Panasonic GX850 GX800 Review: New Mirrorless Entry Level System Camera – The Panasonic Lumix DC-GX850 replaces the GF7

Panasonic buries the GF beginner class and integrates it with the Panasonic GX850 (Panasonic GX800 in the European Union and Britain) as the GX series. The GX series thus includes all Panasonic system cameras in “brick construction”, because the GM series is also discontinued, unfortunately without a successor model, due to insufficient sales figures. The Panasonic GX850 (Panasonic GX800 in the EU and Britain) is also a new entry-level camera with 4K photo and video functions. Your sensor has a resolution of 16 megapixels, but without the image stabilizer of the GX80 and GX8. There is also no viewfinder and no flash shoe, but there is a folding selfie screen.

Short evaluation

Pros

• Compact, well manufactured plastic housing
• Even in this entry-level class now with 4K video and 4K photo functions
• Good image quality up to ISO 1.600, with slight reductions even at ISO 3.200
• Very fast autofocus, but relatively long (nevertheless sufficiently fast) shutter release delay

Cons

• No viewfinder, not even optional
• Inefficient flash and no flash shoe
• No built-in sensor shift image stabilizer, which is now standard in many Lumix-G cameras
• Set lens with moderate resolution, just enough for DIN A4 at the image edge

With the Panasonic GX850 (Panasonic GX800 in other regions), Panasonic replaces not only the GF series, but also the GM series, which scored points for its particularly compact dimensions with good features, but was not successful enough on the market. In fact, the GX850 (Panasonic GX800 in other regions) combines the features, controls and target audience of the GF Series with the more straightforward design of the GM Series. This makes the GX850 (Panasonic GX800 in other regions) the most affordable and compact representative of Panasonic’s current Lumix-G interchangeable lens cameras, and it is only available with a lens.

The Panasonic Lumix GX850 (Panasonic GX800 in other regions) is a new entry-level model that replaces not only the GF7, but the entire GF series. The GM series will also be phased out. [Photo: Panasonic]

The 4/3″ sensor with 16 megapixel resolution (17.3 x 13 mm) resolves 16 megapixels and dispenses with a low-pass filter in favor of a higher resolution. The DFD Contrast-Hybrid-Autofocus calculates the point of focus in a flash using two differently focused images, so that the GX800 can focus within only 0.07 seconds. Even in low-light conditions down to -4 EV, the autofocus still works. If you prefer to focus manually, there is also a focus peaking function for highlighting sharp contrasting edges in addition to the focus loupe.

The 4K video function works at up to 30 frames per second, in Full HD even 60 frames per second are achieved. The videos are saved with stereo sound in MP4 format with H.264 compression. The 4K photo mode with its 30 frames per second at 8.3 megapixels resolution also ensures that you don’t miss the right time to take the picture. Alternatively, the entire focus area of the subject can be traversed with the 4K photo function. The so-called post-focus function thus allows the focus point to be defined later. Alternatively, the focus planes can be combined to a continuously sharp image using the focus stacking function.

The Panasonic Lumix DC-GX850’s 7.5-cm touchscreen, which folds 180 degrees upwards, enables selfie recording. The Panasonic Lumix DC-GX850 doesn’t have a viewfinder. On the other hand, the 7.5 centimeter touchscreen can be folded up by up to 180 degrees, which makes ground level shots and selfies easier. [Photo: Panasonic]

The shutter of the GX850 (Panasonic GX800 in other regions) is only partially mechanical. With exposure times from 60 seconds to 1/500 second, the second shutter curtain is realized mechanically, the first electronically. With faster shutter speeds of up to 1/16,000 second, the shutter operates purely electronically and thus silently. In addition, purely electronic exposure times of up to one second can be achieved. The small pop-up flash only has a guide number of 4, the GX850 (Panasonic GX800 in other regions) does not have a flash shoe. The shortest flash sync time is relatively long at 1/50 due to the semi-mechanical shutter.

The Panasonic Lumix DC-GX850 (Panasonic GX800 in other regions) is available in black and silver in the United States and in the European Union including the set lens 12-32 mm and is available from March 2017. [Photo: Panasonic]

Like many smartphones, the rechargeable lithium-ion battery of the Panasonic Lumix DC-GX850 (Panasonic GX800 in other regions) is charged via the micro-USB interface. [Photo: Panasonic]

The photographer also has to do without a viewfinder, but the GX850 (Panasonic GX800 in other regions) offers a 7.5 centimeter touchscreen that can be folded up by up to 180 degrees for selfies. Thanks to the intelligent automatic function, the GX850 (Panasonic GX800 in other regions) independently controls all shooting parameters to match the subject, but the photographer can also intervene and expose semi-automatically or manually. Even a time-lapse or interval recording function is available. Thanks to WLAN, photos can be transferred to a smartphone and the camera can also be remotely controlled via an app. The exchangeable battery can be charged via the Micro-USB interface. Micro are also the memory cards, MicroSD to be exact. The SDHC and SDXC standards (each in Micro) as well as UHS I are also supported.

From March 2017, the Panasonic Lumix DC-GX850 (Panasonic GX800 in other regions) is be available as a set with the Lumix G 12-32 mm F3.5-5.6 OIS Pancake Zoom at a price of almost 550 dollars.

Ergonomics and workmanship

The Panasonic Lumix DC-GX850 (Panasonic GX800 in other regions) is kept in a chic bi-color design. The case is made of well processed plastic and makes a solid impression, it is silver in both available color variants. The large rubber applications in the look of grained leather are either black, as with our test device, or orange/brown, which gives the camera a certain retro look in both cases. Nevertheless, the design is very straightforward and reduced instead of playfully imitating an old camera. The GX850 (Panasonic GX800 in other regions) doesn’t have a pronounced handle, but the case is extremely compact at 107 x 65 x 33 millimeters and 267 grams light ready for use. Compared to a GM5, however, this is eight millimeters more width and five millimeters more case height as well as 56 grams more weight. The GM5 was really a small wonder of compactness.

The Lumix DC-GX850 (Panasonic GX800 elsewhere) is Panasonic’s entry-level system camera and the successor to the GF and GM series.

The GX850 (Panasonic GX800 elsewhere) is only available in a set costing about 550 Euro (UVP) with the compact 12-32mm 3.5-5.6 OIS (24-64 mm according to 35mm), which weighs only 67 grams, so the combination weighs only 334 grams. With a lens, the depth of the camera increases to 5.6 centimeters in the transport state, which is still very compact. Due to the low weight, the combination can be held quite well, especially as the back has a sufficiently large and handy thumb rest. The GX850’s (GX800) ultra-compact 35-100mm telephoto zoom and the 15mm F1.7 high-intensity Leica fixed focal length are ideal for the GX850 (Panasonic GX800 elsewhere), both in terms of design and size. Tests can be found in the links below. All other Micro Four Thirds lenses can also be connected to the DC-GX850 (Panasonic GX800 elsewhere).

The equipment with interfaces is, typical for a beginner camera, spartan. There is only one HDMI micro and one micro USB port, the latter also serves to charge the replaceable lithium-ion battery. Unfortunately, the Micro-USB interface is not suitable for continuous operation only; charging does not take place during operation. For this a battery dummy with power supply connection is necessary, as it is usual with many manufacturers in the meantime. The small DMW-BLH7E battery only holds 4.9 Wh, which is enough for just 210 shots according to the CIPA standard. The battery compartment is located on the bottom of the camera. The Micro SD card is also used here. This is a very unusual format for cameras. The memory cards are very small and fiddly, they are not well suited to be taken out and read out by card reader with the PC. Fortunately, these cards are now available in a sufficiently fast and large version at a very reasonable price.

For example, in the test we used a Toshiba Exceria Micro-SDXC memory card that supports the UHS-I-Speed-Class 3 and thus guarantees a minimum write speed of 30 megabytes per second (MB/s) – this is faster than the camera’s interface can write, it only reaches approx. 21 MB/s. The camera’s interface can write at a maximum speed of 30 megabytes per second (MB/s). Our test card with a capacity of 128 Gigabyte (GB) is already available for less than 40 Euro and much bigger than you will ever need; unless you like to record a lot of 4K videos, of which about 170 minutes fit on the memory card with a quality of 100 Mbit/s. The test card is available for less than 40 Euro. The tripod thread on the underside of the camera is located in the optical axis. Those who use a very small tripod exchange plate, such as the Novoflex Miniconnect, can even open the battery and memory card compartment despite the attached exchange plate.

Unlike the GM5, the GX850 (Panasonic GX800 elsewhere) does not offer an electronic viewfinder. Since the flash shoe is also missing, none can be connected as an option. The GX850 (Panasonic GX800 elsewhere) is operated via the few buttons (eleven) as well as the program dial and the setting wheel. In addition, the system camera has a touch screen that can be tilted upwards by up to 180 degrees (for selfies or ground level shots) with a resolution of 1.04 million pixels on a diagonal of 7.5 centimetres. The very bright screen offers further operating options, such as virtual function keys. But also some of the other keys can be programmed. The Fn1 button is preset with the 4K photo function, we have placed the AF-On function here, which the GX850 (Panasonic GX800 elsewhere) offers in contrast to many other entry-level cameras.

The Fn2 key is preset with the useful Quick menu, the Fn3 key is preset with the focus stacking function. But since we missed an ISO button, we put this function on the Fn3 button. We found the fact that pressing the button several times switches through the ISO sensitivity to be very practical, so that you don’t necessarily have to select it with the slightly flimsy dial after pressing it for the first time. Apart from the missing second dial, the GX850 (Panasonic GX800 elsewhere) was so amazingly close to a camera for ambitious photographers that we can recommend it as a camera for those photographers who want a compact (second) camera for “the small cutlery”. By the way, behind the fold-up touch screen there is another button that can be used to reset all recording functions to factory defaults; extremely useful for beginners who have “tinkered” with the settings.

With 107 x 65 x 35 mm and a ready-to-operate weight of 337 grams including the 12-32 mm shown, the Panasonic Lumix DC-GX850 is currently one of the most compact and lightest mirrorless system cameras.

Due to the small number of keys, it is quite common that you have to go to the menu for further options. This doesn’t pose any big puzzles and even offers quite a lot of options and an explanatory insertion to the menu items, but altogether the five menu categories each have up to eight subpages, so that the menu extends to a total of 31 pages each with up to five menu items (140 altogether). So you won’t always find the desired setting so quickly here. By the way, the menus can also be completely operated either via the keys or the touchscreen.

Equipment

Although the Lumix DC-GX850 (Panasonic GX800 elsewhere) is designed as an entry-level camera, it also offers ambitious photographers plenty of possibilities, as already noted during operation. Beginners are offered almost everything they need. Intelligent Auto takes all settings from the photographer and selects the appropriate shooting program, shutter speed and ISO sensitivity based on the subject, its movements and the photographer’s movements. In addition, the GX850 (Panasonic GX800 elsewhere) offers 23 selectable scene mode programs, some of which are described in a very flowery way and are available in various variants, such as “Clear Night Picture”, “Cool Night Sky”, “Warm Night Landscape” and “Landscape at Night Alienated”, each accompanied by a typical example picture. Also the digital filter effects can be seen with a large selection of 22 pieces. A panorama function and an HDR mode with either automatic or manual adjustment including automatic image alignment are also available. For friends of selfies (almost everyone out there, I have to say), the GX850 (Panasonic GX800 elsewhere) automatically switches to selfie mode when the screen is completely flipped up, fading in the beauty function for beautiful skin and the slimming function that narrows the face. Image effects, background blur and a multiple self-timer function can also be selected directly in selfie mode.

Ambitious or experimental photographers can let off steam in the classic creative programs P, A, S and M, whereby the automatic program offers a shift function and even bulb long-term exposures are possible. The latter hide in manual mode. As soon as the exposure time is selected longer than 60 seconds, a “T” appears instead of the exposure time. In this long time exposure mode, unlike the normal bulb function, the shutter-release button does not have to be held down during the entire exposure, which would cause camera shake even on a tripod (there is no remote release connection). Instead, in T mode, exposure is started by pressing the shutter release button and stopped by pressing the button again.

Speaking of closure: This is an economy version that only offers a “half” mechanical closure. Normally, the sensor is darkened by the shutter before the first shutter curtain releases the sensor and the second closes it again at the end of the exposure. The GX850 (Panasonic GX800 elsewhere) lacks the first shutter curtain, it is purely electronic. Although this eliminates the so-called shutter-shock problem (blurring in the image due to the vibration of the first shutter curtain), it ensures a shortest (semi-)mechanical shutter speed of only 1/500 second and a long flash sync time of 1/60 second. Shorter exposure times (up to 1/16,000 second) are purely electronic, which is inaudible, but leads to the rolling shutter effect, which can result in visible distortion in fast scene movements due to the line-by-line shutter sequence.

However, the relatively long flash sync time of 1/60 second is not the only obstacle when using flash. The integrated pop-up flash doesn’t jump up very high, which can lead to shadows with voluminous wide-angle lenses. In addition, the flash offers only a guide number of 4 at ISO 100, so it is rather low power. At 1/60 of a second, for example, it can hardly flash against the light in bright sunlight. The output is also not really sufficient for illuminating rooms. Due to the lack of a flash shoe, an external flash cannot be connected to avoid the problems. The integrated flash cannot also be used as a wireless trigger in TTL mode. However, it offers a pre-flash function to reduce the red-eye effect, synchronization to the second shutter curtain (flash at the end instead of at the beginning of the exposure), and flash exposure compensation.

The Panasonic Lumix DC-GX850 (Panasonic GX800 elsewhere) also offers a flash shoe in vain. After all, there are two high-quality and above all programmable buttons on the upper side.

The tripod thread of the Panasonic Lumix DC-GX850 (Panasonic GX800 elsewhere) sits in the optical axis, which is by no means a matter of course with such a compact camera. A very small tripod exchange plate does not even block the battery compartment.

If you prefer to assemble HDR images on a PC with the help of software, you will find a very useful exposure bracketing function with up to seven images and an EV exposure distance. Of course, the GX850 (Panasonic GX800 elsewhere) can also store raw images. The continuous-advance function achieves up to 5.5 frames per second and holds out for 56 shots with JPEG, but only for 19 in Raw. Exposure and focus are not tracked, even a live image is no longer available, instead the last shot is displayed on the screen. Autofocus, exposure tracking and live view are only available with slower frame rates. The GX850 (Panasonic GX800 elsewhere) is therefore not a real sports machine. By the way, scenes that change much more slowly can be captured with the interval function, and the creation of a time-lapse film is also possible. The 4K photo functions are also very useful. With a resolution of 8.3 megapixels, 30 continuous shots per second are recorded throughout, which, however, offer a slightly lower quality than “real” shots of the same resolution due to the video compression. However, the right moment in action-packed scenes can be captured in a wonderful way. The post-focus and focus-stacking functions are also useful extensions for the practical subsequent selection of the focal plane or extension of the same.

Nevertheless, the Lumix has Panasonic’s fast DFD autofocus. The GX850 (Panasonic GX800 elsewhere) can focus on the subject in less than 0.1 seconds. However, the shutter release delay of about 0.15 seconds is extremely slow for a mirrorless system camera. The total shutter release delay including focusing is nevertheless very fast with 0.25 seconds, which is mainly due to the ultra-fast autofocus. For manual focusing there is a focus magnifier as well as focus peaking and a coarse distance bar (without exact distance indication) available. With a lens without a focus ring, such as the 12-32mm set lens, manual focusing is still a bit cumbersome, as it is done via controls on the touchscreen. Automatic focusing can also be triggered at the touch of a button.

The GX850 (or GX800 outside US) records videos in 4K resolution at up to 30 frames per second, in Full HD even at 60 frames per second, even though it belongs to the entry-level class. Now there is hardly anything standing in the way of high quality photos in this class. The recording is done in MP4 format with good quality compression to 100 Mbit/s. Full HD videos can also be recorded in AVCHD format. The integrated microphone records in stereo, and you can not only fade in a level indicator, but also adjust the level itself in four steps and switch on a wind noise filter. However, an external microphone connection is missing, as is manual exposure control. The autofocus reproduces moving motifs quickly and gently without attracting negative attention due to large pump effects. A flicker reduction is available for artificial light and the many filter effects for photos can also be applied to videos.

Although the GX850 (or GX800 outside US) does not offer a remote trigger connection, it has a WLAN function that not only transmits the captured images, but also remotely controls the camera including Live View and extensive setting options with the corresponding free app for iOS and Android. In addition, the smartphone can serve as a GPS logger and subsequently transfer the data via WLAN into the images photographed on the camera. More details about the remote control can be found in our photo tip in the further links.

If you want to edit the images in the camera, you will find some basic functions for this, even videos can be edited rudimentarily (split function to split a video into two sections). Raw shots can even be developed into JPEGs in the camera, and numerous parameters can be adjusted. The slide show function with its cross-fading effects and background music is also impressive and of course also works on a TV connected via HDMI.

On the right side of the Panasonic Lumix DC-GX850 (or GX800 outside US) case sit the only two interfaces: The Micro-HDMI socket and the Micro-USB connector, which also charges the battery. [Photo: Panasonic]

The left side of the case of the Panasonic Lumix DC-GX850 (or GX800 outside US) is very unexciting. The generous rubber coating in a grained leather look feels high-quality and gives the camera not only a retro look, but also the necessary grip. [Photo: Panasonic]

Picture quality

The Panasonic Lumix G Vario 12-32 mm 3.5-5.6 Asph. OIS was used as test lens for the GX850 (or GX800 outside US). The compact pancake zoom must first be unfolded by simply turning the zoom ring. In the wide angle as well as in the medium focal length, the lens shows a barrel shape, but this is especially noticeable in the wide angle position. The edge darkening, on the other hand, is low. Color fringes become visible at strong contrasting edges, especially towards the edge of the image, and can extend by up to two pixels at wide-angle and medium focal length; in the telephoto range the colour fringes are somewhat smaller and therefore barely visible.

The maximum resolution at 50 percent contrast is about 50 line pairs per millimeter (lp/mm) in 35mm equivalent, which is not too much for a 16 megapixel image sensor, but quite good enough. This maximum resolution is only achieved in the image center in wide-angle position. When dipping further than F5.6, diffraction slowly sets in, which already costs 20 percent of the resolution at F11 and becomes even stronger when dipping further. For highest resolution you should stay at F5.6 or dim down to F8, settings beyond F11 should be avoided. At medium and long focal lengths, the resolution in the center of the image is minimally lower, but this hardly matters at all. The resolution sloping towards the edge of the image, on the other hand, is quite problematic, at least for photos that are to be printed larger than DIN A4. The edge resolution is hardly more than 30 lp/mm even at the maximum and thus almost 40 percent below the center resolution. This is, besides the distortion, the biggest compromise you have to make with such a compact and inexpensive standard zoom. We already mentioned two supplementary lenses at the beginning of the test report, others can be found in our lens test section.

The GX850´s (or GX800 outside US) 16-megapixel sensor has got a bit older, at least in terms of resolution, but that doesn’t mean poor image quality at all. For example, the signal-to-noise ratio at ISO 100 is in the good range at over 40 dB and only falls below the critical 35 dB mark above ISO 1,600. Brightness noise only becomes visible from ISO 3,200, color noise plays practically no role. This is ensured by good noise reduction, which only reduces fine details measurably above ISO 1,600. This becomes visible at ISO 3.200, but only critically above ISO 6.400, where the images appear visibly softer. The input dynamic is very good with at least ten to over twelve f-stops and reaches its maximum at ISO 400.

The tonal value curve is divided into medium contrasts for a crisp presentation, and the sharpening is also easy to measure on the basis of the sharpness artifacts, but is not critically exaggerated. This makes the images in JPEG look sharp and rich in contrast, so they can be used without further post-processing. The raw recordings are better suited for more elaborate editing on the PC anyway. The output tonal range is particularly good at ISO 100 and 200, where brightness gradations are finely reproduced. Up to ISO 1.600 this value is in the good range of 160 and more gradations of 256 possible. The color fidelity of the GX850 (or GX800 outside US) is particularly good. Only a few colours show any deviations, these are not too strong. The manual white balance works perfectly, but in practice the automatic white balance is also well suited to most situations. The actual color depth is even very good up to high ISO 6,400, even here almost four million colors are still differentiated, at lower sensitivities it is almost eight million.

The 17.3 x 13 millimeter Four-Thirds sensor of the Panasonic Lumix DC-GX850 (or GX800 outside US) has a resolution of 16 megapixels. This is enough for a very good image quality up to ISO 1,600 and, with slight compromises, even at ISO 3,200.

The Panasonic Lumix DC-GX850’s replaceable lithium-ion battery is sufficient for just 210 CIPA-standard shots. The small Micro SD cards are particularly fiddly. It is best to put a sufficiently large one in and never take it out again.

Bottom line

The buyer of a Panasonic Lumix DC-GX850 gets a very good entry-level camera for just under 550 Euros (RRP), which offers even ambitious photographers many options and is even suitable as a first or particularly compact two-camera. The fact that the case is made of plastic does not stand out negatively, it appears robust and solidly manufactured. The design offers a successful symbiosis of modern and retro look. The equipment is very versatile, including a high-quality 4K video function and the useful 4K photo functions. Despite the very fast autofocus, the GX850 isn’t a real action camera, the continuous shooting rate is a bit too low for that. However, it is sufficient for many everyday situations. The image quality of the Lumix is very good up to ISO 1,600 and still quite usable at ISO 3,200, even though the GX800 is not one of the 16-megapixel cameras with the highest effective resolution. With a lens other than the set lens, the image quality, especially at the edge of the image, can be further increased.

Panasonic Lumix DC-GX850 (or GX800 outside US) Datasheet