Panasonic GX850 Review: We put the final touches on one of the best compact mirrorless cameras available
posted Thursday, March 8, 2018 at 9:17 AM EDT
• Click here to read our Panasonic GX850 Review Conclusion •
While Panasonic has changed the naming format in some markets, including the United States, the GX850 is very much a GF-series camera (it's the GF9 in Japan, for example). This means that the GX850 continues the GF-series trend of being a small, compact mirrorless camera with some high-end features despite its very affordable price point -- the GX850 sells for under US$550 with a kit lens.
Don't let the price point fool you though, as this is a very capable camera for beginners and enthusiasts alike. It's not only the name that's new, the camera has numerous new tricks up its sleeve, including an updated 16-megapixel sensor and 4K UHD video recording. And while the GX850 can't match higher-end models like the G9 or GH5 in terms of image quality, speed and features, this little model still impresses. It also includes some of the same 4K Photo shooting modes as those much more expensive cameras.
Of course, it's not the perfect camera. The 4K clip length is limited to five minutes for example, there's no electronic viewfinder and battery life is underwhelming. However, the GX850 comes very close to checking all the boxes for an entry-level compact mirrorless camera and delivers one of the best values out there today, period. Head over to our full review to learn more about what helped the GX850 earn a very definite "Dave's Pick" designation.