Upgrade Guide

Lumix G85→Lumix Lumix S1

Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.

You own

Lumix

G85

£350

2016

→

Upgrade to

Lumix

Lumix S1

£1499 (+£1,149)

2019

✅

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 S1

Suitability by genre

Full spec comparison

Spec	G85	Lumix S1
Price	£350	£1,499
Released	2016	2019	↑
Sensor	16MP Micro Four Thirds CMOS (no low-pass filter)	24.2MP full-frame CMOS
Resolution	16MP	24MP	↑
Video	4K/30p, 1080p/60p	4K/60p (crop), 4K/30p (full-frame), 1080p/180p, V-Log (upgrade)
Autofocus	Contrast-detect AF, DFD technology	DFD contrast-detect AF — reliable but slower than phase-detect rivals
Stabilisation	5-axis Dual I.S. 2 (body + lens)	5-axis IBIS — 6 stops
Burst Rate	9fps	9fps continuous with AF/AE
Battery Life	~330 shots (CIPA)	~380 shots (CIPA)	↑
Weight	426g (body only)	898g body only	↓
Weather Sealed	Yes	Yes
Viewfinder	Electronic, 2.36M dots, 0.74× magnification	OLED EVF, 5.76M dots, 0.78× — one of the finest EVFs available
Screen	3.0" fully articulating touchscreen, 1.04M dots	3.2" touchscreen, tilting
Mount	Micro Four Thirds	L-mount (Leica/Panasonic/Sigma)
Memory Cards	Single SD UHS-I slot	Dual SD UHS-II slots

Compare side-by-side

See G85 and Lumix S1 next to each other with our interactive comparison tool.

Get a personalised upgrade score

Tell us what you shoot and we'll score the Lumix S1 against your specific genres — not just specs.

Other upgrades from the G85

Related buying guides

Camera family history