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Product information
Auto Focus Technology | Contrast Detection |
---|---|
Aspect Ratio | 16:9 |
Display Resolution Maximum | 1040 |
Photo Sensor Size | 17.3 x 13.0mm |
Photo Sensor Technology | CMOS |
Effective Still Resolution | 16 |
Maximum Webcam Image Resolution | 19 MP |
White balance settings | Auto |
JPEG quality level | Basic, Fine, Normal |
Image Stabilization | 5-Axis, Hybrid |
Flash Modes Description | Red Eye Reduction, Automatic |
Video Capture Format | 4k |
Video Capture Resolution | FHD 1080p |
Viewfinder Type | Electronic |
---|---|
Screen Size | 3 Inches |
Display Type | LCD |
Display Fixture Type | tilting |
Model Name | Panasonic Lumix GX85 |
---|---|
Brand | Panasonic |
Model Number | DMC-GX85KK |
Customer Reviews |
4.6 out of 5 stars |
Best Sellers Rank | #440,346 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics) #1,246 in Mirrorless Cameras |
ASIN | B01DOKHSH0 |
Number of Items | 1 |
Color | Black |
Included Components | Camera, Hot Shoe Cover, Battery Pack, AC Adaptor, USB Connection Cable, Shoulder Strap, Body Cap |
Item Dimensions LxWxH | 1.73 x 4.8 x 2.78 inches |
---|---|
Item Weight | 1.1 Pounds |
Warranty Type | Limited |
---|
Lens Type | Close-Up |
---|---|
Optical Zoom | 2 x |
Zoom Type | Depth From Defocus |
Camera Lens Description | 32 Mm |
Compatible Mountings | Micro Four Thirds |
Focus Type | Depth From Defocus |
Maximum Focal Length | 32 Millimeters |
Minimum Focal Length | 12 Millimeters |
Min Shutter Speed | 1/4000 seconds |
---|---|
Exposure Control Type | aperture-priority, shutter-speed-priority, manual-and-automatic |
Metering Description | 3D Color Matrix |
Shooting Modes | Movie,Program,Automatic,Aperture Priority,Shutter Priority,Manual |
Batteries Required? | Yes |
---|---|
Number of Batteries | 1 Lithium Ion batteries required. (included) |
Are Batteries Included | Yes |
Rechargeable Battery Included | No |
Battery Cell Composition | Lithium Ion |
Battery Weight | 1 Grams |
Target Gender | Unisex |
Connectivity Technology | USB, HDMI, NFC |
Continuous Shooting Speed | 40 |
Wireless Communication Technology | BuiltIn; 802.11b/g/n with NFC |
Flash Memory Type | SDXC |
Special Feature | Image Stabilization |
Water Resistance Level | Not Water Resistant |
Skill Level | Amateur |
Specific Uses For Product | Photography |
Form Factor | Compact |
Hardware Interface | AV Port |
Photo Sensor Technology | CMOS |
Warranty & Support
Feedback
Product Description
For today's interchangeable lens camera enthusiasts — or anyone looking for a lighter, newer more intelligent alternative to bulky DSLRs — Panasonic LUMIX Mirrorless Micro Four Thirds system cameras deliver impressive, no-compromise performance. Nearly half the size of most DSLRs, the DMC-GX85 delivers impressive large sensor performance in the most compact camera system ever designed by Panasonic LUMIX. Thanks to the elimination of the low pass filter, its fine detail resolving power is boosted nearly 10% over previous 16-Megapixel sensors. Image stabilization is top of its class with the complementary LUMIX 2-axis lens O.I.S. and a new 5-axis in-body I.S., available in either photo or video recording modes. Camera purists will enjoy the familiar quick-access thumbwheel controls and integrated 2764k-dot eye-level electronic viewfinder, plus a tilting LCD display for greater flexibility in difficult shooting angles. Modern enthusiasts will love the WiFi mobile control and next-generation flexibility that 4K Video, 4K PHOTO and 4K Post Focus modes bring to the creative experience.
Read about our customers' top-rated cameras and lenses on our review pages: Compact System Cameras, Lenses
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers like the quality, value, weight and ease of use of the digital camera. For example they mention that it produces good images, the resolution isn't bad, it's a perfect camera for tourism and street photography and that the high quality optical zoom lenses mate with mm precision to a sensor with as little.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers like the image quality of the digital camera. They say it produces good images, the screen is crisp, and the functionality is all there. The resolution isn't bad, and they are not too worried about the ghosting. The 4K videos and 4K photos are nice unique adds, and provide stunningly sharp and detailed footage. The megapixel count is solid, and it does an excellent job of playing 4K directly to a 1080p TV. Overall, customers are happy with the quality and functionality of the camera.
"...LIKESIt’s so cute/cool. Yea I said it. Whatever lol. I’m big on how cameras look these days...." Read more
"...The GX85 can take photos with far superior detail and vastly superior dynamic range compared to the iPhone...." Read more
"...some flat profiles, the fact is that the GX85 and GH4 have identical best image quality, but your handheld footage on the GX85 will look much better..." Read more
"...this was the i5 surface pro. the camera itself does an excellent job of playing 4k directly to a 1080p TV but that means you'll need to keep your..." Read more
Customers are satisfied with the quality of the digital camera. They mention that it is a very capable camera, perfect for tourism and street photography, and an excellent camera to get into photography. The high-quality optical zoom lenses mate with mm precision to a sensor with as little as 1 mm. The autofocus is insanely good, and the image quality is amazing. The camera is surprisingly good as kit lenses go, and makes for a decent travel camera.
"...tailored towards the consumer who wants a small, compact and capable mirrorless camera that they could take everywhere with them...." Read more
"...This has been an excellent upgrade from my smartphone camera that carries over the intuitiveness of smartphone camera apps and combines that with..." Read more
"...It's a camera that combines usability, stylish looks, superb stills performance, and 4K prowess. And it even comes with a pretty good kit zoom lens...." Read more
"...lenses which have IS on lens... this makes it a very good camera for shooting video & stills without too much blur or shake... The videos are not..." Read more
Customers like the weight of the digital camera. For example they mention it's portable, easy to use, and light weight. Some say the camera body is heavy but feels quality. Overall, customers find the camera to be a perfect compromise between quality and size.
"...Still the videos are good on this tiny camera- Lightweight / Can be carried in many places without being obtrusive...." Read more
"...SIZE/ERGONOMICS: AWESOME! I love the small size. It's about the same size as my Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera...." Read more
"...The compact and lightweight design makes it easy to carry around, ensuring I never miss a moment...." Read more
"...It may be the perfect compromise between quality and size. I highly recommend it." Read more
Customers like the value of the digital camera. They say it is a wonderful mirrorless for the price, takes amazing pictures and videos, and has excellent build quality. Some say it's a great buy and is capable for paid work.
"...Is it capable for paid work? Absolutely! Just ask any of the social influencers making a killing per post with an iPhone." Read more
"...And it even comes with a pretty good kit zoom lens. It is excellent bang for the buck.As an aside, I feel bad for GX8 buyers...." Read more
"...A great value for the money." Read more
"...I think this is the best camera in this price range and I would not spend more because I am clumsy and drop it a lot and would be really upset with..." Read more
Customers find the digital camera easy to use. They mention that the menu and operations are a lot easier than Sony or Olympus. They also say the camera takes wonderful pictures and is very easy to operate in multiple settings. Some say the GX85 is taller, making it easier to handle. They say the controls are easy to access and that the camera is good for beginners.
"...The size of the camera and layout of the controls means it’s easy for me to access all the controls...." Read more
"...It's a camera that combines usability, stylish looks, superb stills performance, and 4K prowess. And it even comes with a pretty good kit zoom lens...." Read more
"Easy to use but lots to learn!" Read more
"...Lack of quick manual AF-S/AF-C/MF switching mechanism like on GX7 or GX8... You can program one of the FN button but it still prevents you from..." Read more
Customers are satisfied with the image stabilization of the digital camera. They mention that it produces high-quality 4K videos with auto adjustments. Some customers also love the stabilization and ability to shoot 4K.
"...The image stabilization is excellent and even my shaky hands can reliably get shots at 1/8 of a second and with a bit more effort in steadying myself..." Read more
"...IMAGE STABILIZATION: The Internal Image Stabilization is fantastic. If you have issues with it in video, turn the E-Stabilization 'Off'...." Read more
"...The biggest selling points are the image stabilization, fast & accurate auto-focus, new shutter design and overall "responsiveness" of the..." Read more
"I love the camera on the iPhone 6s Plus, especially the stabilization and ability to shoot 4K. So any camera I chose had to exceed the iPhone's..." Read more
Customers are mixed about the performance of the digital camera. Some mention that the AF performs well, especially when you select anything by touching the rear, and that it does very capably. However, others say that the camera works great for the first few months and then instantly breaks without any type of fall or drop. The camera handles really well, but some complain that it focuses at an extremely slow speed. The high ISO performance and the display lags when making large camera movements. Overall, the camera has mixed reviews and opinions are mixed.
"...Start up time is instant. Something Sony really needs to take note on.I love the kit lens...." Read more
"...The JPEG engine on it is good enough but doesn’t quite match up to smartphones like the iPhone 7 Plus...." Read more
"...That's Panasonic's strength... Though it lacks in terms of higher bit rate that you can find on GH4 or GH3...." Read more
"...of movement, but on the other hand, it's super low profile and functional enough...." Read more
Customers have mixed opinions about the autofocus of the camera. Some mention that it's quick and buttery smooth in body stabilization, and that they love the option to quickly change their focal points with a touch of the screen. Others say that the auto focus is garbage and the battery life is abysmal.
"...There are some other downsides I’ve noticed. The electronic viewfinder is not very great to me, with it being rather blurry in parts no matter how I..." Read more
"...While I love the option to quickly change my focal points with a touch of the screen, I find that when I put the camera up to my eye to compose a..." Read more
"...Highlights get blown quickly and shadows lose detail just as fast but for what it is ($600 kit) it's hard to complain...." Read more
"...The biggest selling points are the image stabilization, fast & accurate auto-focus, new shutter design and overall "responsiveness" of the..." Read more
Reviews with images
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Top reviews
Top reviews from the United States
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The first thing I really liked was the size of the camera. I have rather small hands for a male and the size of the camera is just right for me, being just large enough to have a solid grip on the camera while being small enough to carry around easily. The size of the camera and layout of the controls means it’s easy for me to access all the controls.
What impressed me after just a few days of use is the interface and menu system of the camera. I’m already very used to touchscreen camera controls from using smartphones and Panasonic did a really good job with the interface on the touchscreen display. It can be as simple or as busy as you wish it to be and works intuitively. I use the touchscreen display as my primary viewfinder, just like on a smartphone, and I simply find myself really enjoying using it.
As for image quality, I currently have a iPhone 7 Plus and the GX85 is leagues better, at least in RAW. The iPhone is a great snapshot camera to always have with you but trying to use it more “seriously” (if vacation photos count as serious) leads to disappointment. The GX85 can take photos with far superior detail and vastly superior dynamic range compared to the iPhone. That means being able to capture things a bit more like you see them and having more headroom to play around with in your photos in applications like Adobe Lightroom. I’ve been very happy with the photos I’ve been able to get from this camera.
I tend to mostly capture photos of still scenes and the focusing system in AF-S mode works very well for that. I have attempted a few times to get shots of birds using AF-C mode and have actually gotten a few good shots despite my inexperience with this (or any) camera’s focusing system. The mechanical shutter has a surprisingly soft sound, being loud enough to where you can be sure the shutter really did fire but not so loud, or sharp, that it gets annoying. The image stabilization is excellent and even my shaky hands can reliably get shots at 1/8 of a second and with a bit more effort in steadying myself, 1/4 of a second.
Battery life is pretty good on this camera and I can generally get a few hundred shots from it before needing to charge it. It charges through micro USB which is extremely handy, though it cannot charge the battery while the camera is powered on nor can it be powered by micro USB alone. Still, being able to use a portable battery pack to recharge camera is very useful. The included lense is very compact and has good image quality which helps make this a good travel camera. The build quality of this all-plastic camera is excellent and it has a hefty, reassuring weight.
The JPEG engine on it is good enough but doesn’t quite match up to smartphones like the iPhone 7 Plus. The biggest issue is that it has a tendency to randomly pepper solid-yellow surfaces with noticeable green dots, a rather bizarre effect. Again, it’s not a bad JPEG engine and most people will be quite happy JPEGs straight out of the camera, but I’ve been spoiled by how well smartphones with their extra processing power can do and I also intended to use RAW and process them in Lightroom later anyway.
There are some other downsides I’ve noticed. The electronic viewfinder is not very great to me, with it being rather blurry in parts no matter how I adjust the diopter, the image being a little small, and the field sequential image simply being a little unpleasant to look at. I should emphasize that this is quite personal and you may be absolutely fine with it, and also that I almost never use the viewfinder anyway so having it at all is more of a bonus feature to me. The included lense has a rather limited zoom range of 12-32mm and there is noticable barrel distortion at the widest end (12mm) that disappears at 14mm. The relatively narrow maximum aperture of the lense means low-light image quality may not be as dramatic of an upgrade from a recent high-end smartphone as might be hoped. The smartphone app’s location tracking is unreliable and I’d recommend using something like the GPS Tracks app (on iOS) to log your location and then use Lightroom to add the locations to your photos later.
I’m not much on taking video and I can’t comment much on that part of the GX85.
There’s really lots more I can say about this camera but this review is probably too long already. This has been an excellent upgrade from my smartphone camera that carries over the intuitiveness of smartphone camera apps and combines that with something with far better image quality and control. It’s just the right size and is so enjoyable to use that I actually do take it with me when I can. Simply put, I’m very glad I got the Panasonic LUMIX GX85 and enthusiastically recommend it.
In my opinion, this camera is better than the GH4 for video. Even though the GH4 has more bitrates for 720P/1080P and some flat profiles, the fact is that the GX85 and GH4 have identical best image quality, but your handheld footage on the GX85 will look much better than on the GH4 because of its excellent IBIS. After repeated claims that IBIS is impossible in 4K because of overheating, two years later, Panasonic somehow combine IBIS and 4K in a tiny body that can continuously shoot an hour and a half without any signs of overheating. Heh. Good one, Panasonic.
If you want to bypass internal codecs, you're in luck because this camera also has clean HDMI out for external recorders. In short, while the GH4 still has some "pro" features some "pros" might want, in practice, the GX85 is every bit the video shooter that the GH4 is, at basically half the price and with IBIS! Chew on that!
Anyway, many of the other reviews cover what I would have covered anyway, which is that this is a beautiful camera that is a superb stills shooter, but I just wanted to address the video issue, too, since a lot of these points were not made in the press releases (probably to protect the GH4's reputation as a high end video shooter).
Despite all this talk of video, I'm mainly a still shooter. Ever since receiving my GX85, I find that I simply cannot put it down. This is a gorgeous little camera. I initially started using MFT because of its balance of size and quality, but over time, I had been trending toward bigger cameras because they had the best features. However, a weird thing happened. I took my camera out less and less. When I got the GH4 to be the camera to end it all, I pretty much stopped taking my camera to social events completely because the GH4 just felt too formal. But ever since I received my GX85, I want this camera around me all the time! I love shooting pictures again.
The image quality on this camera is easily the best I've ever seen in any Panasonic camera I've tried yet. There is no shutter shock. Thanks to the lack of an AA filter, improve shutter, and IBIS, I find that pictures are sharp to the last pixel! There is no softness whatsoever.
Are there downsides? Yeah, small ones, but it seems like almost every downside has an upside. For instance, I prefer charging in an external charger so I can be charging a battery while using another one, but in-camera USB charging has a huge upside for keeping my camera bag light! I must say, though, the port cover for the HDMI/USB is kind of annoying to open, but hey, I'll get used to it. The tilt screen is a bit stiff and doesn't have huge freedom of movement, but on the other hand, it's super low profile and functional enough.
Blah blah, I could go on and on, but a lot of people consider the GF1 to be the best MFT camera that Panasonic has ever made. To me, this camera, the GX85, is their best camera since the GF1. It's a camera that combines usability, stylish looks, superb stills performance, and 4K prowess. And it even comes with a pretty good kit zoom lens. It is excellent bang for the buck.
As an aside, I feel bad for GX8 buyers. I wonder how many of them feel a bit bitter about the improved shutter and IBIS on the GX85, which is considerably cheaper than the GX8 ever was.
Reviewed in the United States on June 1, 2016
In my opinion, this camera is better than the GH4 for video. Even though the GH4 has more bitrates for 720P/1080P and some flat profiles, the fact is that the GX85 and GH4 have identical best image quality, but your handheld footage on the GX85 will look much better than on the GH4 because of its excellent IBIS. After repeated claims that IBIS is impossible in 4K because of overheating, two years later, Panasonic somehow combine IBIS and 4K in a tiny body that can continuously shoot an hour and a half without any signs of overheating. Heh. Good one, Panasonic.
If you want to bypass internal codecs, you're in luck because this camera also has clean HDMI out for external recorders. In short, while the GH4 still has some "pro" features some "pros" might want, in practice, the GX85 is every bit the video shooter that the GH4 is, at basically half the price and with IBIS! Chew on that!
Anyway, many of the other reviews cover what I would have covered anyway, which is that this is a beautiful camera that is a superb stills shooter, but I just wanted to address the video issue, too, since a lot of these points were not made in the press releases (probably to protect the GH4's reputation as a high end video shooter).
Despite all this talk of video, I'm mainly a still shooter. Ever since receiving my GX85, I find that I simply cannot put it down. This is a gorgeous little camera. I initially started using MFT because of its balance of size and quality, but over time, I had been trending toward bigger cameras because they had the best features. However, a weird thing happened. I took my camera out less and less. When I got the GH4 to be the camera to end it all, I pretty much stopped taking my camera to social events completely because the GH4 just felt too formal. But ever since I received my GX85, I want this camera around me all the time! I love shooting pictures again.
The image quality on this camera is easily the best I've ever seen in any Panasonic camera I've tried yet. There is no shutter shock. Thanks to the lack of an AA filter, improve shutter, and IBIS, I find that pictures are sharp to the last pixel! There is no softness whatsoever.
Are there downsides? Yeah, small ones, but it seems like almost every downside has an upside. For instance, I prefer charging in an external charger so I can be charging a battery while using another one, but in-camera USB charging has a huge upside for keeping my camera bag light! I must say, though, the port cover for the HDMI/USB is kind of annoying to open, but hey, I'll get used to it. The tilt screen is a bit stiff and doesn't have huge freedom of movement, but on the other hand, it's super low profile and functional enough.
Blah blah, I could go on and on, but a lot of people consider the GF1 to be the best MFT camera that Panasonic has ever made. To me, this camera, the GX85, is their best camera since the GF1. It's a camera that combines usability, stylish looks, superb stills performance, and 4K prowess. And it even comes with a pretty good kit zoom lens. It is excellent bang for the buck.
As an aside, I feel bad for GX8 buyers. I wonder how many of them feel a bit bitter about the improved shutter and IBIS on the GX85, which is considerably cheaper than the GX8 ever was.
Top reviews from other countries
Why I chose the GX85:
- The two high quality and widely praised kit lenses that are sharp, stabilized, support Dual-IS and focus quickly.
- Access to cheap Micro Four Thirds lenses. I recently purchased the cheapest MFT prime lens with a wide aperture, the Panasonic Lumix G 25mm f1.7 ASPH and it's phenomenal for the price ($199!!!). Autofocus is swift and images are crisp.
- The IBIS (in-body image stabilization) and Dual-IS (IBIS + lens stabilization) with stabilized Panasonic Lumix lenses.
- The electromagnetic shutter mechanism that prevents shutter shock and no AA filter on the sensor.
- The viewfinder is useful outdoors when the brightness of the sun dims the visibility of the LCD screen.
- Unlimited recording times and no overheating.
- Unrestricted touchscreen and intuitive user interface. (The touch capability of the Sony a6k cameras that have touchscreens [a5100, a6500, a6100, a6400 and a6600] is limited only to touch focusing and zooming in on pictures in playback mode.)
Things to consider:
- Buy this camera bundle when it's on SALE, where it's discounted down to around $860 and happens frequently.
- The 12-32mm kit lens has to be rotated and extended by its zoom ring for it to start working, which means it can't be used in its flat position at the base focal length (12mm). And it also does not have a manual focus ring.
- Keep in mind that this camera bundle does not include a body cap for the camera sensor or a rear lens cap for the 12-32mm lens, so be sure to buy those. I bought the JJC 2 pack Micro Four Thirds body and rear lens caps here on Amazon for $12.
- The camera bundle only comes with a USB wall charger with a micro-USB cable for charging the battery inside the camera through its USB port while it's off. In order to not wear out the USB port on the camera, I would suggest buying an external battery charger for the camera's DMW-BLG10 battery such as the OEM Panasonic DE-A99 charger from eBay or a 3rd party charger that fits the DMW-BLG10 battery.
- Buy an extra battery or few so you can swap them out. I personally bought an extra OEM Panasonic Lumix DMW-BLG10 battery here on Amazon that is often on discount for $59 compared to other retailers that sell it for $79. I chose to buy the OEM battery instead of cheap 3rd party batteries that are more likely to lose their charge quickly, suddenly die, swell and won't accurately display their charge status bars when using the camera.
- The viewfinder uses a field-sequential display which can produce RGB (red-green-blue) color tearing effects if you are sensitive to it. I notice it slightly when I move my eye around the display image in the viewfinder, especially when I use the main menu in the viewfinder, but it doesn't bother me personally.
- It's worth mentioning that this camera does not use PDAF (Phase Detect Autofocus) on its sensor, but uses CDAF (Contrast Detect Autofocus) and Panasonic's own DFD (Depth from Defocus - works only with Panasonic Lumix lenses that support DFD), both of which are not as good as Sony's PDAF and Canon's Dual Pixel PDAF. PDAF is useful for tracking and keeping focus on moving subjects, particularly when shooting a video.
Personal dislikes:
There isn't anything I dislike about the camera, but I do wish the GX85 had the tilting viewfinder that the GX7, GX8 and GX9 were equipped with.
If you’re looking for something for photography, even consider a 5D Mark II used with a decent lens. You will yield way better results and with a full frame camera. Sony also offers less expensive options, with a used A7ii not being far ahead on pricing, it seems like a no brained to me.
Reviewed in Canada on September 21, 2017
If you’re looking for something for photography, even consider a 5D Mark II used with a decent lens. You will yield way better results and with a full frame camera. Sony also offers less expensive options, with a used A7ii not being far ahead on pricing, it seems like a no brained to me.