Panasonic G85 as travel camera

NicoPPC · Apr 10, 2017

Ok. Thanks for sharing your opinion.

Which zoom/primes would you recommend? Olympus 12-49 f2.8 Pro ?

Coming from FF (which I do not plan to leave for pro job), I am a bit concern about VF and DOF.

Thanks!!

bsas said:
Before selling my Canon gear I heavily tested my new G85 and here are my conclusions:

1) Noise until 3200 is totally fine;

2) Fast cheap primes + IBIS makes up for noise performance easily;

3) Image quality is awesome and the lenses are so small and light that is a bless to carry around.

Since my main purpose is traveling (which is your question) I think it is a no brainer.

Michael Meissner · Apr 10, 2017

With every camera, everywhere, there are always going to be tradeoffs. At high ISO's, you are going to have noise. You might have less noise with a so-called full frame camera, but the camera gear will be heavier and more expensive.

The question is how often are you going to shoot at high ISO's? How much money do you want to spend? How much are you willing to carry before it no longer becomes a traveling camera? Do you need to worry about splash-proofing?

A lot of my travel photos are done outside where you are shooting in sunlight and it isn't an issue at high ISO's. A lot of my no flash shots that are taken indoors, I typically do with one of my two prime lenses (Panasonic 20mm f/1.8 and Olympus 45mm f/1.7) and it allows me to shoot at lower ISO's (with of course a narrower depth of field).

And note, even though you can look at an image at ISO 3200 at 100% and see all of the noise, the typical use is to reduce it for viewing on the web/phone/computer or printing at up to 8x10". The reduction in size glosses over some of the details that you see at 100%. Also, you can change the default for how much noise removal the camera does in processing JPGs. I tend to think most manufacturers are a little heavy handed with NR, and I tend to turn it down a notch.

I think the G85 is a fine traveling camera, and it gets better if you are willing to spend more to get better lenses. Better lenses will typically allow you to shoot in more diverse situations, but of course they add to the final cost, and weight that you carry. At times however, even the G85 gets too heavy, and I replace it with a Stylus-1 that I tend to limit myself to ISO 800 because it has a smaller sensor.

I tend to prefer to keep ISO to 1600 or below, but ISO 3200 is acceptable, and I've done some shots at ISO 6400, that are ok with a little more post processing.

I just came back from a Hawaiian vacation, and I used the G85 about 1/2 the time. Note, since I've accumulated a lot of gear over the years, when I travel, I tend to take a lot and rotate among my cameras. I specifically got the G85 for the trip because it had an OLED viewfinder (so I can see the viewfinder with polarized sunglasses, that I needed to wear all of the time in Hawaii), weather sealing (rain happens), and image stabilization.

wrbluepearl · Apr 10, 2017

Member said:
Anyone got the camera ?

I have both the G85 and G7; I purchased the G7 as an upgrade to my GX1 in anticipation of a trip to Rome, Italy that I took in April of 2016. At the time, I also owned a Canon EOS 70D and a bag full of f/2.8 glass. I have to say that I was extremely pleased with the G7 as a stills camera in Italy, and subsequently as a video camera companion to my 70D for other subsequent events. I found that even in very challenging lighting conditions (e.g., dark cathedrals, nighttime processions, evening street shooting, etc., the G7 with the Panasonic 12-35 f/2.8 rose to the occasion. Noise levels were higher than they would have been with the 70D, no doubt, but still manageable. Plus, the one-lens setup was very lightweight, easy to pack, and didn't attract attention. I subsequently bought the G85 so my wife and I could both carry u4/3 (she had been carrying an SL1).

For ultimate IQ obviously your 5DIII is going to beat even the cream of the u4/3 crop (E-M1, GH5) but midrange u4/3 cameras like the G85 (and E-M5) will produce excellent travel images and save your back, while not drawing unwanted attention.

rashid7 · Apr 10, 2017

Just got mine. Sold my D750 and most big glass. Still have the RX1.

This G85 is the best all around camera yet (4my use) . Sure there are times when I misss my FF, but for travel, I can't imagine better. (Take the 14-140ii and a small f1.7 prime)

the Lumix has the best grip, UI, customization options, soft shutter, IBIS, video,

ive also owned EM5ii, gx8 and gx85. This is the best yet!

try it... u will love it

NicoPPC · Apr 10, 2017

Thanks for your opinion.

I will give a try at my local store.

Any landscape samples ?

Regards

Fredrik Glckner · Apr 10, 2017

I think the G85 is the best Micro Four Thirds camera I have used so far.

Compared with the GH4, I could have wanted better battery life, and I miss the ISO button on the top. Other than that, it is just superior in every way.

Ok, so I have tried a GH5 in a store as well, and that camera is probably even better. But quite a bit larger and heavier. And more expensive, obviously.

Micro 4/3rds Photography

m43photo.blogspot.com

NicoPPC · Apr 10, 2017

Thanks for all your answers!

Hoy does it compare to the Olympus OM-D EM-5 Mark II ?

I am concerned about VF .

Regards

Mark9473 · Apr 10, 2017

What is VF?

bmcnich · Apr 10, 2017

I've been using the G85 for about two months and I've been very satisfied with IQ. Having a prime or a pro lenses definitely helps, but even IQ on the stock 12-60 f/3.5-5.6 is great in daytime lighting. At night, having a prime that goes down to f/1.7 is essential and I find that depending on the scene I can still get usable images up to ISO 5,000. I would prefer keeping it lower, but the given the choice of a slightly noisy image or none at all... I'm more than happy with the trade off. Below is an example of a handheld shot I took the other night that I wouldn't have even attempted before without the excellent IBIS. As for the viewfinder, I've found it be excellent; in low light it can get a bit choppy but nothing enough to bother me.

Fredrik Glckner · Apr 10, 2017

NicoPPC said:
Hoy does it compare to the Olympus OM-D EM-5 Mark II ?

For video with a non-stabilized lens, the image stabilization on the E-M5 II is slightly better:

Loading…

m43photo.blogspot.com

Apart from that, I like the G85 better in all ways. And I have both cameras.

The viewfinder on the G85 is great! No worries from my point of view.

KTMfan · Apr 10, 2017

NicoPPC said:
I am concerned about VF .

Regards

The viewfinder on my GX8 is better than my 6D. Bigger, brighter and with more information. As well as visual tools to help you nail exposure with a single shot. Every single time. It really feels like a step back in time when I use a DSLR now. Everything is just so easy on the GX8. Shifting focus points anywhere in the frame, focus accuracy, judging exposure etc etc etc. Still love my 6D, the GX8 gets close enough to it to keep me happy. Everyone is different though

NicoPPC · Apr 10, 2017

Ok. The GX8 got the same VF as G80 ?

It looks interesting. However, I still need to get convince about this. I will give a try!

I tried some time ago in my local store, the VF of the OM-D EM-1 M2, while not bad at all, it it was still way behind the VF of a 5D3.

However, I could trade the (in my taste) less good VF and lesser resolution for portability and weight. As far as the 16MP are sharp and good until ISO 1600. .. and usable until 3200.

Thanks!

KTMfan said:
NicoPPC said:

I am concerned about VF .

Regards

Click to expand...

The viewfinder on my GX8 is better than my 6D. Bigger, brighter and with more information. As well as visual tools to help you nail exposure with a single shot. Every single time. It really feels like a step back in time when I use a DSLR now. Everything is just so easy on the GX8. Shifting focus points anywhere in the frame, focus accuracy, judging exposure etc etc etc. Still love my 6D, the GX8 gets close enough to it to keep me happy. Everyone is different though

KTMfan · Apr 10, 2017

NicoPPC said:
Ok. The GX8 got the same VF as G80 ?

It looks interesting. However, I still need to get convince about this. I will give a try!

I tried some time ago in my local store, the VF of the OM-D EM-1 M2, while not bad at all, it it was still way behind the VF of a 5D3.

However, I could trade the (in my taste) less good VF and lesser resolution for portability and weight. As far as the 16MP are sharp and good until ISO 1600. .. and usable until 3200.

Thanks!

KTMfan said:

NicoPPC said:

I am concerned about VF .

Regards

Click to expand...

The viewfinder on my GX8 is better than my 6D. Bigger, brighter and with more information. As well as visual tools to help you nail exposure with a single shot. Every single time. It really feels like a step back in time when I use a DSLR now. Everything is just so easy on the GX8. Shifting focus points anywhere in the frame, focus accuracy, judging exposure etc etc etc. Still love my 6D, the GX8 gets close enough to it to keep me happy. Everyone is different though

Click to expand...

No. It isn't. If you keep looking for deficiencies in a camera/system, no doubt you'll find them. You seem pretty determined to find them I must say though. Save your time and effort, and stick with what you have. IMO

s_grins · Apr 10, 2017

NicoPPC said:
Hi!

Anyone got the camera ?

https://www.dpreview.com/reviews/panasonic-lumix-dmc-g85-g80

The review looks promising but the samples pictures looks really really bad (even looking at RAWs on computer). 16mp and not so great high ISO are fine for a small travel camera, but any ISO settings looks like >3000 ISO iso full frame.

Thanks for sharing your experience

If you are not satisfied with IQ of G85, do not buy it. Buy something else that meets your IQ needs.

valsan · Apr 10, 2017

s_grins said:
If you are not satisfied with IQ of G85, do not buy it. Buy something else that meets your IQ needs.

+1

Dunsun · Apr 10, 2017

At base ISO all m43 cameras has some visible noise especially in blues.

Anyways for a travel photography m43 cameras are still the best choice. For any other stuff I would take Fujifilm (at least that's how I do it).

Cheers

vigna · Apr 11, 2017

I recently purchased Lumix G85/80, really happy with the photos and videos so far with dual axis stabilisation. Here are some samples with the Lumix-Leica 100-400mm hand held

from 30m distance

iDynamic range

vigna · Apr 11, 2017

Lumix G85/80 with Pano100-400mm handheld (dual axis works) distances 200-800mm

400mm (800mm)

400mm (2X factor means 800mm hand held)

Jacques Cornell · Apr 11, 2017

s_grins said:
NicoPPC said:

Hi!

Anyone got the camera ?

https://www.dpreview.com/reviews/panasonic-lumix-dmc-g85-g80

The review looks promising but the samples pictures looks really really bad (even looking at RAWs on computer). 16mp and not so great high ISO are fine for a small travel camera, but any ISO settings looks like >3000 ISO iso full frame.

Thanks for sharing your experience

Click to expand...

If you are not satisfied with IQ of G85, do not buy it. Buy something else that meets your IQ needs.

Jacques Cornell · Apr 11, 2017

Dunsun said:
At base ISO all m43 cameras has some visible noise especially in blues.

Anyways for a travel photography m43 cameras are still the best choice. For any other stuff I would take Fujifilm (at least that's how I do it).

Cheers

Any such noise will be invisible in a print viewed at a normal distance. And, it's easily removed in post-processing.

Panasonic G85 as travel camera

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