Lumix DMC-GX85/80/GX7II EVF question

Can you please share your experience? I have the opportunity to grab it paired with 14-140 for 500 euros.

Thank you

From DPR review

Review: Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX85 impresses with image quality, versatility: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)  (Performace section)

"

However, one major area the GX85 falls flat in terms of performance is its electronic viewfinder. This field-sequential LCD panel is simply put, not very good. Keep in mind, it is the same panel from the GX7, which debuted back in 2013. Three years ago, this EVF may have cut it, but having used cameras like the GX8 and Olympus PEN-F, which use much more modern, higher magnification OLED panels, the GX85's feels dated.

Because colors channels refresh one at a time, panning or zooming with your eye to the finder can result in color tearing. And when using the EVF while the camera is set to continuous AF, the rapid lens hunting combined with color tearing is a recipe for a headache. Adding to the EVF woes, Panasonic gave the panel a 16:9 aspect ratio (presumably to cater to video shooters). But when shooting in the sensor's native aspect ratio of 4:3, the scene viewed through the EVF is quite small. Simply put, I found little to like about the GX85's 2.76M-dot field sequential EVF.

"

It is a good camera and I still use mine quite a lot. Here is my user review which talks about mostly stuff none of the reviews tell you:

Panasonic GX7II (GX85, GX80) is a wonderful camera

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/63703723

It is worth reading my follow up posts with more info that I discovered over time.

Thank you for the immediate answer. A quick look at the part of my interest is informative.

gianstam wrote:

Can you please share your experience? I have the opportunity to grab it paired with 14-140 for 500 euros.

I had the GX7, which as Dpreview states has the same viewfinder panel as the GX80. Using it in 4/3 photo aspect ratio it is quite small. If you use the viewfinder simply as a means of framing like I did, then it should be sufficient/fine. If you would like a panel that gives a pleasing viewfinder experience, then you may be disappointed. It's quite subjective so not easy to give a definitive answer.

I use the back Screen about 95 % of the time.

The EVF is OK for occasional framing. Note that it is a 16/9 format.

If i will intend to use it all the time, i will look other camera with a bigger OVF.

Cafe Racer wrote:

If you use the viewfinder simply as a means of framing like I did, then it should be sufficient/fine.

Thanks a lot. This is what I want.

My worries stand about this particular quote
"Because colors channels refresh one at a time, panning or zooming with your eye to the finder can result in color tearing. And when using the EVF while the camera is set to continuous AF, the rapid lens hunting combined with color tearing is a recipe for a headache."

If you would like a panel that gives a pleasing viewfinder experience, then you may be disappointed. It's quite subjective so not easy to give a definitive answer.

Thank you for your answer. Informative

gianstam wrote:

Can you please share your experience? I have the opportunity to grab it paired with 14-140 for 500 euros.

14~140 f/3.5-5.6, either mk-I or mk-II are of exceptional IQ as a 10x zoom lens, and indeed is not far behind it's bigger brother 12~35 f/2.8 mk-I, as well as similar to the legandary 14-45. I had the mk-I for 8+ years, from GF3, GX1, GX7 and it has been glued on GX85 in last 6 years. Very happy with it.

Thank you

From DPR review

Review: Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX85 impresses with image quality, versatility: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com) (Performace section)

"

However, one major area the GX85 falls flat in terms of performance is its electronic viewfinder. This field-sequential LCD panel is simply put, not very good. Keep in mind, it is the same panel from the GX7, which debuted back in 2013.

Three years ago, this EVF may have cut it,

No, a lot of complaints were at that time already.

but having used cameras like the GX8 and Olympus PEN-F, which use much more modern, higher magnification OLED panels, the GX85's feels dated.

Because colors channels refresh one at a time, panning or zooming with your eye to the finder can result in color tearing. And when using the EVF while the camera is set to continuous AF, the rapid lens hunting combined with color tearing is a recipe for a headache. Adding to the EVF woes, Panasonic gave the panel a 16:9 aspect ratio (presumably to cater to video shooters). But when shooting in the sensor's native aspect ratio of 4:3, the scene viewed through the EVF is quite small. Simply put, I found little to like about the GX85's 2.76M-dot field sequential EVF.

"

Yes, you have spotted on the weakness of GX85: it's evf. I can use it without problem (despite I wear glasses, the progressive focal length sort), but never love it though.

My complaint is not the sequential, but the 16:9 native display unit which when shooting in 4:3, around 25% in total of the viewing spaces on the two sides will be wasted. This reduces a regular size evf of its class (0.7X) to among the smallest of its class.

Despite it is not the latest design, it is very bright, well contrast, has great fine detail and is very responsive. Unfortunately when it is small, my eye can be tired easily.

However, this special evf (16:9 evf) indeed is a key to keep GX85 small. If we swap the evf between GX85 and GX8, you will find GX85 will has similar height and width of GX8! A price that we GX7/GX85/GX9 user has to pay for the smaller size...?

Of course I miss the tile evf of GX7. It is very useful for low angle shooting.

I have no issue on the smearing or rainbow effect. Of course, it will be great if Panny can use an OLED evf, similar to the one of G85, for my sunglasses.

-- hide signature --

http://asimplewatcher.blogspot.com

gianstam wrote:

Cafe Racer wrote:

If you use the viewfinder simply as a means of framing like I did, then it should be sufficient/fine.

Thanks a lot. This is what I want.

My worries stand about this particular quote
"Because colors channels refresh one at a time, panning or zooming with your eye to the finder can result in color tearing. And when using the EVF while the camera is set to continuous AF, the rapid lens hunting combined with color tearing is a recipe for a headache."

This is one of the reasons why it's subjective. I didn't experience any colour tearing. It doesn't affect everyone.

gianstam wrote:

Can you please share your experience? I have the opportunity to grab it paired with 14-140 for 500 euros.

Thank you

From DPR review

Review: Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX85 impresses with image quality, versatility: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com) (Performace section)

"

However, one major area the GX85 falls flat in terms of performance is its electronic viewfinder. This field-sequential LCD panel is simply put, not very good. Keep in mind, it is the same panel from the GX7, which debuted back in 2013. Three years ago, this EVF may have cut it, but having used cameras like the GX8 and Olympus PEN-F, which use much more modern, higher magnification OLED panels, the GX85's feels dated.

Because colors channels refresh one at a time, panning or zooming with your eye to the finder can result in color tearing. And when using the EVF while the camera is set to continuous AF, the rapid lens hunting combined with color tearing is a recipe for a headache. Adding to the EVF woes, Panasonic gave the panel a 16:9 aspect ratio (presumably to cater to video shooters). But when shooting in the sensor's native aspect ratio of 4:3, the scene viewed through the EVF is quite small. Simply put, I found little to like about the GX85's 2.76M-dot field sequential EVF.

Coming from the GX7 and GX80 which I still have and use despite having a GX9 too, I’ve never had the colour tearing problem and have always been content with the size and aspect ratio of the EVF. Yes, later developments came up with an improved visual experience eg in the GX8, but that never seemed to be a critical choice factor for me. There are more important things in camera operation than the transient moment of viewing through the EVF. Try it out for yourself if worried. I don’t expect you’d find a problem unless you come from a camera with a bigger viewfinder or an optical one.

Thanks. Way out of budget

Henry Richardson wrote:

Consider the OM-1 if you want the best m4/3 EVF:

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/66099099

gianstam wrote:

Can you please share your experience? I have the opportunity to grab it paired with 14-140 for 500 euros.

However, one major area the GX85 falls flat in terms of performance is its electronic viewfinder. This field-sequential LCD panel is simply put, not very good. Keep in mind, it is the same panel from the GX7, which debuted back in 2013. Three years ago, this EVF may have cut it, but having used cameras like the GX8 and Olympus PEN-F, which use much more modern, higher magnification OLED panels, the GX85's feels dated.

As an ex-GX7 user, I can attest that the GX7-series EVF is not very good. I used it for two years, with a lot of manual lenses. While it was usable, it was hardly a pleasant experience. Sure, it’s okay for composing, but for manual focus, it’s a bit of a chore.

When I upgraded to a GX8, the EVF was a revelation. It felt like I’d been released from a very small room.

If you can live with that, the GX7- series cameras are decent enough. I’d opt for a GX9 over the GX80/85, though.

JamesRitson wrote:

...he is looking at a used GX85!

The good think is that it's new

To OP - I have both the GX7 and the GX85 and have no problems with the EVF on either, Maybe if you try to track birds or auto racers you might get tearing. I don't know, but I do like the form factor and used normally (without swing the thing around to try to track something moving) the EVFs have worked fine for me.  Are there better EVFs for tracking moving things - sure, but used normally they are good.

John