Decision tools · Compare
G85 vs A1
Quick take: The A1 has the highest resolution at 50MP; the G85 is the most affordable.
16 specs side by side·15 genres scored·UK prices from Wex Photo Video and Clifton Cameras
How to read this page. Highlighted cells win that row on the spec alone. Genre scores are the engine's base scores (enthusiast, photo and video); Camera Match re-weights them for your level and priorities. Price buttons are affiliate links; the price you pay is the same.
Sony
A1 2021
Best for Professional sport, wildlife, portrait & hybrid shooting
£4199
new today at Wex Photo Video
Price buttons are affiliate links — GearFrame may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never affects a score. Learn more
Verdictwhich should you buy?
G85 — Travel & Video: 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.
A1 — Professional Sport, Wildlife, Portrait & Hybrid Shooting: 50MP, 30fps, 8K — the Sony A1 is the most complete professional camera ever made.
Who should buy what
G85 (2016)
is the right camera for you if…
- Travel photographers who want weather sealing on a budget
- Vloggers and hybrid shooters
- MFT system users stepping up from entry-level
A1 (2021)
is the right camera for you if…
- Professional photographers who need resolution and speed without compromise
- Sports and wildlife photographers demanding the absolute fastest Sony
- Studio and fashion photographers who also shoot sport or events
- A9 III or A7R V owners who want a single body that does everything
Full specificationsthe better value in each row is highlighted
| Specification | G85Lumix · 2016 | A1Sony · 2021 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £176 usedBest | £4,199 |
| Sensor | 16MP Micro Four Thirds CMOS (no low-pass filter) | 50.1MP Full-Frame Stacked BSI CMOS Exmor RS |
| Resolution | 16.0MP | 50.1MPBest |
| Video | 4K/30p, 1080p/60p | 8K/30p, 4K/120p, 1080p/240p |
| Autofocus | Contrast-detect AF, DFD technology | Real-time Tracking, AI subject recognition — 759 phase-detect points |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis Dual I.S. 2 (body + lens) | IBIS — up to 5.5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 9fps | 30fps electronic with full AF/AEBest |
| Battery Life | ~330 shots (CIPA) | ~430 shots (CIPA)Best |
| Weight | 426g (body only)Best | 737g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 128.4 × 89.2 × 74.3mm | 128.9 × 96.9 × 80.8mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | Electronic, 2.36M dots, 0.74× magnification | EVF, 9.44M dots, 0.90× magnification, 240fps |
| Screen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen, 1.04M dots | 3.0" fully tilting touchscreen |
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I slot | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | USB 2.0, Wi-Fi, NFC | USB-C, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Bluetooth, Ethernet, HDMI |
Wins the row — price, resolution, burst, battery, weight and sealing are compared; text specs aren't ranked.
How they score by genreengine base scores out of 10
Genre
G85
A1
Portrait
4.9/10
8.2/10
Street
5.6/10
6.1/10
Travel
5.5/10
5.9/10
Wedding & Events
4.0/10
7.9/10
Vlogging & Video
4.2/10
—
Filmmaking
4.3/10
7.8/10
Documentary
4.8/10
7.6/10
Sports & Action
5.3/10
8.8/10
Landscape
4.7/10
7.6/10
Wildlife
6.0/10
8.7/10
Casual
4.2/10
4.8/10
Food
5.8/10
7.4/10
Macro
7.0/10
7.3/10
Architecture
4.5/10
7.9/10
Astrophotography
4.2/10
6.8/10
Scores come from the same engine as Camera Match: verified specifications weighted by what each genre needs, with documented adjustments. The product page and this table show the enthusiast base score. See how scores are calculated →
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