Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX85 Mirrorless Camera with Lumix G Vario 12-32mm f/3.5-5.6 ASPH Lens, Black

2018-03-15T08:30:07

I’ve upgraded to the GX85 after using a GX7 for a few years. In terms of performance, it’s great and is worth the upgrade. In terms of build and ergonomics, it feels like a bit of a step down. In particular, the camera strap attachment lugs are in an odd position where they interfere with my grip (might not be an issue if you have smaller fingers).

MICHAEL F.

2018-03-14T15:07:37

Lumix GX85/GX80 packs a lot for its price, including great photos, 4K video and speed. Pros: - Excellent still and 4K video quality - No noticeable signs of shutter shock - Depth from Defocus AF system offers good depth and subject tracking - Tiltable LCD with excellent touch features and implementation - Dual I.S. combines 5-axis in-body and in-lens shake reduction and is usable for stills and videos - Customizable interface, including physical buttons and touchscreen - Touchpad AF lets you select a focus point on the rear screen while using the viewfinder - Useful Post Focus feature - 4K Photo reduces 'missed opportunities' - Great Wi-Fi functionality Cons: - Field sequential electronic viewfinder can be distracting to use -due to 'color tearing' - 16:9 EVF is awkward when shooting in native 4:3 stills aspect ratio - Back control dial feels too small - Position of on/off switch is awkward - Simplistic Auto ISO implementation - Battery charger is not included - No weather-sealing

ANDY D.

2018-03-14T10:40:31

This is how buying new equipment is suppose to be. I am saving for a Sony A7 now.

John M.

2018-03-14T08:51:42

I'll admit, I'm no expert at photography, but it looks like this camera will certainly help to improve my skills when I'm ready. I've only had it for about a month and have just left it on Auto mode, but I'm already impressed with the quality of the images. The menus are a little challenging to navigate, but the touchscreen makes it easier. I have it hooked up to my Wifi network and have set up a shared folder on my Mac, so transferring images are a cinch. It's really nice that it remembers settings. The compact size was a major decision factor for me. No use having a nice camera if you never take it anywhere. It is on the heavy side for its size, but I invested in a nice wrist strap, just in case I should happen to grab it in the wrong place and lose grip. I look forward to spending more time with it. I imagine when I get a little more time on my hands, I'll be able to fiddle with the manual settings and achieve even better results.

GINA H.

2018-03-13T14:35:04

Nice and easy to use, small but fully functional for daily use

Zunjian Y.

2018-03-11T20:00:00

I use this as my daily camera and using it for some of my DLSR shoots. I was blown away with the LX100 in terms of video and photo quality and what micro 4:3 can do. Thus come time for a upgrade, I sought the GX85. I like the new innovations Panasonic pacts into their cameras. Many ways to customize the camera to suit any style of shooter. And the many customizations for WB, Picture Style, Dynamic range, Resolution, Highlights/Shadows, is a huge part in getting the video quality I seek. Add in the plethora of AF features, and touch screen and it's one of the most advanced cameras out there. And best part is, I can take it anywhere anytime. But the most impressive feature of this camera is the IBIS or 5 axis sensor stabilizer. The downers of this camera are minimal. Audio options and audio quality are weak. It weighs a little more than I would like. The EVF does not reflect the true exposure of the scene (always bright all the time) Thus, I need to use the visual meter. The video quality looks rather poor with crushed blacks and blown out highlights and it takes a lot of work to get the iDynamic, iResolution, Picture Style, and Highlight/Shadows adjusted to get rid of that horrible contrast. And finally, the battery life is one of the worst out there, and no way to run the camera while charging. Nevertheless, the GX85 is a great value. And workarounds for it's cons make it a great performing camera. It just takes a little trial and error to make adjustments to get the best quality this camera has to offer. Every time I get a new Panasonic, I use my DSLRs less and less. As the Micro 4:3 is more than capable to do the tasks of what DSLRs do. But the only thing I can't do with a micro 4:3 is shoot galaxy nightscape and night sky time lapse. That's the only reason, I still use the DSLR. This GX85 will now do my Landscape panoramas and action shooting. That's two more tasks the DSLR gave up.

ToxicTabasco

Originally posted at

2018-03-06T08:28:23

Downsized from a GX8 and very happy with the move. Loving the image quality and the size of the GX85. USB charging is a huge plus. The viewfinder on the GX8 is better, but complaints about the one on the GX85 are overblown.

Chris S.

2018-03-06T08:12:32

Meh. Unimpressive overall, lots of features and good specs, but uninspiring image quality and poor IBIS make this feel like driving a geo tracker from the 90s

Benjamin K.

2018-02-14T04:54:46

Takes good pictures with a good lens, and the included lens is very good as long as you don’t need low light performance. Very compact for an ILC, easy to carry.

TRAVIS B.

2018-02-04T08:23:28

The camera has a good set of features on it. When paired with a good lens it can produce some really nice shots.

Andrew R.

2018-01-25T07:53:56

Best deal I got at Adorama. Using it for travel to Australia.

Teresita L.

2017-12-26T10:12:47

This camera has great reviews which persuaded me to purchase it...Upon arrival I set it up and then wanted to do some tests but it felt too small for me so I returned it.

JOHN J.

2017-12-26T09:09:46

As a fan of Panasonic cameras (Have owned 3 prior LX's) I bought this on a recommendation from a friend. Right out of the box it takes great pictures and is very easy to set up and use. I highly recommend it!

DAVID L.

2017-08-17T10:18:55

I bought this as a kind of back-up back-up camera to keep in my car for casual spur-of-the moment photography, but it's small, light, fast focusing, quiet, has nice color in the OOC Jpegs, so I carry it all the time and use it the way I used to use my film Leicas. The optical stabilization is the biggest improvement ever for Panasonic. I use it with the Olympus 17mm f1.8, or one of the 20-25mm lenses for a tiny sharp carry-with-you camera. Pixel-peepers may whine about micro 4/3, but the Image quality is fine for crisp 11x14 prints. What more do you need, really?

Scott P.

2017-05-30T10:56:57

menu makes it hard to control the camera

FRANK L.

2017-05-16T20:00:00

The camera was purchased in June 2016. Right after the box was opened, camera was malfunctioning. Every shutter press took multiple pictures. At first it seemed to be the camera settings, but even changed to single-shot mode, it behaved the same. Took the camera to the store and had various support people look at it, but nobody could figure out what went wrong. Finally contacted Panasonic and sent in the camera for repair. A month later the camera came back, but it only lasted a few months before the same problem surfaced again. Had to send the camera back again for service. Now that it's near the end of one-year warranty, I'd be out of options if it happens again after this service. Very disappointed about the quality of this model DMC-GX85 and the service of Panasonic support!

NUser

Originally posted at

2017-05-05T11:21:38

Some of the instructions were hard to understand but overall I love the camera.

Joan D.

2017-01-30T19:00:00

I purchased this gx85 with 12-35 lens sometime last fall and been use it since.(about 3000 shutter releases) This is my first m43 camera and to get it I trade in my D7100.For a while I had the notions that I make a mistake by going for m43 lumix.Not any more.I review my pictures from D7100 and GX85.Most GX85 pictures come out better looking with less noise.I have been Nikon guy for 15 years+ but this thing got heavy with 17-55 lens or 70-300 VR or even 16-85.I love Nikon but technology is going forward faster than they can keep up with.Sorry nikon guys...I m not professional - just serious amateur and I do not like to use post processing because I do not need it. GX 85 is very handy and easy to use.Pictures are great and now is time for me to practice some movies in standard mode or 4K. I also have panasonic lens 45-150 which is OK with my GX85 and the next lens is going to be panasonic 100-300.

Eugene

Originally posted at

2017-01-26T12:04:19

Starting as an enthusiast with canon DSLRs, I never thought I would move to micro four thirds. But the change is good. I have started to love it more than my canon 80D and still not fair to compare with an 80D. I am talking about fitting to what I was looking for. As all reviewers say, the dimensions of the camera, very good for street and every day photography etc. What I was looking for before buying this camera: - Good low light/ indoor performance - Good video quality - Small size - Good image quality (image size, color range, crop factor) - Better lense kit - Low price point To my observation it scored really well for every thing I was looking for. I was initially skeptical about the sensor size and image quality but the hand on experience was different. Things about GX85 that surprised me: - Face detection system (Super fast) - Silent shutter (Way silent than my 80D, helps to take pictures with my new born without disturbing her sleep-using electronic shutter) - Image stabilization (Pictures are sharp even hand help at 1/20' shutter speed and while in dark) - Continuous auto focus and subject tracking (really fast) - Art filters (on par with 80D) - Low light performance (scores good with image stabilization and ISO) - Less noise at high ISO (No noticeable noise even at 1600) - Touch screen, focus peeking, manual focus highliting - 4k Video (Biggest positive in such a small package) - Lenses available (I got Olympus 17mm f1.8, kit lense, lumix 45-150mm zoom lense and I love it) - Usability of menus and buttons - UI lay out in IVF and LCD screen Over all, it is as good as 80D from my usage stand point.

UDAYA P.

2017-01-11T17:17:34

Excellent camera taking videos and Photos

Rinold S.

2017-01-11T04:48:31

Excellent camera! Hits sweet spot for value, performance and portability. No frills. Only thing missing is a fully articulating LCD (only tilts) and weather sealing. Panasonic offers both of those features in their G85, around same price point, but in a slightly larger DSLR body. Decided to go with smaller rangefinder design for portability, since if camera is not with me...Doesn't matter how good it shoots.

Matthew F.

2017-01-05T06:30:23

Panasonic Lumix GX85 is a perfect combination of functions, size and picture quality. 5 axis IBIS together with Dual IS is remarkable. It gives you the freedom for taking handheld sharp pictures/videos in low light in lower shutter speeds. IQ is pretty good. The in camera RAW conversion option gives you a fast compact retouch for your photos. There is no need to emphasis 4K photo function and Post focusing as every body knows. Camera systems are very responsive with easy to use touch screen menu. In camera USB charging is awesome, now I can use my portable battery pack. As a drawback, I can say the auto focusing in video mode is not up to the mark. It stills hunt for focus a lot especially in low light. Still CDAF even with DFD technology cannot compete with PDAF the we can seen in Sony mirrorless systems. But for capturing still picture, the auto focusing speed is more than enough. Absence of weather sealing is a draw back, but i cannot expect that much pro quality in this price range. Over all GX85 is a perfect economic MFT system with a lot of high end features made available in a respectful price range.

Jisa G.

2017-01-02T04:29:11

This is my second panasonic u4/3. I really liked the GX1 used with an external viewfinder. It took some getting used to the step down from a SLR viewfinder to an EVF, but the small size of GX1 made it worthwhile. One small drawback was that the external EVF stuck out like a sore thumb. So, I've been eyeing the GX series since they incorporated the VF in the body. After reading rave reviews of the GX85 I decided to upgrade. I've had it for about a two weeks now, and I am still getting used to the camera and learning what it can do. I take stills; no video. The camera feels about the same as of GX1 and the GX7, but lacks that like extra bit on the front grip. The tilting viewfinder is an unexpected boon. I paired it with the Olympus M. Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm f/2.8 PRO Lens. The handling with such a heavy lens is a bit awkward, particularly compared to my preferred 20/1.7 prime. The viewfinder is a bad. I wear glasses and I have to move the camera around to see the whole picture. Without glasses and with the diopter adjustment set for my eyes, parts of the image look blurry. The battery life is poor. To make the camera system usable I would need to buy another battery. I was surprised by the lack of an external battery charger. If you read the description carefully you know what it is coming, but for me it is was like buying a car and being told afterwards that the wheels are extra.

ROBERT D.

2016-12-22T00:40:09

What's not to like? The EVF is a bit dated, but many awesome and varied features, controls, IBIS, lightning-fast AFS, focuses in the dark, soft shutter, & the best touch-screen in the industry

Randa G.

2016-09-19T14:16:55

I had abandoned photography when I sold-off my Contax G2 (35mm) system. Certain factors kept me from picking-up digitally where I'd left-off: resolution wasn't quite "there" yet, and DSLRs were too bulky (preferring rangefinders' size and weight). The GX85 resembled a rangefinder enough, and its image quality and functions/features seemed like steps toward the future. 4k video and live cropping and photo burst? Innovative quiet and smooth shutter that's discrete and low-vibration? And so on? Okay! The 12-32mm kit lens is pretty good, and great for street-shooting. The ability to use old lenses from 35mm cameras with an adaptor is wonderful, and though the GX85's focus-peaking is convenient, the viewfinder is sufficient for manually focusing. This camera's wonderful for low-light hand-held stills and video. No LOG profile for video, but I made a custom exposure profile that I can grade well with software. The GX85 is just the camera I'd needed to get into serious digital shooting - and it's quickly become a good companion.

STEVEN F.

2016-09-17T20:00:00

I own the GX85 for little over a month by now. Purchased it from authorize dealer in Houston while looking for something smaller and lighter than my Nikon DSLR. So far I love it. Easy to operate and picture quality is better for what I need (walk around and vacation memories).Got two lenses - 12-35 and 45-150 and my pictures are not to be complain about if you compare it with my ex- Nikon.While bicycling I do not need backpack for my photo equipment.It is light weight and fit perfectly in small camera bag. As far as futures- it is loaded with more than I needed. 4K pictures are great and easy to work with.I do not use it for 4K movies only for 1080 p because after one attempt I find out that my PC is not made to handle 4K movies.I'm glad I did not go for point and shoot style camera-thanks to camera store salesman. Did I mention cameras 5 axis image stabilization build in, and touch screen, and excellent low light capability and easy wifi connection (it works!) ....? Do not need remote control - just use android phone... Lenses are much cheaper than other main brands cameras lenses. Can't get much better ....

Eugene

Originally posted at

2016-09-08T20:00:00

This camera is a beauty, the size and how compact it is. I was just sold on how I can easily keep it in my pocket when I travel. I do feel I have a lot of features on this camera which I don't use. Wish they were less features so it's less confusing. I was a regular user of Nikon D90 SLR with time it started becoming hard to carry it everywhere because of the size. I started shooting on my iPhone instead, coming back to using manual settings was a bit hard and the features on this camera can be a bit overwhelming. Quality is awesome. It worked well on some of the time lapse videos and panoramic shots I did. I will definitely go back and buy a macro lense to experiment further.

Waqas

Originally posted at

2016-08-04T20:00:00

I fell in love instantly with this camera the first time I used it. It's very easy to use and extremely fast in all aspects. I was incredibly pleased with how fast it focused, along with how amazing the image quality is. The fact that it's so tiny makes it a no brainier to anyone looking for a great portable camera that can still pack a punch. Definitely recommend and totally exceeded my expectations!

Rixtagram

Originally posted at

2016-08-03T20:00:00

This review isn't about the technical aspects of the camera. This review is tailored towards the consumer who wants a small, compact and capable mirrorless camera that they could take everywhere with them. This review if for: - Someone who understands the importance of some really good food pics - Likes adventure and looking back at it through pics and videos - Explores around town and takes photos along the way - Has cute pets and likes cute pet pics - Has an eye for design and wants photos of cool spaces - Wants to travel light but not miss a photo moment Basically this is a review for the photographer/social media influencer/enthusiast who believes the best camera is the one they have on them. Just a couple housekeeping notes: * Before I continue, I have to put out a disclaimer and say that I was chosen as part of Panasonic and Lumix USA’s campaign (#PanasonicAdvocate) to test this camera out and share my experiences with an unbiased and honest review. And that is exactly what I’m going to do as these opinions are my own and I have literally been using this camera almost every day for over a month. ** All images posted to this review are taken with the kit lens. I started out my mirrorless journey with the Panasonic GF1. It was a pioneer amongst the mirrorless cameras and to this day remains one of my favorite cameras to have used. Since then, I’ve owned mirrorless cameras from Olympus, Fujifilm and now Sony so it’s kind of cool how this all came full circle when Panasonic approached me with the gx85. DISLIKES Let’s get the things I dislike out of the way because they’re not a deal breaker for me, they’re simply just things I think can be improved upon. While I appreciate and have grown to love the tilt screen, I wish this camera flipped all the way up for selfies and group shots. Selfies aside, when I’m traveling, this is super useful trying for getting quick self-portraits. This is also my first touch screen for a camera. 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 shot through the EVF, the touch focus point is so sensitive that it moves around like crazy. The camera is also a bit heavy for it’s size. I read that people complained that it’s predecessor seemed dinky in the hands and while they improved that with the gx85 feeling robust, in my opinion, it’s a touch too heavy for such a compact m43 camera. On that same note, because the added weight is attributed to making the camera feel more robust, they really should have made this weather proof. It would cancel out any negative feelings one has towards this camera being slightly heavy for a small compact. High ISO = mehhh photo quality. There’s not much to this point other then when you have a small sensor and you’re pushing it’s ISO, images tend to smudge up, noise builds and the clarity becomes lost. It’s not horrible by any means and they’ve come such a long way since the first m43 cameras, but larger sensor cameras will always have the edge when it comes to high ISO. LIKES It’s so cute/cool. Yea I said it. Whatever lol. I’m big on how cameras look these days. I think the aesthetic of ones tools are a direct representation of ones style. For me, I love when cameras can embody a retro rangefinder look while still infusing some modern design elements without looking like the two are fighting against each other. When I think of retro and modern design friction, I think of some of the Olympus bodies. When I think of the perfect blend of retro and modern, I think of the Leica Q. The buttons and dials are all fantastic. So much so I rarely use any of the touch screen buttons to navigate around for settings and the camera interface and menus. The build quality is first rate. I know I said earlier it was a tad bit too heavy and while I stick with that statement, it really does feel good in the hands regardless. Start up time is instant. Something Sony really needs to take note on. I love the kit lens. It’s so small but provides a good range and the quality is really good for what it is. It’s also built well for a kit lens so the overall vibe of this combo still feels like a premium product. The image stabilization on this thing is BANANAS. My Sony A7RII also has 5-axis image stabilization, but the gx85 also takes advantage of lens I.S. created a Dual I.S. system. Video clips feel like they’re taken with a gimbal (super amateur clips btw). I’ll never buy a camera without Wi-Fi. Many times, I like to post photos instantly, especially when I’m traveling. The Wi-Fi on the gx85 works great with the app and transfers images relatively fast. I’ve yet to loose connection while transferring photos. And like many current mirrorless cameras, the autofocus is lightning fast. OVERALL IMPRESSIONS Just like with every other mirrorless camera out there, there are still some short comings. Most of which I didn’t feel the need to mention because we’ve heard it time and time before. The most notable for me being battery life. It makes sense though when you have a small battery trying to give life to an almost all electronic device (LCD, EVF, shutter, etc.). With those little gripes aside, I still do believe mirrorless is the future and this camera is just part of that journey. The Panasonic gx85 is a great, be-with-you-at-all-times camera. As you can see by the photos I’ve posted, that’s exactly what happened. The gx85 was with me at all times. It came with me to dinner, it came exploring in my Jeep and it came with me to hang out with some friends. Will I be using it for paid work? No, but that’s because I have my Sony line of cameras to do that for me. Is it capable for paid work? Absolutely! Just ask any of the social influencers making a killing per post with an iPhone. FOR PHOTOS, VISIT: http://journal.hellomikee.com/panasonic-gx85-review/

HELLOMIKEE

Originally posted at

2016-08-03T20:00:00

I participated in an Advocate Program on behalf of Panasonic USA. I received product samples as part of my participation. All opinions are my own. After using the camera for a little over a month I have to say it gets the job done. For such a small compact camera, it provides pretty good image quality. I found my self using this camera when I didn't feel like carrying heavy gear or was just panning to go out. I was able to fit it in a small bag or coat pocket and use it whenever. The size and weight definitely made it convenient.

Nolan

Originally posted at