Lumix G85 Attracting Lots of Attention
Photokina for 2016 is now history and with its passing, more information about the new Lumix G85 is finally starting to emerge. To be completely frank, Panasonic’s new Lumix was definitely overshadowed by the announcement of the updated Olympus flagship, the OM-D EM-1-ll. Without a doubt, the phenomenal specs given for the Olympus were hard to ignore, but for many it’s going to be way more camera—in terms of price and features—than many enthusiasts are going to want or need.
The recently announced Lumix G85 with 12mm-60mm kit lens.
For the vast majority of photographers who have decided to shed the weight and cost of traditional DSLR’s from Nikon, Canon, and Sony, the G85 is a dream come true. In short, the G85 might easily be likened to a baby GH4 with some of the newer technologies developed since the GH4 was announced almost three years ago. Chris from the Camera Store does a great job putting the new camera through its paces in the video below.
As you’ll see, the Camera Store guys love the new G85 but do point out that low light is still one of the challenges Micro Four Thirds cameras have yet to overcome. And I agree with him in theory. That said, as I regularly ask my students, “What are you doing with the images you shoot?” If you’re producing coffee table books, sharing on Facebook, or printing as large as 24×36 inches, even the smaller sensors of the G85 and other Lumix cameras will give you more than enough quality. To get the absolute most premium quality out of all my Lumix files, I combine them with Mylio for Digital Asset Management and DXO Optics Pro 11 for RAW conversion. From what I’ve found, DXO Optics Pro 11 produces the best noise reduction and general RAW conversion available. Combine Micro Four Thirds Lumix cameras with the right processing software and you now have the ability to travel with a lightweight system—costing a fraction of what we’re used to—that will give you the quality you need nine out of ten times.
Technical Details
Below are some of the details Chris from The Camera Store share in the video above.
- Magnesium alloy front plate, no longer all plastic
- No AA Bayer filter covering the image sensor—this improves image sharpness and details.
- 5-Axis Dual IS version 2. Lumix is now claiming to give us a full 5 stops of IS power with the in-body and lens image stabilization working in tandem.
- 9FPS frame rate in AF-S
- Electronic First Curtain Shutter to help remove vibration that blurs pictures at slower shutter speeds
- Approximate 45 RAW image buffer
- SD Card capabilities that that now offers UHS-ll speed improvements. Faster write times
- Water, dust, and weather resistant. Fully weather sealed
- Improved battery life when using new Power Saving Mode that shuts off rear LCD. Improves images per battery from 320+ to 800-900 photos per battery
- Focus stacking capabilities with RAW captured files. You need to merge these outside of camera with software.
- Same battery as GX8, FZ1000
- New external battery grip for option to have two batteries. With Power Saving Mode the possibility of 1500-1800 photos per set of batteries
- Mic jack for video
- 4:2:2 8bit HDMI Output video recording
I’ll wrap this short preview up of the Lumix G85 with the video below from B&H Photo where Sean Robinson from Panasonic discusses some of the updated features.
Many of our Explorers have been waiting for the coming GH5 which was announced at Photokina but no date was given for delivery. The G85 is here and now and with its many improvements, for still photographers in particular, this may well be the camera to get. With a price of only $900US for the body and under $1000US for the body with the 12-60mm kit lens, this is really the camera that’s hard to ignore. One last video below that compares the G85 to the GH4. Nice “in a nutshell” of what the differences are.