Panasonic LUMIX G85 DMC-G85MK Black
With 5-stop in-body stabilization and Dual I.S. compatibility, the 16MP sensor enables smooth 4K/30p video and 10fps bursts in a weather-sealed body. Its lightweight 408g build, articulating 3-inch touchscreen, and 800-shot battery life make it a highly portable all-day option within the expansive Micro Four Thirds lens system. This camera is best for vloggers and outdoor hybrid shooters who need reliable stabilization and weather resistance without breaking the budget.
Over deze Camera
Designed for video and stills shooters alike, the LUMIX G85 from Panasonic is a versatile Micro Four Thirds camera characterized by its quick performance, flexible photo capabilities, and UHD 4K video recording. Using a 16MP MOS sensor, this mirrorless camera has a sensitivity range from ISO 200-25600 to suit working in a variety of lighting conditions, and also affords quick shooting speeds up to 10 fps with single-shot autofocus, or 6 fps with continuous autofocus, as well as up to 40 fps when using an electronic shutter function and 30 fps at 8MP with 4K PHOTO Modes. Benefitting working in difficult lighting conditions, 5-axis sensor-shift image stabilization can be used to dramatically reduce the appearance of camera shake, and this IS system pairs with select lens' image stabilization systems for Dual I.S.
- LUMIX G VARIO 12-60mm F3.5-5.6 ASPH. POWER O.I.S. zoom lens provides versatilityThis focal range is great for everyday shots, including everything from gorgeous landscapes to exceptional close-ups.
- 16.0-megapixel Live MOS sensor delivers incredible detail and excellent enlargementsThe Four Thirds sensor produces great edge-to-edge clarity with incredible detail and sharpness.
- ISO 100 - 25,600 (expandable to ISO 100 - 25,600 range) for crisp, clear photos even in ultralow lightEnhances shooting in varied and fast-changing lighting situations, including extremely low light.
- Never miss a shot with ultrafast 10 fps (frames per second)Shoots up to 10 frames per second at full-resolution 16.0 megapixels, so you capture it all, from heartwarming smiles to game-winning goals..
- 49-point contrast autofocus quickly tracks and locks onto your subjectMultiple autofocus modes, including Face Detection and Eye Detection allow you to shoot any scene you can imagine.
- Capture spectacular movies in up to 4K resolutionChoice of frame rates includes standard 30i, smooth 30p or cinematic 24p, or up to super-smooth 60p in FullHD mode.
- Built-in Wi-Fi to instantly share your picturesUpload, e-mail or text photos from your camera through your smartphone or tablet.* Your smart device can also act as a second monitor as well as remote control. Smart device not included.
- 3.0" LCD monitor is big and bright even in direct sunlightBrightness, Contrast and Saturation control make it easy to frame and review shots.
- High-speed Venus Engine image processorFrom shooting images and videos, to playback and data transfer, this processor handles even the most demanding tasks with ease.
- OLED electronic viewfinderBright, high-contrast viewfinder lets you see the results before you shoot, and features 2360K dots for amazing resolution.
- Enhanced TTL flash control technology puts faces in their best lightPrecisely illuminates people's faces in relation to their surrounding brightness, using built-in or external hot-shoe flash. External flash sold separately.
- S-Gamut and S-Log shootingGive you flexibility to make more expressive movies by performing color grading in post-production.
- 5-axis still/movie image stabilizerYou can zoom in on faraway subjects, shoot close-ups, and take night scenes with nearly shake-free clarity in still lifes and movies.
- Weather-sealed, splash-proof and dust-proof designRugged enough to withstand even the most challenging environments.
- Shoot now, focus laterExclusive Post Focus mode gives you the power to review an image and touch the area you'd like to be pinpoint sharp.
- Built-in, pop-up flash for proper illuminationEnsures properly illuminated photos, and features an integrated hot shoe for an external flash, sold separately.
- MicroHDMI TypeD output makes HDTV connection very fastEasily connect your camera to an HDTV for the immediate movie playback. HDMI cable required, sold separately.
- Multiformat memory slot for storing or transferring dataAccepts SD, SDHC and SDXC cards. .
- *Requires high-speed Internet service.
The 30-Second Version
A battery-sipping, weather-sealed video workhorse with stabilization that still stuns in 2024—just keep your stills expectations in check.
Overview
The Panasonic LUMIX G85 is living proof that you don't need the latest and greatest to get great results. Right off the bat, it's a battery monster—we're talking about a camera that can easily outlast your entire day of shooting, and then some. Paired with rock-solid 5-axis stabilization and weather sealing, it's a travel companion that you won't need to baby. For video shooters dipping their toes into 4K, this is still a top pick as a used buy. Just don't expect it to win any stills resolution contests.
Performance
The biggest surprise here is the battery life. In our database, it's in the absolute top tier—you'll get close to 800 shots per charge, and that's without even trying. Combine that with the 5-axis IBIS giving you stable handheld video that rivals much pricier setups, and you've got a camera that feels far more capable than its age suggests. The 16MP sensor is the obvious trade-off; it's one of the worst we've seen in terms of raw resolution today, but for 4K video and social media sharing, it's totally fine. What's less fine is the autofocus in dim conditions, which can hunt a bit—it's a reminder that this contrast-detect system shows its age.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Stellar battery life that embarrasses almost every modern mirrorless 99th
- 5-axis IBIS and Dual I.S. make handheld video smooth as butter 95th
- Weather-sealed body that can handle rain and dust without a whimper 91th
- Fully articulating touchscreen, perfect for vlogging and awkward angles 85th
Cons
- 16MP sensor resolution is a real letdown for heavy cropping or large prints 10th
- Contrast-detect AF can hunt in low light and isn't the fastest
- Mediocre product photography performance, not a studio workhorse
- 4K video has a crop factor that makes wide shots trickier
The Word on the Street
Specifications
Full Specifications
Sensor
| Type | NMOS |
| Size | micro-four-thirds |
| Megapixels | 16 |
| ISO Range | 100 |
| Processor | Venus Engine |
Autofocus
| AF Points | 49 |
| AF Type | Auto/Manual |
| Eye AF | Yes |
Shooting
| Burst (Mechanical) | 10 |
| Burst (Electronic) | 30 |
| Electronic Shutter | Yes |
Video
| Max Resolution | 4K |
| 4K FPS | 30 |
| 1080p FPS | 60 |
| 10-bit | No |
| Log Profile | Yes |
| Codec | AVCHD, JPEG, MP4, RAW |
Display & EVF
| Screen Size | 3 |
| Touchscreen | Yes |
| Articulating | Yes |
| EVF Resolution | 2360000 |
Build
| Weather Sealed | Yes |
| Weight | 0.4 kg / 0.9 lbs |
| Battery Life | 800 |
Connectivity
| Wi-Fi | Yes |
| Bluetooth | No |
| USB | USB-B |
| HDMI | Micro HDMI |
| Hot Shoe | Yes |
Value & Pricing
Prices we saw ranged from a reasonable $385 to an absolutely bonkers $134,725 (someone's confused). At the low end, this thing is a steal. For around $400-500 with a lens, you get a camera that still holds its own for video and travel. The key is to ignore those sky-high listings and snag a clean used copy. At that price, it's one of the best bargains in mirrorless right now.
Price History
vs Competition
Stack it against the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III and you'll see the Olympus wins on autofocus speed and burst shooting, but costs way more. The Sony A7 III gives you full-frame goodness and better low light, but you'll pay double and its battery life, while good, doesn't touch the G85's longevity. The Fujifilm X-T4 is a video beast with 10-bit internal, but again, you're spending triple the cash. If you're on a tight budget and value battery life and stabilization above all else, the G85 is the clear pick.
| Spec | Panasonic LUMIX G85 DMC-G85MK | Canon EOS R EOS R6 Mark III | Fujifilm X-T X-T4 | Nikon Zf Zf | OM System OM-5 OM-5 Mark II | Sony Alpha 7 III a7 III |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | mirrorless | mirrorless | mirrorless | mirrorless | mirrorless | mirrorless |
| Sensor | 16MP micro-four-thirds | 32.5MP full-frame | 26.1MP aps-c | 24.5MP full-frame | 20.4MP micro-four-thirds | 24.2MP full-frame |
| AF Points | 49 | 1053 | 425 | 273 | 121 | 693 |
| Burst FPS | 10 | 40 | 15 | 14 | 30 | 10 |
| Video | 4K @30fps | 6K @120fps | 4K @60fps | 4K @60fps | 4K @30fps | 4K @60fps |
| IBIS | true | true | true | true | true | true |
| Weather Sealed | true | true | false | true | true | true |
| Weight (g) | 408 | 609 | 526 | 630 | 370 | 649 |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | Af | Evf | Build | Burst | Video | Sensor | Battery | Display | Connectivity | Social Proof | Stabilization |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Panasonic LUMIX G85 DMC-G85MK | 65.1 | 77.1 | 90.8 | 81.1 | 66.3 | 9.6 | 98.8 | 84.3 | 76.3 | 94.6 | 84.7 |
| Canon EOS R EOS R6 Mark III Compare | 98.4 | 88 | 94.9 | 93.1 | 89.6 | 58.8 | 96.6 | 99.2 | 93.3 | 94.6 | 99.5 |
| Fujifilm X-T X-T4 Compare | 85.5 | 93.4 | 50.1 | 85.5 | 80.2 | 92.7 | 96.1 | 84.3 | 80.8 | 94.6 | 91.3 |
| Nikon Zf Zf Compare | 82.8 | 89.5 | 95.4 | 82.4 | 80.2 | 53.8 | 91.6 | 84.3 | 93.3 | 94.6 | 84.7 |
| OM System OM-5 OM-5 Mark II Compare | 78.9 | 95.8 | 90.3 | 85.5 | 76.8 | 41.7 | 87.7 | 84.3 | 85.4 | 94.6 | 96.1 |
| Sony Alpha 7 III a7 III Compare | 94 | 77.8 | 95.8 | 74.8 | 80.2 | 49.4 | 96.3 | 84.3 | 93.3 | 94.6 | 84.7 |
Common Questions
Q: Is the Panasonic G85 still worth buying in 2024?
Absolutely, especially as a used purchase. You get 4K video, great stabilization, and incredible battery life for under $500 with a lens. It's a bargain for vloggers and beginners.
Q: How is the autofocus for video?
It's decent but not lightning fast. The contrast-detect system works fine in good light but can hunt in dimmer conditions or with fast movement. You'll get best results by tapping to focus or using manual focus for critical shots.
Q: Does the G85 have a microphone input?
Yes, it has a 3.5mm mic jack, which is great for vlogging and shooting interviews. Pair it with the articulating screen and you've got a solid little video kit.
Who Should Skip This
If you're after high-resolution stills for product photography or large prints, this isn't your camera. The 16MP sensor and mediocre studio score mean you'll be left wanting. Go grab a used Sony A7R II or a Nikon Z5 instead for around the same money on the used market—you'll get way more detail.
Verdict
If you're looking for an affordable, rugged camera that can shoot steady 4K video and last all day on a single battery, buy the Panasonic G85. It's the definition of "good enough" for most people and, at its used price, you can't really go wrong. Just don't expect it to replace a high-resolution stills camera or a sports-focused body.
