Panasonic G80 / G85 Vs G7: Key Differences Explained

Panasonic G80 / G85 Specifications

• Sensor size: Four Thirds type (17.3 x 13mm)
• Effective pixel count: 16.0 million
• Processor: Venus Engine
• Lens/Mount: Micro Four Thirds
• Viewfinder: Electronic with 2,360,000 dots OLED
• Sensitivity range: ISO 100-25,600
• Monitor: Touch-sensitive tilting 3-inch LCD with 1,040,000 dots
• Max shooting rate: 9fps with AF locked on first frame
• Max video resolution: 4K UHD (3840 x 2160)
• Storage: SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II)
• Dimensions: 128.4 x 89 x 74.3 mm
• Weight: 453g body only, 505g with SD card and battery

Panasonic G7 Specifications

• Sensor size: Four Thirds type (17.3 x 13mm)
• Effective pixel count: 16.0 million
• Processor: Venus Engine
• Lens/Mount: Micro Four Thirds
• Viewfinder: Electronic with 2,360,000 dots OLED
• Sensitivity range: ISO 160-25,600
• Monitor: Touch-sensitive tilting 3-inch LCD with 1,040,000 dots
• Max shooting rate: 9fps with AF locked on first frame
• Max video resolution: 4K UHD (3840 x 2160)
• Storage: SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II)
• Dimensions: 125 x 86 x 77 mm
• Weight: 410g body only

At first glance, the Panasonic G80 – also known as the G85 in the United States – may look strikingly similar to its closest sibling, the G7. But there are a few key differences that really set it apart.

In this Panasonic G80 / G85 vs G7 comparison I’ll explain what’s new, what’s not and which camera you should buy.

Sensor

The Panasonic G80 / G85 and G7 both share the same 16-megapixel sensor. However, the key difference you need to know about the two cameras on this criterion is that the G80 / G85 omits the camera’s anti-aliasing filter.

This means that, while both cameras record the same level of resolution, the Panasonic G80’s images should technically be a little bit sharper.

We explain what anti-aliasing filters do here in thorough detail, but in short, when you remove a camera’s anti-aliasing filter it allows a camera’s sensor to resolve sharper detail at the expense of slight moire patterning.

Viewfinder

Both the Panasonic G80 / G85 and G7 offer an OLED viewfinder. There’s not a whole lot of difference between the EVFs on the two cameras. Both offer 2360k-dot resolution; however, the newer G80 increases its magnification to 0.74x (from 0.70x on the G7).

Display

Another similarity between the G80 / G85 and G7 – and a signature of Panasonic – is a free-angle, tiltable LCD with touchscreen functionality. The 3in screen on both cameras is the same, offering 1040k-dot resolution.

Autofocus

Both cameras employ Panasonic’s DFD focusing technology – we explain how DFD focusing works here – along with focus peaking.

Burst mode

One of the few differences between the Panasonic G80 / G85 and the G7 is its frame rate. The G7 offers 8fps continuous shooting, but Panasonic has bumped this up to 9fps with the G80 / G85.

What’s more, the G80 / G85 brings a dramatically improved buffer, which fills after 45 raw or 300 JPEG images, compared to 13 on the G7.

It’s also worth noting that both cameras offer a maximum shutter speed of 1/16,000sec when using the electronic shutter, or 1/4000sec without.

4K Functions

Both the Panasonic G80 / G85 and G7 offer the company’s 4K Photo functionality, which allows you to extract a still frame from a short burst of 4K video. They also employ Panasonic’s Post Focus feature, which allows you to take still frames from that short burst of 4K video and create images with different points of focus.

The Panasonic G80 and G7 also offer 4K video recording in 3840 x 2160 resolution. Perhaps for tax reasons, the maximum recording time varies up to 120 minutes, however, in some territories (notably mainland Europe), it is limited to 29 minutes 59 seconds.

Connectivity

You’ll find another similarity when comparing the Panasonic G80 vs G7 in terms of connectivity. Both cameras offer built-in WiFi to allow you to share images via your phone using the Panasonic Image App.

Image Stabilisation

This is perhaps the major difference when comparing the Panasonic G80 vs the G7. With the G80 Panasonic introduced its 5-Axis Image Stabilisation which, from our tests, with the camera, really extend your ability to shoot with it handheld.

The Panasonic G7 doesn’t offer 5-Axis stabilisation. And it’s worth noting that when the G80’s 5-Axis stabilisation is used in tandem with its lens’s dual IS, you can capture some very sharp images in situations where might not normally have a fighting chance.

Build

Both the Panasonic G7 and G80 / G85 boast a hot shoe and a built-in flash. Both camera bodies are made of plastic, but the Panasonic G80 / G85 is splash-, freeze- and dust-proof, so designed for more outdoor shooting.

It’s also worth noting that the Panasonic G7 is about 100g lighter than its sibling, weighing just 410g compared to the G80 / G85’s 505g.

Price

The Panasonic G80 / G85 price tag has come down since its launch, as has the G7’s At the moment you can find the G80 for around £550 to £600 here in the UK, while the G7 costs around £400. In the United States you can find the G85 with a street price of around $800, while the G7 can be picked up for about $600.

Panasonic G80 vs G7: What are the key differences

As you can tell, these are very similar cameras. Much like the OM-D E-M10 II and E-M5 II in Olympus’s stable, the key differences really come down to a couple points. The major one being image stabilisation.

The Panasonic G80 / G85 boasts the company’s new 5-Axis Image Stabilisation which, we found in our Panasonic G80 review, really makes a difference.

The other key difference between the Panasonic G80 / G85 vs G7 is weather proofing. If you shoot outdoors a lot, the G80 / G85 is probably the camera for you. Its sealing makes it splash-, dust- and freeze-proof, which makes it all the more versatile.

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Why you should buy the Panasonic G80 / G85

• 5-Axis Image Stabilisation
• Weather sealing
• Faster continuous shooting rate

Why you should buy the Panasonic G7

• lighter
• cheaper

Should you buy the Panasonic G80 / G85 or G7?

While it’s always tempting to save a bit of money, you want a camera you can grow with. Both cameras have nearly equal skill sets, but the Panasonic G80 / G85 has just that little bit more that makes it a much more versatile option.

Weather proofing really opens up a lot of new creative opportunities for shooting that you wouldn’t be able to do with the G7 without having to be extra careful. And Panasonic’s 5-Axis Image Stabilisation is very good.

If you’re stumping for a new camera, spend the extra bit more and get yourself the G80 / G85.

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