I Bought a Lumix DMC-G81M (G80-85) in 2025

5 minutes read time

Hands-on with the Lumix G81M

I ordered it on eBay in Germany, and just four days later, it was in my hands.

You often see the question: “Is this camera still worth it in 2025?” Well, of course it is! In fact, it’s still sold as new in some stores. That either means they produced a ton of them or the camera is just that good. I’d say it’s a bit of both.

One thing that frustrates me is Lumix’s habit of using different model numbers for the same camera depending on the region. Other brands might do this too, but I’ve never had an issue with Olympus/OM System. It’s not a big deal—until you start looking for reviews, firmware updates, or technical specs. The G80 is the international version, the G81 is for Europe, and the G85 is for North America.

I’m not sure exactly how old this camera is, but judging by the packaging and its condition, it’s likely over five years old. As with any second-hand camera, I gave it a thorough cleaning—and it definitely needed it! I use medical-grade isopropyl wipes, and let’s just say they didn’t stay white for long. But honestly, I don’t expect budget-friendly resellers to deep-clean their gear. What matters is that everything works—and it does.

First Impressions

What struck me immediately was how much the G81 reminded me of my old Pentax K-5 II DSLR. The size is nearly identical, just a few millimeters off, though the Pentax is a hefty 240 grams heavier. Compared to the OM-1 Mark II, the Lumix is about 100 grams lighter and slightly narrower. The E-M5 Mark II is another comparable camera, but unlike the Olympus, the Lumix has a proper grip. The weight difference? Just 40 grams.

That got me thinking—if you’re a wildlife photographer with an OM-1, OM-1 Mark II, or Lumix G9 Mark II, the Lumix G81 could be an interesting backup or dedicated video camera. Its magnesium body and weather sealing make it durable, yet it’s smaller and lighter than the mentioned models while still offering a solid grip—something I sometimes miss on the Olympus E-M5 Mark III or OM-5. It’s likely compact enough to fit in a large jacket pocket and, paired with a Lumix 100-300mm lens, could be a great option for filming wildlife. Worth considering?

In the hand, the Lumix feels great, with plenty of customizable buttons—always a plus. But the video button? Tiny and awkwardly placed. Using it with gloves or cold hands is frustrating. I’m hoping I can reassign the shutter button for video, but I haven’t figured that out yet.

Setting It Up

People often complain about Olympus menus, but I’ve never had an issue with Pentax, Fuji, or Olympus. The Lumix G80? That’s another story. The menu system feels anything but intuitive, probably because of its extensive video features. After watching a tutorial and spending half an hour tweaking settings, I think I’ve got it mostly figured out. But some quirks still baffle me—like no auto ISO in video mode? And why can’t you lock shutter speed in the menu for all video settings?

Shooting Experience

I started with the Lumix 12-60mm f/3.5-5.6 Power OIS kit lens. Surprisingly, I sometimes prefer it over the Olympus 12-45mm f/4 Pro because of the extra reach. After charging the batteries, attaching Peak Design anchor links, and finding a good strap, I was ready to go. No cage, no rig—just handheld filming to get a real feel for the camera.

So, I set off on my e-bike, case strapped to the back, carrying… the OM-1 Mark II with the Olympus 300mm f/4 Pro + MC-14 for shooting deer, the E-M5 Mark III with the Lumix 100-300mm for another project i’m working on, and the Lumix G81M with the Lumix 12-60mm for this review.

Olympus has legendary stabilization, but even this older Lumix performs really well. Handheld shooting? No problem. No gimbal needed. If I do add a cage, it will only make things better.

AF-C is often criticized in reviews, but I haven’t had any issues. With 49 cross-type focus points set, and in full auto (P mode), it tracks well in video.

Below a test video with the G81M handhold and all auto – there was a lot of wind, so watch out for the noise – for best viewing click the YouTube link below in the video :

Image & Video Quality

Photos look great, and the video is equally impressive. Of course, I haven’t had the camera long, and I still feel like I’m letting it do most of the work. I’ve mostly shot in P mode with auto ISO, 1/50s, and manual mode for video. So far, I can’t go wrong. But as I get more familiar with the Lumix system, I’m sure I’ll fine-tune my settings for even better results.

Another video, put together with bits from the Olympus TG Tracker and the Lumix G81 – color graded with Everything Lut from Micro Four Nerds :

My Current Settings

On the PASM dial, there’s an icon for ‘Video M,’ but auto ISO isn’t available there. So, I set everything up in Manual mode first—Natural picture style, 16:9 frame, auto ISO, shutter at 1/50, etc.—and saved it to C1 for a hybrid photo-video setup.

For a more video-focused setup, I set the ‘recording area’ to Movie in the ‘wrench C’ menu and saved this to C2-1. Further fine-tuning for video is done on C2-2 and C2-3.

Found most of this settings at https://youtu.be/0NIQZyhgh4w?feature=shared from ‘The Hybrid Shooter‘.

Conclusion

A fantastic camera for anyone looking for:

✔️ Affordable price (new and second hand)
✔️ Solid 4K video
✔️ Great for vlogging (maybe with a manual lens)
✔️ Ideal for beginner content creators, music videos, and more

Small, lightweight, powerful—and above all, budget-friendly!

You can find some more photos taken with the G81M in my gallery :