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Panasonic GX85 vs Sony A6500

Portability
83
Imaging
54
Features
76
Overall
62
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX85 front
 
Sony Alpha a6500 front
Portability
81
Imaging
67
Features
85
Overall
74

Panasonic GX85 vs Sony A6500 Key Specs

Panasonic GX85
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 426g - 122 x 71 x 44mm
  • Announced April 2016
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-GX80 / Lumix DMC-GX7 Mark II
Sony A6500
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600 (Increase to 51200)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 453g - 120 x 67 x 53mm
  • Announced October 2016
  • Superseded the Sony A6300
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Panasonic GX85 vs Sony A6500 Overview

Let's take a deeper look at the Panasonic GX85 and Sony A6500, both Advanced Mirrorless cameras by companies Panasonic and Sony. There exists a considerable gap among the sensor resolutions of the GX85 (16MP) and A6500 (24MP) and the GX85 (Four Thirds) and A6500 (APS-C) offer totally different sensor measurements.

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The GX85 was unveiled 6 months earlier than the A6500 and they are both of a similar age. Both of these cameras have the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before diving straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a concise introduction of how the GX85 scores versus the A6500 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GX85 over the Sony A6500

 GX85 A6500 
Display resolution1040k922kClearer display (+118k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A6500 over the Panasonic GX85

 A6500 GX85 

Common features in the Panasonic GX85 and Sony A6500

 GX85 A6500 
AnnouncedApril 2016October 2016Same age
Focus manually More accurate focus
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurements
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Panasonic GX85 vs Sony A6500 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to lug around your camera regularly, you should factor its weight and proportions. The Panasonic GX85 provides exterior measurements of 122mm x 71mm x 44mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.7") with a weight of 426 grams (0.94 lbs) whilst the Sony A6500 has measurements of 120mm x 67mm x 53mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.1") with a weight of 453 grams (1.00 lbs).

Check the Panasonic GX85 and Sony A6500 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you select at that time. Following is a front view over all size comparison of the GX85 against the A6500.

Panasonic GX85 vs Sony A6500 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the GX85 and A6500 is 83 and 81 respectively.

Panasonic GX85 vs Sony A6500 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GX85 vs Sony A6500 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is very hard to visualise the difference in sensor measurements just by seeing a spec sheet. The graphic here might offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the GX85 and A6500.

As you can see, the two cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The GX85 with its smaller sensor will make getting shallow depth of field more challenging and the Sony A6500 will show more detail having an extra 8MP. Greater resolution can also help you crop pics a bit more aggressively.

Panasonic GX85 vs Sony A6500 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GX85 vs Sony A6500 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GX85 vs Sony A6500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GX85 Portrait photography details
Sony A6500 Portrait photography details
72
focusing manually
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detection autofocus
saves RAW formats
80
you can focus manually
megapixel count decent (24 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
includes face detection autofocus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GX85 Street photography info
Sony A6500 Street photography info
83
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
comes with focus via touch
great high ISO (25,600)
85
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW files
supports touch focus
weather sealing
above average high ISO (25,600)
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Panasonic GX85 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A6500 as a Sports photography camera
62
silent shooting (1/16,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
bad battery (290 CIPA)
lack of phase detect autofocus
77
silent shooting (1/32,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (24MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
includes tracking autofocus
weather sealing
supports phase detect autofocus
low battery pack (350 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GX85 Travel photography details
Sony A6500 Travel photography details
68
comes with focus via touch
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
has built in flash
bad battery (290 CIPA)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
74
weather sealing
connects via bluetooth
supports touch focus
megapixel count decent (24 megapixels)
has built in flash
low battery pack (350 CIPA)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GX85 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A6500 as a Landscape photography camera
74
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
no anti-alias filter
great high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW formats
bad battery (290 shots)
79
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (24 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
above average high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW files
weather sealing
low battery pack (350 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GX85 Vlogging advice
Sony A6500 Vlogging advice
35
built-in touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
supports face detection autofocus
high quality video (3840 x 2160 resolution)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
does not have external microphone support
39
has touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
includes face detection autofocus
video res high (3840 x 2160 resolution)
comes with external mic socket
does not offer selfie friendly screen
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Panasonic GX85 vs Sony A6500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GX85 and Sony A6500
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX85Sony Alpha a6500
General Information
Brand Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX85 Sony Alpha a6500
Also called Lumix DMC-GX80 / Lumix DMC-GX7 Mark II -
Type Advanced Mirrorless Advanced Mirrorless
Announced 2016-04-05 2016-10-06
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 24MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4592 x 3448 6000 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 25600 25600
Maximum enhanced ISO - 51200
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW photos
Lowest enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 49 425
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Amount of lenses 107 121
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Tilting
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 1,040k dots 922k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 2,764k dots 2,359k dots
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Max silent shutter speed 1/16000 secs 1/32000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 8.0 frames per sec 11.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 6.00 m (at ISO 200) 6.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, forced on, forced on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync w/redeye reduction, forced off Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Rear Sync., Slow Sync., Red-eye reduction (On/Off selectable), Hi-speed sync, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 (30p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p) 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
Maximum video resolution 3840x2160 3840x2160
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 426g (0.94 pounds) 453g (1.00 pounds)
Physical dimensions 122 x 71 x 44mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.7") 120 x 67 x 53mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 71 85
DXO Color Depth score 22.9 24.5
DXO Dynamic range score 12.6 13.7
DXO Low light score 662 1405
Other
Battery life 290 images 350 images
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-FW50
Self timer Yes Yes
Time lapse shooting With downloadable app
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC + Memory Stick Pro Duo
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at release $800 $1,298