Sony lens quality is all over the place with the model. With m43, I'm not sure that there any bad lenses - although some (fast wide angles - that aren't even fast once equivalence is allowed for) are a horrible price.

GX80 build quality is poor from what I've seen - but then Sony have a bad reputation here too. And a lot of people dislike the GX80 evf. The G80 is a better built camera with a better evf, but there's quite a price difference.

rashid7 • Veteran Member • Posts: 7,197

Re: Panasonic GX80/85 or Sony A6300?

In reply to Stupot99 • Oct 16, 2017

1

we agonize over these choices... but really (!) every camera is a compromise. I think you have identified the big differences. Remember that while GX85 AF is good, AF on A6300 is peerless (among mirrorless). Conversely, though the Sony has better EVF, the UI/ergo on Lumix is best.

The clinchers, surly, are IBIS and lenses for m4/3

PS: u can add IBIS w/ A6500, but it will fall short of Dual IS! Even the effectiveness of basic IBIS is slightly less , due to the larger sensor size. Of course if u are looking for the best (stand-alone) IBIS, Olympus is

1

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aloli • Regular Member • Posts: 313

Re: Panasonic GX80/85 or Sony A6300?

In reply to Stupot99 • Oct 16, 2017

A6300 and GX85 aren't really comparable price wise. G85 would be a closer match, although you may be looking for the rangefinder build in which case I would suggest the GX8.

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Re: Panasonic GX80/85 or Sony A6300?

In reply to aloli • Oct 16, 2017

I just noticed your gear list and it shows you've already bought into the m4/3 system so for me, it's a simple call - stick with it and invest in some alternative glass that you can use with both bodies.

I bought the GX80 at the turn of the year for travelling and the dimensions are amazing for me when you include lenses - I just picked up a used Oly 45mm to add to my collection. The tricky thing for me is that I'd like the 12-35mm 2.8 but then suddenly I've lost the super-compact form factor that makes this camera so appealing....

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OP Stupot99 • Regular Member • Posts: 435

Re: Panasonic GX80/85 or Sony A6300?

In reply to rashid7 • Oct 16, 2017

rashid7 wrote: we agonize over these choices... but really (!) every camera is a compromise. I think you have identified the big differences. Remember that while GX85 AF is good, AF on A6300 is peerless (among mirrorless). Conversely, though the Sony has better EVF, the UI/ergo on Lumix is best.

The Sonys don't even have a touchscreen!

The clinchers, surly, are IBIS and lenses for m4/3

Yes, these are the features that matter (to me)

PS: u can add IBIS w/ A6500, but it will fall short of Dual IS! Even the effectiveness of basic IBIS is slightly less , due to the larger sensor size. Of course if u are looking for the best (stand-alone) IBIS, Olympus is

1

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Thanks

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OP Stupot99 • Regular Member • Posts: 435

Re: Panasonic GX80/85 or Sony A6300?

Yes I have some m43 now but not a lot. If there was a compelling reason to change then I would, but so far m43 seems more compact when lenses are taken into account.

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jalywol • Forum Pro • Posts: 12,923

Re: Panasonic GX80/85 or Sony A6300?

In reply to Stupot99 • Oct 16, 2017

4

Stupot99 wrote: I am looking to buy a new camera body and as I am not irrevokably wedded to m43 I am considered the GX80/85 and the Sony A6000 or A6300. Factors that are most important to me: size, weight, still image quality, cost. Unimportant: video. The GX80 and the Sonys are similar size and weight, the Sonys cost a bit more. Biggest plus for the GX80: IBIS - I would really like this for stabilisation with primes. Biggest plus for the Sonys: sensor size and pixels. Then I need to consider lenses. I really like the compact m43 lenses like the PL 15mm and 35-100mm f/4-5.6. Sony lenses are a bit of an unknown for me, but neither the 16-50mm or 20mm f/2.8 get great reviews. The 28-70mm is too big and the 16-70mm is also too big as well as expensive. Sigma have some decent primes at 19mm and 30mm but there do not appear to be any compact zooms other than the Sony 16-50mm.

Unless you want to go big with the Sony lenses, and get their FF versions, the APSC lens lineup for the Sonys is pretty mediocre and kind of expensive. You have many, many, more options in the lens department with M43, at a variety of price points and from more than one manufacturer. Honestly, you would be better served by staying with M43 and getting one of the 20 MP bodies than getting the Sony and having to live in that ecosystem.....(If you were planing to go full frame, then I would say go for the Sony FE system, but the APSC Sonys are a sideways move that gains you some in pixels and loses you more than some in lenses.) And, I have owned an A6000, lots of M43, and an A7. I got the A6000 when I was looking for a small second camera to use along with my A7, and I really didn't care for it at all. It wasn't enough of an improvement over M43 (IMO), and I was thoroughly unimpressed with the lenses, so I would have had to use my large FE lenses on it anyway to get the output I was looking for, so I sold it, and just kept the FE system. Eventually I got a GM5 as my small camera, and then ended up selling the A7 anyway and going completely back to M43 with the addition of a GX8 to the GM5. Works better for how I am using the camera system at the moment, anyway, so I'm happy.

-J

captura • Forum Pro • Posts: 27,478

Re: Panasonic GX80/85 or Sony A6300?

In reply to Stupot99 • Oct 16, 2017

Stupot99 wrote:

I am looking to buy a new camera body and as I am not irrevokably wedded to m43 I am considered the GX80/85 and the Sony A6000 or A6300. Factors that are most important to me: size, weight, still image quality, cost. Unimportant: video. The GX80 and the Sonys are similar size and weight, the Sonys cost a bit more. Biggest plus for the GX80: IBIS - I would really like this for stabilisation with primes. Biggest plus for the Sonys: sensor size and pixels. Then I need to consider lenses. I really like the compact m43 lenses like the PL 15mm and 35-100mm f/4-5.6. Sony lenses are a bit of an unknown for me, but neither the 16-50mm or 20mm f/2.8 get great reviews. The 28-70mm is too big and the 16-70mm is also too big as well as expensive. Sigma have some decent primes at 19mm and 30mm but there do not appear to be any compact zooms other than the Sony 16-50mm.

So, unless I have missed something (have I?), the GX80 seems to best fit my requirements. Thoughts?

Yes, the Sony FE 28-70, being designed to accommodate the full-frame bodies as well, is quite large. But it it is very lightweight, weighing only 295 gm. I have achieved excellent results with it.

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aljudy • Senior Member • Posts: 1,208

Re: Panasonic GX80/85 or Sony A6300?

In reply to umptious • Oct 16, 2017

13

umptious wrote: GX80 build quality is poor from what I've seen

Huh? What is it you have seen? I have a GX85 and see nothing but great build quality.

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brad1242 • Forum Member • Posts: 62

Re: Panasonic GX80/85 or Sony A6300?

In reply to jalywol • Oct 16, 2017

1

If you haven't used the GX85 in person, I would highly suggest you do that before you make a decision. M43 as a system seems to have a lot of advantages over the Sony APS-C models, mainly in lens selection and price. However, I shoot through the EVF almost exclusively, and the EVF on the GX85 is completely unusable to my eyes. The field sequential design apparently affects some people more than others, but the crappy blurry plastic optics they use in the viewfinder should affect everyone - it truly looks terrible. I would consider the GX85 as a replacement to my EM10 if it weren't for the useless EVF. The G7 EVF is better, and I'd assume the G85 is even better given the reviews, but I could never use the GX85 on a daily basis, it would just annoy me / give me headaches with the blurry rainbow kaleidoscope they call an EVF.

Re: Panasonic GX80/85 or Sony A6300?

In reply to rashid7 • Oct 16, 2017

1

rashid7 wrote:

we agonize over these choices... but really (!) every camera is a compromise. I think you have identified the big differences. Remember that while GX85 AF is good, AF on A6300 is peerless (among mirrorless). Conversely, though the Sony has better EVF, the UI/ergo on Lumix is best.

The clinchers, surly, are IBIS and lenses for m4/3

PS: u can add IBIS w/ A6500, but it will fall short of Dual IS! Even the effectiveness of basic IBIS is slightly less , due to the larger sensor size. Of course if u are looking for the best (stand-alone) IBIS, Olympus is

1

Yeah I don't think that's true. For AF-S, almost all modern mirrorless cameras perform fantastically with Panasonic being regarded as one of the best. For AF-C tracking, the 6300/6500 are definitely ahead of most mirrorless cameras but they're still not the best. The a9 is currently the undisputed king in the mirrorless world and it comes quite close to the D5 in most regards.

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captura • Forum Pro • Posts: 27,478

Re: Panasonic GX80/85 or Sony A6300?

In reply to jalywol • Oct 16, 2017

jalywol wrote:

Stupot99 wrote: I am looking to buy a new camera body and as I am not irrevokably wedded to m43 I am considered the GX80/85 and the Sony A6000 or A6300. Factors that are most important to me: size, weight, still image quality, cost. Unimportant: video. The GX80 and the Sonys are similar size and weight, the Sonys cost a bit more. Biggest plus for the GX80: IBIS - I would really like this for stabilisation with primes. Biggest plus for the Sonys: sensor size and pixels. Then I need to consider lenses. I really like the compact m43 lenses like the PL 15mm and 35-100mm f/4-5.6. Sony lenses are a bit of an unknown for me, but neither the 16-50mm or 20mm f/2.8 get great reviews. The 28-70mm is too big and the 16-70mm is also too big as well as expensive. Sigma have some decent primes at 19mm and 30mm but there do not appear to be any compact zooms other than the Sony 16-50mm.

Unless you want to go big with the Sony lenses, and get their FF versions, the APSC lens lineup for the Sonys is pretty mediocre and kind of expensive. You have many, many, more options in the lens department with M43, at a variety of price points and from more than one manufacturer. Honestly, you would be better served by staying with M43 and getting one of the 20 MP bodies than getting the Sony and having to live in that ecosystem.....(If you were planing to go full frame, then I would say go for the Sony FE system, but the APSC Sonys are a sideways move that gains you some in pixels and loses you more than some in lenses.) And, I have owned an A6000, lots of M43, and an A7. I got the A6000 when I was looking for a small second camera to use along with my A7, and I really didn't care for it at all. It wasn't enough of an improvement over M43 (IMO), and I was thoroughly unimpressed with the lenses, so I would have had to use my large FE lenses on it anyway to get the output I was looking for, so I sold it, and just kept the FE system. Eventually I got a GM5 as my small camera, and then ended up selling the A7 anyway and going completely back to M43 with the addition of a GX8 to the GM5. Works better for how I am using the camera system at the moment, anyway, so I'm happy.

-J

You didn't mention which Sony lenses you had back in the days with your A6000.

I run both systems and have found some exceptional lenses from the Sony camp, (as well as M43.) My favorite Sony-APSC lens is the Zeiss 24mm f1.8.

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/4132680

Others are the 35/1.8, 50/1.8 and 55-210 zoom, the latter being nicer than my Olympus 45-150.

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Re: Panasonic GX80/85 or Sony A6300?

In reply to Stupot99 • Oct 16, 2017

1

My first mirrorless was the Sony NEX-5N. It came with kit lens: 18-55 iirc. It was supposed to replace my D90 dSLR.

I dump the kit lens and bought a Sigma 19/2.8 and 30/2.8. For me, the most important reason going mirrorless was to shrink what goes into my bag - both body and lenses - and it was a conscious decision on my part to shoot with prime lens as much as possible (like I did during my film days). The love affair lasted about 6 months - expensive mistake because those affordable prime lenses didn't materialize (this was back in 2013). Don't get me started on the menu system.

I'll take my GX85(despite its questionable EVF) over A6300 any day as what is a camera system without a good selection of lenses?

If video was not important, I'd take an EM10.ii in a heartbeat.

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JakeJY • Veteran Member • Posts: 5,555

Re: Panasonic GX80/85 or Sony A6300?

In reply to Stupot99 • Oct 16, 2017

I suggest going to a store to get a feel for both of them in use. The GX85 gets complaints about its EVF and grip. The a6300 is very similar in ergo, but the menu system gets complaints (and lack of touch screen can be annoying).

In the US, Bestbuy might have both (check their website to see if they have a display unit).

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BostonC • Contributing Member • Posts: 642

Re: Panasonic GX80/85 or Sony A6300?

In reply to Stupot99 • Oct 16, 2017

1

a6300 has a 24mp sensor, that's like 50% more pixels than GX85's. Of course that makes a difference for picture resolution, esp in cropping. Its PDAF is better, esp in video. Though for stills, GX85 can focus in low light far better than a6300 , -4EV vs -1EV.

To move the AF point, one needs constantly press the keypad as arrows on a6300. The GX85's touchscreen serves as the AF thumbpad, that's vastly superior. Others already mentioned IBIS, that's a must esp for video.

OP Stupot99 • Regular Member • Posts: 435

Re: Panasonic GX80/85 or Sony A6300?

In reply to jalywol • Oct 16, 2017

Thanks

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maltmoose • Veteran Member • Posts: 3,389

Re: Panasonic GX80/85 or Sony A6300?

In reply to Stupot99 • Oct 16, 2017

Stupot99 wrote: Thanks

If you go the a6300 route i strongly recommend you know exactly what lenses you will use it with. Do not rely on sony to release new apsc lenses, they havnt in years.

I use both m43 and sony/fuji

I quite like the sony 20 f2.8, 28 f2 / 35 1.8 , sigma 60, and 16-50 kit lens.

Its pretty small and inexpensive if bought 2nd hand. quality is variable but good enough.

i actually bought the a6300 instead of the gx85 as wanted a decent evf and the gx85 evf was poor. no regrets.

If you dont need video how about the oly em10 2 or 3?

Re: Panasonic GX80/85 or Sony A6300?

In reply to aljudy • Oct 16, 2017

2

aljudy wrote:

umptious wrote: GX80 build quality is poor from what I've seen

Huh? What is it you have seen? I have a GX85 and see nothing but great build quality.

+1 the build quality is very good.

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WT21 • Veteran Member • Posts: 5,501

Re: Panasonic GX80/85 or Sony A6300?

In reply to Stupot99 • Oct 17, 2017

Stupot99 wrote:

I am looking to buy a new camera body and as I am not irrevokably wedded to m43 I am considered the GX80/85 and the Sony A6000 or A6300. Factors that are most important to me: size, weight, still image quality, cost. Unimportant: video. The GX80 and the Sonys are similar size and weight, the Sonys cost a bit more. Biggest plus for the GX80: IBIS - I would really like this for stabilisation with primes. Biggest plus for the Sonys: sensor size and pixels. Then I need to consider lenses. I really like the compact m43 lenses like the PL 15mm and 35-100mm f/4-5.6. Sony lenses are a bit of an unknown for me, but neither the 16-50mm or 20mm f/2.8 get great reviews. The 28-70mm is too big and the 16-70mm is also too big as well as expensive. Sigma have some decent primes at 19mm and 30mm but there do not appear to be any compact zooms other than the Sony 16-50mm.

So, unless I have missed something (have I?), the GX80 seems to best fit my requirements. Thoughts?

If Sony has the lenses you want, then you are fine, but their lens options are limited.

For any Sony lens, it can be: great, compact, or cheap. Pick one (often not even two!). m43 lenses, you usually get two and sometimes all 3 in a single lens.

Sony handling is, to me, uninspiring. m43 always feels more fun and more creative. That's a personal thing, of course.

I cannot argue that Sony output is richer, more saturated and cleaner. It certainly is.

But I choose size, price and lens options over the slightly better output of APS-C (it's very marginally better. The output of the Sony full frame is notably better)

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