Panasonic GX85 Field Test Part I: Taking this trim yet power-packed camera to Mexico
posted Thursday, September 1, 2016 at 1:47 PM EDT
Writer Eamon Hickey was heading south of the border on a trip to Mexico City and needed a "small-but-serious camera" that he could easily pack along for the journey. Well as luck would have it, we were all set to send him the svelte Panasonic GX85 along with a few lenses. Now back stateside, Eamon shares the first installment for his Panasonic GX85 Field Test, in which he discusses the camera's design and ergonomics, as well as touching on this compact camera's 4K video features and wireless connectivity.
Seen as the baby brother to the bigger and beefier Panasonic GX8, the GX85 is nevertheless still a high performance enthusiast-grade mirrorless camera. Sporting a slightly lower-resolution 16-megapixel sensor, compared to the 20MP chip in the GX8, the GX85 has a trick up its sleeve: no optical low-pass filter. The camera also has a new shutter mechanism that helps combat shutter shock, which can cause image blurring at slower shutter speeds. Plus, the improved 5-axis Dual I.S. technology is a one-up on the GX8's and works during 4K video capture now, too.
Overall, Eamon's opinion is that the little Panasonic GX85 is quite the capable performer, and one that's a great option as a lightweight travel camera. The GX85 has a small and lightweight body, but one that's very well built, and also features a lot of amenities like a built-in EVF, tilting LCD and a number of external controls that makes it quite versatile. For all the details of his experience with the camera so far, as well as a selection of real-world images, check out his Panasonic GX85 Field Test Part I. And be sure to stay tuned for Part II, which will delve into the camera's performance as well as Eamon's experience using a number of different lenses.
