Upgrade Guide
Lumix G85→Lumix S1 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 S1 II
-
Resolution24MP vs 16MP (+8MP)
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StabilisationIBIS added — significant for handheld and video
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Burst rate30fps (electronic), 9fps (mechanical) vs 9fps
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Battery life~400 shots (CIPA) vs ~330 shots (CIPA)
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Generation9 years newer (2025 vs 2016)
Suitability by genre
| Genre | G85 | S1 II | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Travel | -1.5 | ||
| Landscape | +0.5 | ||
| Vlogging & Video | +1.5 | ||
| Street | -0.5 | ||
| Portrait | +1.5 | ||
| Wildlife | +1.5 | ||
| Sports & Action | +2.5 | ||
| Wedding & Events | — |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | G85 | S1 II | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £350 | £2,200 | |
| Released | 2016 | 2025 | ↑ |
| Sensor | 16MP Micro Four Thirds CMOS (no low-pass filter) | 24.2MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS | |
| Resolution | 16MP | 24MP | ↑ |
| Video | 4K/30p, 1080p/60p | 6K/30p, 4K/120p, 10-bit 4:2:2 internal | |
| Autofocus | Contrast-detect AF, DFD technology | Phase-detect AF with subject recognition (human, animal, vehicle) | |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis Dual I.S. 2 (body + lens) | 5-axis IBIS, up to 8 stops | |
| Burst Rate | 9fps | 30fps (electronic), 9fps (mechanical) | ↑ |
| Battery Life | ~330 shots (CIPA) | ~400 shots (CIPA) | ↑ |
| Weight | 426g (body only) | 680g (body only) | ↓ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes | |
| Viewfinder | Electronic, 2.36M dots, 0.74× magnification | Electronic, 3.68M dots, 0.78× | |
| Screen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen, 1.04M dots | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen, 1.84M dots | |
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds | Leica L-mount | |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I slot | Dual slot: CFexpress Type B + SD UHS-II |
Compare side-by-side
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