Olympus E-M10 II vs Panasonic GX85

Olympus E-M10 II vs Panasonic GX85: An Expert's In-Depth Mirrorless Comparison

In this comprehensive evaluation, we pit two Micro Four Thirds mirrorless champions - the Olympus OM-D E-M10 II and the Panasonic Lumix GX85 - against each other across a broad range of photographic disciplines and technical parameters. Both cameras sit in the enthusiast segment, yet their design philosophies and feature sets reveal distinct approaches to usability, image quality, and versatility. Drawing from hands-on laboratory metrics, extensive field testing, and practical experience, this article aims to provide a granular yet accessible guide to help photography enthusiasts and professional users discern which system best addresses their creative priorities and operational demands.

Tackling Size, Handling & Physical Ergonomics

Before diving into specs, the tactile experience of a camera is often the most immediate factor shaping user satisfaction, especially over extended shoots or travel.

• Olympus E-M10 II: Adopting an SLR-style mirrorless body, the Olympus measures 120x83x47 mm and weighs a moderate 390 grams. Its moderately deep grip and retro-inspired dials favor photographers who value robust mechanical controls and a firm hold while balancing portability.

• Panasonic GX85: The GX85’s rangefinder-style, slightly more compact frame measures 122x71x44 mm and weighs 426 grams, reflecting a sleeker, less bulky footprint. The thinner body and reduced depth can benefit street photographers and travelers seeking discretion.

While both cameras feature solid build quality, neither model offers weather sealing, which is a clear limitation for outdoor and landscape specialists needing resilience under adverse conditions. The GX85’s slimmer profile, though elegant, translates to a smaller grip that may challenge extended handheld use for users with larger hands.

Control Layout: Navigating Intuition and Responsiveness

User interface design directly influences the speed of camera operation and overall shooting modality.

• Olympus E-M10 II: True to Olympus’ heritage, the camera sports dedicated physical dials for shutter speed and exposure compensation, alongside a mode dial prominently positioned. It offers excellent manual control responsiveness, favored by photographers who rely on tactile feedback and quick adjustments during shoots.

• Panasonic GX85: The GX85 balances manual control with a contemporary design incorporating a customizable function button and a mode dial. While its top layout is clean, the lack of dedicated exposure compensation dial might lengthen the adjustment process for some.

Both cameras employ tilting LCDs and electronic viewfinders (EVFs), but their control ergonomics differ subtly in button placement and grip-style, affecting their usability in dynamic shooting scenarios such as sports or wildlife photography.

Sensor Characteristics and Image Quality Profiles

At a technical level, both cameras share a 16-megapixel Four Thirds sensor offering a 2.1x focal length crop factor. Despite comparable resolution and sensor size, their implementation nuances create meaningful variation.

• Olympus E-M10 II Sensor: Features a TruePic VII processor aiding efficient noise reduction and color reproduction. Notably, it includes an anti-aliasing filter which reduces moiré but slightly softens micro-detail.

• Panasonic GX85 Sensor: Employs the Venus Engine processor and uniquely eschews an anti-aliasing filter, resulting in sharper images with higher resolving power but a potential risk for moiré artifacts in fine patterns.

From DxOMark benchmark evaluations, the Olympus earns a slight edge in color depth (23.1 bits vs 22.9) and marginally better low-light sensitivity (ISO 842 rating vs ISO 662 for Panasonic), whereas the Panasonic has a very slight lead in dynamic range at base ISO. These differences, while subtle, affect performance in high-contrast scenes and low-light environments.

LCD and Viewfinder: Critical Real-Time Feedback Tools

Efficient image framing and review rely heavily on high-quality displays and viewfinders.

• Olympus E-M10 II: 3” tilting touchscreen with 1,040k dot resolution. The EVF sports 2,360k dots and 0.62x magnification, providing adequate but not class-leading eye comfort and framing precision.

• Panasonic GX85: Also features a 3” tilting touchscreen with the same resolution, but the EVF resolution increases to 2,764k dots, delivering clearer detail for critical focus checking and exposure assessment.

Note that neither camera includes a fully articulating screen nor touchscreen gesture support, impacting certain video and macro photography workflows requiring variable display angles.

Autofocus Implementation and Speed

Autofocus (AF) performance is paramount across genres from portraits to fast sports action.

• Olympus E-M10 II: Uses 81 contrast-detection AF points. While contrast-detection AF generally lags behind phase detection in speed, Olympus’ algorithms provide competent continuous autofocus (AF-C) tracking with face detection, suitable for casual wildlife or street photography.

• Panasonic GX85: Offers 49 contrast-detection points, but with more advanced AF algorithms and post-focus capabilities. It supports focus bracketing and stacking natively, features valuable to macro and landscape shooters.

Both cameras lack phase detection, which limits their ability to quickly lock focus in low contrast or fast-moving subjects. Continuous AF tracking does an acceptable job but falls short of top-tier autofocus mirrorless systems, especially in demanding sports scenarios.

Burst Shooting and Continuous Performance

High frame rate capture capability is critical for sports and wildlife action.

• Both cameras can shoot up to 8 frames per second (fps), which is respectable in the enthusiast mirrorless tier. However, Olympus lacks an electronic shutter mode, whereas Panasonic provides an electronic shutter allowing silent shooting up to 1/16,000s and a silent continuous shutter mode at 16,000 fps electronic shutter speed. This is a boon for quiet environments and fast shutter requirements.

Buffer depths are moderate on both cameras, suitable for short bursts but limiting for extended high-speed sequences.

Image Stabilization: Firmly in-Body 5-Axis IBIS

Both models incorporate built-in sensor-shift 5-axis image stabilization.

This feature drastically benefits handheld shooting reliability and reduces reliance on stabilized lenses, especially in low light or macro work. The technology is well-implemented in both cameras, delivering roughly 3 to 4 stops of compensation. Panasonic’s IBIS also synergizes effectively with its dual IS system when combined with compatible lenses, enhancing stabilization performance.

Video Capabilities: Moving Beyond Stills

Video has become critical for hybrid shooters; hence, evaluating this aspect is crucial.

• Olympus E-M10 II: Captures Full HD 1080p video at up to 60fps with H.264 compression. It lacks 4K recording but supports time-lapse and slow-motion at lower resolutions. Audio input is via built-in microphones only; no microphone or headphone jacks exist, limiting professional audio monitoring or recording.

• Panasonic GX85: Significantly advances video functionality, offering 4K UHD (3840x2160) at 30p and 24p in addition to Full HD 60p. It features 4K photo capture, allowing extraction of high-res stills from video frames, a useful tool for fast action or wildlife photography. Like Olympus, it lacks external microphone and headphone jacks, placing professional audio recording outside its native capabilities.

The GX85’s 4K video and post-processing options provide a solid video upgrade over the Olympus, catering to multimedia content creators.

Lens Ecosystem and Compatibility

Both cameras use the Micro Four Thirds mount, granting access to over 100 native lenses from Olympus, Panasonic, and third-party manufacturers.

• Olympus E-M10 II: Olympus lenses tend to emphasize optical quality with professional calibration and in-lens stabilization (Sync IS), which can pair well with in-body stabilization for effective shake reduction.

• Panasonic GX85: Panasonic’s lenses range from high-end Leica collaborations to lightweight primes aimed at street and travel photographers. The GX85’s sensor-based stabilization works well with Panasonic's lenses lacking optical stabilization.

Lens choice hinges more on user goals than on the cameras themselves. Both have healthy ecosystems, but Panasonic offers more affordable primes oriented toward video and street shooters.

Battery Technology and Storage

Effective battery endurance and memory options influence long shooting days.

• Olympus E-M10 II: Powered by the BLS-50 battery, it offers approximately 320 shots per charge under CIPA standard testing, slightly better than average for mirrorless cameras of this era.

• Panasonic GX85: Comes with a slightly smaller battery rating of ~290 shots per full charge. Storage for both cameras consists of a single SD/SDHC/SDXC card slot.

Neither camera has dual card slots or USB charging, a limitation for professionals requiring uninterrupted workflows or power management flexibility.

Connectivity and Wireless Integration

Both cameras integrate built-in Wi-Fi for remote control and image transfer but lack NFC and Bluetooth, which can frustrate quick pairing and continuous device tethering in fast-paced professional or travel scenarios.

Genre-Specific Real-World Performance: Strengths & Weaknesses

Olympus E M10 II front Olympus E M10 II screen back Panasonic GX85 front Panasonic GX85 screen back

The true litmus test lies in genre-specific utility.

Portrait Photography

• Olympus E-M10 II delivers pleasing skin tones with natural color science. Its 5-axis IBIS allows slower shutter speeds for sharper portraits without tripod support. Face and eye detection AF are competent but not class-leading in speed. The presence of a slight AA filter produces smoother bokeh and softer detail beneficial for flattering skin texture rendering.

• Panasonic GX85 offers sharper image detail due to lack of AA filter, generating more pronounced bokeh separation for portrait highlights. Advanced off-center face and eye detection yield faster focus acquisition but still fall behind newer cameras with hybrid phase detection.

Landscape Photography

Both cameras deliver robust dynamic ranges sourcing 12.5-12.6 EV stops ensuring shadow detail preservation. Olympus’s marginally better low-light ISO rating aids shooting twilight or low illuminated scenes. Focus bracketing with Panasonic enables focus stacking workflows beneficial for hyperfocal landscape detail enhancement. Absence of weather sealing limits rough outdoor use.

Wildlife and Sports Photography

Neither model possesses phase-detection autofocus, which constrains their ability to lock focus on erratic subjects at distance. Panasonic’s silent electronic shutter and 4K photo extraction provide added flexibility in wildlife capture. Burst speeds (8fps) are competitive but buffer limitations impair long sequences.

Street & Travel Photography

• Panasonic GX85’s compact rangefinder body and silent shutter favor surreptitious street shooting and quiet environments. The slightly more robust video features and sharper optics support travel documentation versatility.

• Olympus E-M10 II balances meet compact size with stronger grips and manual dials optimal for users preferring tactile feedback in faster urban scenes.

Macro Photography

Panasonic’s built-in focus bracketing and stacking capabilities highlight its macro strengths, enabling focus-stacked images natively without external software. Olympus lacks stacking but retains fast, precise focusing and reliable IBIS enhancing handheld macro shooting.

Night and Astrophotography

Olympus’s higher ISO threshold and lower noise profile deliver clearer long-exposure results. Both cameras support timelapse modes, aiding star trail and night sky imaging. Lack of full frame sensor limits ultimate high-ISO capability, but sensor-shift stabilization assists steady frame captures in dark conditions.

Professional Use and Workflow Integration

While aimed at enthusiasts, both cameras offer full RAW support, manual exposure modes, and exposure/focus bracketing required for advanced workflows.

• Olympus interfaces favor photographers used to traditional dials and physical controls, integrating easily into manual shooting paradigms.

• Panasonic offers post-focus and 4K photo features facilitating streamlined workflows for multi-purpose use, blending photo and video content creation.

Both cameras' limitation in connectivity options, lack of external audio ports, and absence of rugged sealing restrain full professional adoption, especially for intensive commercial or outdoor work.

Overall Performance Ratings and Value Considerations

• Olympus E-M10 II scores slightly higher on DxO metrics, favored for still image quality with advantageous color depth and noise handling. It appeals to enthusiasts prioritizing still photography with manual control precision.

• Panasonic GX85, while scoring marginally lower on pure sensor metrics, outperforms with superior video specs, 4K capabilities, and innovated focus stacking tools.

Final Thoughts: Which Mirrorless MFT Camera Suits You?

Buy Olympus E-M10 II if:

• You prefer classic DSLR-style handling with dedicated exposure dials and solid ergonomics.
• Still photography with emphasis on color fidelity, controlled noise, and reliable IBIS is your priority.
• You shoot portraits or landscapes requiring smooth natural rendering and are less concerned about advanced video functionality.
• Your budget is more constrained, seeking excellent value under $500.

Opt for Panasonic GX85 if:

• You need 4K video capabilities combined with solid still image quality.
• Your shooting spans hybrid photography/videography, street, travel, or macro photography benefiting from more advanced focus stacking tools.
• Camera discreteness and silent shooting are paramount.
• You value the latest image processing features including higher resolution EVF and post-processing flexibility despite a steeper price around $800.

Concluding Perspective

Though both Olympus E-M10 II and Panasonic GX85 offer compelling entry-into-advanced mirrorless experiences, each caters to subtly distinct user priorities shaped by varying combinations of ergonomics, autofocus sophistication, video capabilities, and image processing philosophy. Practical testing confirms that neither is a clear outright winner; rather, the optimal choice hinges on individual genre requirements, workflow preferences, and budget allocation.

Investing time to physically handle both cameras where feasible remains recommended, alongside considering future lens ecosystem commitments. Both systems possess solid Micro Four Thirds design legacies and enduring build quality, making them reliable partners for many photographic journeys.

This detailed comparison, rooted in hands-on evaluation and technical benchmarks, aims to empower informed camera investment decisions, aligned with specific user needs and creative ambitions.