Panasonic Lumix DC-GX880KEGS Panasonic - Review 🏆

The Panasonic Lumix DC-GX880 is a compact and lightweight mirrorless camera that packs some impressive features into a small form factor. Part of Panasonic's entry-level GX series, it's designed to appeal to photographers looking for a highly portable camera that still delivers great image quality.

Some of the GX880's key features include a 16MP Four Thirds sensor, 4K video recording, fast contrast-detect autofocus, 5-axis in-body image stabilization, and built-in WiFi for wireless image transfer. It also has a tilting touchscreen LCD, making it easy to shoot from creative angles. The inclusion of 4K video and Panasonic's Depth from Defocus autofocus system make the GX880 a versatile choice for both stills and video.

At the heart of the camera is a Micro Four Thirds lens mount, which gives access to one of the most extensive collections of compact, high-quality lenses. Panasonic bundles the GX880 with a compact 12-32mm kit lens, providing a versatile wide-angle to short telephoto zoom range. Overall, the GX880 aims to deliver DSLR-like image quality and performance in a compact, user-friendly package.

Design and Build

The Panasonic Lumix DC-GX880KEGS has a sleek and stylish design that is compact and lightweight. It weighs only 269g with the kit lens, making it very easy to carry around. The body is made of metal and high-grade plastic which gives it a premium look and feel. Despite its small size, the camera is comfortable to hold thanks to its deep grip. The buttons and dials are intuitively placed for easy operation.

The GX880's compact body retains some manual control points like the mode dial and control dial. There is ample rubber padding on the grip which makes it easy to hold the camera securely. The build quality is excellent with no creaking or flexing. Overall, the design focuses on portability without compromising on handling and usability. The GX880 strikes a nice balance of being a capable and user-friendly camera in a highly compact form factor.

In contrast, the Panasonic DC-GH5MEF-K offers a more robust design tailored for advanced video features. It features a weather-sealed body, making it suitable for various shooting conditions. The GH5's ergonomic design is complemented by extensive customization options, allowing users to tailor button functions to their preferences. To explore more about this powerful camera, check out the Panasonic DC-GH5MEF-K.

Image Sensor

The Panasonic Lumix DC-GX880KEGS comes equipped with a Four Thirds sized 16 megapixel Live MOS sensor. This provides good resolution for printing large sizes while keeping file sizes manageable. The Four Thirds size sensor is smaller than APS-C sensors found in some other mirrorless cameras, but still larger than the sensors in point and shoot cameras and smartphones. This helps the GX880 balance image quality with camera and lens size.

16 megapixels strikes a nice balance between resolution and low light performance. More megapixels allow you to crop more or print larger, but too many megapixels on a small sensor can lead to more noise at high ISOs. The 16MP sensor in the GX880 captures plenty of detail while keeping noise well controlled up to ISO 3200. Overall the sensor size and resolution are well matched to the compact body and kit lens of this camera.

Image Quality

The Panasonic Lumix DC-GX880 offers impressive image quality for a camera of its size and price point. It's equipped with a 16MP Four Thirds sensor and Venus Engine image processor, allowing it to capture sharp, detailed photos and 4K video.

Still photos show excellent resolution, with a good balance of sharpness and natural noise reduction up to mid-range ISOs. Noise is controlled very well up to ISO 1600, with only minimal grain visible at ISO 3200. Colors are rendered accurately and pleasingly in JPEGs straight from the camera. There's plenty of detail thanks to the lack of an anti-alias filter on the sensor.

4K video quality is another highlight, with 3840 x 2160 footage up to 30fps. The footage shows exceptional sharpness and clarity, making the GX880 a great choice for vlogging and video creation on a budget. Slow motion options are available at 1080p resolution, with 120fps capture for smooth slow motion playback. Overall, the image quality punches above the camera's class for both stills and video.

Autofocus and Performance

The Lumix GX880 offers fast and accurate autofocus performance thanks to the contrast detection autofocus system. It includes Face/Eye Detection AF which can automatically detect and focus on human faces and eyes. This makes it easy to capture sharp portraits.

For flexibility, the GX880 provides a range of AF modes including the popular 49-area Custom Multi mode where you can select specific areas to focus on. There's also Pinpoint AF which allows you to precisely focus on the part of a scene you want. In practice, the autofocus is very snappy and locks on quickly even in low light conditions.

The GX880 can shoot continuously at up to 10 frames per second, or 6fps with continuous autofocus. This is great for capturing fast action shots. The autofocus does slow down a bit when shooting in continuous drive mode but still performs respectably well for a camera in this class.

Overall, the GX880 delivers fast, accurate autofocus performance that will satisfy most users. The Face/Eye Detection works great for portraits while the Custom Multi and Pinpoint modes provide flexibility when shooting other subjects. It can handle some action too thanks to the 10fps burst mode.

Video Recording

The Lumix GX880 offers excellent video capabilities for a camera of its size and price range. It can record ultra high definition 4K video at 30p/25p/24p with no crop, resulting in highly detailed footage.

For slow motion, the GX880 provides 1080p Full HD recording at up to 120fps. This allows you to capture smooth, slowed-down footage for creative effects during editing. Slow motion video can be recorded at 120fps, 100fps or 60fps depending on your desired playback.

The camera utilizes advanced video formats like H.264 and MP4 compression to maximize quality while minimizing file sizes. This helps ensure your videos retain detail without taking up too much storage space.

Useful video-centric features are included like 4K Live Cropping which lets you pan and zoom within the 4K frame for stabilized 1080p output. There is also a dedicated video record button, microphone input, and manual video controls like exposure compensation.

Overall, the GX880 packs an impressive range of video modes and settings into its compact body. Casual and enthusiast video shooters will appreciate the high-quality 4K recording and slow motion capabilities.

Connectivity and Battery

The Panasonic Lumix DC-GX880KEGS comes with built-in WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity for wireless image transfer and remote camera control via the Panasonic Image App. It has a Micro HDMI port to output video and images to an external monitor or TV.

For power, it uses a rechargeable Lithium Ion battery that's CIPA-rated for 210 shots per charge. While not the highest battery life, it's decent for a compact mirrorless camera. The battery can be charged in-camera via USB.

Overall, the connectivity options are standard for this class of camera. The WiFi and Bluetooth make wireless connectivity convenient. Most users will be satisfied with the battery life for casual shooting, but may need spares for all-day outings.

Ease of Use

The Lumix DC-GX880 is very easy to use, making it a great choice for beginner photographers. The camera has a simple and intuitive control layout that allows you to quickly access the most important shooting functions.

The mode dial on top of the camera provides quick access to frequently used shooting modes like Intelligent Auto, Creative Control, Panorama Shot, Scene Guide, and Video. Intelligent Auto mode analyzes the scene and automatically selects the optimal settings, allowing you to just point and shoot.

The 3-inch touchscreen LCD makes changing settings very straightforward. You can easily navigate the clear and understandable menu system by tapping on the screen. Important options like white balance, ISO, drive mode, and focus mode can be accessed via the on-screen Q.Menu.

There are also dedicated physical buttons for key functions like photo/video toggle, 4K photo mode, and exposure compensation. The camera lacks a front dial for changing aperture/shutter speed in manual mode, but you can use the adjustment lever or touchscreen instead.

Overall, the well-designed interface and touchscreen focus makes the GX880 very intuitive for both beginner and more advanced users. The variety of shooting modes and controls provide room to grow as your skills develop.

Value for Money

The Panasonic Lumix DC-GX880 offers excellent value for money as a compact interchangeable lens camera system.

At around £400 for the camera body and kit lens, it is very competitively priced against other entry-level mirrorless cameras like the Canon EOS M50 and Fujifilm X-A5. The inclusion of the 12-32mm kit lens makes the GX880 an especially affordable way to get started with interchangeable lenses.

While the GX880 does not have some of the advanced features or robust build quality of higher-end models, it packs an impressive amount for the price. The combination of 4K video, 4K photo modes, built-in WiFi, a 180-degree flip touchscreen, and Panasonic's Depth from Defocus autofocus technology make this a very capable and versatile camera given its affordable price point.

Image quality is also very good for its class, producing sharp, vivid photos and video, aided by Panasonic's excellent JPEG processing and lens technology. The compact, lightweight design also makes it an ideal travel camera.

For those getting started in photography or looking for an affordable secondary camera, the GX880 offers tremendous value. More advanced users may want to consider spending more for additional features and controls, but overall the GX880 punches far above its weight given the reasonable asking price.

Conclusion

The Panasonic Lumix DC-GX880 is a capable and versatile mirrorless camera that packs some impressive features into a compact body. It's a great option for photographers looking for a lightweight and portable camera that still delivers excellent image quality.

Some of the key pros of this camera include its compact and stylish design, good image quality from the 16MP sensor, fast autofocus, 4K video recording, and built-in WiFi for easy photo sharing. The inclusion of a 12-32mm kit lens also makes this a great value bundle for beginners.

However, there are some drawbacks to consider. The camera lacks weather sealing, has a relatively short battery life, and doesn't have a viewfinder. Low light performance is also just average. The plastic build quality feels a bit cheap compared to higher-end models.

Overall, the GX880 hits a sweet spot between portability, features, and image quality. For casual photographers wanting a lightweight mirrorless camera that can shoot both great stills and video, it's an excellent option that comes at an affordable price point. Just be aware of its limitations in low light situations and lack of a viewfinder. But if you can work within those constraints, the GX880 delivers tremendous value.