Panasonic unveils the mirrorless Lumix GX85, the younger toned-down sibling of the GX8 that's targeted at photography enthusiasts on a pretty tight budget.
It's a part of the interchangeable camera lens roster of the device maker, delivering "lighter, more intelligent, uncompromising results" and serving as the perfect alternative for DSLR cameras.
"Nearly half the size of most DSLRs, the GX85 delivers impressive large sensor performance in the most compact camera system ever designed by Panasonic Lumix," Panasonic says.
The Snapper And Features
The Lumix GX85 packs in a 16 MP sensor, and that's actually a few notches lower than the 20 MP that GX8 offers. However, Panasonic says that it can still capture great detail because it took the low pass filter out of the equation, boosting about 10 percent of the camera's "fine detail resolving power" compared to earlier 16 MP sensors. With that said, it can still effectively remove moiré out of the images despite having no low pass filter thanks to the improved Venus Engine crammed in it.
Aside from the gap in megapixels between the GX85 and GX8, one huge difference is that the former sports new Micro Four Thirds lenses.
The upcoming camera is also capable of capturing 4K videos in 3,840 x 2,160 at either 30p or 24p, and on top of that, it features the device maker's 4K Photo burst mode, allowing users to capture a series of shots at 30 frames per second and to pick one out at an 8 MP quality. This is particularly useful for photographers who want to make sure they got every potentially great shot.
The nifty goodies don't end there too, as it also comes with the Post Focus function. As the name suggests, it lets users change the focus of the shot even after the picture has been taken.
It also houses a 5-axis image stabilization setup that works together with the 2-axis stabilization in the camera lenses, providing amateur photographers a friendlier experience and a smoother learning curve in taking excellent pictures.
As for the touch monitor, it comes in at 3 inches with a field of view that clocks in at roughly 100 percent, and it can be tilted too to get a better look of things.
Wi-Fi connectivity and security are also said to have been improved, and to be exact, Panasonic is believed to have selected QR codes instead of traditional passwords.
Other features include the Creative Control mode, bringing a selection of 22 filter options to the table.
Even though it doesn't veer away from the somewhat plasticky build of the GX8, it's still lighter with a smaller form factor, not to mention that it's considerably more affordable.
Availability
Panasonic is expected to roll out the Lumix GX85 sometime this May with a price tag of $799, coming in black or silver. It will hit the shelves along with a 12 to 32 mm lens kit to boot.
A Closer Look
Panasonic launched a video introduction for the Lumix GX85 via YouTube, showcasing the numerous features and capabilities of the new camera.
Hit up the video below to see it in action.
