How do you choose the Best Panasonic Lumix camera? Read our expert reviews of the latest Panasonic cameras and compare the very best deals.
Panasonic is an extremely great camera to work with. It shoots great stills, has a high enough resolution to print big, shoots videos, and has most of the bells and whistles you need from your go-to travel camera. This camera has a lot going for it. A good all-rounder, for a more than reasonable price.
Powerful zoom, good picture quality, and excellent automatic mode make the perfect go-to camera for travels and everyday photography needs.
Our Top Picks: Panasonic Camera Highlights
- Best Optical Zoom Camera: Panasonic Lumix FZ200
- Best 4K Video Camera: Panasonic FZ330
- Best Slim Camera: Panasonic Lumix DMC SZ10
Top Best Panasonic Camera Reviews
Best Optical Zoom Camera
When it comes to compact system cameras (and that goes for larger mirrorless as well as DSLRs) increasing the resolution increases image details. However, that comes with a price tag and that is higher digital noise due to smaller pixel size.
We have reviewed several compact systems (and bridge) cameras on our website but they have mostly been of high resolution. An exception is the Panasonic Lumix FZ200. Let’s find out more about it.
Main Features
- 12 megapixel high sensitivity MOS sensor of size 1/2.3”24x optical zoom lens with a 35mm
- Format equivalent reach of 25-600mm
- Constant maximum aperture of f/2.8 across the zoom length
- 3” LCD monitor
- Full annual controls
- RAW support
- Customization options
- White balance adjustment
- Bracketing
- Multi-coating lens technology
- Nano-coating
- Extremely fast auto-focusing
Sensor
The Panasonic Lumix FZ200 is powered by a 1/2.3” MOS sensor producing a respectable 12 megapixels of resolution. At the back image processing is handled by LSI Venus Engine.
Lens
The major USP of the camera is undoubtedly its lens. It has a host of features and technologies that can rival even DSLR lenses. Let’s start with the zoom capabilities of the lens. From 25mm it reaches all the way to 600mm. This is a phenomenal reach even by DSLR standards. The world’s first DC Vario Elmarit fast lens. Combined with the powerful zoom you have a fast wide aperture of f/2.8. A truly unique combination. At that extreme focal lengths, you will need some sort of image stabilization to keep your lens steady to capture shake-free stills.
The Lumix FZ200 has Power O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilization). Panasonic states that the effectiveness of this mode is double of that of normal Image Stabilization. It is effective in countering blurs that normally happen when using long exposure at night times or during other types of creative long shutter speed captures.
A series of other technologies make the lens a formidable shooting tool. A multi-coating lens technology is the first line of defense against flares and ghosting. The second line of defense is in the nano-crystal coating, much in the same line as DSLR lenses. Nano-crystal coating almost takes out any lingering issues with flares and ghosting, especially when shooting images with the sun lower at the horizon.
LCD screen
At the back of the camera there is a 3” LCD screen for reviewing the images shot. Resolution of the screen is 460,000 dots.
Viewfinder
A small 0.2” electronic viewfinder gives a live-view picture with a small delay to compose images. The frame coverage offered is 100%.
ISO sensitivity
The Panasonic Lumix FZ200 has an ISO sensitivity of 100-3200. At the extended mode it ranges from 1600-6400.
Continuous shooting speed
Unlike some of the bridge cameras that we have reviewed, the Panasonic Lumix FZ200 has an excellent burst rate. It shoots at up to 12 frames per second. It can shoot up to 12 frames at full resolution before the buffer overruns.
Built-in flash
There is a built-in flash that covers 0.98 – 44.29’ in the wide mode and 3.28 – 44.29’ in the telephoto mode.
Movie recording
The Lumix FZ200 is capable of recording full HD videos at 50p resolution. Together with the optical image stabilization, quick auto-focus and long zoom length, this camera does offer an excellent package for most types of shoot. That includes fast action, sports and wildlife. At a slightly lower resolution of 720p HD the camera is capable of recording at 100 fps.
Pricing
The Lumix FZ200 is definitely a steal considering the long feature list of the camera.
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Best 4K Video Camera
Bridge cameras combine the better of two worlds. They take the form factor that makes SLR cameras so popular and easy to use, and pack that inside a demure compact dimension. They take the optical superzoom lens that is the hallmark of smaller compact cameras and throw that into the mix as well. What you get is a formidable shooting tool. Bridge cameras are extremely popular cameras because of these reasons. In this review we take the Lumix DMC-FZ330EBK bridge camera and try to find out more about it.
Main Features
- These are the main features of the Lumix DMC-FZ330EBK
- 1/2.3” sensor with an effective resolution of 12.1 megapixels
- f/2.8 25-600mm (35mm format equivalent) LEICA DC VARIO ELMARIT lens
- fixed f/2.8 aperture across the focal length
- Splash / dustproof rugged design
- High speed auto-focusing using DFD technology
- Internal 4K video capability
- 1440k-dot 0.7x large OLED viewfinder
- 3” free angle large touchscreen rear LCD monitor
- 12 fps continuous shooting speed
- 5-axis correction / tilt correction
Sensor
The Lumix DMC-FZ330EBK is powered by a 1/2.3″ high sensitivity MOS sensor capable of churning out 12.1 effective megapixels. The sensor produces clean noise-less images of a size 4000 x 3000 pixels.
Lens
The lens of the Lumix DMC-FZ330EBK has a focal length range of 4.5mm – 108mm. In other words the zoom range is 24x. That, on a 35mm format is the equivalent of 25 – 600mm. It has a fixed aperture of f/2.8 across the focal length making this an effective lens for shooting wildlife, birding, sports and other types of low light and fact action photography.
LCD screen
The rear of the camera is dominated by a 3” free-angle, touch panel monitor. The approximate angle of view of the LCD screen is 100%.
Viewfinder
There is a small 0.39” OLED Electronic LVF with 1440k dots. The field of view achievable on the viewfinder is approximately 100%. The electronic viewfinder projects the image reaching the sensor and shows it with a slight lag time.
ISO sensitivity
The ISO sensitivity on the Lumix DMC-FZ330EBK ranges from 100 – 6400. ISO can be changed over at 1/3 EV steps.
Built-in flash
There is also a built-in flash on the Lumix DMC-FZ330EBK. The coverage with the flash is 0.3 – 8.8m at wide mode and 1 – 8.8m on the tele mode (both with auto ISO).
Movie recording
This is one of those rare few bridge cameras that have internal 4K video shooting capabilities.
Internal mic onboard the camera records sound with your video bytes.
Pricing
£449 (RRP) is what you the Lumix DMC-FZ330EBK will set you back. However, at that price you get a series of features that is miles ahead of the general bridge camera segment. You get good weather sealing. You get native 4K shooting abilities. You get a powerful 600mm f/2.8 lens. You get a 3” touch panel LCD monitor. Above everything else you also get the advantages of a convenient DSLR form-factor and a compact design.
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Best Slim Camera
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ10 is a point and shoot, but has some great specs for the price.
The 16.6MP sensor is more than adequate to capture most scenes in good detail, and the 12x optical zoom will allow you to get up close and personal to your subject.
A neat little camera, which is another good choice for beginners.
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