Gx85 for Travel?

I'm now settled on the 12-35 f/2.8 Lumix, taking advantage of the Dual-IS connection with the GX85, with the 15mm PanaLeica as the backup back in the hotel. As I've posted recently I've even spent two weeks in Paris and Dublin with just the 15mm and never much thirsted for another focal length.

I have to add that my wife and my travel trips in our later years have been, luckily, principally to very urban locations in European cities and towns and long lenses have not been particularly useful. My practice on trips over the last ten years had been to take three, then two lenses on a trip, plan each day's touring and select just the lens most suitable for the day's touring, e.g., museums, churches, historic sites, etc.

Spent a week in Italy last year with my G7, the 12-35 f/2.8 and the 14-140 II.  I have to agree with Jim here - I'd buy a 12-35 and take one of the GX8s you already have.  I did use the 14-140 on that trip, but all of the "keepers" - the really memorable photos of Rome (Coloseo, Pantheon, the Vatican, etc.) - were all shot with the 12-35.

Jeff4500 wrote:

I sold my EP5 and the two kit lenses yesterday. My "normal" cameras are 2 Gx8's. I plan on doing some traveling with the wife this year and need a small camera that does video and good stills. Normally I travel with the Gx8/12-35 and Oly 75-300 II, but on family trips I have used the EP5 and two kit lenses to keep things simple.

I have lots of lenses but will travel with the Oly 9-18mm, perhaps the Pany 14, and the 35-100mm f4 if I get the Gx85. Have to keep both the lenses and camera small. Budget is right at the Gx85 price of $600.

The Gx85 just seems like a the obvious choice, am I wrong?

Sounds like an excellent plan.

Good luck.

Lena

I have the 12-35mm and do love it.

Just to let everyone know, I went with the Gx85 with a 128 GB card. Look like it will be My 9-18 and 35-100 f4/5.6 as the travel kit. Again, thank everyone for the great input.

Jeff4500 wrote:

Just to let everyone know, I went with the Gx85 with a 128 GB card. Look like it will be My 9-18 and 35-100 f4/5.6 as the travel kit. Again, thank everyone for the great input.

Happy to know you finally made up your mind.

But be cautious that GX85 does not take USH-II card. There were some reports on incompatibility issue. USH-I SD cards should be better.

My GX80 runs perfectly on a UHS-II card. It is a 64-bit Lexar Professional 1000x 150 MB/s. It has two rows of contacts.

By the way, I have also a second copy of this card in my E-PL7.

So best to simply try the card and return it if it does not work.

Till

Till Kamppeter wrote:

My GX80 runs perfectly on a UHS-II card. It is a 64-bit Lexar Professional 1000x 150 MB/s. It has two rows of contacts.

By the way, I have also a second copy of this card in my E-PL7.

So best to simply try the card and return it if it does not work.

I found that the faster cards (I use Lexar 300MB/s cards) help with battery life somewhat, since saving files is so fast. I can even get simulated bursts in AFS mode for the same reason (GX8).

addlightness wrote:

It's a pity the GM5 is gone, otherwise that would be my recommendation. The GX85 is the obvious successor.

Here in France, and I think also in all UE countries, the GM5 is still available. I bought one a month ago and it is very compact, about half the GX85 size.

You only have to give the IBIS, which may be a limitation when using primes, and the video is only full HD, no 4K. Other limitations are not really an issue for travel.

When I travel, it's always my GM1 + (either GX85 or PEN-F) + 9-18 + 15 + 25 + 45 + 7.5FE + 45-150 in two separate bags - one bag comes with me and other bag holding the other lenses in hotel safe.

Jeff4500 wrote:

Just to let everyone know, I went with the Gx85 with a 128 GB card. Look like it will be My 9-18 and 35-100 f4/5.6 as the travel kit. Again, thank everyone for the great input.

Nice kit, but, as I am not  a fan of UWA, I would miss the WA and transtandard 18-35 range, thus my travel kit would include the Panasonic 12-32 f35.5/5.6.

Nice kit, but, as I am not a fan of UWA, I would miss the WA and transtandard 18-35 range, thus my travel kit would include the Panasonic 12-32 f35.5/5.6.

One of things I love about m43 is the choices you have. I used a 35mm as my normal lens if film days, for the 19mm fits perfectly for me. Additionally I can use the digiTC or 4K options for a little more range If I want it (tend to shoot both jpeg and Raw when traveling). I love my 12-35mm just a little too big for travel in my case.

Jeff4500 wrote:

Nice kit, but, as I am not a fan of UWA, I would miss the WA and transtandard 18-35 range, thus my travel kit would include the Panasonic 12-32 f35.5/5.6.

One of things I love about m43 is the choices you have. I used a 35mm as my normal lens if film days, for the 19mm fits perfectly for me. Additionally I can use the digiTC or 4K options for a little more range If I want it (tend to shoot both jpeg and Raw when traveling). I love my 12-35mm just a little too big for travel in my case.

I was speaking of the 12-32 f3.5-5.6, which, when folded, is not bigger than a pancake prime and weights almost nothing.

Tatouzou wrote:

addlightness wrote:

It's a pity the GM5 is gone, otherwise that would be my recommendation. The GX85 is the obvious successor.

Here in France, and I think also in all UE countries, the GM5 is still available. I bought one a month ago and it is very compact, about half the GX85 size.

Good to know.  Are they at 'reduced' price (e.g. ~350-400 euro body-only)?  I'm tempted to order one from Europe/UK if that's the case.

You only have to give the IBIS, which may be a limitation when using primes, and the video is only full HD, no 4K. Other limitations are not really an issue for travel.

I have no real issues with lack of IBIS on my GM1 when paired with fast primes(14/2.5, 15/1.7, etc).

For the most part, FHD is sufficient.  I use my GX85 for 4K, in burst mode, to grab 8MP frames (basketball hoop shots).

I'm very happy with my GX80/85 purchase - I've had it with me to Malta and China/Shanghai. Been using the 12-32 kit lens and a pana 25 f1.7 and pretty pleased with some of the results. My learnings are that I missed some zoom power, so I think I'll be adding a 45-150 shortly, or maybe just go for a 14-140, its nice not having to change/carry lenses and I'm glad I decided to get a 2nd battery pack. The 12-32 is a lovely little thing though, it seems is limited indoor/during low light scenes (might be user experience level ), but very compact and pretty sharp; I got the 25 mm for low light, a great lens, but I'd like something a bit wider, so might get a 17 or 20 mm instead, 25 mm feels very crammed in many occasions.

If money allowed it, I'd be getting a 12-35 + 35-100 f2.8 set, or even a 12-40 + 40-150 f2.8 pair for the more zoom.

A few results - jpg straight out of camera:

12-32:

25 mm:

addlightness wrote:

Tatouzou wrote:

addlightness wrote:

It's a pity the GM5 is gone, otherwise that would be my recommendation. The GX85 is the obvious successor.

Here in France, and I think also in all UE countries, the GM5 is still available. I bought one a month ago and it is very compact, about half the GX85 size.

Good to know. Are they at 'reduced' price (e.g. ~350-400 euro body-only)? I'm tempted to order one from Europe/UK if that's the case.

I bought mine the first days of february from FNAC, a well known French hi tech retailer, which sells in both brick and mortar shops and on line, for € 450 in bundle with the 12-32 f3.5-5.6 lens, a 16GB UHS1 SD card and the oEM leather half case (which is not of great use for me). Now, the prices are up again around € 540 for the same kit.

You only have to give the IBIS, which may be a limitation when using primes, and the video is only full HD, no 4K. Other limitations are not really an issue for travel.

I have no real issues with lack of IBIS on my GM1 when paired with fast primes(14/2.5, 15/1.7, etc).

For the most part, FHD is sufficient. I use my GX85 for 4K, in burst mode, to grab 8MP frames (basketball hoop shots).

<edit to add: I see where you want the better video stabilization from the GX85. I was using an external mic on the GX8 for better audio with video so that probably explains more why I would be happy with just two GX8's>

I also use an external mic and mostly use a Tascam D60 with Rhode VMP for sound (can use this setup with the Gx85 also). I love the Gx8, but that small size difference means a smaller travel case and the ability to shoot 4K video with the 9-18 stabilized for stills and video. I often do video from a tripod, and when need handheld motion video on the Gx8 use the 12-35 & 1080P 60 fps for handheld stabilized video. Also find that using the 12-35 IS only I get handheld 4k video pans and no walking shots that Mercalli PRO can stabilize perfectly. This kit is really about having a smaller kit so my wife sees that I am trying not to make every trip photocentric (new word:)).