Amazon.com: Customer reviews: Panasonic LUMIX G85 4K Digital Camera, 12-60mm Power O.I.S. Lens, 16 Megapixel Mirrorless Camera, 5 Axis In-Body Dual Image Stabilization, 3-Inch Tilt and Touch LCD, DMC-G85MK (Black)

Top positive review

Reasonably priced Micro 4/3s Progress

Reviewed in the United States on November 14, 2016

I have been thinking of buying the OMD EM1 Mark 2. I am an enthusiast and take pictures of my family and for travel. Many years ago, I sold my Canon bodies/lenses to get into Micro 4/3’s. Like many, my investment in film lenses led me to Canon bodies in the electronic world. However, it became clear to me that the electronic world offered new opportunities as the technology improved. It looked like Micro 4/3 sensors would be the sweet spot for most photography in this new world. My first 4/3’s camera was a Panasonic. I loved it.

Later I upgraded to the OMD EM5 Mark 2 for the better-quality sensor, better in-body stabilization system, and small size. The technology was advancing.

Update: I have used the camera for some time now. There have been two firmware updates to improve stabilization and stabilization "hum" and I am using the Panasonic 100-400 with dual IS. I cannot say enough about how good this camera is, and at the price, it is a great value. I have added some pictures using the zoom lens and 12-60 lens for illustration.

Time passed, looking for my next upgrade. It is not picture quality driving me, but 4K video and, frankly handling. Don’t like the size of the existing OMD camera for handling. Just a bit too small physically.

Out comes the OMD EM1 Mark 2 for body only almost $2,000, but looks like better handling. Very professional features, especially fast focus and rapid fire. Also, higher pixel stills is interesting technology. But What. $2,000.

I found the G85. I bought it despite the stability issue. I do not have a noise issue in video. Price is right. I am using it and it meets my needs. (I expect a firmware update, but camera is entirely usable for photography, which is my focus, pun intended. I have also made some video’s and they are passable. There is a little “jump” at the start of the pan, but for me, I could survive. I expect that Panasonic will fix this, as the GX85 does not exhibit this behavior.)

Handling is much better with a larger size handle for holding and taking pictures. Still light and better than dslr’s for everyday picture taking. This is the next generation of Micro 4/3’s. Frankly, I like the on-off switches on the right side, and this does it. (You can set up the dual switch on EM2 2 to be the on-off switch but too expensive to buy just for this.)

Picture quality is superb. Not the reason to upgrade or switch brands.

I had forgotten, but I much prefer the Panasonic UI to the Olympus. I much prefer the Panasonic smartphone apps, in addition.

Micro 4/3’s is really where the action is, as there is strong and vibrant competition. I wish all markets were like this. I expect features to improve and prices to fall.

169 people found this helpful

Top critical review

Critical reviews›

Mr. Reviewer

MEH

Reviewed in the United States on December 24, 2017

So, I've been using a Sony A6000 for 2.5 years, and love it. But, for video - battery life sucks, stabilization - sucks, good lenses are expensive and few options. no mic input. no flip out screen and no live view app support in video (only A6300/6500), it overheats in video very often and oh - did I mention battery life sucks?
For travel, family etc. - for causal family and travel stuff - it's amazing, but for youtube reviews, vloging etc. - it's really not. the a6500 is good alternative but still has many of the above flaws.
So after months of research i've ordered the G85, as it was the best option with - good price, flip out screen, good IS, nice kit lens, mic input, touch screen, battery life...and many reviewers and youtubers recommended it.
After using it for 1-2 months - I'm anxiously waiting for the next model from sony that will hopefully have mic input and flip out screen.
The G85 has a lot of good things going for it, and I knew it's flaws before buying, but after usuing it just doesn't feel like it's really worth the price.
Picture and video quality - is just ok. it's noticeably worse than the APC-C Sony and nosier in lower light (as expected). Sure it can take nice photos and AF is fairly quick, but it's not 1000$ level kind of quality you expect.
For video, the main reason I bought it for, it's ok. having a mic input and flip out screen - is a HUGE bonus. if you have a sony a6300/6500
AF - well, at first you think, oh it's not so bad, I can work with this, or maybe just manual focus, but then you watch on your pc and see it's just crap half the time, even when you set up the scene and settings to it's favor.
IS - sometimes it's great, sometimes and swings right and left like i'm on a boat (i'm not).
Battery life - much better than the A6000, but just about everything is. objectively - it's just average.
Menu system, buttons etc - so many reviews bash the sony and rave the lumix, but I can't relate. using the screen is nice for sure, but nothing is very intuitive or simple here. I've learned the sony, cannon and others much quicker, while on this one i'm still fumbling with the most basic settings almost every time I turn it on.
Weather proofing - meh. just flimsy plasticy caps on the ports. will think twice before using it in the rain.
mic jack - smack in the middle of the flip out screen - so annoying!
native 4:3 sensor ratio - I prefer the 16:10/16:9 ratio a lot more. especially video.
I ordered the 25MM f1.7 and hopefully it will help.
So overall, for stills - there are much better options in my opinion.
For video - it's definitely a step up from a sony a6000 and can get great results. but i'm not too impressed. Looking back i'd probably should have picked the cannon SL2 (great af, lenes, flipout screen) or the sony A6500 (and use my sony lenses and phone apps as flip out screen).
Panasonic should really step up their AF game.

14 people found this helpful

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From the United States

C. J. Hawkins

Reasonably priced Micro 4/3s Progress

Reviewed in the United States on November 14, 2016

Style: Camera Starter KitVerified Purchase

169 people found this helpful

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Amazon Customer

Great quality

Reviewed in the United States on March 27, 2024

Style: Camera Starter KitVerified Purchase

This camera is definitely a bang for your buck. What a great camera the quality is amazing and all the features it has. It even has an app to instantly download the picture to your smart phone. Also very light weight and easy to use and understand.

2 people found this helpful

Helpful

PreparedZombie

Everything I expected

Reviewed in the United States on August 18, 2017

Style: Camera Starter KitVerified Purchase

The Panasonic G85 was my first mirrorless camera after years of using a Nikon D40 DSLR. I wanted a camera that's good for photography and video, and the G85 has lived up to my expectations. Not only is the camera good, but I also like the well developed ecosystem of lenses and accessories, which continues to grow and improve.

Likes:
* The controls are intuitive and responsive, with many switches and buttons to quickly access the setting I need, and there's a lot of ways to customize the controls to my preference. The touch screen further augments the physical controls, and I use it often. I also like the two custom modes on the dial to quickly access my often used settings.
* The ergonomics and hand comfort are good. Controls can be reached without straining my fingers. I can carry the camera and kit lens without a strap, and not feel any noticeable discomfort.
* It can reliably and quickly focus under low light and tricky conditions. Better than my old DSLR.
* The image stabilization is outstanding. It allows for almost effortless hand holding at normal focal lengths, and reasonably feasible hand holding at 300mm and longer focal lengths.
* The image quality is very good, better than my old DSLR in terms of dynamic range, sharpness, noise performance. Since I don't plan on using crazy high ISO, I don't need a larger sensor, and the compromises of an inferior system.
* Did I mention the system? Not only is this camera weather sealed, but Panasonic has a growing number of weather sealed lenses to match. One of the reasons why I didn't go with the Sony E-mount system. I'm also enjoying the benefits of a 600mm-equivalent tele lens that isn't ridiculously bulky and heavy.
* It actually has a built in flash. Since I don't plan on limiting my self to an indoor studio, and don't plan to lug around a bulky external flash, this was a must have feature for me. If Fuji would have thought of such a revolutionary idea, maybe I would be using their camera instead.
* It has the video features I need - external mic jack, tilt and swivel screen, peaking, zebra stripes, and manual exposure. Many other mirrorless cameras I looked at were missing one or more of these.
* Panasonic has addressed the early problems of stabilization humming and jerky panning with firmware upgrades. I no longer have any serious complaints about the camera, and it shows they take their camera business seriously.
* The kit lens is noticeably more capable than most other kit lenses elsewhere. Not only is the zoom range wider and longer, but it's weather sealed to match the camera body. This is the lens I use most often.

Dislikes:
* It would have been nice to incorporate a wireless remote shutter release that doesn't involve a smartphone, like the inexpensive infrared remote on my Nikon D40. Instead I'm forced to buy a more expensive and less convenient cable release.

Overall, a very capable camera and system, and priced lower than the competition I looked at. Looking forward to getting a lot of use from this new camera.

23 people found this helpful

Helpful

Lou Gabriel

One of the best value cameras out today! Highly recommend to all!

Reviewed in the United States on January 9, 2017

Style: Camera Starter KitVerified Purchase

One of the best value camera out there. Hands down.
For current users, I highly suggest to do the following: Go to menu --> Setup --> beep (page 2) --> Turn off the beep volume and E shutter volume
This was a huge annoyance for me at first, and I was relieved to find it in the settings.
Battery saving options are also within the page 2 of setup such as Live View Mode (30fps), Monitor Luminance, and Economy.

Pros:
Stills quality is very nice and sharp, even from the 12-60mm kit lens. Image quality and bokeh are stunning when paired with the 25mm f1.7. The dual IS is really good for stills and even more amazing in video. Two custom settings within the dial are really helpful for saving your own shooting modes. I personally save Shutter-priority video moves to these in different recording formats (i.e. 4k30fps, FHD60fps). There are also plenty of fn buttons to customize. There are also color profiles to shoot in that may be customized. I find that the "Natural" profile to be the most pleasing in video. There is also Cine-D for those wanting a flatter look or for grading.
Weather sealed - Not much to say here other than, great!
Coming from a Nikon APSC camera, I am amazed at how light and robust the mirrorless form factor is. There is little fatigue in carrying it in your hands all day. The LCD screen that allows a full swivel is really neat for selfies/vlogging.
Finally... the video. Most buyers are probably here b/c of this and yes... it does not disappoint. The detail is amazing! BUT, the real shocker is the image stabilization. When paired w/ dual IS and E-stabilization turned on, the video is practically gliding (especially @ wider angles - 12mm). I am not joking. Walking with the camera is buttery smooth, no jittery videos.

Cons:
It's only up to 16MP stills, though I still find the image quality to be very good even when an image has been cropped in edits.
I found that the image is a bit noisy at higher iso (6400 and above), though this is not really a bother to me. I find that it gives it a natural feel to lowlight shots. You can always dial it down with a bit of NR in Lightroom and other software.
A slight crop to the 4k video recording.
This was not a con for me, but others may think it. There's a lot to learn w/in the settings of this camera. Take the time to read the advanced handbook. Experiment!

In summary, I highly recommend this. If you are on the fence, JUMP OVER!

119 people found this helpful

Helpful

David Ruether

"Almost", but "not quite...!"

Reviewed in the United States on January 22, 2017

Style: Camera Starter KitVerified Purchase

Coming from heavy, bulky, noisy, expensive Nikon gear, I came to appreciate the many advantages of MFT mirrorless gear, and in particular, Panasonic MFT cameras and many of the lenses offered by Panasonic, Sigma, Tokina, Olympus, and several other makers. Among the several Panasonic bodies I've owned, my favorite had become the G7 (the predecessor to the G85) for its light weight, compactness, handling and grip, the many controls and their placement, and its customization options available. With some feature-upgrades (added IBIS, improved EVF, a metal front-plate, better mechanical shutter [although I generally use the electronic shutters in my cameras, since they are quiet and shake-free], etc.), and with an interesting lens included, I bought a G85 with the 12-60mm lens as a kit. Upon receipt, I checked for an early stabilization defect some people had noted with video - but my sample did not appear to have this problem (it's since been addressed with a firmware update for early G85 samples).

I soon returned the kit for a refund for two reasons: with the G85, a very light G7 had become almost as heavy as my GH4 (which I recently sold, since I no longer shot much video with it, and I preferred the much lighter G7 for stills); and this second sample of the 12-60mm lens, which was much improved over the first sample of this lens that I tried, it was still not up to the image-quality of alternative lenses that I already owned - and it still had some evident asymmetrical image-softness problems.

I've taken about 200,000 photographs in the last few years with this MFT gear, and I prefer light and compact cameras and lenses for most of what I do with it - and as a result, the very noticeably increased weight of the G85 was an issue for me that overwhelmed its functional advantages over the G7. The G85 is a very nice camera, with many excellent features - but it was not a good replacement for my G7s for me...

--DR

20 people found this helpful

Helpful

Forrest Hodge

Price/Performance king of the entry/mid level mirrorless cameras

Reviewed in the United States on November 19, 2020

Style: Camera Starter KitVerified Purchase

I bought the G85 to supplement/mostly replace my old D3300. In most respects it's a step up. I primarily needed a camera with better video. The D3300 was and still is an outstanding entry level DSLR for still photography, but it's very underwhelming for video, which what I find myself doing more off these days. The video autofocus on the D3300 is borderline unusable, it hunts relentlessly. When picking out a new camera. I was looking at the Cannon 80D (no 4k video), the 90D (very nice, but comparatively expensive), the Nikon Z50 (very good AF, but the lack of lens selection and the cost of the available lenses at the time of purchase scared me off), the G9 (pretty much everything I wanted , but more than I wanted to spend), and the G95 (killer V.log profile, but otherwise not much improvement over the G85.

I went with the G85 since it was a proven commodity, and had widely available and affordable lenses. For still photography I think the lower MP sensor hurts it vs. the big sensor APS-C cameras, but it's still acceptable. The autofocus is quick, even when doing bursts. For video , which why I got it, it's impressive. Autofocus is very good, about on par with the Canons at 1080p and okay at 4k, ,the stabilization with both the OEM lenses and body is very nice. Build quality is above average for the price bracket. The wifi works very well too. The only negatives are that battery life isn't amazing, and there's no headphone jack (there is a mic jack). I feel like the G85 is a very good value for money. You're getting a lot camera for your dollar. The G9 is nicer in every way, but cost a few hundred more. The G95 is also somewhat more expensive, but I don't think you're getting much in return for the extra money spent.

The G85 isn't perfect, if you want a camera primarily for still photography. I'd stick with a comparable APS-C DSLR for the same or less money. The 80D and D7500 are going to be superior to the G85 for that. But for video the G85 is hard to beat for the price.

22 people found this helpful

Helpful

Kevin J. Scully

Incredible Value, IF You Can Settle For Less Than Cutting Edge

Reviewed in the United States on August 6, 2022

Style: Camera Starter KitVerified Purchase

In this day of camera smart-phones, is there still a place for DSLRs?

I say yes, if you actually want to take pictures rather than snapshots and if you are willing spend some money and are ready to haul some stuff around to take those pictures. I settled on the Micro 4/3 format because it is the most easily portable DSLR camera, and therefore the most likely to be used by me. I don't see myself printing larger than 8x10 photos so 16mp is more than enough and overkill for social media. The regular-speed 4K video is more than adequate for and videography I will be doing (invest in a good mike to up your game).

A HUGE plus is the fact that this camera and kit lens that cam with it are weather-sealed so I have peace of mind taking it on a hike.

I look forward for using 4K pre-burst mode, it is literally a time machine, letting you capture an event up to one second before you push the shutter button! It allows you to follow your child on the field and to get the shots you really want with having to take thousands of pictures.

There are trade-offs for not going full-frame sensor (e.g. low-light performance, less depth of field) but the price differential, $697 on sale with a 12-60mm weather proof lens, rather than thousands for the bigger camera? It was a no brainer for me.

Great ergonomics, custom setting modes that can be saved to allow up to 4 different set-ups, a very good and versatile kit lens (24-120mm 35mm equivalent focal length) all in a camera that I will take on day hikes.

Go on Youtube and watch some videos about what this camera can do. You will see that it is still more than adequate for a hobby-enthusiast. It has rekindled my love of photography. Happy snapping!

34 people found this helpful

Helpful

GOMME

YOU DONT NEED A $1000 CAMERA TO GET THE BEST IMAGES AND VIDEO.

Reviewed in the United States on September 27, 2019

Style: Camera Starter KitVerified Purchase

I’ve had a bit of time to shoot with this camera and have fallen in love with it.

All stills were shot on the kit lens that comes with the camera. @stillsbygom on Instagram for more.

Because I don’t want this review to be too long I’m going to get straight to what you would need to know about.

Pros:
In body stabilization
Small form factor
Lens adaptability
Hybrid shooting style
4K video @ 30-24fps ( REALLY good for entry level video)
Custom picture profiles (Cinelike D)
Easy to navigate menu set up
*Price*
Modern minimalistic feel and design
Infinite recording

Cons

Poor lowlight (Easily fixed with speed booster)
Manageable autofocus but not so great in most situations.
Native lenses and accessories are bloody expensive
Focus peaking isn’t so great. It does the job but you’re better off focusing on you’re own
Digital viewfinder isn’t too great
Botton layout is too compact (Justified by it’s small form factor but I have to find SOMETHING wrong lol)
Transferring stills to your smartphone is useless via WiFi. Just buy a $20 SD card reader.

Overall:
This camera is a really good budget option for beginners and consumers. I recommend getting the sigma 16mm 1.4 M 4/3 , Panasonic 12-60 2.8 and sigma 35mm 1.4 M4/3 to cover all of your shooting needs.
If you are looking into paid work and need high quality sharp images I recommend the sigma 18-35mm Canon EF paired with a viltrox speedbooster and a Tamron 45mm 1.8 Canon EF.

12 people found this helpful

Helpful

Nick

It's the Perfect Camera

Reviewed in the United States on April 13, 2024

Style: Camera Starter KitVerified Purchase

I have 3 of this camera for filming multicam interviews. It's the perfect video camera on a budget. 4K at 30 fps with an unlimited record time. What more can you ask for?

Helpful

James Biesty

I want to shoot and then minimize editing as much as possible so that's why I like the G85 so much

Reviewed in the United States on December 3, 2016

Style: Camera Starter KitVerified Purchase

I mostly use this for video and I'm very impressed with this camera. I want to shoot and then minimize editing as much as possible so that's why I like the G85 so much. The 4k video quality with standard un-graded settings is better than the GH4 I replaced this with. The clarity and color is better with the standard settings and I don't really have time to get lost in post processing. I also compared this to the Sony RX10iii and its 4k video quality was just a tiny bit less detailed but the overall look was better with the G85. Also the menu settings are so much easier with the g85 over the Sony. Also the button placement is much more intuitive with the G85. Auto focus seems about the same but I mainly use manual for video to make sure it stays in focus. Especially because I'm shooting in a controlled environment. I'll miss the wide focus range but not by that much and I can always buy more lenses with the G85. Another thing is the G85 seems like it has a touch less crop shooting in 4k so I can get a slightly larger angle. That bothers me with all cameras when shooting 4k and I wish I could get the 35mm equivalent of 24mm out of it instead of more like 28mm in 4k. Also it seems that the Pictures were much better with the G85. It seems that whenever I put the RX10iii in auto focus to try to get some kid pics for fun 1 out of 5 pics came out correctly where almost every pic comes out correctly with the G85. For me the f3.5 does a good job but it sure does look better with the f2.8 12-35 lens. I thought my untrained eye might not pick that up but it did. Everything looks better even when comparing f3.5 vs. f3.5. It's pricey so it might not be for everyone. I also tried the Sony a6300 and it was an amazing camera but it overheated very quickly weather I pulled the monitor away from the body or not. So there was no way I could keep it and that's a major deal breaker. The G85 can get warm but never get's so hot that it over heats and shuts down when shooting for extended periods in 4k. I shot for about 4-5 hours in a row shootiing 5-8 minute vids at a quick turn around and it never shut down. It got a little warmer than the GH4 and Sony RX10iii but never malfunctioned so all is well.

The one issue I have with the G85 is I wish there was a 4k 30mbps instead of just 4k 100mbps. I shot around 40 5-8 minute videos and it was something like 122Gb. I had to use compression software to keep it which is a bit anoyying. Love the water/dust resistance and that is what kept me from keeping the G7. It also feels like a better made camera than the G7 with a more intuitive layout too.

If you are like me, an intermediate, who needs a good camera with 4k for work but doesn't want to go too deep into the post processing world it's hard to find a better camera.

84 people found this helpful

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Panasonic LUMIX G85 4K Digital Camera, 12-60mm Power O.I.S. Lens, 16 Megapixel Mirrorless Camera, 5 Axis In-Body Dual Image Stabilization, 3-Inch Tilt and Touch LCD, DMC-G85MK (Black)

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Panasonic LUMIX G85 4K Digital Camera, 12-60mm Power O.I.S. Lens, 16 Megapixel Mirrorless Camera, 5 Axis In-Body Dual Image Stabilization, 3-Inch Tilt and Touch LCD, DMC-G85MK (Black)

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