Upgrade Guide
Lumix G85→Lumix G3
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Situational
One clear hardware improvement over the G85. Worth it if that specific upgrade aligns with what you shoot.
What's new in the G3
-
StabilisationIBIS added — significant for handheld and video
Unchanged or similar
-
ResolutionSimilar (16MP)
-
Weather sealingNot 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 | G85 | G3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | -0.2 | ||
| Street | +0.2 | ||
| Travel | -0.3 | ||
| Wedding & Events | -0.8 | ||
| Vlogging & Video | -0.6 | ||
| Filmmaking | — | ||
| Documentary | -1.8 | ||
| Sports & Action | -1.3 | ||
| Landscape | -0.8 | ||
| Wildlife | -1.2 | ||
| Casual | -0.1 | ||
| Food | -0.4 | ||
| Macro | -2.3 | ||
| Architecture | -0.1 | ||
| Astrophotography | -0.4 |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | G85 | G3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £176 used | £20 used | |
| Released | 2016 | 2011 | ↓ |
| Sensor | 16MP Micro Four Thirds CMOS (no low-pass filter) | 16MP Micro Four Thirds CMOS | |
| Resolution | 16MP | 16MP | |
| Video | 4K/30p, 1080p/60p | Full HD 1080/60i | |
| Autofocus | Contrast-detect AF, DFD technology | 23-area contrast AF with face detection, touch AF | |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis Dual I.S. 2 (body + lens) | No IBIS (lens-based stabilisation only) | |
| Burst Rate | 9fps | 4fps | ↓ |
| Battery Life | ~330 shots (CIPA) | ~270 shots (CIPA) | ↓ |
| Weight | 426g (body only) | 388g (with battery) | ↑ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Not weather sealed | ↓ |
| Viewfinder | Electronic, 2.36M dots, 0.74× magnification | LCD EVF, 1.44M dots | |
| Screen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen, 1.04M dots | 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen, 460k dots | |
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds | Micro Four Thirds | |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I slot | Single SD slot |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See G85 and G3 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 G3 against your specific genres — not just specs.
Other upgrades from the G85
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Camera family history