Upgrade Guide
Lumix G85→Lumix Lumix G9 II
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Worthwhile
Clear improvements over the G85. Whether it justifies the cost depends on which upgrades matter most to your shooting.
What's new in the Lumix G9 II
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Resolution25MP vs 16MP (+9MP)
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StabilisationIBIS added — significant for handheld and video
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Burst rate25fps with AF / 75fps electronic (fixed focus) vs 9fps
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Battery life680 shots (CIPA) vs ~330 shots (CIPA)
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Generation7 years newer (2023 vs 2016)
Suitability by genre
| Genre | G85 | Lumix G9 II | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Travel | -2.0 | ||
| Landscape | +0.5 | ||
| Vlogging & Video | +1.0 | ||
| Street | — | ||
| Portrait | -0.5 | ||
| Wildlife | +3.0 | ||
| Sports & Action | +3.5 |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | G85 | Lumix G9 II | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £350 | £1,499 | |
| Released | 2016 | 2023 | ↑ |
| Sensor | 16MP Micro Four Thirds CMOS (no low-pass filter) | 25.2MP Micro Four Thirds Live MOS | |
| Resolution | 16MP | 25MP | ↑ |
| Video | 4K/30p, 1080p/60p | 5.8K/30p, 4K/120p, C4K/60p, V-Log | |
| Autofocus | Contrast-detect AF, DFD technology | Phase-detect AF with subject/face/eye detection | |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis Dual I.S. 2 (body + lens) | 8-stop IBIS (with OIS lenses) | |
| Burst Rate | 9fps | 25fps with AF / 75fps electronic (fixed focus) | ↑ |
| Battery Life | ~330 shots (CIPA) | 680 shots (CIPA) | ↑ |
| Weight | 426g (body only) | 658g body only | ↓ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes | |
| Viewfinder | Electronic, 2.36M dots, 0.74× magnification | 0.76" OLED EVF, 3.68M dots | |
| Screen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen, 1.04M dots | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen | |
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds | Micro Four Thirds | |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I slot | Dual SD UHS-II |
Compare side-by-side
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