Lumix fz 1000 will there be a new model. Review and comparison of Panasonic FZ1000 and Sony RX10. Panasonic Lumix FZ200 - design and control

  • 21.06.2020

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ2000: with 330 photos and 138 minutes of UHD video, battery life is only average.

Test results

Advantages

Fast lens with 20x zoom
Lots of handy control buttons
Integrated ND filter
Fast burst shooting
Fast and accurate autofocus
Support for UHD video and 4K Photo mode
Swivel touch screen

disadvantages

Loss of sharpness at edges and at long focal lengths
Average battery life

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ2000 test results

  • Price-quality ratio
    Good
  • Place in the overall ranking
    8 out of 58
  • Value for money: 66
  • Image quality (50%): 92
  • Equipment and management (40%): 94
  • Speed ​​(10%): 93

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Designation Panasonic Lumix FZ2000 as a "compact camera" is a bit misleading. With a weight of about a kilogram and the size of a system camera with a lens, it looks like anything but a compact camera. Therefore, we decided to classify it as a bridge camera because Panasonic Lumix FZ2000 really builds a "bridge" - from all the best that is on the market.

Panasonic Lumix FZ2000: glass flaws

With f/2.8-4.5 aperture and 24-480mm focal length, zoom-friendly optics Panasonic Lumix FZ2000 demonstrates its shortcomings, manifested primarily at the edges of the image. There, the level of sharpness is instantly reduced by almost a third.

While in the center of the image we can count 1640 line pairs per frame height, the edges with 1192 line pairs are more blurry. At hard contrasts, a pink border appears up to three pixels wide, and at a wide angle, slight vignetting appears. In addition, sharpness is reduced by 25 percent at long focal lengths.

Despite all this, we found the good image quality in sufficiently detailed and noise-free shots up to ISO 1600 to be very convincing.


Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ2000: Frequently used options can also be changed using the touch display.

Panasonic Lumix FZ2000: fast, faster FZ2000

Also Panasonic Lumix FZ2000 stands out for its speed. With over 11 frames per second and 100 JPEGs per burst, burst shooting is perfect for unsupervised sports photography. This highlights the blazing-fast autofocus, which, even at a maximum focal length of less than 0.2 seconds, is faster than some competitors in the "wide" state.

If someone needs even faster continuous shooting, then you can switch to 4K Photo mode and continue to take pictures at 30 frames per second. True, the resolution in this case will be only 8 megapixels. But, on the one hand, this resolution will be quite enough to print photos of at least DIN A4 size. Additional features such as post-focus sharpness correction in Post-Focus mode or the prudent Pre-Burst mode can also lead to delight.

The regular video mode is also convincing: Ultra-HD at 30 fps, 4:2:2/10-bit color depth, and the absence of a 30-minute limit on video duration - all this is at the level of the special model of the GH4 line under called GH4R. Panasonic Lumix FZ2000 has only minimal rolling shutter effect when panning quickly during panoramic shooting.


Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ2000: next to the hot shoe, a folding flash was lurking, hitting about 13 meters.

Panasonic Lumix FZ2000: Integrated ND filter

The camera is especially useful when shooting moving subjects: focus points can be easily set with the touch of a finger on the clear, swivel 3-inch display. An alternative would be an electronic OLED viewfinder with high resolution and pleasant speed.

In general, the comfortable plastic case and excellent equipment seem to us excellent: even specialists in the field of photography can be pleased with the wide control options - there are eight hardware buttons and six programmable function keys.

The highlight is the three-stage ND filter, which allows you to increase the exposure time up to six times. An optical 5-axis Image Stabilizer will allow you to increase the exposure time when shooting handheld by at least three times.

So, to summarize all of the above: Panasonic Lumix FZ2000 combines high image quality with long focal lengths, professional video modes and a wide range of equipment. Is he worth his money? Undoubtedly!

Panasonic Lumix FZ2000: alternative

Although Panasonic Lumix FZ2000 and offers excellent facilities, the value for money is not the best. There are devices that are cheaper, but not worse: below you will find the name of the bridge camera with the best value for money.

1.

Overall score: 88.5

Value for money: 100

TEST RESULTS

Image quality (50%)

Equipment and management (40%)

Performance (10%)

Specifications and test results Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ2000

Price-quality ratio 66
Camera type bridge camera
Maximum Resolution 20.0 MP
Max. photo resolution 5.472 x 3.648 pixels
Max. video resolution 3.840 x 2.160 pixels
Display: diagonal 3.0 inch touch screen
Display: resolution 1.040.000 subpixels
Display: rotary biaxial
Display: brightness adjustment Yes
Matrix: type MOS
Matrix: size 1 inch
optical zoom 20.0x
Minimum focal length 8.8mm;
Maximum focal length 176.0 mm;
Optical Image Stabilizer with movable matrix
Lens Aperture (Wide - Tele) 1:2.8 — 1:4.5
Shooting modes auto, program, aperture priority, shutter speed, manual
Panorama shooting mode panoramic shooting with Auto-Stitching
Minimum shutter speed (auto) 1/16.000 c
Maximum shutter speed (auto) 60.00 s
Minimum light sensitivity (ISO min) ISO 80
Maximum light sensitivity (ISO max) ISO 25.600
white balance preset, manual setting
Center resolution at ISO min 1,640 line pairs
Edge resolution at ISO min 1.192 line pairs
Center resolution at ISO 400 1.698 line pairs
Edge resolution at ISO 400 1.268 line pairs
Center resolution at ISO 800 1.615 line pairs
Edge resolution at ISO 800 1.227 line pairs
Center resolution at ISO 1600 1,560 line pairs
Edge resolution at ISO 1600 1.181 line pairs
Texture Accuracy (Kurtosis) / Details (Dead Leaves) @ ISO Min 70 %
Texture (Kurtosis) / Detail (Dead Leaves) accuracy at ISO 400 78 %
Texture (Kurtosis) / Detail (Dead Leaves) accuracy at ISO 800 81 %
Texture (Kurtosis) / Detail (Dead Leaves) accuracy at ISO 1600 77 %
Expert Judgment: Detail at ISO Min good (2,3)
Expert Judgment: Detail at ISO 400 good (1.5)
Expert Judgment: Detail at ISO 800 good (2,3)
Expert judgement: ISO 1600 detail good (3.0)
Noise at ISO min 1.07 VN (1.1 VN1, 0.8 VN3)
Noise at ISO 400 1.46 VN (1.50 VN1, 1.10 VN3)
Noise at ISO 800 1.84 VN (1.90 VN1, 1.30 VN3)
Noise at ISO 1600 2.22 VN (2.30 VN1, 1.50 VN3)
Max. Chromatic Aberration (Wide/Tele) 3.10 / 2.68 pixels
Vignetting (Wide/Tele) 0.6 / 0.4 steps
Distortion (Wide/Tele) -0,3 / -0,1 %
Image formats JPEG, RAW+JPEG
Turn-on time (before taking the first photo) 1.3 s
Shutter-release delay at wide angle (with autofocus) 0.14 s
Shutter delay at telephoto (with autofocus) 0.19 s
Pause between two consecutive frames 0.4 s
JPEG Burst Speed 11.4 fps
Maximum burst length in JPEG 100 frames
Battery name DMW-BLC12E
Battery cost 50 euro
Photos on a single battery charge 330 photos
Video: max. recording time per battery charge 138 min
Video: container MP4
Video: codecs H.264
Video: maximum video length 138 min
Supported memory cards SDXC
Built-in storage -
hot shoe Yes
GPS receiver -
Orientation sensor biaxial
Waterproof housing -
Dimensions 138 x 102 x 135 mm;
The weight 966 g

The camera takes not only photos, but also Full HD videos with AVCHD compression.

In addition to automatic shooting modes, shooting modes are available. creative zone(whether taking photos or recording movies), as well as 3D shooting and POWER O.I.S. with a new, active stabilization mechanism.

Specifications:

1/2.33″ CCD sensor, 12 MP;
Venus Engine FHD processor;
24x Leica DC VARIO-ELMARIT 4.5-108mm zoom lens (25-600mm 35mm equivalent), f/2.8-5.2;
4x digital zoom;
optical stabilization POWER O.I.S.;
video with sound: 1920x1080 30i, 1280x720 30p;
23-Area Intelligent AF, 1-Area AF (Center Fixed);
3-inch rotatable TFT-LCD, 460,000 pixels;
focusing distance: 1 cm (macro mode) - infinity;
Exposure Compensation: -2 to +2 EV, 1/3 EV steps;
ISO sensitivity: 100-1600, AUTO, iISO (up to ISO 6400 at 3 MP);
electronic-mechanical shutter;
exposure range: from 1/2000 to 60 s;
0.2-inch digital viewfinder, 201,000 pixels;
built-in flash: auto, forced/flash off, red-eye reduction, slow sync;
flash range: 6 m;
shooting methods: single-frame, continuous, self-timer;
support for memory cards: SD, SDHC, SDXC;
file format: JPEG;
power supply: Li-ion-battery with a capacity of 895 mAh;
plastic case;
dimensions: 80x120x92 mm;
weight with battery and memory card: 498 g.

As you can see, the camera has a good 3-inch display, has an electronic viewfinder and a utilitarian zoom that covers a range of focal lengths from 25 to 600 mm. Not a record figure in the class, but there is no doubt that it will solve most shooting tasks. This is the main feature of the camera - a lot of possibilities in a relatively compact body.

Appearance

The assembly of the FZ48 does not cause any complaints, matte plastic is used, there is a hard rubber gasket on the handle. The camera does not have a swivel display, like the older model FZ150. The camera cannot be called small (you definitely won’t put one in your pocket), but it is one and a half times smaller than the smallest DSLRs.

The camera has the most successful handle, with a standard grip it is difficult to reach the shutter button. Also, comfortable work with the camera is complicated by heavy optics, which significantly outweighs. For comfortable shooting, the device must be held with two hands, holding it by the left side of the body or under the lens.

The front of the FZ48 is very simple: a metal-rimmed lens, an AF assist lamp, and a golden "L" badge. The package comes with a plastic cover and a rope for attaching it to the case.

By the way, Panasonic attached the cover not to the body, but to the fixed part of the camera, so that when turned on, the cover does not fly off, as on other cameras. It is very easy to forget or lose the cap if you do not return it to the lens in time, so it is better to hang it on the supplied string.

A very important innovation in optics is the nanocrystalline coating on the outer lens, which absorbs all mis-polarized light. Thanks to this, glare and bunnies are effectively cut off. The camera copes well with side and back lighting. But just in case, there is also a hood in the kit, which will save you from very hard side lighting.

In all other respects, the lens is identical to the FZ100, perhaps only it does not have an additional zoom lever on the side. There are no effective focal length marks on the lens barrel, as, for example, on the Canon SX30 IS Ultrazoom.

The loudspeaker is located on the top left of the camera body. Two high-quality stereo microphones are placed directly on the rising flash. There is no hot shoe in the chamber.

The drum of shooting modes is packed to capacity - only 14 positions. This includes iA full auto mode, PASM creative zone modes, film color simulation mode, sample scene programs. However, if this is not enough, there is the SCN mode, in which there are much more story programs. There is one fully customizable mode, as well as a video recording mode that offers manual settings exposure.

Like most Panasonic cameras, the camera is turned on by a mechanical lever on the handle. In addition to it, there is a Focus button, a quick video recording key and a shutter button with a zoom lever.

The Focus key changes the focus area and its position in automatic modes, switches between single-frame and tracking focus. A button that switches between auto, macro and manual focus is located on the back.

Manual focusing is controlled by a wheel on the handle: an enlarged area of ​​the frame is displayed on the screen, and the scale below shows the approximate depth of the field of focus when focusing at a given distance. The camera is able to remember the zoom and focus and return to its original position after being turned off.

The rest of the controls are located on the back of the camera.

The flash is raised only manually, with a special button to the left of the viewfinder. If the device's automation considers its use necessary, a warning will be displayed on the screen. The FZ48 features a 0.2″ electronic viewfinder with a resolution of 201,000 pixels. By the standards of modern viewfinders (for example, the Sony NEX-7 has a resolution of 12 times more, 2,400,000 pixels), the figure is very modest, but this is the standard for ultrasonics.

For a comfortable grip in the right corner of the case there is a plastic island for the thumb, it has a quick control wheel. The wheel makes it much easier to work with the camera in creative zone modes - you can quickly set the shutter speed and aperture.

As befits a serious ultrazoom, there are autofocus and autoexposure lock buttons, a shortcut key for the Q.MENU function menu. The joystick of the camera has settings for exposure, timer, ISO, one button is programmed by the user independently.

The keys (again in the Panasonic tradition) are small, but with a clear click and tight travel. The manufacturer uses exactly the same tactile controls in all of its mirrorless cameras. To avoid accidental clicks, the view mode button is slightly recessed into the case.

The joystick is located parallel to the plane of the body, while in the older model and mirrorless cameras it is at a slight angle to the body, for convenient one-handed control. Exposure can be easily adjusted by pressing and turning the quick scroll wheel - the same solution used in Lumix mirrorless cameras of the Micro Four Thirds system.

In general, the FZ48 will be easy to learn for novice photographers, while experienced photographers will enjoy a significant degree of freedom in settings and quick control of the device's functions.

A three-inch display with a resolution of 460,000 pixels is installed on all advanced Lumix models without exception. The screen has good viewing angles, fades slightly in bright light. Individual pixels can be easily distinguished.

On the left side there is a connector for an HDMI cable, there is also a connector for connecting a USB cable.

The memory card and battery are housed in a common compartment on the bottom of the camera. Due to the massive lens, the tripod mount is not in the center of the camera.

Unlike most analogues, the FZ48 model runs on a lithium-ion battery, and not on four AA batteries. If this can be considered a minus when traveling, then in Everyday life this is an absolute plus - you do not need to spend extra money on batteries, and the camera itself is lighter because of this.

Camera in action

The device turns on in 2-2.5 seconds. Zooming during photography is fast, during video recording it is slow.

Zooming is very fast, but if there is a sharp transition between the light and dark parts of the frame, the picture on the screen will start to slow down until the automation reorients itself to new conditions again.

You need to try to protect the camera lens from dust: at certain indicators, the device tries to focus on dust particles.

The camera is very responsive and fast in operation, the menu does not slow down at all. If it weren't for the slow focusing in low artificial light, the FZ48's performance would be closer to Lumix mirrorless cameras.

The camera menu is traditional for Panasonic: large fonts, many sub-items and various settings.

Creative Video Mode lets you set the shutter speed and aperture manually even while recording. Fast shutter speeds are useful when shooting dynamic scenes, while the effect of changing the aperture is especially noticeable at large zooms and with objects at different distances. The only drawback is the recording of sound from pressing buttons and rotating the disk, and there is no way to connect an external stereo microphone.

The intelligent auto mode works both when taking photos and when shooting movies. While recording videos, you can even take pictures in parallel, but in a reduced resolution of 3.5 megapixels. Video files can be trimmed and split without connecting to a computer.

3D shooting is common - the camera asks you to move it from left to right, simultaneously shooting bursts. Even and odd frames of the series are combined into separate pictures, which are then displayed as a stereo pair for the left and right eyes.

The plot programs are very well thought out, they are closely connected with the function of identifying faces. Multiple people's faces can be registered to the unit's memory, and if the registered face belongs to a child under 3 years old, the child mode is automatically activated.

It is impossible not to note the convenience of the quick menu Q.MENU. Thanks to him, all the key shooting settings are set in 10 seconds.

Test materials

As for test shots, if the 14-megapixel CMOS sensor in the FX100 is more focused on video recording, then the 12-megapixel CCD is more focused on photography. At the same time, camera photos are easy to recognize - watercolor streaks at 100% magnification, even at low ISOs, have become a hallmark of the Lumix noise reduction system.

Wide (25mm 35mm film equivalent)

Maximum zoom 24x (600mm 35mm film equivalent)
original photo size

Maximum zoom 24x (600mm 35mm film equivalent)
original photo size

Noise is clearly visible at ISO 400, increases at ISO 800, and shooting at ISO 1600 is no longer desirable. The camera does not carry anything new in terms of photo quality.

Thanks to the use of small sensors, as in digital compacts (or "soap dishes"), it became possible to create lenses with an impressive focal range (in terms of a 35mm equivalent) while maintaining relatively modest dimensions. As a result, such a class of cameras as ultrazooms (or superzooms) appeared - universal solutions for performing a wide range of photo tasks: from macro to portrait and landscape shooting. But, as a rule, such cameras cannot boast of fast lenses, but are limited to f / 5.6-6.5 aperture at the long end. This was true until the introduction of the Panasonic LUMIX DMC-FZ200 in 2012, the first ultrazoom with a constant aperture of f/2.8 over the entire zoom range.

In this review, we will get acquainted with the update of the flagship superzoom - PanasonicLUMIXDMC- FZ300. Using his example, let's try to figure out what the new Japanese manufacturer can offer and how interesting its product is compared to its competitors. To begin, let's take a closer look at technical specifications novelties:

Manufacturer and model

PanasonicLUMIXDMC- FZ300

Type, class

Digital camera, super zoom

light receiving element

1/2.3" (6.16 x 4.62 mm) BSI CMOS sensor; 12.1 MP effective pixels

CPU

Lens

LEICA DC VARIO-ELMARIT, fixed, f = 4.5 - 108 mm, (35 mm film equivalent: 25 - 600 mm), 24x optical zoom, aperture f/2.8-8.0

Lens device

14 elements in 11 groups

Image stabilization

5-axis optical HYBRID O.I.S. +

Face Detection / Eye Detection / Tracking / 49 Points / Multipoint Configurable / 1 Point / Pinpoint (full area coverage available)

Exposure metering mode

Intelligent multi-point, center-weighted, spot

Light sensitivity

mechanical + electronic

Exposure range

1 / 4000 - 60 s (mechanical shutter)
1 / 16,000 - 1 s (electronic shutter)

Integrated, coverage range 30 cm - 8.8 m

Continuous Shooting

Image save format

JPEG (DCF/Exif2.3) / RAW, DPOF

Permission

4000 x 3000 (12 M) (L) / 3264 x 2448 (8 M) (M) / 2048 x 1536 (3 M) (S)

4000 x 2672 (10.5 M) (L) / 3264 x 2176 (7 M) (M) / 2048 x 1360 (2.5 M) (S)

4000 x 2248 (9 M) (L) / 3840 x 2160 (8 M) (M) / 1920 x 1080 (2 M) (S)

2992 x 2992 (9 M) (L) / 2448 x 2448 (6 M) (M) / 1920 x 1920 (3.5 M) (S)

3840x2160, 1920x1080, 1280x720, 640x480

Swivel, LCD, 3", resolution 1040k dots, aspect ratio 3:2

Viewfinder

Electronic, color, OLED-matrix, 0.39", resolution 1440 thousand dots, 100% frame coverage (magnification 0.7x)

Microphone

Built-in stereo microphone

Built-in mono

Data carriers

Interfaces

micro-HDMI (Type D), micro-USB, mini-jack 3.5 mm, micro-jack 2.5 mm (for remote control)

Communication options

802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi (2.4GHz)

Battery

Lithium-ion, replaceable, Panasonic DMW-BLC12E (1200 mAh)

Charger

Input: 100 - 240 VAC e.g. at 50/60 Hz

Output: 8.4V DC e.g. 0.65 A

Protection against moisture and dust

131.6 x 91.5 x 117.1mm

691 g (with battery and data carrier)

Official guarantee

12 months

Products webpage

Delivery, equipment

The camera comes in a fairly large package, which has a nice dark design and fairly good information content. In addition to several images, on its faces you can find a list of the main characteristics and capabilities. A number of recommended accessories are also reported.

Inside, you can find a charger with a detachable power cable, a battery, documentation, a software CD, as well as a lens cap, a shoulder strap and a cable for connecting to a PC (the last three were absent in this trial copy).

Appearance, arrangement of elements

Like most superzooms, the Panasonic LUMIX DMC-FZ300 is made in a pseudo-SLR form factor and is very similar to the Panasonic LUMIX G series system cameras: a massive design, chopped edges, an abundance of controls, a protruding viewfinder and a large lens. The device looks solid and quite expensive, which emphasizes its semi-professional orientation. Unlike the Panasonic LUMIX DMC-FZ200, the design of the novelty has become more rigorous, and some elements have changed their location and purpose. So, the control dial has moved from the back wall to the top face. The focus mode switch ("AFS", "AFC" and "MF") was combined with the autofocus and autoexposure lock button, while the macro mode selection and manual focus control wheel are located on the left side of the lens. The key for switching between the screen and the viewfinder is located to the left of the viewfinder and any other function can be assigned to it (it is programmable). And the drive mode button has changed to another programmable one and swapped places with the video recording button.

The main part of the camera's design is made of high-quality plastic with a characteristic, slightly rough pattern. Only the fixed part of the lens is metal. The case has acquired dust and moisture protection, so you can safely shoot while traveling, caught in the rain or other bad weather, without the risk of damaging the camera.

The build quality is beyond praise: the parts fit perfectly and resemble a monolithic product, without any hint of play and third-party sounds during operation. The dimensions and weight (132 x 92 x 117 mm and 691 g) of the Panasonic LUMIX DMC-FZ300 have grown in comparison with its progenitor (125 x 87 x 110 mm and 537 g), but this does not prevent it from being quite comfortable to carry the camera on the shoulder or neck , and in a compact bag or backpack.

The ergonomics of the device should satisfy both novice photographers and the most demanding users. All the necessary analog controls are provided, which are complemented by a touch screen. All this allows you to quickly change key parameters shooting without resorting to searching through the system menu. In addition, the functionality of the levers on the lens and around the shutter button is duplicated and is responsible for zooming (zooming). In fact, the second hand is reserved only for switching auto focus modes, manual focus control, switching the Live View mode and working with the touch screen. The control dials (knurled, rotate 360˚) are characterized by moderately tight and smooth running. They are located in good places, which are easy to reach without fear of dropping the camera from your hands.

A pleasant impression is left by a large and rather comfortable handle with a recess for the middle finger, as well as a comfortable stop for the thumb. In addition, all this is covered with a large rubber pad with a leather-like texture. It is very convenient to operate the camera with one hand, although its weight begins to remind of itself rather quickly. By the way, the metal tripod socket is noticeably shifted away from the optical axis of the lens, so when the camera is mounted on a tripod, the compartment with the memory card and batteries is blocked.

Lens

The hallmark of the camera is a non-replaceable LEICA DC VARIO-ELMARIT lens with a focal range from 4.5 to 108 mm (35 mm film equivalent: 25 - 600 mm at a frame ratio of 4:3 or 30 - 720 mm at a ratio of 1:1) and constant aperture of f/2.8 over the entire range of focal lengths. As mentioned above, most competitors cannot boast of such a fast lens, but are limited to f / 5.6-6.5 aperture at the long end. This leads to the fact that even in cloudy weather on such cameras you have to overestimate the ISO value to get a normally exposed frame, which in turn is fraught with the appearance of unnecessary artifacts. So such a "light" and high-quality optics can be safely written down in the treasury of the Panasonic LUMIX DMC-FZ300 advantages.

The lens design consists of 14 elements in 11 groups (5 aspherical lenses / 9 aspherical surfaces / 3 extra-low dispersion lenses / 1 lens with Nano Surface coating). It also uses an iris diaphragm that can be covered down to f/8 for stills and up to f/11 for video. In addition to 24x optical zoom, there is a 4x digital zoom, supplemented by 2x intelligent iZoom (minimizes the appearance of artifacts when zooming). The total magnification is 48x, which in 35mm film equivalent reaches a focal length of 2400mm. These characteristics are more than enough for most everyday tasks. Separately, it is worth noting the very effective 5-axis optical image stabilization HYBRID O.I.S. +, designed to combat the effects of micro-shake hands and prevent smearing in low light.

If you do not take into account the metal casing of the lens, then its main part is made of smooth plastic, which, when the camera is off, protrudes by 4.5 mm and contains a thread for installing a complete lens hood. When the camera is turned on, it moves out by 16 mm, and in the extreme position - by 56 mm. For greater convenience, I would like to see the designations of focal lengths on the lens barrel, which would make it possible to more clearly control the shooting process.

There is no thread for the filter, but it is possible to use a teleconverter and macro lenses through a special adapter. Two speeds are available while zooming. In the first case, the zoom is very quiet and smooth, while in the second it is fast and noisier, although the overall noise level is within the normal range. The focusing process is absolutely silent.

Display, viewfinder

The Panasonic LUMIX DMC-FZ300 is equipped with a 3-inch (7.5 cm) LCD screen with a typical 3:2 aspect ratio. Its resolution is approximately 1,040,000 dots (i.e. 720 x 480 pixels). It is exactly the same as the popular Panasonic LUMIX G7 system camera and features high detail, natural colors and good viewing angles. The brightness level is sufficient for working on a sunny day (12 levels of adjustment are available in manual or automatic mode). There is a good anti-reflective filter. If necessary, you can adjust all the basic display parameters - contrast, saturation, tone of color channels (all in 12 adjustment points).

The display unit is equipped with a folding design in all axes (horizontally - 180°, and vertically - about 250°). This allows you to conveniently shoot from a variety of angles (top-bottom) and even take self-portraits. There is a touch substrate that allows you to quickly select the focus point, take pictures with one touch, call additional function buttons and perform a number of other familiar actions. Everything works properly.

The digital viewfinder (0.39 inches) with a magnification factor of 0.7x (the same is used in the Panasonic LUMIX G7) and 100% frame coverage is based on an OLED matrix with a resolution of 1,440 thousand dots. The aspect ratio is 4:3. It is quite convenient to sight: excellent color reproduction, comfortable viewing angles, high detail, no strobe and no delay visible to the eye. Switching from the display to the viewfinder and back - a little less than 0.5 s (occurs automatically thanks to the proximity sensor).

Interface, opportunitiessettings

Camera Panasonic LUMIX DMC-FZ300 received a fairly convenient and very functional interface. In spite of short description available functions and settings, it takes a little time to get used to their location and to understand their purpose. The main settings menu is presented as a vertical scrolling list (5 rows - photo, video, user, parameter and playback settings). The design is quite pleasant and, if desired, one of the color schemes can be configured.

There are a large number of controls on the body of the device, including on the lens, which should definitely appeal to experienced photographers. In addition, as many as nine keys can be reprogrammed (four physical ("Fn1" - "Fn4") and five touch ("Fn5" - "Fn9")) at your discretion - not every professional SLR can boast of such. For direct selection of the focus point, the left button on the round multi-function joystick or a simple touch on the touch screen is responsible. There is also a couple of quick settings menus: full-screen via the "DISP" button and quick ("Q.MENU") using the "Fn3" button.

In the "Live View" mode, the screen displays all the necessary information, including a number of auxiliary settings. For example, 2-axis electronic level, grid, touch control zoom and metering point selection.

It should be noted that the camera was tested with firmware version 2.0. But there is already firmware ver. 2.1 , which fixed the display of the focus area during continuous shooting in 4K Photo mode. We also offer a more visual video on camera control capabilities.

Hardware, functionality

The Panasonic LUMIX DMC-FZ300 is based on a 1/2.3" (6.16 x 4.62 mm) BSI CMOS sensor with an effective resolution of 12.1 MP. most compact cameras, as well as in some smartphones. The proprietary processor of the latest generation Venus Engine IX is responsible for signal processing from the sensor and overall performance.

The process of switching on and taking the first shot takes less than a second (0.85 s on average), which is a very good result, considering that the camera still needs to prepare the zoom lens. The speed of command processing, as well as transitions between modes, is at a fairly high level. The camera is capable of shooting at sensitivity values ​​in the ISO 100 - 6400 range, which has grown slightly compared to the Panasonic LUMIX DMC-FZ200.

The burst rate of the Panasonic LUMIX DMC-FZ300 is very high - up to 60 fps. But it has its own nuances: 60 fps (“HS” mode) is shot only at a resolution of 3 megapixels, only in JPEG and only 60 frames at a time. Other modes: 12 fps ("H"), 6 fps ("M") and 2 fps ("L") - are removed before the buffer is full in full resolution for both JPEG and RAW. The data buffer paired with a memory card when shooting in the "H" mode is very good: JPEG - about 100 frames before the start of a gradual drop in speed, in RAW - exactly 25 frames; in RAW + JPEG - 21 frames.

The camera is equipped with two shutters: mechanical (with shutter speeds of 1/4000 - 60 s) and electronic (1/16 000 - 1 s), which allows you to shoot without problems in very bright weather with an open aperture. There is a mode of automatic switching between shutters.

Panasonic LUMIX DMC-FZ300 is equipped with contrast autofocus: 49 points using proprietary technology DFD (Depth From Defocus), which involves measuring the depth of field obtained from the defocused area. Initially, DFD appeared in the Panasonic LUMIX DMC-GH4 video directional camera and proved to be very good, significantly outperforming conventional contrast focusing in terms of speed and accuracy. At manual focus the ability to increase the targeting area and highlight the sharp edges of the object (focus peaking) is available.

The built-in flash has a folding design, but without the possibility of directing the light flux (for example, to the ceiling). Its working range covers 30 cm - 8.8 m. There is also a central sync contact ("hot shoe") for connecting external accessories.

Among the communication interfaces, there is only a built-in 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi module. For mobile devices (Android or iOS), the Panasonic Image App must be installed. Without exaggeration, this is one of the best mobile camera apps we have ever worked with. The user has access to remote control of almost all shooting parameters, including all kinds of filters, effects, adding geolocations, creating collages, video surveillance and instant uploading to various services.

The Panasonic LUMIX DMC-FZ300 model implements both familiar modes (“P”, “A”, “S”, “M”, intelligent auto “iA” and its improved version “iA +”), as well as several additional ones: “C” (Custom), Panorama Mode, Scene Selection, and Creative Control.

QualityImages

Examples photography cameras

Camera photography examplesPanasonic LUMIX DMC- FZ300 at 25, 600, 1200 and 2400 mm

Panoramic camera examplePanasonic LUMIX DMC- FZ300

With its versatile zoom lens, the Panasonic LUMIX DMC-FZ300 is perfect for any scenario: macro, portrait and landscape photography, as well as shooting distant objects. Fast optics (f / 2.8 over the entire range of focal lengths) allows you not only to blur the background beautifully, but also to shoot in low light conditions without the need to overestimate the ISO, of course, given the very modest size of the sensor.

The resulting frames are characterized by pleasant color reproduction and good detail at close and medium distances. However, when the subject is taken away, the detailing drops a little, and both atmospheric conditions and some features of the image transmission through the lens block already affect here. In addition, the constantly active operation of the noise reduction system, the intensity of which is best kept at a minimum value, can noticeably spoil the quality of the material.

During shooting, the automation shows itself well, selecting adequate parameters for exposure and white balance, depending on the situation, including in relatively difficult lighting conditions. By the way, the autofocus system in sufficient light shows excellent performance, including tracking and face recognition by a smile. In more difficult conditions and without the use of a backlight, the camera may move a little and refuse to aim at the subject, displaying the “LOW” icon.

The 5-axis optical stabilization system deserves forest reviews, which provides sharp shots even at the maximum focal length or when handheld burst shooting at a shutter speed of 1/5 s, and sometimes 1/2 s. As mentioned above, the camera has everything for complete control of shooting parameters, including all sorts of scene modes and effects that will help the photographer express himself.

Camera photography examplesPanasonic LUMIX DMC- FZ300 with ISO 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200 and 6400

Camera photography examplesPanasonic LUMIX DMC- FZ300 with noise reduction adjustment: -5 to +5.

Our traditional test results show that the Panasonic LUMIX DMC-FZ300 can shoot at ISO 800 (for JPEG). The resulting frames are quite suitable for home printing on small formats. You can shoot at ISO 1600 (for RAW), but with post-processing. In extreme cases, ISO 3200 can also be used, but ISO 6400 can no longer be recommended, since the image noticeably loses quality, especially when using noise reduction.

Panasonic LUMIX DMC- FZ300 at 1080p at 30 FPS and valuesISO from 100 to 6400

An example of a daytime video recording from a cameraPanasonic LUMIX DMC- FZ300 in 4K (3840 x 2160)at 25 FPS and valuesISO from 100 to 6400

An example of a daytime camera shotPanasonic LUMIX DMC- FZ300 at 4K resolution (3840 x 2160) at 25 FPS

Traditionally strong point Panasonic cameras is video shooting. The tested model was no exception, capable of shooting video with a maximum resolution of 3840 x 2160 (4K) in MP4 format and 1920 x 1080 (Full HD) in AVCHD / MP4 format, however, only at 25 fps and 50 fps, respectively. . In the first case, the total bitrate reaches 100 Mbps, and in the second - 25 Mbps. Sound is recorded in stereo. It's pretty good, but the mics can blow out even in light winds.

Video in 4K format pleases with high detail, tenacious autofocus and a fairly smooth picture. Thanks to less aggressive noise reduction algorithms (than in photo mode) and fast optics, you can get an acceptable picture even at relatively high ISO values. You can take 8MP photos while recording video. Despite the official information that the 5-axis stabilization system is not available in the "4K VIDEO" mode, our tests showed good stabilization of micro-shake during video shooting (electronic stabilization may be working). Video in 1080p is almost in no way inferior, except for the detail. For better sound quality, it is better to use an external microphone. The only thing missing from the camera is a headphone jack. By the way, when shooting video, semi-automatic “P/A/S” modes are available, as well as a fully manual “M” mode with the ability to change settings (focus, shutter speed, aperture, ISO, etc.) during shooting.

Offline work

The Panasonic LUMIX DMC-FZ300 is powered by a Panasonic DMW-BLC12E lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 1200 mAh (7.2 V; 8.7 Wh). According to official data, his resource should be enough for 360 frames. In real conditions, everything will depend on the intensity of work with the camera. For example, we managed to shoot about 380 frames and 5 minutes of 4K video - a very good result.

The package includes a compact charger Panasonic DE-A80, which restores the battery charge in approximately 1.5 hours. There is no USB charging option, which would be useful on the go.

Results

Without a twinge of conscience, we can safely say that the update of the ultrazoom line has received a worthy heir. Judge for yourself PanasonicLUMIXDMC- FZ300 one of the most interesting representatives this class cameras, combining Japanese quality and excellent functionality. As before, we have a solid appearance, simply excellent ergonomics with the ability to individually adjust almost every control, and now also protection against dust and moisture. The highlight of the camera is the unique high-aperture LEICA DC VARIO-ELMARIT zoom lens with a focal range of 4.5 to 108 mm (35 mm film equivalent: 25 - 600 mm) and a constant aperture of f/2.8 throughout the zoom range, which is excellent for for filming a variety of scenes. The arsenal of new items also includes a high-quality swivel screen with touch controls and an excellent OLED viewfinder. During testing, the 5-axis HYBRID O.I.S. + optical image stabilization proved to be excellent, which allows you to get sharp shots even at long focal lengths. The same can be said about the contrast autofocus - high accuracy and speed in most cases.

The quality of the image captured by the Panasonic LUMIX DMC-FZ300 is at the level of most modern compacts. You can easily shoot at ISO 800 (for JPEG) or at ISO 1600 (for RAW), but with post-processing. In fairness, we note that you expect more from a camera of this level High Quality and detail. But this is a price to pay for versatility and relative compactness - to achieve such a wide range of focal lengths is possible only when using modest matrices (1 / 2.3 "size). On the other hand, in order to cover such a range of focal lengths, you will have to buy several lenses for a system camera, the price of which will definitely be higher than the tested camera.

The video capabilities of the camera are also commendable. With a combination of 24x zoom and the ability to record 4K video at 25 fps or 1080p at 50 fps, you can easily replace an inexpensive camcorder. The overall picture pleases with high detail, tenacious autofocus, sufficient smoothness and good stereo sound (in calm weather). If necessary, you can connect an external microphone. In general, there is everything that a novice videographer needs.

Bottom line, if you're looking for an all-in-one photo and video solution that can capture anything and everything in the path of your lens, the Panasonic LUMIX DMC-FZ300 is a good choice.

Advantages:

  • solid appearance;
  • convenient and ergonomic case with an abundance of controls and flexible options for their settings;
  • protection against dust and moisture;
  • high quality performance;
  • high-quality swivel display and excellent OLED viewfinder;
  • universal lens LEICA DC VARIO-ELMARIT with a focal range of 4.5 to 108 mm (35 mm film equivalent: 25 - 600 mm) and a constant aperture of f/2.8;
  • good implementation of the contrast autofocus system;
  • effective 5-axis optical image stabilization system HYBRID O.I.S. +;
  • implementation of a large number of software functions and modes;
  • good quality video content, including 4K at 25 fps and 1080p at 50 fps;
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Panasonic has long been known not only for its excellent M4/3 format cameras, but also for its powerful super zooms, which are sometimes simply beyond the bounds of what is possible in terms of optics.

The FZ70, released last year, increased its optical zoom capability to up to 60x, but telephoto image quality dropped significantly, although sometimes shots are quite acceptable. By announcing the release of a premium camera, Sony has won new customers in the class of universal cameras. A feature, compared to all ultrazooms, is a constant aperture of f / 2.8, and 8x optical zoom, and most importantly, a sensor enlarged to one inch, which ultimately gives a clear advantage.

It is clear that the cost of 49,990 rubles. high, and does not allow it to become the most recommended product, but nevertheless, the zoom ratio and sensor increase give an impressive result.

When Panasonic announced the new one for $899 (US price), I didn't have much faith in the success of the new product. Despite the impressive characteristics, there were suggestions that this was a usual price dumping. Among the features, Panasonic listed Leica branded optics, 16x zoom, f/2.8-4 aperture and an inch sensor. In addition, the top-of-the-line electronic viewfinder and 4K video recording should have made the new camera noticeably more expensive.

Design and build

Leica optics, Lumix looks. The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1000 bears a marked resemblance to the generation of Lumix cameras I've had in my hands, and the control scheme borrowed from the GH4, but without interchangeable lenses. Panasonic hopes that the large inch sensor and sufficient zoom will not give buyers an iota of doubt about the correctness of their choice. The combination of advanced technology and well-coordinated automation makes the device easy to operate for a beginner, and gives complete freedom of action to a professional, thanks to a wide range settings.

When you pick up the FZ1000, the convenience of the button layout is rated as “delightful”, because for any setting a minimal movement is enough - everything you need is at hand. The only price to pay for convenience is a matter of habit - the buttons are similar to each other, and it will take time to get used to.

Here, as on the GH3 and GH4 devices, there is one physical button for calling up the shooting parameters and the self-timer. There is also a shooting mode dial and separate settings for aperture, shutter and exposure compensation. All this is complemented by a convenient joystick placement and a menu button that allows you to change any configuration on the fly. The only control element, the lack of which was noticeable, remains the touch screen, which is more familiar to focus. Luckily, the 5 extra buttons take on this task and do a great job.

From the end of the FZ1000, the body is partly made of metal, and the lens body is made entirely of metal. There is a large zoom and focus ring. Like on the beautiful Panasonic 42.5mm f/1.2 Nocticron lens. focusing in manual mode may not be very correct. The lens also has an on / off stabilization button, and a switch for manual focus control. Unfortunately, focusing in manual mode may not be very correct, although the FZ1000 does have AE centering, which produces decent results when used skillfully.

There is probably the best hardware here, in particular the large viewfinder from the GH4, which can be called the best of its kind. It has a clear picture and minimal delay. It has been used as an alternative to the 921k dot LCD for many years.

The only thing that cheapens the look of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1000 is that the textured plastic surface causes an overall dissonance of the design against the heavy metal body of the lens. In this regard, of course, the body of the Sony RX10 looks better. At least, this is the first thing that catches your eye, not in favor of Panasonic, but only until it comes to rich stuffing and settings.

Peculiarities

Panasonic offers the best features, although it does not claim to be the top offers among micro 4/3 cameras, because in capable hands it is more efficient to work with it in real conditions than in the laboratory. Here, for the first time, Panasonic uses a 20.1-megapixel inch sensor, and the presence of Wi-Fi and NFC makes it easy to synchronize on the go with other portable devices. In addition, it is the first UHD camcorder available to consumers under $1,000. Yes, the color indicators of video recording are very far from ideal and go into cold halftones, but nevertheless, here is 4K, which in itself is already a breakthrough.

A large sensor, however, is useless without a large lens. Panasonic understands this, and does not blindly rely on the Leica brand, and installs a zoom lens with a lens equivalent to 25-400mm and best aperture f/2.8-4 which results in good blur. In addition, 5-axis image stabilization has been added, allowing you to capture the highest quality shooting with a high level of zoom.

Compared to the Sony RX10 lens, there are some pros and cons here. The Panasonic has twice the zoom of the Sony, but the RX10 has a fixed aperture of f/2.8. At 200mm (equivalent), the FZ1000 tops out at f/4 while the RX10 still shoots at f/2.8. Whatever it was, the blur compared to Sony looks exceptional.

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1000 excels in reconfiguration and focusing speed thanks to Depth From Defocus (DFD) technology, which is set up in such a way that the camera automatically detects the focal zones and uses this for instant shooting. This algorithm is borrowed from the GH4 and is used for more efficient shooting when the camera lens immediately responds correctly to the image and does not take time to refocus the lens and prevents unnecessary wrong actions.

Despite the fact that the FZ1000 is not positioned as a professional video camera, it has more high level than analogues. Let's check. Sharp focus zoom is great! Shooting in maximum quality with high parameters of 100 Mbps 4K and 30 frames per second? You are welcome. The mic input is the same as the GH4's, albeit without the headphone jack, and here the FZ1000 definitely makes a good impression as a video recorder. If you have an external audio recorder, or want to use the FZ1000 as a second camera, then any semi-professional camera can get a head start.

Operation Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1000

Considering the advantages and features that the camera coped with in the tests is certainly good, but what are the competitors better in? This is a really tough question for me since taking the FZ1000 out of the box. After rigorous testing in our demanding lab, it became clear that the FZ1000 is not just an ordinary GH4-like contender, but a bright standalone object of attention. Everything is admired - superb optics, color gamut, image fidelity, confident performance at ISO 800, fast shot-to-shot speed and extremely sharp 4K video, which makes the FZ1000 the benchmark camera in its class.

So when shooting well-lit video at 30fps and 4K, the FZ1000 produces 1000 horizontal lines and 1100 vertical lines. Almost no smearing in most of the test result, for high quality HD within 650 lanes. As with the GH4, the FZ1000 uses a 1:1 pixel ratio without gluing to shoot video, resulting in 4K recording with greater pixel detail, especially noticeable when comparing 4K and HD.

Along with obvious white-balance and color-accuracy merits, the fast 4K-capable Venus Engine plays a big part in our shooting speed test. We were able to get 10 frames per second before the buffer filled up. If that's not enough, Panasonic can also use its electronics and lower image resolution (5 megapixels) in combination with a high-speed shooting mode to achieve over 30fps image capture. Finally, Panasonic will allow shooting full 4K with 30 frames. Using a special playback method, the FZ1000 gives you the ability to slice a selection of 8-megapixel 4K/30 screenshots, which can then be cropped and exported to JPEG photo format.

Panasonic manufacturers themselves do not shy away from directly comparing the FZ1000 with similar models, including the previously mentioned RX10 camera, they also understand the need to give people the right to choose, but they also show their character by releasing such a device at a scandalous price.

We compared several printed photo samples with and FZ1000. The result of our test showed that in low light on automatic settings The 70D uses ISO 3200, while the FZ1000 struggled to make up for the lack of light at ISO 800, only with heavy noise reduction. Most likely, you will get an acceptable result with raw processing of frames at ISO 3200, but it makes no sense to take a photo with ISO 6400 or 12800, because the image will be noisy.

Conclusion

FZ1000 is one of the best semi-professional cameras The camera market is not as competitive now as it used to be. You can get a brand new camera for as little as $500. You can also get an older mirrorless camera with lenses for $300. And even brand new Canons and Nikons start closer to $650 than $1,000. At that moment when it costs $1,300, and - $900 - doubts are felt, because it is still $900. What arguments does Panasonic have about a fixed lens?

After spending almost a week in the laboratory, we were convinced that the FZ1000 is one of the best semi-professional cameras. Panasonic has included all the hardware and design excellence, and shooting photos at 10 frames per second, coupled with an inch sensor and Leica's proprietary lens, is quite consistent with the functional stuffing of the RX10.

You probably don’t have a 4K display device at home yet, but here is a ready-made unit for high-quality 4K video recording at 30 frames per second. That's a great advantage going forward, despite our niggling over small things like the f/2.8-4 aperture range.

pros

  • High quality and functional lens
  • 4K video recording
  • Full HD recording at 100fps
  • WiFi
  • microphone jack
  • Good value for money

Minuses

  • No touch screen
  • Vientation for wide-angle shooting
  • Large camera size

Yandex.Market data

Camera
Camera type compact
Lens
Focal length (35mm equivalent) 25 - 400 mm
Optical zoom 16x
Diaphragm F2.8 - F4
Lens name LEICA DC VARIO-ELMARIT
Matrix
Total number of pixels 21 million
Number of effective pixels 20 million
The size 1" (13.2 x 8.8 mm)
crop factor 2.7
Maximum Resolution 5472 x 3648
Matrix type CMOS
Sensitivity 80 - 3200 ISO, Auto ISO
Extended ISO values ISO100, ISO6400, ISO12800, ISO25600
Functionality
white balance automatic, manual setting, from list
Flash built-in, red-eye reduction, shoe
Image stabilizer (still image) optic
Shooting modes
macro photography there is
Shooting speed 12 fps
Timer there is
Time-lapse mode there is
Viewfinder and LCD screen
Viewfinder electronic
Using the screen as a viewfinder there is
Viewfinder field of view 100%
Viewfinder pixels 2359000
LCD screen 921000 dots, 3 inches
LCD screen type turning
exposition
Excerpt 60 - 1/16000 s
Manual setting of shutter speed and aperture there is
Automatic exposure processing shutter-priority, aperture-priority
exposure compensation +/- 5 EV in 1/3 steps
Exposure metering multizone, center-weighted, spot
Exposure bracketing there is
Focusing
AF illuminator there is
Manual focus there is
Face focus there is
Minimum Shooting Distance 0.03 m
Memory and interfaces
Memory card type SD, SDHC, SDXC
Image formats JPEG (2 levels compressed), RAW
Interfaces USB 2.0, HDMI, mic-in, Wi-Fi, remote control jack
Nutrition
Battery format your own
Number of batteries 1
Battery capacity 360 photos
Video and audio recording
Video recording there is
Video recording format AVCHD,MP4
Video codecs AVC/H.264, MPEG4
Maximum video resolution 3840x2160
Maximum movie frame rate 120 fps
Maximum frame rate when shooting HD video 25/30 fps at 1280x720, 50/60 fps at 1920x1080
Sound recording there is
Recording audio memos there is
Other functions and features
Housing material metal/plastic
Digital zoom 4x
Additional features tripod mount, remote control, orientation sensor
Additional Information built-in stereo microphone
Dimensions and weight
The size 137x99x131 mm
The weight 831 g, with batteries

Reviews about the camera Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1000

Yandex.Market data

Rating: 5 out of 5

Sergei Krotkov

Pros: I love this camera! After the FZ200 and G2 from Panasonic, it didn’t take long to get used to, we have to compare with the previous ones. 1. The rate of fire is not only declared, but also actual. Unlike my older cameras, the clipboard is huge and there are no delays in saving photos during burst shooting, but a high-speed memory card is required. 2. Huge viewfinder, I prefer to use it instead of the display. By the way, the display is not touch-sensitive, but with the help of Wi-Fi you can control the camera like a touchscreen, but on your phone! 3. 1" matrix, with which even ISO 1600 is quite acceptable. 4. The lens with its zoom and stabilizer is just super! Optical 16x is quite enough for birds and planes. 5. There is 4K video, although I didn’t quite like this chip. I shoot in FullHD to save space on the map 6. I really liked the "help" with manual focusing - the area of ​​sharpness is highlighted both when shooting and when cropping. When you "play" with the ring, you can see how the sharpness walks around the frame - very convenient. 7. Wi -Fi is a great thing, especially with the Panasonic Image App on a smartphone. Viewing photos and deleting defects is much more convenient on a 5.5" screen than on a camera. Moreover, then you can upload or send the photo to your page, or anywhere. The smartphone can also be used as remote control when shooting or to change camera settings. 8. Turning on the camera is almost instantaneous in any mode (photo and video) and you can IMMEDIATELY shoot. (before that, my cameras had a decent pause, the larger the card size, the longer the pause) 9. The battery does not produce the declared indicators. It works much longer! Maybe I'm just using it sparingly... 10. A wonderful feature is the level. Allows you to align the horizon on the camera, not in the editor. 11. After 6 months, I found a wonderful property of 4K video - you can view and save the frame you like not only on the camera, but there are editors that allow it. It turns out 8 megapixel picture!

Disadvantages: Of the disadvantages ... where without them. one . For some reason, it jumps from camera to camera: the battery cover and memory cards near the tripod mount. It is impossible to change both if the camera is on a tripod. But I rarely shoot from a tripod and it doesn't really bother me. In addition, it looks flimsy when it opens, it seems that it will fall off and fly away, but maybe it just seems? 2. Some of the necessary settings are buried in the menu, you won’t be able to change it quickly (it may be possible to assign a function button, but I haven’t delved into it yet) 3. When a lens hood is worn on the lens, it gives a shadow at the bottom of the frame when using the flash. I have to take it off (this is nit-picking - I almost don't use the flash). By the way, it looks flimsy... 4. For some reason, you can't completely disable the preview after shooting, high speed(12 fps and above) no shooting. I prefer to look at photos later.

Comment: Great camera! The lens is the most suitable for a traveler, quite fast and with a good zoom. Quality better photo and video than my predecessors.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Alexander

Advantages: 1. Photo quality - Here the taste and color as they say. Definitely many times better than cameras with 1 / 2.3 "matrices. Here, the color depth is noticeably wider and there is less noise and the contrast range is greater. But in comparison with matrices, APS-C of course loses both in noise and in color reproduction. But you can 2. Video quality - everything is very good for FHD. Do you want 24,25,50 or 60 frames per second. The details are excellent! You can also 120 frames per second for FHD! (for slow motion). set the shutter speed and aperture manually in video recording! (I have never seen anything like this in cameras) But for 4K only 30 frames per second. Although the detail is also great. - During video shooting, you can adjust autofocus or switch to manual focus. 3. Focus - Fast focusing - 49 variable focus areas - When focusing manually, the sharp parts of the subject being shot are illuminated by flickering "pixels". Therefore, it is quite easy to achieve accurate focus with manual adjustment (unlike DSLRs) - Switching focus options with a lever already. Those. direct access. Conveniently. 3. Exposure. Namely, a built-in convenient exposure meter. Thanks to which, in fully manual mode (M), without any problems, you can set the shutter speed and aperture to your taste. There are two shutters to choose from - mechanical and electronic. Convenient for high-speed shooting - 50 photos per second! 4. Viewfinder. - it's just a song! I gave it to a dude who has a Nikon DSLR to look at, so he did not immediately believe that an electronic viewfinder could be so "pixelless". You look into it as if through an optic. Pixels are visible if you look for them for a long time! Compared to a DSLR, the picture in the viewfinder is clearly brighter and sharper. 5. Control from the phone with android. - You can take pictures by controlling your phone via Wi-Fi. On the screen of the phone you can see what you are shooting. Many camera settings are available from the phone. Even zoom. In general, covert filming from behind cover or use the phone instead of the remote control. Conveniently.

Disadvantages: 1. Photo quality - the matrix is ​​​​noisy even at ISO-125. There is ISO-80, but it is software, not physical. Smoothing noise in the photo, when shooting, only adjustable. (non-switchable) Noise reduction turns uniform "analogue" noises into terrible "synthetic" granules. As a result, in "jeepeg" even at the minimum ISO, in the shadows, it "granulates" ugly. Rav does a good job. But if you are not a fan of looking at pictures under a magnifying glass, then there is no noise.)) - takes pictures in RAW. The average file size is 23Mb. For 20MP, this is somehow not enough. Although the pictures in the ravine are without noise reduction. 2. Focus - The focus ring on the lens is not mechanically connected to the focus mechanism. The speed of rotation of the ring does not linearly affect the speed of focusing. It's uncomfortable. 3. Settings menu - there may be a problem in the firmware. The menu has two separate categories of settings - for photos and for video. But! Many functions, when changed in a video, for example, change the same settings in a photo. It's awkward and illogical. Why then duplicate the same settings in the menu. 4. Macro mode. - He certainly is on the passport. But! Macro only works at wide angle. The subject, although close to the lens, has a small size in the photo. Using the zoom will inevitably increase the minimum focusing distance. As a result, the size of the object in the frame only decreases. There is a macro zoom mode. But this zoom turned out to be the usual digital interpolation. 5. White balance. - the automat is clearly blue-violet in the shadows. Manual presets are of little help. Achieve the correct color reproduction only in Photoshop. There is a good manual mode. 6. Five-axis stabilizer. When you turn it on, the picture freezes like a freeze frame. But! It works great when you want to frame. But when shooting video, when you are moving, the stabilizer helps you very sluggishly.

Comments: Overall the camera is good. Especially if you decide to leave the soap box for something more serious. Although for such a price you can buy a DSLR with a lens. True, the lens will be shitty.

Rating: 5 out of 5

ProNadym ProNadym

Pros: 4K. The aspect ratio of the frame in 4k mode. 100 frames per second in Full HD. 5 axis stabilizer. fast matrix.

Cons: none

Comment: I took it exclusively as a 4K video camera, because. for photos there is a Canon 5D mark II. Before buying, I read a lot of reviews and comments, but in the end I took it. And as it turned out, all the reviews and comments were unreliable. About a compartment that is supposedly closed by a mounting platform. The decision is quite simple to buy a tripod head, which has a screw adjustment, for example, like the Benro HD-28. That's it, now you can not only easily change the memory card, but also the battery. The stabilizer at the long end, and indeed the stabilizer when shooting from a tripod, must be turned off. Any adequate person on the EGF 400 will not take off his hands, no stabilizer will help here. problem solved again. The video has a pretty good DD if you use your hands, and not put everything in auto mode. Even in FullHD mode, the files in the video editor are well drawn out (set the color space 0-255 in the camera settings). I was very pleased that in 4K mode a crop matrix is ​​​​used and the EGF becomes 37-592 (in FullHD 24-400), and also that you can change the aspect ratio of the frame, set 4k photos and select (16: 9, 4: 3, 3: 2, 1:1). The 1:1 mode is very interesting, because the video is shot with a resolution of 2880x2880, which, when using a 2x anamorphic nozzle, allows you to shoot video 5760x2880 on this camera, the number of pixels is 2 times more than 4K. I also bought Polaroid 0.43x and 2x converter attachments for the camera, which expands the capabilities of the already good Leica lens that is installed in the camera. I was also pleased with the thread for 62 mm filters, I use filters through the adapter ring, which I took for Mark 77 mm. Yes, I remembered, even in all the reviews they scolded that the screen was not touch. We go to GooglePlay or AppStore, download a free application from Panasonic and use our phone or tablet as a remote touch screen.

Rating: 5 out of 5

Vladimir Klimenok

Advantages: No. 1. Thoughtful menu. No. 2. All the most necessary functions on programmable buttons. No. 3. Video quality. No. 4. 16x zoom. No. 5. I used Sony cameras before, and at first I was embarrassed by the folding Panasonic screen, BUT! as soon as I started using it and got the opportunity to take pictures at different inclinations, angles on outstretched arms, my opinion changed dramatically! No. 6. For the first time I came across such a detailed, interactive, instruction manual, without which I can’t imagine how much time it would take to study ..

Cons: #1. In order to simply turn on viewing pictures, or connect to wi-fi, the lens extends, then retracts itself. (It could be made by default to click on the view button and turn it on). No. 2. Not a convenient cap covering the lens, (you need to constantly orient it) No. 3. Connection via wi-fi "Image app" is not thought out. too much to make movements and confirm at the same time on the phone and the camera ... No. 4. The lack of a touch screen, which is why the focusing functionality is a bit over-engineered.

Comment: Purchased as a Photo-Video device (all in one). Justified by 100%. Masterpiece! Low bow to you Panasonic.

Pros: I've been using it since August 2016. The device is not for shooting blindly with default settings (this is about in-camera JPG). Many settings, valid for photos and videos in P, A, S, M modes (video start video button). With the settings, you can get a professional-level photo. A wide range of adjustments for DD and detail - clarity (no sharpness is felt). Very good machine. BB. Synchronizes with the built-in and any external (studio with radio synchronizer including) flashes in the entire shutter speed range up to 1/4000. (I meet for the first time !!!). Excellent drawing and LECHIC color. JPG and RAW files of good weight. After NIKON D700 and FUJIFILM X-T1, it fell into my hand like a native, I got used to it right away. The device is not for filming at dusk with poor lighting !!! ISO really working 1600 (noise reduction is always at a minimum of -5). I learned practically all the chips. There are many more combinations of settings, each time I discover something new. The video is excellent at a semi-professional level. In short - a device for creativity!

Pros: Excellent combine for photo and video. More even for video. White balance for video is even better than for photos. In the photo, like all Panasonic, it is a little red. There is a microphone input, you can put a gun and minimize the noise from the zoom. There is 4K video, but not without flaws :) The built-in stereo microphone is of quite decent quality.

Cons: 4K video shoots fine, if only from a tripod. There is a stabilization mode in 4K, but the impression is that it is not there. The picture is torn, i.e. the area of ​​​​application is purely staged shots, slow posting ... What was the problem with making a screen with a touch screen, it’s not clear, I feel the trace of the marketing department. The built-in flash stays flimsy on its mount when open. Those. if you touch it when shooting, then I think you can easily demolish it. There is no switch for manual zoom, only electric. It's sooo easy to do, again the marketers have worked :) What if the motor seizes? Noise from the motor when zooming is heard on the built-in microphone. You need an external one - a buttonhole for an interview or a gun on a rubberized mount. Video recording is limited to 30 minutes. I hope custom firmware will fix this. JPEG noise reduction "and from the camera does not give a very sharp picture, it is better to shoot in RAW. At the same time, when viewing the captured photo material, the device shows images as if in the "quick view" mode, i.e. not at the maximum resolution. Enlarging the image on the screen is nothing From the beginning I thought that he shoots like that, it turned out not, when viewed on a PC monitor, everything is quite sharp. There may be a problem with the mini-preview photo built into the RAW file. For example, Canon and Nikon add a full-fledged JPEG to the RAW file with excellent quality, so there are no problems with viewing there. Plus, there are no profiles of this camera in programs like Lightroom, ACDSee Pro, etc. They don’t see the camera settings if you shoot in RAW. And you have to adjust everything manually. I hope this is temporary, but still annoying.