Panasonic - LUMIX G85 Mirrorless 4K Photo Digital Camera Body with 12-60mm Lens, DMC-G85MK - Black

In this day of camera smart-phones, is there still a place for DSLRs? I say yes, if you actually want to take pictures rather than snapshots and if you are willing spend some money and are ready to haul some stuff around to take those pictures. I settled on the Micro 4/3 format because it is the most easily portable DSLR camera, and therefore the most likely to be used by me. I don't see myself printing larger than 8x10 photos so 16mp is more than enough and overkill for social media. The regular-speed 4K video is more than adequate for and videography I will be doing (invest in a good mike to up your game). A HUGE plus is the fact that this camera and kit lens that cam with it are weather-sealed so I have peace of mind taking it on a hike. I look forward for using 4K pre-burst mode, it is literally a time machine, letting you capture an event up to one second before you push the shutter button! It allows you to follow your child on the field and to get the shots you really want with having to take thousands of pictures. There are trade-offs for not going full-frame sensor (e.g. low-light performance, less depth of field) but the price differential, $697 on sale with a 12-60mm weather proof lens, rather than thousands for the bigger camera? It was a no brainer for me. Great ergonomics, custom setting modes that can be saved to allow up to 4 different set-ups, a very good and versatile kit lens (24-120mm 35mm equivalent focal length) all in a camera that I will take on day hikes. Go on Youtube and watch some videos about what this camera can do. You will see that it is still more than adequate for a hobby-enthusiast. It has rekindled my love of photography. Happy snapping!

I have lost two camera to weather. One simply because the humidity killed it. One simply because of a little dust in the air. This had till now severely limited my pursuit of photography outdoors. This camera is a little miracle! It's weatherization allows one to use it in most outdoor situations without having to take great pains to protect it from the weather, or other adverse conditions experienced outdoors. I don't need any contraptions to protect it - it simply hangs from my neck and is easy to operate. The camera body fits my hand easily, and provides easy access to all controls. The lens provided (which is also weatherized) is excellent for the broad range of situations I encounter outdoors. This camera truly is a little miracle for those who wish to expand their skills in outdoor photography. I have attached 4 sample photos - be aware that each had to be sized down to meet the size constraints of the website. One is a shot of a cardinal high up on a tree top. It was taken at max zoom, handheld. Another is of a pileated woodpecker that I was able to get closer to. It too was taken at max zoom, handheld. The dual stabilization does a fantastic job. Another shot is of the near total eclipse of the moon on 19 Nov 2021, at maximum extinction. It was taken at max zoom, handheld, at below freezing temperatures. Finally is a picture of a dramatic sunrise, taken at mid zoom, handheld. This camera has opened up a whole new world of photography for me. I highly recommend it!

Been wanting to make the jump to mirrorless for years but the price of entry was too high. I have Lumix point & shoots, so picked this up as an open box ($70 off) since I'm familiar with the functions and menu I've been delighted, capturing both pics I otherwise haven't been able to using 4K burst mode as well as shooting both JPG and RAW formats flawlessly (pics attached) The fully articulating screen is great as well as the 12-60 kit lens Downsides include continuous AF (searches too much, so better to keep it on single AF), battery life (don't expect a full day of shooting, especially if using video) and shooing in low light If you have realistic expectations, this is a terrific intro mirrorless camera