G85vs Nikon Z9
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Travel & Video — G85 (2016): The G85 is the definitive enthusiast MFT package — combining 4K/30p, Dual I.S. 2 stabilisation, and weather sealing in an affordable, well-built body. It lacks phase-detect AF (contrast-detect only) but covers travel, landscape, and casual video effectively. One of the best-value used-market MFT cameras available — a practical, capable companion for photographers who want reliability over cutting-edge specs.
Professional Sports & Wildlife — Nikon Z9 (2021): The Z9 redefined what professional mirrorless could be — no mechanical shutter, 45MP stacked BSI, and 8K RAW in the most rugged Z body.
Who should buy what
G85 (2016)
- Travel photographers who want weather sealing on a budget
- Vloggers and hybrid shooters
- MFT system users stepping up from entry-level
Nikon Z9 (2021)
- Professional sports, wildlife and photojournalism photographers
- Nikon D6 or D850 users making the final switch to mirrorless
- Those who need the fastest, most reliable AF Nikon has ever made
- Professionals who need a flagship body with no mechanical shutter
Quick take: The nikon z9 has the highest resolution at 46mp; the g85 is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | G85 (2016) | Nikon Z9 (2021) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £350 | £5,499 |
| Sensor | 16MP Micro Four Thirds CMOS (no low-pass filter) | 45.7MP full-frame BSI stacked CMOS |
| Resolution | 16.0MP | 45.7MP |
| Video | 4K/30p, 1080p/60p | 8K/30p RAW, 4K/120p, ProRes RAW |
| Autofocus | Contrast-detect AF, DFD technology | Subject detection AF, 493-point phase-detect |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis Dual I.S. 2 (body + lens) | 6-stop IBIS |
| Burst Rate | 9fps | 20fps RAW / 120fps JPEG |
| Battery Life | ~330 shots (CIPA) | 740 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 426g (body only) | 1340g body only |
| Dimensions | 128.4 × 89.2 × 74.3mm | 149.0 × 149.5 × 90.5mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | Electronic, 2.36M dots, 0.74× magnification | 0.5" Quad-VGA OLED EVF, 3.69M dots, 120fps |
| Screen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen, 1.04M dots | 3.2" tilting touchscreen |
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds | Nikon Z-mount |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I slot | Dual CFexpress Type B / XQD |
| Connectivity | USB 2.0, Wi-Fi, NFC | USB-C 3.2, HDMI full-size, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth, LAN |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | G85 | Nikon Z9 |
|---|---|---|
| Travel | ||
| Landscape | ||
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Street | — | |
| Portrait | — | |
| Wildlife | ||
| Sports & Action | ||
| Photojournalism | — |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
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Camera family history