Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX80HEF Panasonic - Review 🏆

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Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX80HEF Panasonic - Review 🏆

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX80HEF Panasonic - Review 🏆

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Brand: ‎Panasonic
Model Number: DMC-GX80HEF-S
Colour: ‎black / silver
Effective Still Resolution: ‎16 MP
Has Image Stabilisation: ‎Yes
Item Weight: ‎383 Grams
Max Focal Length: ‎280 Millimetres
Model Year: ‎2019
Zoom Type: ‎digital zoom,optical zoom
Brand: Panasonic
Effective Still Resolution: 16 MP
Model Name: DMC-GX80HEF
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Review and analysis

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX80 is a mid-range mirrorless camera that offers a well-rounded set of features for both photo and video enthusiasts. Part of Panasonic's GX series of rangefinder-style cameras, the GX80 features a 16MP Four Thirds sensor with no optical low-pass filter for maximum sharpness and detail. It's capable of recording 4K video, has built-in 5-axis image stabilization, and uses Panasonic's Depth from Defocus autofocus system for fast, accurate focusing. Some key specs include a max ISO of 25,600, 9fps continuous shooting, and a high resolution 2.76 million dot electronic viewfinder. Overall, the GX80 hits a nice sweet spot between price, performance and portability. It provides ample imaging capabilities in a compact, stylish body.

Design and Build

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX80HEF has a sleek and compact design despite packing in an array of features. It measures 122 x 71 x 44 mm and weighs 426g with the battery and memory card included. The body is slim and lightweight, making it easy to carry around all day.

The camera has a classic rangefinder-style body with clean lines and minimal protrusions. It is available in two stylish colors - classic black or silver. The body is made of metal which gives it a sturdy, premium feel. The handgrip is deep enough to allow for a firm and comfortable hold. There are ample physical controls including dials to quickly access key settings. Overall, the GX80 has a well-built body that looks great while still remaining highly functional.

Image Sensor

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX80HEF features a 16 megapixel Live MOS sensor that delivers detailed, high-resolution images. The Four Thirds sized sensor measures 17.3 x 13mm, providing a good balance between image quality and camera size.

With a resolution of 4592 x 3448 pixels, the sensor is capable of capturing sharp images with plenty of detail. This makes the GX80 a great choice for landscape, architecture and portrait photography where you want to be able to crop images or print large.

The Live MOS sensor design also means fast autofocus speeds and reduced rolling shutter effect when shooting video. Overall, the 16MP Four Thirds sensor provides an excellent combination of resolution, low noise, dynamic range and speed for both photos and videos.

Video Capabilities

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX80 is capable of recording high-quality 4K video, allowing it to capture fine details and textures in motion. It can record 4K video (3840 x 2160 pixels) at 30p/25p/24p frame rates in the MP4 format.

4K video is recorded at a high bitrate of 100 Mbps, resulting in minimal compression artifacts and smooth gradation between colors. This allows the GX80 to preserve the highest video resolution possible. The 4K video footage exhibits excellent sharpness and clarity.

The inclusion of 4K video recording makes the GX80 adept at videography needs beyond just taking photos. You can extract high-resolution 8MP still images from the 4K video as well. Overall, the 4K video capabilities provide advanced imaging possibilities with the GX80.

Autofocus System

The Lumix GX80 features a contrast-detect autofocus system with 49 focus points across the frame. This allows for quick and precise focusing across a wide area.

Some key aspects of the autofocus capabilities:

Focus Modes

The GX80 offers various focus modes including AFS (single), AFF (continuous), AFC (continuous), MF (manual focus), as well as Face/Eye Detection AF. The single and continuous modes allow you to capture both still subjects and moving subjects accurately.

Autofocus Points

The 49 autofocus points cover a broad area of the frame, around 80% vertically and horizontally. This allows you to focus on subjects at the edge of the frame. The autofocus points work down to -4 EV brightness levels.

Tracking Capabilities

For moving subjects, the GX80 can use Depth from Defocus technology to quickly calculate distance and keep focus on the subject. This results in fast and accurate tracking of subjects in motion. The tracking works well for people, animals, and other moving objects.

Overall, the autofocus system in the GX80 performs very reliably for both still shots and video recording. The hybrid of contrast and depth from defocus AF technologies allows fast, precise focusing in various conditions.

Image Stabilization

The Lumix DMC-GX80HEF features a 5-axis sensor-shift image stabilization system. This in-body stabilization provides up to 4 stops of compensation to minimize the appearance of camera shake for both photo and video shooting.

The sensor-shift design means all mounted lenses are stabilized, even older lenses not originally designed for stabilization. This is a key advantage over lens-based stabilization systems.

Having stabilization built into the camera body also allows for better stabilization during video recording. The in-body design avoids the slight shifts in framing that can occur with optical stabilization lenses.

With both photo and video shooting, the 5-axis system detects and compensates for vertical, horizontal, and rotational camera movement. This results in clearer, sharper images when shooting handheld or in low light conditions.

Overall, the built-in sensor-shift stabilization gives the GX80HEF excellent low light abilities and versatility when using a wide range of lenses. The in-body design is a standout feature compared to other cameras in this class.

Viewfinder and LCD

The Lumix DMC-GX80HEF features a high resolution 2.76 million dot OLED electronic viewfinder. This provides a bright, clear view that rivals optical viewfinders. The 0.7x magnification (35mm equivalent) delivers a large, immersive view of your subject.

Complementing the EVF is a 3 inch, 1.04 million dot tilting LCD touchscreen. The vari-angle design allows you to tilt the screen up by 180 degrees and down by 45 degrees. This is useful when shooting from high or low angles. The touch capability allows intuitive control over focus, menu navigation and image playback. Overall, the EVF and LCD offer flexibility for composing and reviewing shots in various conditions.

Connectivity

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX80HEF offers a decent range of connectivity options to transfer files and remote control the camera.

In terms of ports, it has micro HDMI and USB 2.0 Micro-B ports. The micro HDMI allows you to connect the camera to an external monitor or TV to playback photos and videos. The USB port can be used to transfer files to a computer or charge the battery.

For wireless connectivity, the GX80HEF has built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth LE. The Wi-Fi allows you to wirelessly transfer images to a mobile device using the Panasonic Image App. It also enables remote camera control from your smartphone or tablet. Bluetooth LE provides a persistent low-power connection to your mobile device for quick image transfer and remote waking of the camera.

Overall, the connectivity options on the GX80HEF allow seamless sharing and transfer of photos and videos as well as remote control functionality. The inclusion of Bluetooth is a nice addition for maintaining a constant connection with your mobile device.

Battery Life

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX80 is powered by a DMW-BLG10E lithium-ion battery pack. This battery is rated for 290 shots per charge based on the CIPA testing standard.

The CIPA rating provides a useful benchmark for comparing battery life across cameras. It involves taking a series of shots with the viewfinder or LCD screen being turned on and off, flash being used for 50% of the shots, and the camera set to standard temperature.

290 shots per charge is a fairly typical battery life for a mirrorless camera. It's adequate for casual use, but you'll want to carry a spare battery for all-day outings or travel. The camera can be charged via USB which is convenient when travelling.

Overall, the GX80's battery life is similar to comparable mirrorless cameras in this price range. The battery rating shouldn't be a major factor in deciding between the GX80 and competitor models. Just be sure to budget for a spare battery or two if you plan to shoot heavily over long periods between recharging.

Pros and Cons

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX80HEF has a lot going for it as a mid-range mirrorless camera, but it's not perfect. Here's a quick rundown of the main pros and cons:

Pros

  • Excellent image quality from 16MP Live MOS sensor
  • Versatile array of 4K video modes
  • Fast autofocus with Depth from Defocus (DFD) technology
  • 5-axis in-body image stabilization works well
  • Tilting touchscreen LCD with good resolution
  • Electronic viewfinder included
  • Built-in WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity

Cons

  • No weather sealing on body
  • Mediocre battery life
  • No headphone jack
  • Single SD card slot
  • No phase detect AF points for tracking fast action

The GX80 provides really impressive image quality, video features, and stabilization considering its mid-range price point. The autofocus, LCD, and EVF are all solid performers too. But the lack of weather sealing, short battery life, and mediocre continuous AF may be issues for some users. Overall though, the GX80 packs a lot of value and remains highly capable for travel and everyday shooting.

More Information

Features of Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX80HEF MILC 16 MP Live MOS 4592 x 3448 pixels Black, Silver - Digital Cameras (16 MP, 4592 x 3448 pixels, Live MOS, 2x, 4K Ultra HD, Black, Silver)
Brand‎Panasonic
Model NumberDMC-GX80HEF-S
Colour‎black / silver
Effective Still Resolution‎16 MP
Has Image Stabilisation‎Yes
Item Weight‎383 Grams
Max Focal Length‎280 Millimetres
Model Year‎2019
Zoom Type‎digital zoom,optical zoom
BrandPanasonic
Effective Still Resolution16 MP
Model NameDMC-GX80HEF

Сomparison table

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ModelPanasonic Lumix DMC-GX80HEFFujifilm XF50mmF1.0 R WRCasio Exilim EX-ZR10Nikon D500 BodyRicoh Theta SC2 for business
BrandPanasonicFujifilmCasioNikonRicoh
Model NumberDMC-GX80HEF-S16664339EX-ZR10SREDA1559-
Camera Lens-‎50 mm‎28 mm--
Colour‎black / silver-‎Silver‎Black-
Continuous Shooting Speed--‎3 fps‎10 fps-
Effective Still Resolution16 MP-12.1 MP20.9 MP14 MP
Focus Type-‎Auto Focus---
Has Image Stabilisation‎Yes‎No‎Yes‎No-
Included Components-‎Fujinon XF50 mmF1.0 R WR; lens cap; bayonet cap RLCP-001; lens hood; swaddling cloth; instruction manual (English language not guaranteed).---
Item Weight‎383 Grams‎820 Grams‎149 Grams‎1.9 Pounds-
Max Focal Length‎280 Millimetres‎50 Millimetres‎196 Millimetres‎200 Millimetres-
Maximum Shutter Speed---‎1/8000 to 30 seconds-
Min Focal Length-‎50 Millimetres‎28 Millimetres--
Minimum Shutter Speed--‎CMOS電子/メカシャッター併用シャッタースピード※:オート:1~1/2000秒夜景:4~1/2000秒‎30 seconds-
Model Year‎2019-‎2010‎2016-
Zoom Type‎digital zoom,optical zoom-‎Optical Zoom--
Photo Sensor Size---Formato pieno (35 mm)-
Model NameDMC-GX80HEF-Exilim EXD500 BodysuitTheta SC2

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ModelPanasonic LUMIX DC-FZ10002EBPanasonic DC-TZ200DEGKPanasonic Lumix DC-FZ1000 IIPanasonic Lumix TZ200Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ2000Panasonic Lumix FZ2000
BrandPanasonicPanasonicPanasonicPanasonicPanasonicPanasonic
Model NumberDC-FZ10002EB-DC-FZ1000IIDC-TZ200EF-SDMC-FZ2000EFDMC-FZ2000EF
Camera Lens‎400 mm--‎360 mm‎24 mm‎480 mm
Colour‎Black--‎Silver‎Black‎Black
Continuous Shooting Speed‎20 fps--‎30 fps-‎30 fps
Effective Still Resolution20.1 MP20.1 MP20.1 MP19.96 MP20.1 MP20.1 MP
Focus Type‎Automatic with Manual Mode--‎Auto Focus‎Auto Focus‎Auto Focus
Has Image Stabilisation‎Yes---‎Yes‎Yes
Included Components‎Camera Body & Accessories--‎Camera body only-‎Camera Body Only
Item Weight‎1.27 Kilograms--‎0.3 Kilograms‎915 Grams‎915 Grams
Max Focal Length‎146 Millimetres--‎390 Millimetres‎480 Millimetres-
Maximum Shutter Speed‎1/16000 seconds---‎60 seconds-
Memory Slots Available‎1---‎1-
Min Focal Length‎9.1 Millimetres--‎24 Millimetres‎24 Millimetres‎24 Millimetres
Minimum Shutter Speed‎1/4000 seconds-----
Model Year‎2019--‎2018‎2016-
Style-----‎Hybrid
Zoom Type‎Optical Zoom--‎Optical Zoom‎Optical Zoom‎Optical Zoom
Photo Sensor Size1-inch-1 inches1 inches1 inches1 inches
Model NameDC-FZ10002EBLumix TZ200DEGKLUMIX DC-FZ1000IILumixLUMIXLumix FZ2000

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