Panasonic G85 vs Sony RX10: A Deep Dive into Two Unique Cameras for Creators

Selecting the right camera is a pivotal step in your creative journey, whether you aspire to capture stunning portraits, epic landscapes, or exciting wildlife shots. Today, we compare two distinct but interesting cameras: the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G85 (commonly known as the G85) and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 (the original RX10). Both have their devoted fanbases and unique strengths. But which one is right for you?

I’ve spent years testing cameras across genres and experience levels. Here, I combine hands-on testing, detailed technical evaluation, and real-world usability insights to help you make a well-informed choice tailored to your photographic ambitions. Let’s start by understanding how these cameras compare, in design, sensor technologies, and core capabilities - and then delve into how those differences translate into practical performance for photography and video.

First Impressions: Design and Handling

Your camera should never get in the way of inspiration. Comfort, controls, and portability matter greatly, whether you’re shooting on location or at a studio session.

The Panasonic G85 offers a surprisingly compact and lightweight body compared to Sony’s heavier and more substantial RX10.

The G85 impresses with its SLR-style mirrorless body designed for versatility. Its fully articulated touchscreen LCD and intuitive controls make it friendly for vlogging, travel, and studio shooting alike. You’ll appreciate the lighter 505-gram weight if you’re carrying it all day.

On the other hand, the RX10’s bridge-style design is more rigid and bulkier, tipping the scales at over 800 grams. However, what you gain is an integrated all-in-one high-quality 24-200mm f/2.8 zoom lens - superb if you want to avoid switching glass but still want focal length flexibility.

In the hand, the G85 feels more modern and nimble, optimized for left and right hand operation thanks to an ergonomic grip and well-laid controls. The RX10, while solid and well built, lacks touchscreen control - which could slow you down in live view or menu navigation.

Let’s take a closer look at their control layouts.

Notice Panasonic’s G85 offers dedicated dials for ISO, shutter speed, and exposure compensation, giving tactile control favored by enthusiasts and pros. The RX10 has fewer direct control dials but still provides the essential buttons.

Sensor and Image Quality: Micro Four Thirds vs 1-inch Sensor

The heart of every camera is the sensor, which profoundly influences image quality, depth of field, and noise handling.

The Panasonic G85’s larger Micro Four Thirds sensor brings tangible benefits in noise control and depth of field compared to the RX10’s 1-inch sensor.

What this means for you:

• The G85’s sensor is nearly twice the physical size in surface area versus the RX10, which makes a big difference in gathering light and creating shallower depth of field - especially beneficial for portraits or low-light scenarios.
• The RX10 compensates somewhat with a higher resolution sensor (20MP vs 16MP), but the smaller sensor means more noise at high ISO, as reflected in the DxOMark Low Light ISO score. This is consistent with real-world results where the G85 exhibits cleaner images beyond ISO 1600.
• Neither camera sports a phase-detect autofocus sensor; both rely on contrast-detection systems, but Panasonic's advanced DFD tech improves speed in the G85.
• The G85’s lack of an optical low-pass filter enhances detail and sharpness, while RX10’s filter reduces moiré but slightly softens fine detail.

So, for critically sharp landscapes or portraits with beautiful skin tones and background separation, the G85’s sensor technology offers a noticeable edge.

User Interface and Display: Touchscreen Versus Tilting LCD

Live view and menu navigation play a big role in your shooting experience.

The G85 boasts a fully articulated touchscreen, ideal for creative angles and easy menus, while RX10’s high-resolution LCD supports clear playback but lacks touch sensitivity.

The G85’s touchscreen gives you the advantage of swift focus point adjustments, menu navigation, and touch shutter - an excellent boon for run-and-gun shooting or video work. Moreover, the fully articulated screen flips out for vlogging or awkward angles.

Sony’s RX10 screen leans on the WhiteMagic tech to keep brightness and visibility high, great for outdoor use. However, without touchscreen capabilities and only tilt functionality, it feels less flexible and slower to operate.

The G85’s electronic viewfinder (EVF) offers a higher resolution, providing a crisper live view which many photographers rely on in bright conditions. RX10’s viewfinder is usable but shows slightly less detail and contrast.

Autofocus Systems and Performance

Fast, accurate autofocus is vital for genres like wildlife, sports, and video.

In our tests, the G85’s Depth From Defocus (DFD) technology is a significant advantage, letting it focus faster and more accurately on moving subjects compared to traditional contrast-based systems like Sony’s RX10. This makes it more reliable for tracking wildlife, sports, or kids in motion.

Despite RX10 having fewer focus points and slower focusing speed, its large aperture constant f/2.8 lens helps isolate subjects optically. However, it is less suited to fast continuous autofocus tracking, slowing you down in action-packed shooting.

Panasonic’s improved algorithm also excels in eye detection, enhancing portraits with sharp, well-focused eyes, providing the creative edge for close-up work.

Versatility across Photography Genres

Each camera’s strengths unfold differently depending on your chosen photography discipline. Here’s a closer look:

Portrait Photography

• Panasonic G85: The larger sensor, accurate eye-detection AF, and interchangeable lenses let you create creamy bokeh and beautiful, natural skin tones. The sensor’s wide ISO range and low noise work well indoors and in softer light.
• Sony RX10: The fixed 24-200mm f/2.8 lens offers flexibility from wide environmental portraits to medium telephoto headshots without changing gear. However, the 1" sensor limits background blur compared to larger Micro Four Thirds lenses.

Landscape Photography

• G85: Higher dynamic range, higher resolution RAW files, and weather sealing make the G85 exceptional here. Use focus bracketing and stacking for extended depth of field and sharpness.
• RX10: Durable and rugged with weather sealing, but the smaller sensor’s dynamic range means less detail in shadows and highlights, especially in challenging light.

Wildlife Photography

• G85: Faster autofocus with more focus points, higher continuous shooting (9 fps), and the flexibility of long telephoto lenses give it the edge.
• RX10: The long zoom lens is ready out of the box, good for casual wildlife, but slower AF tracking and lower burst speed limit action photography potential.

Sports Photography

• G85: With 9 fps shooting and good AF tracking, it performs well for amateur sports shooting.
• RX10: 10 fps burst is slightly faster, but tracking AF issues make it less reliable for critical fast-chasing sports.

Street Photography

• G85: Smaller, lighter, and fully articulated, ideal for discreet, creative shooting with interchangeable primes.
• RX10: Bulkier but all-in-one zoom reduces lens swaps; great for casual walk-around use.

Macro Photography

• G85: You can pair with specialized macro lenses and utilize focus stacking mode.
• RX10: Limited by fixed lens but offers reasonable close focusing distance.

Night and Astrophotography

• G85: Larger sensor, higher ISO capabilities, and longer exposure support.
• RX10: Lower native ISO ceiling but stable; less flexibility for very low light.

Video Capabilities

• G85:
  • 4K UHD at 30p, high bitrate (100 Mbps)
  • 5-axis in-body stabilization perfect for handheld shooting
  • Microphone input but no headphone jack
  • Fully articulated touchscreen aids vloggers
  • 4K photo modes for extracting frames
• RX10:
  • Full HD up to 60p
  • Optical image stabilization
  • Both microphone and headphone jacks for pro audio control
  • No 4K support or touchscreen

For serious videographers or vloggers, the G85’s modern codec support, stabilization, and touch interface give it an edge. The RX10 remains a competent, simple-to-use option for casual Full HD video.

Travel and Everyday Use

• G85: Lightweight, weather-sealed, with versatile lens options.
• RX10: Heavy but lens-flexible fixed zoom covering wide to telephoto.

Professional Workflows

• G85: Shoots 12-bit RAW, supports focus bracketing, and has rich wireless connectivity.
• RX10: 14-bit RAW, solid build, and Memory Stick support – somewhat niche.

Build Quality, Durability, and Battery Life

Both cameras share weather sealing against dust and moisture - essential for outdoors. However:

• Weight difference can influence fatigue on long shoots: G85 (505 g) vs RX10 (813 g).
• Battery life: Sony RX10 outperforms with approximately 420 shots per charge versus 330 shots on the Panasonic G85. This might be pivotal if you often shoot away from power sources.
• Both have single memory card slots supporting SD cards.

Connectivity and Storage

Both cameras allow wireless transfers and remote control apps. The RX10’s NFC makes pairing simpler on compatible devices, but the lack of Bluetooth on both means no always-on connections.

Pricing and Value

At first glance, the Sony RX10 is less expensive, thanks largely to its older release date (2014) compared to the G85 (2016). However, when factoring in the interchangeable lens system, image quality, and more advanced autofocus and video features, the G85 offers greater longevity and flexibility.

Sample Images Comparison

Panasonic G85 front Sony RX10 front Sony RX10 screen back

Overall Performance Summary

Genre-Specific Performance: Where Does Each Camera Shine?

• Portraits: Panasonic G85 leads with superior sensor, eye AF, and background rendering.
• Landscapes: G85’s dynamic range and lens options win hands down.
• Wildlife: G85 with faster autofocus and telephoto lenses offers better results.
• Sports: Both suitable for amateurs; G85 edges ahead due to AF tracking.
• Street: G85 preferred for weight and flexibility, RX10 for all-in-one zoom convenience.
• Macro: G85 offers more options with dedicated lenses and stacking capabilities.
• Night/Astro: G85 with larger sensor and low noise performs better.
• Video: G85 significantly better with 4K, stabilization, and articulated screen.
• Travel: G85 lighter and more versatile, RX10 better if you want fixed lens convenience.

Who Should Choose Panasonic G85?

If you value:

• Interchangeable lens flexibility to suit any genre
• Modern video features including 4K and IBIS stabilization
• Fast, reliable autofocus with eye detection
• Lightweight, versatile body for travel and vlogging
• DSLR-style ergonomics for dedicated photographers
• Superior low-light and portrait performance

Then the G85 is a solid investment that will grow with you as your skills and creativity expand.

Who Should Consider Sony RX10?

You might prefer the RX10 if:

• You want an all-in-one zoom lens with sharp constant f/2.8 aperture
• You’re a casual shooter or enthusiast who wants simple, direct operation
• You prioritize battery life and rugged build for outdoor adventures
• You don’t need 4K video or advanced autofocus tracking
• You appreciate a larger grip and don’t mind the weight
• Price is the highest priority and you want a camera with strong zoom coverage out of the box

The RX10 remains a competent superzoom, especially if you want fewer lenses to carry but still respectable image quality and solid HD video.

Final Thoughts

Both the Panasonic G85 and Sony RX10 offer compelling capabilities but serve slightly different photographers. The G85’s strengths lie in versatility, image quality, autofocus performance, and 4K video features - making it a balanced, future-proof choice across genres. The RX10, while older, packs an impressive zoom lens and battery life in a simple package for those valuing convenience.

Our advice:

• Test them hands-on if possible to experience ergonomics and interface.
• Consider your primary photography or video needs carefully: are you after flexibility or simplicity?
• Factor in lens investment for the G85 vs all-inclusive convenience of the RX10.
• Check for deals or bundles including lenses or accessories to add value.

We hope this detailed comparison helps you find the camera that sparks your passion and fits your creative plans. Dive in, explore your style, and keep creating!

Happy shooting!

If you want to explore further, check out recommended lenses for the G85 and essential accessories for the RX10 to maximize your creative output.