3 replies to this topic

[ScottinPollock]

I mentioned in another thread that I just bought my first mirrorless with the Panny G85.

First off, the software in this camera is amazing... from the touchscreen based menu system (completely available in the stellar EVF as well), to the fully assignable buttons (that are remembered in C1, C2, etc.), the bracketing options, and the wifi.

Oh the WiFi! The mobile app works flawlessly (tested on 3 different Android devices from Lollipop to Nougat). It controls practically every aspect of the camera, and the live view display has very little lag. Moreover, even without the app, the camera will connect directly to a computer on my network to transfer full size RAW and JPEG images (even as I shoot them). It will do the same with JPEGs and video to Google, YouTube, and a number of other socia media accounts. And it too works flawlessly.

The image quality was better than expected. Yes there is discernibly more noise, but Panny's in camera noise reduction is better than Nikon's. At base ISO images are remarkably clean, sometimes better than my Nikons. The only really noticeable issue is dynamic range. Nikon wins big here.

The video is stunning... no contest.

So why am I returning it? Because the handling is awful... I mean REALLY awful.

One of the main reasons I like Nikon is the feel of their cameras. Buttons are positive, located well, easily picked up just by feel and easily actuated. The shutter release buttons are super positive... and you know exactly when it will trigger.

In stark contrast, the Panasonic camera has a spongy shutter button that frequently won't fire after you feel the detent after half press (unless you push a little harder). I sometimes got two releases at this point. It feels like the button is defective (and may well be). But the other buttons are small, and not very positive either, with most of them being almost (or entirely) flush with the surface they are mounted on. Even the cursor buttons are hard to feel positively... the end result being having to guess, or take my eye away from the beautiful EVF to change the setting.

The Panny looked amazing on paper, and out of the box it took me the better part of two solid days exploring all of it's wonderful feature set, which had me smiling ear to ear. But the subtleties of first rate "physical" ergonomics are lost on this camera. It is not a matter of muscle memory... I know where everything is, it is just too hard to locate by touch when your eye is to the viewfinder, and too fiddly to actually press those buttons that are too small and practically flush with the chassis.

So I am back to looking for a mirrorless counterpart to my Nikons, and that may have to wait for Fuji to add IBIS to their XT series, or Nikon to release theirs. In any event, I thought I'd share my disappointment with y'all.

[Ron]

Thanks for the review. Very interesting.

 

I wonder why you didn't give the camera more time... sometimes it takes me awhile to 'settle in' to a new camera.

 

Like you said, the G85 looks great on paper.

 

--Ron

[ScottinPollock]

I wonder why you didn't give the camera more time...

The deciding factor was the shutter button. Either it is defective, or they are all that way. I really couldn't determine that based on my search of the net, and Panasonic was of no help. So, it goes back for now.

[mikew]

I cant remember a problem with the way the shutter button felt on the G80/85 but i do know the camera was great, far more action orientated than most would have you believe, the DFD focusing with the 100-400 is on a par with many DSLRs (not all).