Amid a range of other announcements at this year’s Photokina trade show, Panasonic has introduced a new G80/G85 compact system camera to its Lumix stable. The camera appears similar to the existing G7, although the body has a dust and splashproof construction, and houses a 16.
1MP Micro Four Thirds sensor that lacks an anti-aliasing filter for the benefit of detail retention. This can be adjusted to a maximum ISO 25,600 and works in tandem with a fresh Venus Processing engine.
Another change comes in the form of a new 5-axis, Dual IS 2 image-stabilisation system. This makes use of both the camera’s sensor-based image stabilization and the optical systems inside (currently) two of its lenses. Thanks to the inclusion of a new gyro sensor, Panasonic claims that this provides even greater suppression over image blur than previous versions. This is said to have a maxmimum effect of five EV stops, although the camera’s sensor-based image stabilisation system will also have work when used with non-stabilsied optics.
To further help keep things even steadier, the camera has been furnished with a new electromagnetic shutter unit and designed with a magnesium front panel, and the two are said to provide 90% less shutter shock than before.
As is the case with its other Lumix announcements at this year’s show, video can be recorded to a 4K resolution (here in UHD 4K), while 8MP frames can be extracted from footage using the 4K PHOTO option. You can also output footage via the camera's HDMI port while recording and hook up an external microphone to improve on audio quality through the 3. 5mm mic port at the camera's side.
Panasonic also highlights the model’s speedy DFD (Depth From Defocus) AF system. While based on the contrast-detect AF principle rather than a hybrid system that also includes phase-detect AF pixels incorporated into the sensor, the company reckons that the model can nevertheless focus in as little as 0. 07sec, something made possible thanks to a rapid 240fps communication between the camera and lens.
The camera’s electronic viewfinder panel has also been slightly enlarged from before, now with a 0. 74x magnification and a 2. 36million-dot resolution, and this is joined by a free-angle 3” touchscreen on the rear. Panasonic has also found space for Wi-Fi to keep things cable free and provide remote control over shooting from a phone or tablet.
Other features include Panasonic's new Focus Stacking option and the clever Post Focus mode that lets users adjust the point of sharpness in the image after it's been captured. There’s also 9fps burst shooting for up to 45 Raw frames or 300 JPEGs and compatibility with a new DMW-BGG1 battery grip.
The new Lumix G80 camera is set to be available as a body-only option and as a kit with the 12-60mm f/3. 5-5. 6 Power O. I. S. lens.
You can keep up with the DigitalRev team live from Photokina on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat.
. digitalrev.com2016-10-7 03:00