G85 overheating? record time? light sensitivity? stabilization?

Jorginho wrote:

Quantum Target wrote:

.... I have considered Panasonic HC-WXF1K and other camcorders like the AX53 4K Handycam but neither should perform better (on a technical basis) for this application. ... Am I wrong?

No, you are basically right. It also has great IBIS which not all camcorders have.

Good to hear I am on the right track.

I looked at the E-M1 Mark II and M.Zukio digital ED 12-40 f2.8 Pro & ED 40-150 f2.8 Pro briefly. Clearly, a leap beyond in low light performance but probably triple the cost which puts it out of the running as are other Panasonic bodies if the G85 can get the job done. $1500.00 to $1800.00 for body and lens is doable and the G85 comes in below that - leaving room for cards and batteries and the possibility of faster or longer focal lenghts sooner if needed.

...
Since Em1.2 is on your mind it seems the most obvious cam you should look for is either the G9 or the GH5.

It isn't a choice ATM due to cost the same for the G9 and GH5 assuming the G85 kit is up to the task.

My primary use is for 4k recording of teaching. A WIFI connection to the second camera will provide supervision, start, stop and focus.

Are you going to manual focus. Otherwise the Panasonic is not the cam you want and the Oly neither.

Depth of field and AF performance will decide. The sense I have so far is the G85 is not superior or class leading when it comes to AF but neither is it unusable. Something I have to check is, can I lock focus once achieved during a recording - all from remote app. This should be possible since focus ultimately has nothing to do with recording.

... Or they just let you go ahead and chose if you want to let the cam overheat or not.

And still shut down or fail - possibly corrupting recording- just later. No. Uninterrupted recording at 4k is not negotiable as a baseline.

Well take the Panny 12--35 mm f2.8 into account. It is an outstanding lens. Very small and may be cheaper than the Oly yet every bit as good and it is adapted to Panasonics DFD where the Oly is not.

I have. Depending on how things go this lens will be on my short list after things are running smoothly as will its longer sibling(s). As I have said elsewhere in this thread, If the kit lens will do for now, that will be enough. There are enough other things to budget for that overspending must be avoided. Not buying the kit lens is not an option so I have to see what it can do...

Stabilizaton: There is a youtube video gives me concern. It compares the GH4 Lumix 14-140 with the A7s Canon 70-200. Https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQlAvRuTYIQ&list=WL&index=19 . In this test the cameras are stacked with the …

I wonder what you mean with oscillatiion. Could be a DFD artefact, so the cam is then in AF mode.

I don't think it is DFD. As it stands, I think the best I can do to address this concern is test carefully on receipt of camera. If I see similar stuff I will record, post, exchange, re-test, re-post and either return and look elsewhere or move on to the next problem that needs solving.

Panasonic camera simply rarely overheat and are least of all prone to overheating. I have seen a test with the GX85 in the blistering sun (40 C in the shade!) and it overheated after 29+ minutes, almost reaching the max recording time.

This wasn't me. I think nesting got confused. Anyway, this is what I expect in terms of heating. The weasel paragraph in the manual isn't helping Panasonic sell cameras IMO!

Record time and file handling:...

No such requirements needed. Your recordtime is possibly/probably limited to 30 minutes, unless you buy a GH5.

I think my concerns are largely assuaged by you and others that there are no proprietary Panasonic software hoops to jump through and users aren't having any issues with files generated except for the possibility dropped frames. As for your comment on record time limit, ok, but I am asking the question specifically in order to get a definitive, authoritative answer about the US/NA version of the G85 - not speculation. I don't mean to be unkind - 'just sayin.

That last bit notwithstanding, thanks for taking the time to share your insights. Your comments and most of the others have been quite helpful and are appreciated.

QT