Panasonic Lumix DMC-G80

Review summary

So how do things add up? Which of the two cameras – the Panasonic G80 or the Panasonic GX80 – has the upper hand? Is one clearly better than the other? The listing below highlights the relative strengths of the two models.

Reasons to prefer the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G80:

• Better sound: Can connect to an external microphone for higher quality sound recording.
• Larger viewfinder image: Features a viewfinder with a higher magnification (0.74x vs 0.70x).
• More flexible LCD: Has a swivel screen for odd-angle shots in portrait or landscape orientation.
• More selfie-friendly: Has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing.
• Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (9 vs 8 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
• Longer lasting: Can take more shots (330 versus 290) on a single battery charge.
• Better sealing: Is weather sealed to enable shooting in dusty or wet environments.
• Faster buffer clearing: Supports a more advanced SD data transfer standard (UHS-II vs UHS-I).
• More modern: Is somewhat more recent (announced 5 months after the GX80).

Arguments in favor of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX80:

• More detailed viewfinder: Has higher resolution electronic viewfinder (2765k vs 2360k dots).
• More compact: Is smaller (122x71mm vs 128x89mm) and will fit more readily into a bag.
• Less heavy: Has a lower weight (by 79g or 16 percent) and is thus easier to take along.
• More affordable: Was released into a lower priced segment (11 percent cheaper at launch).
• More heavily discounted: Has been on the market for longer (launched in April 2016).

If the count of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a measure, the G80 is the clear winner of the match-up (9 : 5 points). However, the pertinence of the various camera strengths will differ across photographers, so that you might want to weigh individual camera traits according to their importance for your own imaging needs before making a camera decision. A professional wildlife photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges
from the perspective of a family photog, and a person interested in architecture has distinct needs from a sports shooter. Hence, the decision which camera
is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

G80 ₀₉₀₅ GX80

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Panasonic G80 and the Panasonic GX80 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest
Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera listing whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

Sensor comparison

The imaging sensor is at the core of digital cameras and its size is one of the main determining factors of image quality. A large sensor will tend to have larger individual pixels that provide better low-light sensitivity, wider , and richer than smaller pixel-units in a sensor of the same technological generation. Further, a large sensor camera will give the photographer additional creative options when using shallow to isolate a subject from its background. On the downside, larger sensors are more costly to manufacture and tend to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Both cameras under consideration feature a Four Thirds sensor and have a format factor
(sometimes also referred to as «crop factor») of 2.0. Within the spectrum of camera sensors, this places the review cameras among the medium-sized sensor cameras
that aim to strike a balance between image quality and portability. Both cameras feature a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 4:3.

The two cameras under review do not only share the same sensor size, but also offer an identical resolution of 15.8 megapixels.
This similarity in sensor specs implies that both the G80 and the G85 have the same pixel density, as well as the same pixel size. Moreover, the two cameras were released in close succession, so that their sensors are
from the same technological generation. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that neither of the two cameras has an anti-alias filter installed, so they are able to capture all the detail the sensor resolves.

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-G80 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 200 to ISO 25600, which can be extended to ISO 100-25600.
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-G85 offers exactly the same ISO settings.

Consistent information on actual sensor performance is available from DXO Mark for many cameras. This service assesses and scores the color depth («DXO Portrait»), dynamic range («DXO Landscape»), and low-light sensitivity («DXO Sports») of camera sensors, and also publishes an overall camera score. The Overall DXO ratings for the two cameras under consideration are close, suggesting that they provide similar imaging performance. The adjacent table reports on the physical sensor characteristics and the outcomes of the DXO sensor quality tests for a sample of comparator-cameras.

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but also of capturing video footage. Both cameras under consideration have a sensor with sufficiently fast read-out times for moving pictures, and both provide the same movie specifications (4K/30p).

Expert reviews

Care should be taken when interpreting the review scores above, though. The ratings are only valid when referring to cameras in the same category and of the same age. Hence, a score should always be seen in the context of the camera’s market launch date and its price, and comparing ratings of very distinct cameras or ones that are far apart in terms of their release date have little meaning. Also, please note that some of the review sites have changed their methodology and reporting over time.

Camera to camera comparisons

If you would like to see a side-by-side review of this and another camera, just make a corresponding selection in the search boxes below. An an alternative, you can also directly jump to any one of the listed comparisons that were previously generated by the CAM-parator tool.

• Canon 90D vs Panasonic G80
• Canon G12 vs Panasonic G80
• Canon SX520 vs Panasonic G80
• Fujifilm X30 vs Panasonic G80
• Leica D-LUX 6 vs Panasonic G80
• Leica X1 vs Panasonic G80
• Nikon D70s vs Panasonic G80
• Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic G80
• Panasonic G10 vs Panasonic G80
• Panasonic G80 vs Panasonic GH1
• Panasonic G80 vs Panasonic GH5s
• Panasonic G80 vs Panasonic GX1

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Panasonic G80 Review

Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G80 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX80 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

It is notable that the G80 has a microphone port, which is missing on the GX80.
Such an external microphone input can help to substantially improve the quality of audio recordings when a good external microphone is used.

Introduction

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-G80 (also known as the Panasonic G85) is a new Micro Four Thirds compact system camera that features 5-Axis Dual Image Stabilisation and a splash/dust proof magnesium body. It integrates 4K video recording capability with a variety of 4K Photo functions and can record 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) video with either 30p/25p/24p frames rates at 100Mbps in the MP4 format. A new 5-Axis Dual I.S. system combines OIS (Optical Image Stabiliser — 2 axis) as well as B.I.S (Body Image Stabiliser — 5 axis) in the main body of the camera. This is designed to negate the effects of hand shake, and Panasonic claims that it is the “best IS in the camera market” — which it says is especially true when shooting with telephoto lenses. A brand new shutter unit has been designed to minimise slight vibrations and shutter sound when pressing the shutter button. This means that you can use the mechanical shutter in situations where you might have only been able to use the electronic shutter before. The Panasonic G80 features a 16 megapixel Digital Live MOS image sensor with no Low Pass Filter the optical which boosts the sensor’s capability to record fine detail, new Venus Engine processor, 2,360K-dot OLED Live View Finder, 3-inch 1040K-dot Free-Angle touch screen display, 9fps continuous shooting, ISO 100-25,600, ultra-high speed AF of just 0.07 sec, mechanical and silent electronic shutters, new Eco Mode to extend the battery life, and Wi-Fi connectivity. The Panasonic Lumix DMC-G80 is available in black, body-only (£699 / $899), or in a kit with the G Vario 12-60mm f/3.5-5.6 ASPH lens (£799 / $999). The Panasonic Lumix DMC-G80 is compatible with the new optional Battery Grip (DMW-BGG1) which doubles the battery life.

Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you would like to check on the differences and similarities of other camera models, just make your choice using the following search menu. Alternatively, you can follow any of the listed hyperlinks for comparisons that others found interesting.

• Canon 30D vs Panasonic G80
• Canon 700D vs Panasonic G80
• Canon G9 X Mark II vs Panasonic G80
• Fujifilm XF10 vs Panasonic G85
• Nikon D2H vs Panasonic G85
• Nikon D7100 vs Panasonic G80
• Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic G80
• Panasonic G80 vs Panasonic GH2
• Panasonic G80 vs Sony A7R II
• Panasonic G80 vs Sony A7S II
• Panasonic G80 vs Sony RX100 IV
• Panasonic G80 vs Sony RX1R II

Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G80 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-G85 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G80 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX8 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

Panasonic DMC-G85 Specs

Imaging

Exposure Control

Video

Focus

Viewfinder and Monitor

Flash

Interface

Environmental

Physical

Kit Lens

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a variety of features. The two cameras under review are similar with respect to both having an electronic viewfinder.
However, the one in the GX80 offers a higher resolution than the one in the G80 (2765k vs 2360k dots). The following table reports on some other key feature differences and similarities of the Panasonic G80, the Panasonic GX80, and comparable cameras.

articulated LCD that can be turned to be front-facing

The reported shutter speed information refers to the use of the mechanical shutter. Yet, some cameras only have an electronic shutter, while
others have an electronic shutter in addition to a mechanical one. In fact, both cameras under consideration feature
an electronic shutter, which makes completely silent shooting possible. However, this mode is less suitable for photographing moving objects (risk of ) or
shooting under artificial light sources (risk of ).

The Panasonic G80 and the Panasonic GX80 both have an intervalometer built-in. This enables the photographer to
capture time lapse sequences, such as flower blooming, a sunset or moon rise, without purchasing an external camera trigger and related software.

Concerning the storage of imaging data, both the G80 and the GX80 write their files to SDXC cards. The G80 supports UHS-II cards (Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 312 MB/s), while the GX80 can use UHS-I cards (up to 104 MB/s).

Camera to camera comparisons

If you would like to see a side-by-side review of this and another camera, just make a corresponding selection in the search boxes below. An an alternative, you can also directly jump to any one of the listed comparisons that were previously generated by the CAM-parator tool.

• Canon 90D vs Panasonic G80
• Canon G12 vs Panasonic G80
• Canon SX520 vs Panasonic G80
• Fujifilm X30 vs Panasonic G80
• Leica D-LUX 6 vs Panasonic G80
• Leica X1 vs Panasonic G80
• Nikon D70s vs Panasonic G80
• Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic G80
• Panasonic G10 vs Panasonic G80
• Panasonic G80 vs Panasonic GH1
• Panasonic G80 vs Panasonic GH5s
• Panasonic G80 vs Panasonic GX1

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Panasonic G80 Review

Body comparison

The side-by-side display below illustrates the physical size and weight of the Panasonic G80 and the Panasonic GX80. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three successive views from the front, the top, and the rear are shown. All width, height and depth measures are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The GX80 can be obtained in two different colors (black, silver), while the G80 is
only available in black.

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size,
the Panasonic GX80 is notably smaller (24 percent) than the Panasonic G80. Moreover, the GX80 is markedly lighter (16 percent) than the G80. It is worth mentioning in this context that the G80 is splash and dust resistant,
while the GX80 does not feature any corresponding weather-sealing.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses
that both of these cameras require. In this particular case, both cameras feature the same lens mount, so that they can use the same lenses.
You can compare the optics available in the Micro Four Thirds Lens Catalog. Mirrorless cameras, such as the two under consideration, have the additional advantage of having a short flange to focal plane distance, which makes it possible to mount many lenses from other systems onto the camera via adapters.

Concerning battery life, the G80 gets 330 shots out of its DMW-BLC12 battery,
while the GX80 can take 290 images on a single charge of its DMW-BLG10 power pack.

The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the two cameras alongside a broader set of comparators. In case you want to display and compare another camera duo, just click on the right or left
arrow next to the camera that you would like to inspect. Alternatively, you can also use the CAM-parator to
select your camera combination among a larger number of options.

Any camera decision will obviously take relative prices into account. The retail prices at the time of the camera’s release place the model in the market relative to other models in the producer’s line-up and the competition. The GX80 was launched at a somewhat lower price (by 11 percent) than the G80, which makes it more attractive for photographers on a tight budget. Normally, street prices remain initially close to the MSRP, but after a couple of months, the first discounts appear. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down.