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Panasonic G85 vs Sony A55

Portability
69
Imaging
53
Features
84
Overall
65
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G85 front
 
Sony SLT-A55 front
Portability
67
Imaging
55
Features
80
Overall
65

Panasonic G85 vs Sony A55 Key Specs

Panasonic G85
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600 (Bump to 25600)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 505g - 128 x 89 x 74mm
  • Launched September 2016
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-G80
  • Replacement is Panasonic G95
Sony A55
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Increase to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 500g - 124 x 92 x 85mm
  • Announced August 2010
  • Replacement is Sony A57
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Panasonic G85 vs Sony A55 Overview

Below, we will be analyzing the Panasonic G85 and Sony A55, former being a Advanced Mirrorless while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Panasonic and Sony. The image resolution of the G85 (16MP) and the A55 (16MP) is relatively close but the G85 (Four Thirds) and A55 (APS-C) come with totally different sensor measurements.

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The G85 was brought out 6 years later than the A55 and that is a fairly significant difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic G85 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A55 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go straight into a detailed comparison, below is a concise summary of how the G85 matches up vs the A55 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic G85 over the Sony A55

 G85 A55 
AnnouncedSeptember 2016August 2010Fresher by 74 months
Screen resolution1040k921kCrisper screen (+119k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A55 over the Panasonic G85

 A55 G85 

Common features in the Panasonic G85 and Sony A55

 G85 A55 
Manual focus More exact focusing
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFully ArticulatedFully Articulated screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurements
Selfie screen Both are selfie friendly

Panasonic G85 vs Sony A55 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to carry your camera regularly, you will need to think about its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic G85 offers exterior dimensions of 128mm x 89mm x 74mm (5.0" x 3.5" x 2.9") and a weight of 505 grams (1.11 lbs) and the Sony A55 has dimensions of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") and a weight of 500 grams (1.10 lbs).

Contrast the Panasonic G85 and Sony A55 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you use during that time. Here is the front view scale comparison of the G85 and the A55.

Panasonic G85 vs Sony A55 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the G85 and A55 is 69 and 67 respectively.

Panasonic G85 vs Sony A55 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic G85 vs Sony A55 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is very difficult to see the contrast in sensor sizing merely by viewing specs. The visual underneath should give you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the G85 and A55.

All in all, the two cameras posses the exact same megapixels albeit not the same sensor sizing. The G85 has the smaller sensor which will make achieving shallower depth of field more challenging. The more modern G85 will have an advantage when it comes to sensor innovation.

Panasonic G85 vs Sony A55 sensor size comparison

Panasonic G85 vs Sony A55 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic G85 vs Sony A55 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic G85
Portrait photography with Sony A55
71
focusing manually
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detection focusing
exports RAW files
73
you can focus manually
megapixel count decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detection focusing
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic G85 Street photography features
Sony A55 Street photography features
77
screen articulates
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
comes with touch to focus
environment proof
great ISO range (25,600)
76
screen can move to multiple angles
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic G85 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A55 as a Sports photography camera
64
silent shooting (1/16,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking autofocus
environment proof
bad battery power (330 shots)
no phase detect AF
67
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
has phase detect AF
terrible battery power (380 per charge)
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Panasonic G85 Travel photography information
Sony A55 Travel photography information
71
environment proof
comes with touch to focus
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
display is selfie friendly
bad battery power (330 per charge)
61
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
selfie friendly screen
lack of Timelapse recording
terrible battery power (380 CIPA)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic G85 Landscape photography details
Sony A55 Landscape photography details
73
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
no low pass filter
great ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW files
environment proof
bad battery power (330 per charge)
67
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
decent sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
terrible battery power (380 shots)
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic G85 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A55 as a Vlogging camera
78
display is selfie friendly
screen is touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
features face detection focusing
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 pixels)
does have external mic support
77
selfie friendly screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has external microphone socket
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Panasonic G85 vs Sony A55 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic G85 and Sony A55
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G85Sony SLT-A55
General Information
Make Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-G85 Sony SLT-A55
Alternate name Lumix DMC-G80 -
Class Advanced Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2016-09-19 2010-08-24
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip - Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4592 x 3448 4912 x 3264
Max native ISO 25600 12800
Max boosted ISO 25600 25600
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW photos
Min boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 49 15
Cross focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Sony/Minolta Alpha
Amount of lenses 107 143
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fully Articulated
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 1,040k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dots 1,150k dots
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x 0.73x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Highest silent shutter speed 1/16000 secs -
Continuous shooting rate 9.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 6.20 m (at ISO 100) 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced On/Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync., Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC 1920 x 1080 (60, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Max video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 505g (1.11 lbs) 500g (1.10 lbs)
Dimensions 128 x 89 x 74mm (5.0" x 3.5" x 2.9") 124 x 92 x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 71 73
DXO Color Depth score 22.8 23.0
DXO Dynamic range score 12.5 12.4
DXO Low light score 656 816
Other
Battery life 330 photographs 380 photographs
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, 10 secs x 3 shots) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Cost at launch $900 $800