Panasonic G85 from an Olympus user

Dostoy wrote:

Michael, you mentioned that you also have the Olympus E-M1 (my current main camera body).

Comparing the "feel" of the G85 and the EM1 in the hand, what's your impression?

Also, leaving aside the LCD vs OLED aspect of the EVF, any comments when comparing the 2 cameras in a situation (such as your study / computer room) where you would be using the EVF without sunglasses? (i.e., when wearing regular glasses)

I haven't used it enough to really have a conclusion yet.

Both cameras have decent hand grips, that are about the same depth.  The E-M5 mark I's grip is smaller, and with my normal lenses, I do prefer a third party grip that adds a bit of depth, or 1/2 of the HLD-6.

The skin on the G-85 is a little more slick than the E-M1, but it isn't that much of an issue.  Note, I've had the E-M1 for about 6 months now, and it has been through rain storms, etc. so it is more broken in.

I have the HLD-7 grip for the E-M1 mark 1 and HLD-6 for the E-M5 mark I, but I have not purchased the add-on grip for the G-85.  Except when I'm shooting for a whole day, I generally don't like the feel of the battery grips, and I don't use them.  Given I'm pretty much tapped out in terms of what I felt comfortable spending, I doubt I will get a grip for the G-85 any time soon.

I prefer to have the flash built-in, rather than an add-on like it is in the E-M1 mark 1 or E-M5 mark 2.  I've gone out a few times where I discovered, I had left the flash at home.  While the built-in (or clip-on) flashes aren't great, it is useful to have them.

In terms of the on/off button, I prefer having the button where it is on the E-M5 mark I, since I can go about with the camera in my right hand, but not up to my eye.  It was easy enough to be able to turn the camera on with my thumb as I was raising it to my eye.    I'm not a fan of the on-off button placement for either the E-M1 mark I or G-85.

It will take some getting used to having the OK button bring up the full menu instead of the super menu like it does in Olympus.  In terms of menu buttons, having the quick menu being programmable so that you can bring up the items you use all of the time, might be useful in the future.