How I Set Up A New Camera // Some Panasonic GX80/GX85 Hacks 

Hey Nerds! New camera day really is the best day. What do you do as soon as you get a new camera?

My Nerdy GX-80/85 tips: (1) RAW shooters - set RAW + superfine JPEG if you use the LCD screen to check sharpness in the field. RAW-only gives you a low res preview and everything looks unsharp on the LCD when zoomed in (2) Configure your Q-Menu - it really speeds up finding settings that you use often but not often enough to set on a function button (3) Don't forget there are extra function buttons, Fn5 - Fn9, available on the touchscreen (4) Back button focus is on the Custom menu, screen 1, set the AF/AE Lock and Shutter AF parameters to give back button AF. Hope you enjoy the GX-80 as much as I have. It's seen off my Canon gear for 95% of my photography.

I just got this camera a couple of weeks ago. It's very impressive. Thanks for going through your setup.

Sweet.. I have been using my Gx80 for nearly 1 year and I JUST found out that I can change ISO to under 200 thanks to this video!

Cant forget these tips. Thanks. I always read the manuals/instructions first.

Thanks for the tips. I'll try some of your suggestions. I've had the gx85 for about 5 months now. Took it on safari in S. Africa in April. Incredible photos, all hand-held . I'm not a video shooter, but I've got great video of two lions devouring their freshly-killed impala at night. Amazing - the only light was a hand held spotlight. Love this camera.

You can also set bracketing very fast by pushing the rear wheel (exposure in my case) and then use the up/down arrows. That way yo save a custom button for anything else.

I had toyed with the idea of getting involved in photography as a hobby, and I can report i just bought this camera as my very first camera thanks to you. Absolutely love your content. Cheers.

I set my camera up similarly however I always set my iso and other exposure steps to full stops. It's much faster in use and with raw format that little inaccuracy isn't a problem at all.

I just sold all my Nikon cameras, lenses & strobes (weighed 25+ lbs!) and bought the G85 with 12-60 kit lens plus 100-300mm lens. It's a quarter of the weight. Woohoo! Only had it a couple of days so still working my way through the different menus. I took a couple of pictures at the park of the geese and their chicks. Looking good so far. I used to have a major problem holding my Nikon 70-200 f/2.8 steady even with VR (vibration reduction). Love the 5 axis....tack sharp every time.

Just got a second hand GX850. This is useful stuff since I never had a Lumix before. Great tips! Thank you!

Thanks for the hack and links to those other vids. I’ve had my GX80 for 3 days and it’s gone wonky and has to go back to PCWorld for replacement, which is super annoying. The eye sensor keeps activating even when I’m not looking through the eye piece, switching the rear screen off. I also can’t remap the FN4 button, so that’s faulty, too. Love the camera, though, and looking at getting a fast prime for street shooting. Used to have an Oly EP3 paired with a Panasonic 20mm 1.7 ver2 and the touchscreen focus + shutter paired with the sharpness of that lens made for a fantastic combo. That lens is sharper than a samurai’s toothpick and very affordable. Just a tad slow to focus when compared to other Olympus and Panasonic M43 lenses, but makes you think ahead. Thanks again for the very helpful hints and tips.

OMG! the 30p/60P is brilliant! - now it shoots the same speed as my DJI Spark! - thank you

Thanks, Emily, this is helpful info as I’m not as familiar with Panasonic cameras as I am with Olympus so now I know a few things to attack when I open the box on arrival THIS AFTERNOON! I agree that the jangle of neck strap loops is annoying, but usually attach a wrist strap to one right away. Ordered extra batteries right away. They arrive tomorrow. Looking forward to getting to know my “new,” used Panasonic GX85!

Jingle jangles. I didn't know what that was, but figured it out. I really like this camera...Great job!

Thanks for the good go around with GX80/85. I like many would be interested in IQ and handling comparisons GX80 / Oly E-PL8/9 / G7. Another interest is using the same lens on both Pana & Oly camers to see a comparison of how Oly camers handle the Pana lens and the other way around. Perhaps you lens choice could be your walk around lens most commonly used both still pics and video. Would be nice to include some primes. Thanks again for all your efforts, much appreciated.

Very helpful (and fun) video... thank you so much. Btw, diagonal cutters make quick work of jingle jangle removal.

neat! i just picked up this camera and it arrived today. it compliments my g85 and my olympus cameras. i think my custom settings are very similar to yours!

Loved the video and camera looks great, it is on my radar now thanks!

Great video, Thanks for the upload!

Great video. I love new camera day. I love both of my GX85s for years now but my most recent NEW cameras I got at a Pawn shop recently. Got what appears to be a brand new never been used G7 which is awesome. My other G7 works but has a minor issue with the SD card slot. I also got a Canon G7x which is an awesome little camera for street to go along with my ZS60 and Canon SD1200IS, I had been looking for an LX10 but for what I paid, the G7X is a perfect sub.

Thank you M4Nerds! for alerting me to the Zebra Pattern, never seen that on a camera before, jolly useful. Something else ... chuck the lens cap, then fit a step-up ring to the 12-32 lens for a bit of added protection, acts a bit like a hood, takes a 46mm filter too.

The GX80 does like batteries, so I carry 2 or 3 ExPro brand spares with me always! Always off with the AF light and beep too. Jpeg fine in 3:2 for me, and custom mode set for mono, another for silent shooting. Enjoy your GX80, it's a great little camera (although I'd get a GX9 if I were buying these days)

Excellent video, thanks for sharing.

Traded in my Nikon full frame on a GX85 3 weeks ago (partially, not solely, on your enthusiasm for the format) and haven't regretted it for a moment. Mine is set up in a similar way, but my custom sets are less for video and more for action photos. Might have to give your setup a try, though, as I'm shooting more and more video since I ditched the Nikon. I did keep the post focus mode button. Makes focus stacking a breeze.

Ordered the GX80 with the kit lens for about 340 quid as my first proper camera, can't wait for it to arrive! Won't have the slightest clue how to use it, but that challenge is part of the fun to overcome haha

Awesome video! You just make me feel even better for my unnecessary/I just want this camera buys. Lol I really want the GX8 just because it's small. I didn't go for a gx85 because no flip out screen.

My first two steps on any camera are the same as yours: beep and AF assist lamp both off. I find I need some time with the camera to best map Function Buttons and fill the custom preset slots.

You bought a little beast! ;) 1 year ago I bought this camera and I'm being using for some professional use, mainly to wedding films, highlights and video clips. Here in Portugal I bought with a 12-32mm for 650€. Her small body with sensor stabilization, 1080p60fps, and 4k for 650€ made in my opinion the best cost-benefit mirrorless camera for video .Things what I think this camera needs to be perfect maybe you will feel: flip screen, mic input, 120fps in 1080p and few accessories (I made my own battery grip). ;) Maybe one day I will have a new camera day with one GH5, I hope! xD Nice vid. Sub! Cya ;)

Did the button trick on my G7 (really hard to find the correct way) to unlock ntsc format and use 30 and 60 fps (in fact 59.97), works fine. The only problem a yellow warning label every time you shutdown the camera.

Hi there love your videos. I have a question pertaining to Panasonic MFT cameras. I currently own the Panasonic G7 and find myself using it a lot for photography but with adapted vintage lenses. As you are well aware, there is no (meta)data coming from these lens to the camera hence I find myself wondering which lens shot what when I'm looking through the photos in lightroom. Any suggestions on how I would be able to at least somehow tag the lens in a series of photos in camera before changing lenses? Thank you in advance for any help - much appreciated!

Pro tip for someone finding this video in 2022: don't throw away hot shoe thingy: you can use it to prop up flash and bounce it from the ceiling :)

HERO! Great video - so helpful!

He He I just upgraded my GX7 to a GX9 and am absolutely loving it. Couldn't give a toss about video so set it to 1080/30P the same as my X113, it will never be used. I think I took one video clip of Egyptian geese goslings in St James's park 3 years ago. Fn1 is set to on screen settings, I only use primes so I set Fn2 to digital zoom so that at the Zoo my 45mm f1.8 will give a 90mm and x2 180mm equivalent. These Panasonic and Olympus f1.8 primes will easily take a 300% crop they are so sharp and contrasty. I have used x4 once or twice and it didnt let me down but I would usually crop further in post rather than in camera. I have disabled the compensation dial which is one of only 2 things I hate about the camera; I set comp using the main dial like on my GX7. The dial is hard to set and I kept jogging it by accident, besides which I hate retro controls, seething hatred at that dial he he. If I wanted retro I would have bought a Fuji. The other thing I hate is the lack of weatherproofing ho hum. I set 3:2 as most of my shots will be cropped panarama mostly 4800x1600. Thats it really I dont really use special features, I only use centre focus, single shot, manual low ISO, occasionally WB; most of this technology will go unused. Like most Magnum protogs, unless there is difficult lighting conditions requiring manual settings, I only set P mode and adjust DoF using teh back wheel wih my thumb; I adjust compensation if the subject needs it. I dont have time fiddling with silly settings just because purists thing they are important. I cant see teh point in taking a meter reading and then set it manually when the camera can do that itself, that is just madness. Of course using program is more difficult but its a skill worth learning. I just take simple photos, nowadays, mostly using the tilt screen. Both my GX9 and Leica X113 have tilting EVFs but i only use them in bright sunlight now. I couldnt go back to an optical finder now I have got so used to how these little electronic cameras work, I fully use these features like tilting touch screen which have become fundamental to my new techniques. Enjoy your new camera ;-)

thank you very mush. i have use it with my nikon flash and its work. i have sb600 and a yn685

just ordered this camera. hoping to get the most out of it

Congrats on the new arrival. Are you sure long exposure NR doesn't do things you can't achieve in post. Subtracting background noise picked up by the sensor is a very different operation to applying NR to the unmodified image in post. Long exposure NR + NR in post certainly has potential to do better, from a mathematical point of view. As for setting up my new cameras, it varies on the manufacturer. On Panasonic bodies I find they often meter a little hot, so I like to dial in -1/3 exposure comp and configure it to remember the setting (by default it doesn't). I then save that to a preset (eg C1) so that when I power the camera on with C1 selected I know I can frame the shot and shoot without needing to make many modifications to exposure. And if I do need to apply more compensation, I'll be able to tell which way I need to go before I get the camera up to my eye. This is with matrix metering - if you use spot metering this obviously wouldn't help you. I also set the auto ISO limit to 1600. And I love how easy that is to change while shooting on the Lumix interface. It's a shame you can't control the shutter speed at which these cameras raise the ISO, but with the dial controlling the auto ISO limit I find I can force it to use a lower ISO and slower shutter quite quickly.

Thank you, very useful.

Yay I'm so glad you bought this camera this is the same camera I have and I love it. I'm looking forward to your thoughts on it and also pics with your different lenses so I can see what to buy next!!!! I'm thinking the 42.5mm or 12-35mm for me and that would be wicked!!! I also look forward to your use with video. Also random question but when using these cameras with built in IBIS is there any time you should not have it on at all? I bought the Godox flash with it and it works beautifully too. I don't know why I'm excited for you but I am but I think its ulterior motives hahahah!!!

I have tested lots of configurations when traveling and I have found that the more useful if you are shooting lots of video and jpegs is set one of the custom buttons with the highlight/shadow function, so you have control over them almost as quick as you control exposure. I have installed the cine d profile and stored it in one C just in case but I think that is horrible what it does with skin tones and I found it very difficult to grade. I shoot natural instead.

Google/RU-vid are freaky relevant to my life. I've probably watched 10 videos on this channel plus 20 from other channels around M43 cameras. my gx85 arrived today and I come to RU-vid for a little guide for the settings and my second recommended video is this, from FIVE years ago. Other than that crazy targeting, great video!

Interesting. I'm not the only one who hates the jingle jangle, and that irritating beep. I do pretty much the same: setting up custom functions and modes. Then I do the preliminary tests to see the limitations: ISO/noise, clarity, video stabilization, etc... Then, I do tests in locations I shoot most often, and test a bunch of other stuff. Then I post a RU-vid video. GX85 is a awesome camera.

Great video. I must take issue with the noise reduction for long exposure turned off. Going off my G9, without the noise reduction there is an unacceptable amount of noise.

G80 user here, I'd love a GX80 as a side-kick! I only ever shoot in M mode, so one thing I do is change the exp comp Fn butto to something else, atm I have it set to switch between AFS and AFF [can be handy for shooting perched birds as it adjusts to slight movements] - Another thing I'll do with a new camera is set it up for off camera flash, again I only ever use flash in manual mode so it's simply a matter of ensuring my cheap triggers are firing my cheap old Yongnuo 560 in sync [I do also have a Godox TT350o for the odd time I want to shoot TTL] - Beep is off for me too right away, and the focus assist light [I agree it makes little to no difference unless you shoot in the dark a lot] and I set the camera to 'shoot without lens' because I like to adapt vintage lenses now and then

Thanks for this video. Today is my birthday and I’m traveling to NYC for street photography. Have focus by touch on the screen. Can’t figure how to set up touchscreen touch to focus AND take the picture. Any suggestions how to set this up on the GX80(85 in the USA)? I don’t know if you monitor old (and this is old) posts. Let’s see if the Seahawks can pull their stuff together for game two of this season. Mask On Nurse Marty

Hi! many thanks for sharing your settings? How do you enable the level gauge on the gx85? I try to find but i can't :(

Hiya, I've got my G2 but really could use your help with the setup as there is more bells and whistle on it than the average busker!! I can't even find the format new card bit thanks my friend

Congrats on the new acquisition! Looking forward to your review, but what are you initial thoughts of the EVF viewfinder? Any thought on this would be much appreciated. Mahalo from Hawaii, Thomas

Crazy, but i just ordered this one from mpb. Can't wait as a companion to g95 for more Street fotos. Love your vids.

Cool Video, congrats! Tried the GX80 for a few days. IBIS is great. The camera is tiny and a wee bit heavy if you compare it with the G7. Amazing purchase now that is so cheap ;) So I'm probably selling my G7 and get a proper audio recorder instead.

Would be interested in a G7 comparison. I keep pondering to myself how much further panasonic cameras have come and if upgrading is worth while for the hobiest.

Great video, thanks you. 😇 I wanted to ask do you recommend buying third party batteries or not?

Jingle jangles and beep are first to go for me too!

great camera - i love mine - but I wish it had larger magnification in EVF - large EVF - such a fully loaded cameras - with IBIS - super Lmono - the great Panasonic menu and touch LCD - very underrated camera - wish Panasonic upgrade and merge GX8 and GX85/GX9 into one camera - with the EVF magnification of the GX8 size of GX9 - a bit larger then the GX85 body to fit a larger battery - can be a bit taller - would not hurt to copy the style from Olympus PenF but a bit taller and larger :)

Hey! I see Oly E-PL1 right there! I like that one!

The first thinking set is exposure compensation to the rear thumb dial. Then I change the iso adjustments the thirds. This is on my new LumixG9. Other custom buttons I've fiddled with are the two on the front, the bottom to Chang the cropping in video or jpegs (x2 or x4 digital zoom). For video this is helpful when the lens you have isn't long enough or you don't have a zoom lens, and it still maintains the definition even in 4K. For stills, those are mainly for emergencies 😁 The top front button is now for wifi- remote shooting et al. I've also set the C1 to eBay mode- for when I'm taking photos for... eBay (way ahead of me, I see ;) medium jpeg, 50th or 100th sec shutter priority, exposure compensation at +1.3, auto everything else. Images are saved as raw+maximum jpeg, and, as I now have two sd card slots slot 1 if photos, 2 is video, but if I do paid work then I'll change that to back up. And no, my camera hasn't got a name… well, it does- G9 so… Genie?

I watched this video this morning... oh.... a gx80... I've ordered one two days ago... and it has arrived two days earlier than expected... so... on my first camera day (well.. evening) I'm watching this video again :)

Nice work....I like your videos.👍📷

Q: When you film video on the GX80, do you have both IBIS and E-stabilisation ON? or just IBIS? I notices there is a crop with e-stabilisation being switched off and I am trying to figure out if the pay--off is worth it...! Any thoughts?

Just bought my first LUMIX!

This was the best COVID investment I have ever made. It's sad they are discontinued. I may grab another one. I love your content and I think you are absolutely wonderful. Thank you for the years of entertainment and knowledge.

Can you do a video on how to check your shutter count on the GX80, thanks.

Great Video !! Greetings from Germany

Hi! Very nice and informative video. I just bought a gx80, and seriously thinking of doing the 4K 30fps hack, but I've read negative comments about some functions stopping working after that and also not being able anymore to plug directly the camera to the PC. Any feedback about that? Thank you very much.

I just did the opposite of you and added a GX85 to my fleet of Olympus. A new interface is always confusing. Thanks for the tips.

How about the microphone? can I use a HMDI to 3.5 jack for the external mic? Badly need a mic for GX80/85

I prefer to turn of the EVF eye sensor, and the neared function button as a dedicated EVF button.

I 100% agree on the "beep"...so annoying. I cant understand people that don't turn it off. About the extended ISO though...isn't it so that the ISO100 doesn't give you any benefits over the ISO200 concerning image quality?

You're awesome thanks.

Can anyone who did the NTSC hack to their camera explain if all the custom and saved settings are still there after the change?

Thank you!

which one better for making video and longlife battery gx85 or g7??

Why don't you try do the screen hinge mod on it? I did it today and the screen fully articulates now and you can do selfies

yeah everything cool ..but problem when you change to 60 frames you get flicker when filming at night which for me is importnant as i live in Australia (50HZ) yes filming in 4 k can be smoother having extra 5 frames but the quality of full hd at 50p is quiet good in this camera .. It all depends what you do and i wish there was quick way to change those stettings depending on situation cheers Great video :)

I would love your thoughts! When I got my camera it was a toss up between the gx85 and the g7. I REALLY wanted to love the gx85 for the on body stabilization, but the ergonomics and controls just felt so cramped.

Great settings video. Are you still using this camera today? I was thinking about picking one up used for dirt cheap. Good ideas here. I might change my zebras to 100% too.

what is the olimpus modei you have there, looks nice!

Hello, Please tell me how to get rid of a yellow exclamation mark that pops up every time I turn off the camera (after switching to 1080p 60fps).

Great unboxing :) The only thing i'm missing in your video is the endless search for the right memory card that's fast enough for 4k while trying not to get scammed with fake cards on Ebay and Amazon :)

My new camera today is the GX-!! Yay.

Have u had that problem where it changes to 4:3 when its says its gonna be 16-9 in the Ai option. Dont know if ur still using this camera haha. And also can u take a single photo in 4k without having to browse through a video and pick the ones you like. Love ur video thanks.

some menu in my camera enable to use like photo style,highlight shadow i dynamic, i hdr, hdr, multi exp, flash,color space.. can you help please?

Is your main reason for getting the GX80 because of it's size in comparison to the GH5? Congrats on the new member :)

Hi there. Could you do the same video for the GH5 please? Thank you

What can be a problem when You shoot in NTSC and on other camera on Pal? Os there be a problem during edit?

I assigned MF/AF to a function button on my GX-85. The GX-9 has a switch for this, but oh well.

Customize the fn buttons of my gx8 today, finaly a new lumix body the gx8 is my replacement of my old G6 . the 60p setting looks great can you return to the old setting. And 50p mode is now not in the menu anymore??

After many years using film and point and shoot cameras I got the GX80.And i have no clue what I am doing...LOL Your video is great but it goes a bit too fast for my old brain. Do you have those setting written down somewhere, that you can share? Thank you

Hi ya. I finally brought my first micro 4/3 camera and got the gx80 . I've been looking on you tube for a video that goes through the menu in-depth but can't find one. Could you make one in the future please I love your videos thank you. linsey

I've just posted my first wedding film or film and then you post a review of the my camera, that's not nice haha! Anyway, I used the 42.5mm f1.7, very lightweight setup. The fotographer had an Hasselblad dx1 + 2 Canon dslr and he looked tired after a couple of hours... But wy is 30/60fps better than 25/50?

I see you shoot in RAW what software do you use to process or are processing in camera?

GX 80 30fps 4k disables data transfer from camera by usb still allows charging, but win 10 unavailable driver problem, you can take sdxc card out and still use it in a card reader. you can reset it using the video but also removes cinelike hack at same time

hi there, Is the exclamation mark when successfully unlocking the 4k 30p feature bad for the camera?

Hi I would like to buy , could you please tell me how long we can record video without overheat ?

I did 75% of that you did (except bracketing, evf and grid, but got the idea about the later and going to set it).

Hi, can i reproduce mp4 h264-h265 on the lcd of this camera? thanks

Fun video, I have the GX85 and used mainly as a backup to my GX8. Enjoyed your video and look forward to more!

Can you explain how you use the 2 second timer for long exposures? Thanks!

The bleep sound goes away first. After that I sort of wing it.

Best lens for it is 25mm 1.7 Very cheap but awesome lens