Upgrade Guide
Lumix DC-G97→Lumix G85
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Worthwhile
Clear improvements over the DC-G97. Whether it justifies the cost depends on which upgrades matter most to your shooting.
What's new in the G85
-
Weather sealingAdded — fully sealed body
-
Burst rate9fps vs 6fps (continuous AF)
Unchanged or similar
-
Resolution16MP (down from 20MP — optimised for low light)
-
StabilisationIBIS not present in new body
Suitability by genre
Base scores — computed from verified specs for an enthusiast shooting photo and video. The Upgrade Checker adjusts them for your skill level.
| Genre | DC-G97 | G85 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | -0.3 | ||
| Street | — | ||
| Travel | +0.6 | ||
| Wedding & Events | +0.2 | ||
| Vlogging & Video | -1.2 | ||
| Filmmaking | -0.6 | ||
| Documentary | +0.1 | ||
| Sports & Action | +0.7 | ||
| Landscape | +0.4 | ||
| Wildlife | +0.7 | ||
| Casual | -1.6 | ||
| Food | -0.4 | ||
| Macro | +0.8 | ||
| Architecture | -0.5 | ||
| Astrophotography | — |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | DC-G97 | G85 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £649 | £350 | |
| Released | 2024 | 2016 | ↓ |
| Sensor | 20.3MP Four Thirds CMOS | 16MP Micro Four Thirds CMOS (no low-pass filter) | |
| Resolution | 20MP | 16MP | ↓ |
| Video | Unlimited 4K/30p, V-Log L pre-installed | 4K/30p, 1080p/60p | |
| Autofocus | Contrast-detect AF with Depth-from-Defocus, face/eye detection | Contrast-detect AF, DFD technology | |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS (4-stop) | 5-axis Dual I.S. 2 (body + lens) | |
| Burst Rate | 6fps (continuous AF) | 9fps | ↑ |
| Battery Life | 300 shots (CIPA, estimated) | ~330 shots (CIPA) | ↑ |
| Weight | 530g (with battery and card) | 426g (body only) | ↑ |
| Weather Sealed | Not weather sealed | Yes | ↑ |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 2.36M dots | Electronic, 2.36M dots, 0.74× magnification | |
| Screen | Fully articulating touchscreen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen, 1.04M dots | |
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds | Micro Four Thirds | |
| Memory Cards | Single SD (UHS-II) | Single SD UHS-I slot |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See DC-G97 and G85 next to each other with our interactive comparison tool.
Get a personalised upgrade score
Run the upgrade checker →
Tell us what you shoot and we'll score the G85 against your specific genres — not just specs.
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