The GX85 includes a built-in EVF and supports 4K video recording, all for $800 including a starter lens.
Panasonic's latest Micro Four Thirds camera, the Lumix DMC-GX85, is appealing on several levels. It's fairly compact, with a design that puts the built-in viewfinder in the corner of the body. That gives it a squatter profile than company's SLR-styled G7. It also supports 4K video, and its $799.99 asking price includes a lens, the compact 12-32mm[1] zoom.
The GX85 takes the GX family back to its roots. The first model in the line, 2011's GX1, came in at a similar asking price and size. Panasonic went back to the drawing board for 2013's GX7, which added in-body stabilization but came with a higher sticker price and larger build. And its replacement, the GX8, followed suit.
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The GX85 is smaller and less expensive, but it doesn't give up a lot in terms of features. It has an integrated EVF, 4K video recording, and its in-body 5-axis stabilization system is a step beyond the 4-axis system used by the GX8. It works on its own to steady lenses that don't include stabilization, and works in conjunction with in-lens stabilization to deliver crisper results than either system could deliver on its own.
The EVF is fixed—it doesn't tilt up and down like the GX8—but the rear LCD does have a hinged design. It's 3 inches in size, touch sensitive, and can tilt 80 degrees up and 45 degrees down—but it doesn't face forward for selfies. Weather sealing, which is included in the GX8, is omitted from the smaller, less expensive GX85.
The camera uses a 16-megapixel sensor without an optical low-pass filter (OLPF)—which is a first for a Panasonic camera. Omitting the OLPF improves image sharpness, but it does make introduce the possibility of rainbow color moiré artifacts when photographing images with repeating patterns—the GX85's image-processing engine reduces that possibility.
The sensor has a native ISO range of 200 through 25600, but can use ISO 100 in a low extended mode. The autofocus system, which relies on Panasonic's Distance from Defocus (DFD) technology, is able to keep up with subjects at 6fps with continuous focus enabled. With locked focus the camera can manage 8fps.
Video is recorded in 4K quality at up to 30fps. If you opt to shoot in 1080p you can take advantage of the high-resolution capture mode by applying an optional crop to extend the effective telephoto reach of your lens. There are also digital pan and zoom options available with 1080p footage, both of which can operate more smoothly than any pans or zooms you can make manually.
Panasonic's 4K Photo mode is also available. It leverages the resolution of 4K video—8 megapixels per frame—to capture still images at 30fps. It's a solid tool for capturing the perfect moment of action—a bat connecting with a ball, a balloon popping, a lightning strike, or any other fleeting event. It can also be used to capture the same frame with multiple points of focus. The GX85 has 49 focus points, so if you enable the Post Focus feature you'l get 49 shots in one 4K burst, each at a different point of focus. Macro photographers can stack these shots in Photoshop to extend depth of field.
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The GX85 will start shipping in mid-May. The price is $799.99 with a lens, and the camera will be sold in silver or black. It does have a built-in pop-up flash, but Panasonic is also bringing a new compact external flash to market at the same time. The DMW-FL200L has wireless capabilities, a GN 20' power rating, and bounce capability. It's priced at $229.99.
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