Max Bang for Your Buck? Check Out the LUMIX G85

I've written numerous times about how Panasonic's LUMIX line of cameras keeps living up to their tagline of "Changing Photography." Well, it's not just the camera line that's brought back the spark for creativity for me personally, but the friendships I've made with the members of the Luminary team.

My good buddy Daniel Cox shared this post about the G85 a couple weeks ago on The Corkboard Blog. While I don't normally share product reviews - LUMIX keeps expanding the family with incredible features and one new creative tool after another. It's a great review guaranteed to give you some solid feedback through Daniel's experience.

Just click on the "read more" button to read the rest of the review.

Join Dan and the rest of the Luminary team with a visit to the Lumix Lounge. This is an incredibly diverse group of artists and educators always willing to help you raise the bar on the quality of your images.

Whether you're an active outdoor wildlife shooter or not, Daniel needs to be on your radar. Follow Daniel and Tanya's travels at Natural Exposures.  If you're looking for amazing memory-making trips check out their travel schedule. Nobody does it better! Last summer Sheila and I caught up to them at their home in Bozeman. They're amazing hosts and there's no doubt in my mind if you're on a trip with them you're going to get the same attention!

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Panasonic LUMIX G85 Shooting Experience

This past fall and early winter have given us a couple of new and exciting additions to the Micro Four Thirds world in the form of the Lumix G80/85 and the Olympus OM-D EM-1 Mark ll. Just for clarification, the Lumix G85 is the model sold in North America and the G80 is sold in Europe.

Sandhill cranes silhouetted in colors of the setting sun. Bosque del Apache NWR, New Mexico. Lumix G85 with Leica 100-400mm

Both Lumix and Olympus bodies are innovative from a technology perspective, but the G85 fits the average user’s needs more economically in a way that only Panasonic is consistently doing—giving photographers great tools with durability and professional aptitude at affordable prices. And it’s the qualities of the G85/G80 I’m excited to share with you in this Blog post.

A Review Based on My Kind of Photography

Keep in mind that my reviews of a particular camera are obviously from my own personal perspective based on how I use the camera. I won’t be getting into minute details unless those details affect how the camera performs in the situations I use it in. For more information on each and every possibility you should check out DPReview’s review of the Lumix G80/85.

I’ve been shooting the G85 now for a little over three months. In that time I’ve had a chance to get a solid feel for this wonderfully compact, sturdy advanced enthusiast’s camera. In short, it handles exceptionally well, has some of Panasonic’s newest technologies, and all at a price that won’t bother most photographer’s spouses. Just think how nice it will be not having to sneak another camera in under your jacket:) Yes, I’m talking to you.

The First Unboxing and Under the Hood

Let’s start with the obvious—when you pull this camera out of the box. First of all, like all the MFT cameras before it, the G85 is small and compact. Even so, it has a solid feel. Before the G85 there was the G7, a somewhat similar MFT camera missing many of the great new features of the G85. Many photographers criticized the G7 as feeling too plasticky, a bit too light, and seriously underwhelming in its ability to instill confidence in its durability. So Panasonic did what they’ve been doing since jumping into building still photo and video cameras, they made serious improvements in the follow-up model which is the G85.

A Metal Chassis

The first thing Panasonic did was replace the front plate with a solid aluminum frame. The G85 has much more metal, and though I never did have an issue of any kind with my G7, many feel the added weight and heft of the new metal body is a welcomed addition. It comes with a small price in weight but one could argue it’s worth the cost.

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