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| Sydney CBD across the harbour. GX85 with Lumix 12-60mm at 60mm. |
Panasonic’s M43 product development people have in recent times been throwing off models like a hyperactive Catherine Wheel.
The original G-without-another-letter(Just-G) and GH series have more or less stayed with the hump-top-with-handle style, notwithstanding a minor deviation for the G3 which had a mini handle for no reason apparent to me.
Then they introduced the GF and GM series of tiny tots which appeared to be showing off just how small a MILC can be, although the purpose of such a demonstration has always eluded me.
If I want really small, the Sony RX100(4) does a much better job of
a) being small and
b) taking pictures.
The common theme of the GX series is that all models to date have been flat tops.
First there was the GX1 of 2011, with no built in EVF, a nasty little problem with shutter shock and no E-Shutter to smooth things out.
Then in 2013 came the GX7.
How did we get from GX1 straight to GX7 ? Beats me. However the GX7 did have an inbuilt EVF, it had a good sensor and it did have E-Shutter which fixed the shutter shock problem and still gave 12 bits per channel RAW files. I had one for a while and sold it on as I did not like the ergonomics.
However some users do like the way the G7 handles and operates.
In 2015 the GX8 arrived.
How did we get from the slim compact GX7 to the big bulky GX8 ? One can but wonder. Apart from the flat top there is little evidence of thematic consistency here.
And now we have the GX80/85 which Panasonic assures us is the real successor to the GX7 and just to add to the confusion is apparently sold as the GX7 Mk2 in Japan.
Notwithstanding all the product development muddle at Panasonic the GX80/85 turns out to be one of the most appealing M43 models yet produced due to some new technologies.
The three new technologies of most interest to me are:
1. A new electro magnetic (EM) focal plane shutter mechanism. Why is this important ?
The bugbear of mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras (including M43 models) since their introduction in 2008 has been Shutter Shock a problem which I have discussed at length on this blog.
Panasonic G, GX and GH cameras up to the GX80 all use a spring loaded shutter mechanism which produces sufficient perturbation as it fires to cause image degradation with some lenses at some shutter speeds, typically in the 1/100-1/160 second range.
The GF and GM models use a version of the EM shutter incorporating electronic first curtain. This appears to eliminate shutter shock but has a slow flash synch speed of 1/50 second and a slow top speed of only 1/500 second.
E-Shutter has its own problems and limitations as does Electronic First Curtain.
On my tests using the Panasonic 12-60mm, 12-32mm and 25mm f1.7 lenses the GX80 shutter appears to cause no sign of image degradation due to shutter shock at any shutter speed.
The new shutter is clearly more gentle and controlled in action than the old spring loaded one.
Panasonic claims a 90% reduction in the amplitude of the shock wave and based on my observations
I am inclined to believe this.
The old shutter fires with a loud click-e-ty-clack sound and an easily felt shockwave passing through the camera body and lens.
The new EM shutter makes a softer did-el-y-plop sound with a much less palpable shock wave.
The result is a mechanical shutter which can be used without restriction at all shutter speeds from 60 seconds to 1/4000 second.
At last we have a ‘set and forget’ solution to the shutter shock problem.
For this reason alone I currently recommend the GX80/85 over all other M43 cameras.
The final solution is, of course, the much anticipated global (electronic) shutter but it seems we must wait awhile longer for this to appear on consumer still cameras.
2. No optical low pass filter. Digital sensors are prone to a phenomenon called ‘moire’ in which subjects with closely spaced regular features such as threads in clothing or parallel lines are rendered falsely with various drawing and color artefacts. The solution to this for many years has been a special filter (OLPF) in front of the sensor. This works but reduces resolution.
By removing the OLPF Panasonic claims an “almost 10% improvement in resolution” over 16 Mpx cameras with OLPF. Moire and associated artefacts will, we are told, be managed in the image processing software.
Does it work ?
On my tests, yes I would say it does. On close examination of subjects likely to produce moire I see no more evidence of this in images from the GX80 than cameras with an OLPF.
The GX8 has a 20mpx sensor giving a horizontal resolution of 5184 pixels. This is 13% more than the 16 Mpx GX80 which has 4592 horizontal pixels.
So in effect the GX80 can deliver linear resolution almost equal to that of the GX8 which has 20 Mpx with an OLPF.
3. 5 axis In Body Image Stabiliser (IBIS) with Dual IS. Image stabiliser technology is one of the wonders of modern photography. It enables sharp hand held photos at much slower shutter speeds than would be possible without IS.
Traditionally Olympus has had IBIS, Panasonic has relied on an Optical Image Stabiliser module in the lens.
But many lenses, especially primes, do not have OIS, so Panasonic users have been calling for IBIS for several years.
This first appeared in the GX7, then we saw an improved four axis version in the GX8 and now the GX80/85 has the latest 5 axis version. Even better, the GX80 enables Dual IS with lens OIS (if available) and body IBIS working together. The notion of two separate IS modules wobbling simultaneously in response to camera movement sounds so improbable as to seem almost miraculous. But to my considerable amazement, it works and delivers consistently sharp pictures in the process.
Videographers will be pleased that the GX85 offers Dual IS with 4K video, which the G8 does not.
Other features The GX85 is jam packed with a multitude of features, functions and capabilities which you can read about elsewhere.
Summary
Since 2008 Panasonic has released 24 Micro Four Thirds camera models and Olympus 19, for a total of 43.
I rate the GX80/85 as the most appealing M43 model yet produced for still photographers because of the new EM shutter which appears to have eliminated image degradation due to shutter shock. Note, this is yet to be confirmed with some key lenses such as the Lumix 14-140mm.
I find it ironic that Panasonic which never openly admitted that shutter shock was (and still is with most models) a problem now proudly announces a workable, set-and-forget solution.
I will detail my observations about picture quality, performance and ergonomics in posts coming soon, but in very brief summary
Picture quality is very good
Performance is very good
Ergonomics are acceptable with a less than optimal holding and viewing experience.
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