Lumix GX85 Camera
I have only had this camera in my hands for a couple of days, and I’m liking it! The Lumix GX85 was built on the same chassis as the GX7. It’s a body that is small but very comfortable, in my opinion, to handhold. I remember when I took the GX7 out for a test spin about three years ago and didn’t like the feel of the grip when first using it. But as part of the Luminary Team, I was given the assignment to take the camera cross country and make images and send them out for two days. First half day I was uncomfortable with the camera’s feel. By the end of the first day, it was, “I kinda like this camera.” By the end of the second day, I was pleased and comfortable with the feel of the camera.
The other bonus was/is that this camera is very low profile. Combined with the smaller lenses of the micro 4/3rds system I found almost no one who said no to the request of making their picture. A decided difference from the equivalent full frame DSLR gear.
Fast forward to yesterday and photographing some wildlife. I was out scouting a wetlands area just south of Sedona. (who knew, right?) It was the middle of the day, and I wasn’t planning on making any images but just in case I set up the GX85 with the 100-300mm. The camera stabilization is fabulous, and the pictures I took are tack sharp. When photographing wildlife, I like precise detail and was excited by the results from handheld photos. It can be tough using a tripod when chasing flying critters around the marshes.
This little guy is called the Flame Skimmer or Firecracker Skimmer for obvious reasons. I found chasing dragonflies is a lot like photographing birds in that you need to study behavior patterns to obtain well composed interesting images.
Here’s a detail of the dragonfly. A little bit of sharpening was added in post using MacPhun’s Creative Kit Focus
Here’s the under-carriage of another dragonfly. Amazing little critters!
I moved to a different area with more water at a place called Bubbling Springs over in Page Springs and found this huge family of Mallards out for an afternoon swim.
Mallard duck detail.
Images were captured with the Lumix 100-300mm Vario f 4.0-6.3 lens. That’s a whole lotta reach for about $550 – Especially when you consider it’s the full frame equivalent of 200-600mm.
Yours in Creative Photography, Bob
PS – Can’t wait to try out the new Lumix G Leica DG Vario-Elmar 100-400mm Lens with this camera.
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