Panasonic Lumix DC-GX800 vs Panasonic Lumix GX85 (GX80) — Which Is Better?

The Panasonic Lumix DC-GX800 is the pocketable pick of this pair, against the larger Panasonic Lumix GX85 (GX80). It measures 107 x 65 x 33 mm and weighs 269 g, against 122 x 71 x 44 mm and 426 g. That 157 g difference makes the GX800 much easier to carry.

Both are Micro Four Thirds mirrorless cameras, so either gives you the same native lens system. The GX85 arrived in 2016, the GX800 in 2017.

The GX85 is the stronger choice for handheld shooting in dim interiors or at slow shutter speeds, because it offers in-body stabilisation while the GX800 does not. With an unstabilised lens, that stabilisation steadies the frame when you photograph indoors without flash or take evening street scenes.

The GX85 offers a built-in 2,764,800-dot electronic viewfinder, while the GX800 has none, so bright sunlight means composing on its rear screen. The GX800's maximum burst is faster at 10 fps against 8 fps, suiting brief moments like a child mid-jump. Resolution matches at 16 MP, giving equal room to crop.

For slow motion, the GX85 is the stronger choice, offering a maximum 60 fps against 30 fps on the GX800. That headroom lets you slow a dancer or a passing cyclist to half speed in a 30 fps timeline.

Both record 4K video and offer a built-in timelapse mode, so a sunset sequence needs no accessories on either body. Both write MP4 and AVCHD files, giving the same editing choices.

The GX85 gives you more room to grow with lighting, because it supports an external flash while the GX800 does not. You can add a bounce flash for portraits or indoor events, and both keep a built-in flash for snapshots.

Both share a 3-inch flip-screen LCD with 1,040,000 dots, touch control and live view, so waist-level and self-framed shots work on either. Both offer Wi-Fi for phone transfer, and neither has GPS or weather sealing.

For a long day out, the GX85 is the better choice, rated at 290 shots per charge against 210 for the GX800. The GX85 also supports USB charging, so you can top it up from a power bank. Their battery packs differ, DMW-BLG10 versus DMW-BLH7.

The GX800 takes microSD cards while the GX85 uses full-size SD, so existing SD cards fit the GX85 directly. Neither has dual slots, so both write to a single card.