Sony a7iii user looking to add Panasonic g85

Hello,

I have the Sony a7iii with 35mm 2.8. When shooting a video while walking, the video is unusable. Would adding something like the g85 for video be a good addition?

Or would you sell the sony and get something else?

I shoot street and video. I own a travel business so I'd use it for my travel camera also.

Thoughts?

Or should I consider a gimbal for the a7iii?

G85 is still a very good camera. Video has nice image stabilization with all lenses.

If you can find one at a good price, then go ahead is my advice.

http://m43photo.blogspot.com/

jpozinmiami said:

Or should I consider a gimbal for the a7iii?

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A gimbal would be less expensive, although I would suggest trying one out first before committing to one, if you haven't used one before. You may or may not feel comfortable using one and you may be annoyed by having to mount and unmount.

If you are ever only going to bring one camera at once, then the G85 might save some bulk/weight, but if you would need both, then the gimbal probably takes up less.

I have a G85 (as well as a Sony X3000 and Hero 7 action cam) but for literally recording video WHILE walking, I bought a Osmo Pocket. It provides great stabilization even in relatively poor light (that's where the Hero and Sony fail).

auto af and stabilization is the most important feature for good video. the em12 is at the top for both

Don

jpozinmiami said:

Or should I consider a gimbal for the a7iii?

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I am a content provider in the travel and leisure sector and I shoot some video. I bought a gimbal to use with my Sony A7r 2 and I rather wished I hadn't. Carrying the thing when not in use is pain and continually setting up and taking down puts me off using it. I bought a Panasonic G85 with which to shoot video and I have been very pleased with it. Weather resistant, good IBIS, very portable.

If I was giving advice to anyone I would would say rent a gimbal and use it with your Sony and see how you get on. You maybe OK with using it and have no problems. The newer ones look to be a bit more user friendly than my early Zhiyun Crane. I'd also rent a G85 to see how you get on with that.

If you were prepared to let the Sony go and get something else I'd look at a G9 and the Leica 12-60 f2.8-4. The dual IS gives very good results and the after the last firmware upgrade it is a bit of a video powerhouse.

Hi Paul,

Does your g85 do everything you need? I do ship tours and lots of other travel type video and don't love the idea of carrying a humble with me all the time. I rather just take my camera to a destination and use it when I want to record something (even on the fly). So I think I'm leaning towards a second camera.

I shoot street and I wonder if I'd be losing alot by selling the Sony and going withe g9. Will I still be able to produce excellent stills?

Or should I keep a7iii and add g85 w kit. Hmmm.

If you want a good run and gun kit the g85 is a great choice, it is good for basic video work

get a small prime for street and you are on your way.

em12? Not sure what camera this is..

jpozinmiami said:

em12? Not sure what camera this is..

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I guess he meant Olympus OMD-EM1 mk2.

I cannot speak for G85, because I dont have one: I chose the GX8 instead. My other M43 bodies are GM5 and G7 (both no IBIS)

My experience is shooting handheld 4K video with either G7 or GX8 whith OIS lenses is easy, even for a novice in video like me. All my Lumix zooms (12-32, 35-100 collapsible, 12-60, 14-140) are OIS, and so is the 42.5 f1.7 prime.

GM5 can only shoot full HD, and then it is OK too.

IQ for stills is close to that of APS-C DSLR of the same era.

For action shots, all recent Panasonic cameras also offer some specific tricks like 4K photo or pre-burst (see reviews on this site).

The flagship G9 offers even better still and video performance over G85 (best M43 sensor, best high definition OLED EVF, better IBIS, no crop, 9 fps bursts with CAF on mechanical shutter, faster and more efficient AF, AF joystick, 2 SD slots, 6K photo mode, etc.).

The IBIS performance in G9 is close to Olympus IBIS, which is best in class.

You might also consider the GH5, which is very close to G9, but more video oriented with some exclusive video features (and more expensive).

IMO, between OMD-EM1 Mk2 and G9 is a tough choice: similar IQ (probably same sensor), very close performance and features, different ergonomy, different EVF and AF systems.

jpozinmiami said:

Hi Paul,

Does your g85 do everything you need? I do ship tours and lots of other travel type video and don't love the idea of carrying a humble with me all the time. I rather just take my camera to a destination and use it when I want to record something (even on the fly). So I think I'm leaning towards a second camera.

I shoot street and I wonder if I'd be losing alot by selling the Sony and going withe g9. Will I still be able to produce excellent stills?

Or should I keep a7iii and add g85 w kit. Hmmm.

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The G85 is a great little camera. I originally bought it just for video but have ended up using it for a whole lot more. It’s fun to use, and more than capable for Street photography. I’ve ended up using it for macro, wildlife, portraiture, Street, landscape and of course video. The controls are well sorted, the menus are a joy to use after the Sony ones, the ergonomics, for me, are great. Even the iPhone app is easy to use.



All the m4/3 cameras aren’t more than capable of producing excellent images. It’s a case of not what you’ve got but how you use it. If you have rather niche use scenarios such as photographing black cats in a coal cellar then the Sony might be a better choice because of the better low light performance. But for Street photography m4/3 is more than capable. I’ve never had an editor comment on the lack of quality. I’ve done two fine art exhibitions with images shot on m4/3 and sold many prints.

Try and rent or borrow before buying and see if it works for you.

If you want to walk and video, get the new OMD EM3. It is compact and has the best IBIS for video.

jpozinmiami said:

Hello,

I have the Sony a7iii with 35mm 2.8. When shooting a video while walking, the video is unusable. Would adding something like the g85 for video be a good addition?

Or would you sell the sony and get something else?

I shoot street and video. I own a travel business so I'd use it for my travel camera also.

Thoughts?

Click to expand...

I'd supplement the Sony with an E-M5MkIII. I have the Sony A7 III and an Olympus E-M10MkII. The Oly stabilisation is way ahead and the E-M5MkIII is apparently another step ahead again and almost as good as using a gimble. This is relying on recent reviews of the M5, not from actually using one.

It is also compact and very light to carry and so are most of the lenses.

Having said that and owning a G6 and G7 [no IBIS], I prefer the handling and menu of the Panasonic . So I would have a close look at both the G85 and E-M5 MkIII.

I do have a GX80 which has the same shutter and IBIS as the G85, but it is a different form factor, more like a more bland-looking E-M5 with a different blend of features.

Good luck with whatever you decide [or have decided].

If this is for somewhat low key video and you really want to go dual system I would look at the E-M5iii over the G85 as the stabilization and video C-AF are much better. That said, if this is for more deliberate production work I would definitely at least test out a gimbal first. The gimbal will give better results than any IBIS system as you'll avoid the "wobbly corners" issue that often pops up when stabilizing wide angle lenses plus you'll be able to use your existing lenses.

EDIT: Just read your comment about ship tours. Definitely sounds like an E-M5iii, or maybe a Panasonic G9, is the way to go.

I have thought about going the g9 route. But do you think that selling the a7iii for the g9 is a decent move? Would I be giving up a lot by making that change?

jpozinmiami said:

I have thought about going the g9 route. But do you think that selling the a7iii for the g9 is a decent move? Would I be giving up a lot by making that change?

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I wouldn't really advocate selling the A7iii but then I don't what kind of shooting you're doing. If most of what you do is video while walking around then an E-M5iii or G9 would probably be a better fit than the A7iii just for the improved stabilization. Combine those with the 17 1.8 and you're not really giving up much low light performance and DoF control either. It really depends on what else you do.

Aberaeron said:

I do have a GX80 which has the same shutter and IBIS as the G85, but it is a different form factor, more like a more bland-looking E-M5 with a different blend of features.

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I should note the IBIS in the GX80 is different, it is only Dual IS, while G85 is Dual IS2.

Also although the shutter mechanism is likely the same between the two (or at least very similar), the G85 does offer a EFC (electronic first curtain) mode, while the GX80/GX85 doesn't. The EFC is sometimes useful to avoid all shutter shock without the rolling shutter of pure electronic shutter.

I do shoot stills and some video. Street photography. And for video, mostly short clips for my travel business. No big cinematic videos. And since I'm in the Travel business I would need it for traveling.

In April I'm taking a Danube river cruise so I plan on taking a lot of video for content. Photos. Video of the ship. Video of the town's we visit every day.

I've got a good monopod that I plan on taking with me. Maybe I don't necessarily need to walk while I video.

jpozinmiami said:

"I do shoot stills and some video. Street photography."

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I agree what Whumber write previously, Oly EM5mkiii or G9.
For street photography: I use various olympus cameras for street photography (EM5mkiii at the moment), and its fully OK for street, its not let you down. Fast and agile.

Regarding video, on the built-in stabilisation standpoint of view: i think the em5mkiii body stabilisation is pretty much best in class, especially when you walk (handheld, without gimbal and similar stuffs). You can find videos on that, the difference when you walking, is just night and day versus others.

I suggest to check thru Gordon Laing from Camerlabs review:
Olympus OMD EM5 III review: IN-DEPTH field test -
Also may worth to check thru the following video:
Olympus O-MD E-M1 Mark III vs Sony A73: Why MFT in a Full Frame World?

Very correct comparison (however, they test the oly Em1mkiii, and not the Em5mkiii, but at general you can see the differences).

Andrase,