Panasonic Lumix FZ47 vs. G85: A Hands-On Comparison for Serious Photographers

When Panasonic announced the Lumix DMC-FZ47 back in 2011 and then the Lumix G85 five years later, they aimed at two very different segments of the photography market - yet both cameras have found their niche with particular users. After immersing myself in rigorous side-by-side testing across numerous disciplines for these two, very different Lumix models, this comprehensive comparison article will break down everything you need to know before choosing between them.

Today’s photographers often face a choice between superzoom “bridge” cameras like the FZ47 and advanced mirrorless models like the G85. By drilling into technical specifications, real-world usage, and specialized photography disciplines, I aim to clarify which camera suits which user profile best - and why.

Let’s begin by understanding their physical presence and handling ergonomics.

Size, Build, and Handling: Grip Your Style

At a glance, the Panasonic FZ47 and G85 differ dramatically. The FZ47 is a small sensor superzoom bridge camera with a fixed 25-600mm equivalent lens, while the G85 is an advanced mirrorless camera with a Micro Four Thirds (MFT) mount designed for interchangeable lenses.

The FZ47’s body measures approximately 120x80x92 mm, weighing 498 grams, making it lightweight and compact for a superzoom with a broad reach. Its SLR-like body shape is easy to grip, but the relatively narrow, plastic build can feel less substantial compared to modern standards.

The G85 is slightly larger and heavier at 128x89x74 mm and 505 grams, sporting an all-plastic but well-constructed weather-sealed magnesium alloy frame. It offers significantly better ergonomics, with pronounced grip contours, textured surfaces, and a balanced feel regardless of the lens mounted.

The top control layout on the G85 shines with more dials and customizable buttons, allowing quicker access to key functions such as ISO, shutter speed, and white balance - even during fast-paced shooting scenarios. The FZ47, limited by its bridge design, offers fewer physical controls, relying more heavily on menu navigation, which can slow down operation for advanced users.

For serious photographers who value tactile response and extended shooting sessions, the G85’s ergonomics earn solid marks. Bridge camera users, especially those prioritizing portability and all-in-one convenience, may appreciate the somewhat smaller footprint of the FZ47.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: The Core of Performance

Here lies the most significant difference between the two models. The Panasonic FZ47 uses a 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor with 12 megapixels (4000x3000 max resolution), while the G85 features a much larger Four Thirds 17.3x13 mm CMOS sensor with 16 megapixels (4592x3448 max resolution).

Sensor Size and Technology
Sensor size is the foundation of image quality. The FZ47’s 1/2.3” sensor measures around 27.72 mm², dramatically smaller than the G85’s 224.90 mm². This substantial sensor area difference gives the G85 a strong head start in low light performance, dynamic range, color depth, and noise control. Moreover, CMOS technology - found in the G85 - tends to offer higher efficiency and better speed compared to the CCD sensor of the FZ47.

Resolution and Detail
While 12MP might seem sufficient for casual shooting, the G85’s 16MP resolution brings finer details, especially apparent when cropping or printing large format. The G85 manages subtle textures in landscapes and fine details in portraits that the FZ47 cannot resolve as cleanly.

Dynamic Range
Here the higher performance G85 sensor really shines - capturing highlights and shadow details in demanding lighting situations such as sunrise landscapes or mixed indoor lighting environments. The FZ47 struggles with highlight clipping and visible noise in shadows, limiting its use in demanding scenarios.

ISO Range and Noise Handling
The FZ47’s ISO tops out at 1600 natively (and 6400 boosted), but noise becomes prominently distracting well before the top end. The G85 confidently extends ISO to 25600 with usable noise levels up to ISO 3200 or even ISO 6400 for web use; this advantage matters significantly for night, wildlife, and sports photography.

The Viewfinder and Screen: Your Window to Creation

Both cameras sport a 3-inch LCD screen, but the G85’s screen boasts 1040k-dot resolution (versus mere 460k dots on the FZ47) and offers a fully articulated touchscreen interface. This articulation enables flexible shooting angles, including overhead, waist-level, or selfie-style framing - a boon for macro photographers and vloggers alike.

The FZ47’s fixed LCD screen is simpler, non-touch, and less bright. While usable for general composition, it limits creativity when shooting from awkward angles or when precise manual focusing is necessary.

The electronic viewfinder finds wide disparity here: the G85 has a high-resolution 2,360k-dot EVF with 0.74x magnification providing a large, detailed window with accurate previews of exposure and color. On the other hand, the FZ47’s smaller resolution EVF lacks magnification specifications, delivering a less immersive and less precise framing experience.

This difference is critical in bright outdoor environments or fast action photography, where the G85’s large EVF eases composition and focus confirmation.

Autofocus and Shooting Speed: Who Wins the Race?

Fast, reliable autofocus and shooting speed separate shooters capturing decisive moments from those chasing missed opportunities.

The FZ47 has a modest 23 focus points operating on contrast detection AF, with face detection but no advanced subject tracking or eye detection. Its continuous shooting maxes out at 4 fps, which is workable but not exceptional for sports or wildlife photography.

The G85 boasts 49 focus points also relying on contrast detection, but paired with advanced algorithms supporting face and eye detection, live view autofocus, and real-time tracking. Continuous shooting speed doubles to 9 fps, giving a significant advantage when photographing fast-moving subjects like athletes, wildlife, or kids at play.

This difference in AF sophistication means the G85 is far better suited for dynamic situations requiring quick autofocus lock and tracking accuracy.

Real-World Photography Applications

Let’s now walk through several popular photography genres - highlighting strengths and weaknesses of both cameras from hands-on experience.

Portrait Photography

The G85 stands out with its larger Four Thirds sensor enabling smoother skin tone rendering and shallower depth of field control (great for subject isolation and pleasing bokeh). Plus, face and eye detection autofocusing enhances sharpness in key areas, which I find indispensable in portrait sessions.

In contrast, the FZ47’s small sensor and fixed lens limit creative control over depth of field. Its F2.8 maximum aperture is decent wide-angle but narrows significantly at full zoom, producing less natural background blur.

Landscape Photography

The G85’s superior sensor dynamic range and resolution translate to richer color gradations and finer detail in both bright and shaded areas of landscapes. Weather sealing offers confidence shooting in light rain or dusty environments - something the FZ47 lacks.

The FZ47 provides a convenient 25-600 mm lens, which means you can capture landscapes plus tight telephoto details without lens changes, but the smaller sensor hinders ultimate image quality. Use the FZ47 for casual landscapes or travel when portability trumps perfection.

Wildlife and Sports Photography

The FZ47’s 24x zoom lens is versatile for moderately distant subjects. However, autofocus speed and tracking limitations make it less reliable for frantic action.

The G85, paired with dedicated telephoto lenses (e.g., 100-400mm equivalents) - from a robust MFT lens ecosystem - is much better suited for wildlife and sports. Its 9 fps burst mode and superior AF system consistently delivered more keepers when I tested fast paced environments.

Street Photography

Portability and discreteness matter most here. The FZ47’s fixed lens, while smaller overall, has a large zoom lens that protrudes noticeably. Its shutter noise is moderate, and slower focus can mean missed fleeting moments.

The G85, with smaller interchangeable prime lenses (e.g., 25mm f/1.7) fits well into street photography’s demands. Its silent electronic shutter option allows stealth shooting and its articulating touchscreen speeds setting adjustment. I found it a more flexible and discreet street camera overall.

Macro Photography

The FZ47 can focus as close as 1 cm, a strong suit for casual close-ups. Still, manual focusing is cumbersome due to the small LCD, and image stabilization helps but cannot compensate for limited depth of field control.

The G85’s compatibility with specialized macro lenses combined with its 5-axis in-body stabilization allows for pixel-sharp macro shots with ease, even handheld. Touchscreen magnification aids initial focusing refinements. For serious macro shooters, the G85 is the clear winner.

Night and Astro Photography

Low noise at high ISO and lengthy exposure capabilities are essential. The G85 supports longer shutter speeds, higher ISO ranges, and offers advanced exposure modes, including bulb mode and built-in intervalometer for time-lapses (absent on FZ47).

While the FZ47 can shoot up to 6400 ISO, noise overwhelms usefulness above 1600. Long exposures become increasingly noisy or limited in duration. The G85's superior noise control and exposure flexibility make it vastly more usable in astrophotography.

Video Capabilities

The FZ47 records Full HD 1080p video at 30 fps using AVCHD codec. However, it lacks microphone or headphone jacks, limiting audio control, and its in-body stabilization is optical lens-shift based.

The G85 records 4K UHD video at 30p, offers advanced video formats (MP4, AVCHD), and includes a microphone input for improved audio quality (though no headphone jack). It sports sensor-shift 5-axis stabilization that significantly reduces shake in video footage. Articulating touchscreen controls ease menu navigation and focus pulling.

For hybrid shooters who value video too, the G85 is leaps and bounds ahead.

Travel Photography: Versatility and Battery Life

Both cameras offer decent battery life (400 shots FZ47 vs. 330 shots G85) and SD card compatibility. The FZ47’s all-in-one zoom lens may appeal to travelers seeking one less thing to carry; however, its image quality sacrifices might bother discerning photographers.

The G85 demands a lens kit, slightly increasing bulk and cost, but offers unmatched flexibility across focal lengths and superior image quality. Weather sealing also adds peace of mind during travel in less-than-perfect conditions.

Durability and Weather Resistance

The Panasonic G85 is weather sealed against dust and moisture, a key advantage for outdoor or harsh condition use. This enhances reliability and lifespan in professional settings. The FZ47 has no environmental sealing, thus requiring careful use in challenging weather.

Connectivity and Storage Options

Both cameras accept SD/SDHC/SDXC cards and have a single card slot. The G85 features built-in Wi-Fi to enable wireless image transfer and remote camera control - crucial in today’s fast-paced workflows. The FZ47 lacks any wireless connectivity, relying solely on USB 2.0 and HDMI ports.

Price-to-Performance Considerations

At launch, the FZ47 priced around $379 targets enthusiasts wanting a convenient superzoom with decent image quality for casual use. The G85, priced near $900, aims at serious photographers and hobbyists demanding professional-grade features and image fidelity.

While the price difference is substantial, the G85 offers value through superior sensor performance, lens flexibility, enhanced autofocus, video capabilities, and build robustness. The FZ47’s appeal lies in its simplicity, mega-zoom reach, and budget-friendly price.

Which Camera Excels at Which Photography Genre?

• Portraits: G85 leads with better bokeh and face detection AF
• Landscape: G85 triumphs with dynamic range and weather sealing
• Wildlife: G85’s AF and frame rate outperform for moving subjects
• Sports: G85’s speed and focus tracking dominate
• Street: G85 offers more discreet shooting options
• Macro: G85 supports advanced focusing and stabilization
• Night/Astro: G85’s ISO and exposure modes are superior
• Video: G85 provides 4K, mic input, stabilization; FZ47 lags behind
• Travel: Tie depends on priorities of zoom vs. image quality
• Professional Work: G85’s raw support and workflow integration give clear advantage

Sample Image Gallery

Panasonic FZ47 front Panasonic FZ47 screen back Panasonic G85 front

In side-by-side shooting comparisons, the G85 consistently delivered sharper details, better handling of contrast, more accurate skin tones, and cleaner images at higher ISOs. The FZ47 images showed softness at telephoto extremes and suffered from color shifts under mixed lighting.

Final Thoughts and Recommendations

Both the Panasonic Lumix FZ47 and G85 serve distinct photographic audiences. After hours testing and comparing these systems across multiple genres, here is where I would place each:

Choose Panasonic FZ47 if:

• You want a lightweight, all-in-one camera with vast zoom reach (25-600 mm equivalent) and no need to switch lenses.
• Your shooting is primarily casual, travel, or family-oriented where ultimate image quality is secondary.
• You require an affordable option with simple controls.

Choose Panasonic G85 if:

• You demand superior image quality - especially for portraits, landscapes, wildlife, and low-light situations.
• You want full creative control with interchangeable lenses and professional features.
• Video shooting is important, requiring 4K recording and advanced audio support.
• You value durable build and weather sealing for frequent outdoor use.
• You prioritize autofocus speed, accuracy, and frame rates for action photography.

Summary

The Panasonic Lumix G85 is, without question, a much more capable and versatile photographic tool, outperforming the FZ47 in virtually every critical technical area thanks to modern sensor technology, extensive MFT lens support, and advanced autofocus and video features. It stands as a comprehensive hybrid option for enthusiasts and professionals alike.

The Panasonic FZ47, while dated in performance and image quality, remains an intriguing superzoom package with a niche for those valuing convenience and cost-effectiveness without the hassle of lens changes.

I hope this detailed comparison helps you pinpoint exactly which Panasonic Lumix model fits your photographic ambitions best.

Happy shooting!

Disclosure: All testing was completed using production-level firmware and lenses. Sample images, scores, and performance metrics have been derived from direct hands-on trials and established industry benchmarks.