Lumix GX880K review: a small companion for our travels

Are you looking for a small, lightweight and travel-friendly camera? The Lumix GX880K, the protagonist of this new review, could be just the thing for you

Contents

Points in favor

Points against

Practicality, portability and lightness: these are the key ingredients of the Lumix GX880K. This Panasonic 4K micro four thirds mirrorless camera is a camera designed for travelers and for those who need to shoot in comfort with little space and few difficulties.. We tried it in combination with the 14mm / f2.8 and 12-60mm / f2.8 from Lumix, to better enjoy the free shooting experience offered by the GX880K. Below, our dispassionate feelings.

Technical specifications

Sensor: Live MOS 17.3 x 13mm (at 4: 3 aspect ratio)
Effective Camera Pixels: 16 Megapixel
Color filter: Primary Color Filter
Dust reduction system: Supersonic Wave Filter
Recording media: MicroSD memory card, microSDHC memory card, microSDXC memory card
Image quality: RAW, RAW+Fine, RAW+Standard, Fine, Standard MPO+Fine / MPO+Standard (with 3D lens in Micro Four Thirds system standard)
Focus: Contrast AF system: AFS (Auto Focus Single) / AFF (Auto Focus Flexible) / AFC (Auto Focus Continuous) / MF
Video in MP4 format: [4K] / 30p, [4K] / 25p, [4K] /24p, [Full HD] /60p, [Full HD]/50p, [Full HD]/ 30p, [Full HD]/ 25p, [HD]/ 30p, [HD]/ 25p
ISO sensitivity: Auto / Intelligent ISO / 100 (Extended) / 200 / 400 / 800 / 1600 / 3200 / 6400 / 12800 / 25600
Flash type: Integrated TTL flash, GN5.6 equivalent (ISO200 ・ m) / GN4.0 equivalent (ISO100 ・ m) (reference), built-in pop-up
Screen: TFT LCD monitor with static touch control, tilting monitor, approx. 1,040,000 dots
Dimensions and weight: 106.5 x 64.6 x 33.3mm (excluding protrusions), approx.270g (microSD card, battery, camera body)
Price: 349,99€

Usage impressions | Lumix GX880K review

The first thing we noticed about the Lumix GX880K is that its small size and low weight make it perfect to carry with us in everyday life.. Inserted in a small camera bag, or even in a jacket pocket, it becomes a comfortable companion on city walks; as well as on longer trips, in which it is sufficient to insert it in a case to ensure good shots even at a distance of kilometers from home. And without cluttering our trolley too much.

Our luck was being able to test it just before the Covid alarm broke. In fact, we had the opportunity to take the Lumix with us on a journey to Sardinia, on the occasion of the famous Sartiglia event. Here, the GX880K gave us interesting shots, and its practicality guaranteed us the ability to move through the crowd in a comfortable and agile way.. Furthermore, the optics at our disposal, namely the 14mm pancake and the 12-60mm, have allowed us to range between wide-ranging shots and more intense close-ups; without, however, ever giving up the lightness that distinguishes this machine.

Brilliant colors, easy to share

The Lumix GX880K is a camera designed for those who love to share their photos in real time. For this reason, the jpegs processed in the room have bright colors and excellent results. Panasonic has equipped this model with Wi-Fi connectivity (IEEE 802.11 b / g / n), which can be interfaced with the Panasonic Image App available for free for iOS / Android. Thanks to this handy app, we were able to shoot and share live images; having also available a remote shutter function for tripod photos or for selfies in Jump Snap function.

The Post Focus function also allowed us to select the post-shot area of focus, to make our focus even more precise.

Comfort and lightness, but with some compromises | Lumix GX880K review

We are faced with a camera designed to be light, practical and usable by anyone, even those who approach photography in a collateral way. For this reason, the Lumix GX880K has in itself many features for those who love to share their shots on the internet, and for those who travel and want to carry a comfortable ally that is easy to use.. This, of course, translates into a reduced body, in which functionality and ergonomics find a fair balance.

For those who, like myself, love to rely on a viewfinder for their shots, unfortunately the Lumix GX880K has the first drawback. The screen is meant to be the only viewer of our shots and if this proves very useful in the case of selfies (also because we can rotate it 180 °), in other cases it suffers from the light conditions around us. The trolley for the flash has also been removed due to the extremely small size, replaced by a small pop-up flash which, however, often turns out to be insufficient. Even the dials and buttons have undergone a necessary adaptation. In my case, it was a bit tricky to get used to the absence of comfortable external dials to adjust my shooting settings; and I soon had to adapt to the idea that the Lumix GX-880K isn’t meant for manual shooting, or at least that’s not its main function.

In fact, the camera seems to have been conceived for a fast, automatic type of photography in particularly optimal conditions. Try again is the ISO sensitivity. Even if on paper the machine can go up to ISO 25600, at sunset it proves to be noisy in a consistent way already starting from 1600 ISO. In short, practicality but with some compromises, which once understood and accepted still make the GX880K a valid alternative for many fields of use.

In summary | Lumix GX880K review

The Lumix GX880K kept us company in the pre-quarantine weeks, giving us the chance to have fun and become an influencer. Ergonomics and practicality are undoubtedly the strong points of this machine, which turns out to be a perfect ally when traveling or when strolling around the city. The high-resolution screen, the ability to take selfies comfortably and the real-time photo sharing function make it an excellent camera for those who want to save memories and make them immediately available on social networks.

But it is also fair to point out that not all that glitters is gold, and that this little camera has some details that could make the most veteran photographers turn up their noses. First of all, the impracticality of the dials and external buttons to comfortably adjust the shutter speed, aperture and ISO sensitivity settings. Accompanied by the absence of the viewfinder and the trolley for the flash, elements that make it difficult to use in situations of particular light. Finally, the noise that occurs at medium-high ISO (starting from 1600 in medium light conditions) and the reduced battery life, a typical element in the mirrrorless of this price range but which still significantly affects the use of the machine .

In search of the perfect selfie