BEST Budget 4k Minimal Camera Setup! - Panasonic G85 in 2020

[@JakeMcHugh]

What do you guys think of the G85 in 2020? Do you prefer Primes over Zooms??

[@JakeMcHugh]

Man those Sigma Art lenses are heavy. I use to use the 18-35mm and that thing was a beast at times so I can't even imagine what the 24-105mm F4 would be like. The kit lens is amazing for being a kit lens. I'm like you, but I use the 12-35mm F2.8 90% of the time I would say. Between the focal range, DUAL IS, and fixed aperture it makes it where I don't really need much more. Thanks for watching!

[@BarnabasMolnarBarney]

I have a Panasonic G85 and I'm making hiking videos with fixed tripod shots (I'm not vlogging). I have the Pana Leica 8-18mm, Pana Leica 12-60mm which are f/2.8 and the 25mm f/1.7 (but that's narrow for the content I make and I won't bring many lenses on a 50 mile hike, just one, which is mostly the 8-18mm). There are many time when I have to shoot in the dark after sunset or before sunrise. So I often max out the ISO in video, which is 6400 for the G85. I would crack that higher for the content because its quite usable, but not the prettiest of course. 😃 Maybe with a very fast lens, like f/1.4, but I would not bet on it. So anyway, I think MFT for low light videos is definitely not the way. Maybe the GH5s, but for that price I'll pass. Maybe in a studio with proper lights and fixed focus. For the record, I'm thinking to move to Fuji (X-S10 or the X-T4 with 16-55 f/2.8) because of the APS-C sensor and better low light capabilities (also 10 bit 4K internal is pretty amazing). I know low light need primes, but for example the Pana Leica 12mm f/1.4 costs 639 euro. And calculate to FF sensor, its a 24mm f/2.8 lens. So for that price I would rather buy the Fuji 16mm f/1.4 Fuji prime lens, which is 668 euro and in the FF system it would be 24mm f/2. There is one lens which is a big maybe, the Sigma 16mm f/1.4, but that's still prime and a bit narrow for me. I need the (minimum) 12mm (FF 24mm equivalent) often.

[@JakeMcHugh]

@Barnabás Molnár I have always wanted to try the 8-18mm, but never got around to it, but I hear you about the lowlight with this camera. Thats one of the only two drawbacks with this camera in my opinion. That and autofocus. The XT-4 seems like a great camera and I can speak about the 10bit internal with having the GH5. Pretty much with having 10 bit and the white balance close to correct and you can really do a lot with the colors and match with other cameras if need be. Have you consider trying the Tokina 11-16mm on a speedbooster? It roughly gives you a 8-12mm F2 and is cheaper than the other micro four thirds wide angle lenses. Along with that you could also move into a GH5 or GH5s and not have to get rid of all your lenses to be able to shoot in 10bit. You would have better IBIS with the GH5 than the XT-4 and if that isn’t a concern since you shoot on a tripod you could get the GH5s which has even better lowlight performance with dual native ISO! I find that the lowlight is better on my GH5 than my G85 and the GH5s is an even bigger sensor yet and with a speed booster you are around a Super 35 for crop factor. Granted that the XT-4 would be better for photos than the ones I mentioned. There's so many good options to choose from that it makes it hard to pick sometimes! haha Thanks for watching!

[@simplegospel_tv]

I prefer fix, smaller is better for me

[@JakeMcHugh]

@Simple Gospel TV Good to know! I would like to use primes more often, but I always find myself going back to my trusty 12-35mm f2.8. Thanks for watching!

[@Iesous27]

I just got this camera yesterday. I want to get into photography as a new hobby and I also play guitar, so I intend to record myself playing as well. I'm still learning how to operate the camera properly, but I'm super excited!

[@mikekillagreen9432]

This awesome. Thank you

[@highwayman1224]

So here's my story. I'm 55 and I just got into photography about 3 weeks ago with a Lumix fz80 knowing absolutely nothing about photography. I'm learning as I go and literally take hundreds of pictures in my backyard and inside my house of absolutely EVERYTHING just so I can see how different lighting affects the photo and what I have to change in the settings to make it come out well. I'm actually getting the hang of it pretty quickly by shooting in the manual setting so it forces ME to have to change things & learn how everything coencides with each other and I've taken some great pictures especially of the moon & the doves in my backyard who make fantastic subjects to photograph. I shoot mostly stills and I know I'm going to be getting a 4/3 camera soon because I'm having so much fun with the fz80 that I know I can take better pictures from an upgraded camera. I had my sights set on a G9, but after watching videos of the G85, my thinking is that I can save a lot of money on the G85 instead of the G9 and put the savings into a couple of other lenses. Would you suggest this camera to someone like me that wants to learn more about photography? Thank you for the video, you did a great job!

[@JakeMcHugh]

Both are great cameras, but the advantage does go to the G9 I would say. The motto I always go with is “marry the lens, date the camera.” Good glass will last you a long time and there’s always new cameras coming out each year so if you find lenses you like you will always be able to continue to use them if you decide to upgrade down the line once again provided you stay in the same lens mount. The kit lens that comes with the G85 is actually pretty good so I recommend using that for a while first and then figure out what focal length you like best and get a prime at that length with the money you saved! I think the G85 is amazing for a beginner and you will learn and grow a lot from it. I hope this helps and thanks for watching!

[@highwayman1224]

@@JakeMcHugh thanks for the reply. I'm actually now thinking of going with the G9 with the Leica 12-60mm lens kit. The lens is discounted pretty well with the kit and if I bought the G85 + the Leica, it would almost be the same price. Anyway, decisions decisions... Lol

[@JakeMcHugh]

Even better!

[@isaiahgalante]

I love my camera. Use it for everything! G85 is definitely underated.

[@JakeMcHugh]

For sure! Thanks for watching!

[@lalljp]

It's 2022 and I just bought one, along with a 25mm lens and 45-200mm. I wanted long zoom and also better video than my Sony A7iii... The stabilization is great on the G85 and it's better at focusing than Sony. I also have a Rode VideoMicro but can't find it so I bought another one for cheap from eBay!

[@binuserkaf]

Thank you for this amazing and informative video!

[@hillbillyroyalty4792]

I don’t know which because I’m a beginner I started my own channel I only have a phone but your helping me out a lot

[@JakeMcHugh]

Awesome! I'm glad I am able to help out. Good Luck with your channel and Thanks for watching!

[@AndyLifeInVideo]

I got my G85 used last year with the kit lens for $500 from B&H Photo thanks to The Everyday Dad's video on it, and thanks to your videos, I recently got the 14mm pancake lens too! It's been an invaluable piece of gear for me as it helped me make the jump to 4K video, and in addition to my own projects on KZbin, I use it for client work and my clients can't stop raving about how well the videos turn out! I will say that it is frustrating to have to fight with the auto-focus at times, but you get used to it. Despite that, it's a tremendous value for the money and I can't recommend it enough!

[@JakeMcHugh]

That’s awesome! This camera is too good for the money. How are you liking the 14mm??

[@AndyLifeInVideo]

@@JakeMcHugh it's really good! I just use it for locked shots and the kit for moving shots so I can get the most stability.

[@JakeMcHugh]

That's perfect! Exactly the way I would use them!

[@spacemonkey1678]

What do you think of the Fujifilm xt200

[@JonackFilm]

This is really a good 4k budget setup

[@JakeMcHugh]

Sure is! Thanks for watching Paul!

[@DonGonemad_]

would this be a good starter camera in 2023?

[@anthonyfrancq]

I’m getting this next month, question - what is a speed booster used for?

[@JakeMcHugh]

A speedbooster (or also called a Focal reducer) helps the micro four third sensor act or behave like the size of an APSC Sensor. This helps reduce the crop factor you get with the smaller sensors and increases the maximum aperture of a lens by 1 F stop giving you better lowlight performance as well. I happen to do a review on a budget option that I like using a lot that you can see here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/r4jQlKlofc1_q6c I hope this helps and thanks for watching!

[@JaiJai177]

i have a GX85 i got buying auctioned goods. Because of that camera, I was plunged into the world of videography. I WISH IT HAD A TRS INPUT LIKE ITS THE PERFECT COMPACT CAAMERA

[@JakeMcHugh]

I hear great things about that camera! I think that form factor has many advantages of it and is a joy to use when on the go. I have an a6400 and I always think of the GX85 as that size camera, but with the great Panasonic features like IBIS and Menu systems. Thanks for watching!

[@churbay1]

Have you used any external monitors with your G85 or GH5? If so any recommendations? Cheers in advance :)

[@JakeMcHugh]

I don't use one often for what I do, but I have one from MustHD, I believe it's discontinued. I would recommend either the Andycine A6 or something from Feelworld. Thats probably what I will get if I ever replaced mine. Thanks for watching!

[@lovefirst6157]

I do love my g85. Do you shoot in 4K or 1080p on this camera

[@JakeMcHugh]

It’s a great little camera! I shoot mostly in 4k on it and when I shoot in 60fps in 1080 I still edit that footage in a 4k timeline. Thanks for watching!

[@kaotictube]

I have this exact setup (for the last 3 years). It's great for the money, though my Fuji XT2 edges it out on video quality and autofocus smoothness. Damn you contrast detect! Thanks for the video, good to have confirmation lol

[@JakeMcHugh]

Thanks for the kind words. Yeah I can’t imagine what it would be like if Panasonic could get the autofocus down. It would take their cameras to another level

[@FreelanceCameraBahamas]

Hello My LCD viewfinder would not turn-on. After a morning shoot with a flash on the same day in the afternoon the monitor did turn-on. The eye viewfinder is working. Any idea

[@JakeMcHugh]

Hm thats really interesting. I have never heard of this happening before. Can you cycle through the viewing options when using the Default Fn5 button to turn on and off the EVF?

[@germanevision]

My kit 18-55 mm is so bad that I regretted buying this camera. Only when I bought olympus 45 mm f1.8 prime did I realise the worth of this camera. Two questions: how do you rack focus in low light on this camera successfully. My g85 hunts focus so badly that the footage is useless. I have to cut and insert a broll in between to remove the focus hunting. Is there a way out for focus racking? Manual focus pulling is almost impossible because the focus ring is so long winding. Second, which is the profile you use for better dynamic range as natural setting in low light is tragic -- the blacks get smudged while whites get overblown. I use both cine d and cine v with all adjustments at the lowest. But I am still not happy with the dynamic range. Some of the short films in KZbin shot with this camera in low light is spectacularly better than my output.

[@JakeMcHugh]

Good glass can make all the difference sometimes. I always try to follow the saying, “Marry the Lens, Date the Camera.” Good glass can last a lifetime if you take care of it, while camera bodies are always being updated. For the autofocus issue, I don’t use autofocus unless I have to with Panasonic Cameras. If I do use it on the G85 I find Face Detection or One Area to work best. Sometimes the lens you use can make the difference too. What I like to do is to use manual focus, but use the AE/AF Lock button to do a quick single shot Autofocus on your subject. I find this to be the most accurate way to use autofocus for Panasonic Cameras. The Tap to focus on the screen works the same way. For the profile and Dynamic Range, Natural is still my prefer profile on this camera, but do find it a little harsh contrast wise at times. What I have been doing recently on my GH5 is raising the Master Pedestal to 7. You can’t do this on the G85, but you can do something similar by going into the Highlight Shadow Settings and raise the shadow by about +3. I also Drop the Highlights down by -3. I find this helps you get a more balance image out of camera. How do you go about exposing your image? I have my zebras set to 70 and 95 IRE. I use 70 for skintones and 95 to make sure I’m not blowing anything out if there isn’t anybody in frame. I always raise my ISO or open up my aperture until I hit the zebras and then drop it down one so they are gone. This usually works for me, but at times you have to break the rules. I hope this helps and thanks for watching!

[@germanevision]

@@JakeMcHugh Thanks for your elaborate reply -- that's rare on youtube. I use highlight and shadow at -2 which now I will try at -3. I have a feeling that beyond -2 the dark areas show strange colouration. I have never tried the zebras for skin tones and that's something I will certainly do to check if it improves the image. In real estate video there is not skin tone so your idea can be a game changer. But for weddings it could be as complicated as you suggested. Thanks so much for your educating response.

[@sdhute]

Primes sigma 56mm, oly 17mm, pana 25mm, pana 42.5 mm

[@JakeMcHugh]

Nice Set! I always wanted to try the Sigma 56mm and the Olympus 17mm. Though I think that 56mm on MFT is really long I think the Sony version would be really nice as well. 17mm on MFT is my favorite focal length since I like 35mm on full frame the best. Thanks for watching!

[@philipgardiner2003]

14mm was sharper and clear. The punch in ability of the 12-35 is cool.

[@eeforest7122]

what camera did you use to film this?

[@JakeMcHugh]

The talking heads are shot with the Sony a6400 and all the b roll was shot with the Panasonic GH5. Hope this helps and thanks for watching!

[@ReaonKaufman]

You should try the boys mm1

[@JakeMcHugh]

I have thought about it in the past, but the Rode and Movo have served me well until now. Have you tried it? Do you like it better then the other two? Thanks for watching!

[@misterpimlott6330]

If I could only afford one!

[@JakeMcHugh]

Maybe one day! If you are strapped for budget, but want something similar you could look at the Panasonic G7. It's pretty much the same camera as the G85 minus the IBIS which could work depending on the type of content you shoot! Thanks for watching!

[@alexojomo]

the kit lens is not 2.8 its 3.5

[@JakeMcHugh]

Good catch! I bet I was thinking of the 12-60mm Leica when shooting this video. Thanks for watching!

[@evilprospers6838]

so the a6400 is better

[@JakeMcHugh]

It really depends on your needs, but you can make the case that it is, for you. For example, if you need to rely on autofocus and need better lowlight performance, then the Sony would be the way to go. If you havent seen it yet, I recommend watching this video here that goes in depth comparing the two: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bKjUpmeVZ6aNj68 I hope this helps and thanks for watching!