Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300 Review - Review 2022

Superzoom cameras similar the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300 ($599.99) are attractive options for photographers who desire the versatility of a very long zoom range along with the ergonomics of an SLR, just don't desire to carry an interchangeable lens camera and a few lenses. The FZ300's 24x lens doesn't sound that ambitious on paper—pocket models like Panasonic's own ZS50 ($350.00 at Amazon) manage to put 30x lenses into a smaller package, and others similar our Editors' Choice Canon PowerShot SX60 HS ($375.99 at Amazon) reach incredible 65x telephoto ratios. But the FZ300 has a fixed f/2.8 discontinuity, so it captures just equally much calorie-free at its widest angle every bit it does when zoomed all the way in—a rarity for this class. If your photographic needs don't extend beyond 600mm, and you value weather sealing, 4K video, and a lightning-fast autofocus organisation, the FZ300 is an first-class, but pricey, pick in its ain correct.

Pattern
The FZ300 ($397.99 at Amazon) takes its design cues from SLRs. Its fixed lens is similar in size to the meaty zoom lens bundled with most consumer models; the entire package measures 3.half dozen by 5.2 by 4.6 inches (HWD) and weighs ane.5 pounds. That's a far cry from the pocket superzoom Panasonic ZS50 (2.five by iv.iv by one.four inches, 8.6 ounces), simply the ZS50'southward f/3.3-6.4 variable aperture lens loses calorie-free-gathering capability quickly as you zoom in, and its integrated EVF is not nearly as large or as crisp every bit the i in the FZ300.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300 : Sample Image

The FZ300 sets itself apart from the competition with a stock-still f/2.8 lens. Information technology covers a 25-600mm (full-frame equivalent) range without sacrificing any light-gathering capability as it zooms. Other superzooms that use the aforementioned size i/ii.three-inch image sensor, like the Nikon P900 ($523.96 at Amazon) , lose calorie-free when zooming in guild to reach very loftier zoom ratios. To give you an idea of the zoom range in a real-world setting, take a wait at the shot of geese higher up—information technology was captured at 25mm, a bit wider than the field of view of your typical smartphone photographic camera. The prototype of the geese in flight below was captured at the 600mm position from the aforementioned vantage point.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300 : Sample Image

It's the one/ii.three-inch paradigm sensor that may bear witness to to be an outcome for some photographers considering the FZ300. When the FZ200 ( at Amazon) was released in 2022, that was the standard sensor size for long zoom models. Just premium models with significantly larger epitome sensors have become more mutual. The Sony RX10 Two ($998.00 at Amazon) , which features a 24-200mm f/two.8 zoom, doesn't have plenty telephoto reach to really put it at odds with the FZ300.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300 : Sample Image

Merely the Canon G3 10 (25-600mm f/2.viii-five.) and Panasonic'southward own FZ1000 ($497.99 at Amazon) (25-400mm f/2.8-four) are worth considering as alternatives to the FZ300. Fifty-fifty though they accept variable aperture lenses, they offer higher resolution 20-megapixel prototype sensors. This gives you lot more room to crop photos, and while they do lose light when zooming, high ISO performance is potent for both cameras. The FZ300's 12-megapixel sensor is one of the better 1/2.3-inch chips in terms of high ISO operation, merely it doesn't match upward with the Sony-made ane-inch BSI CMOS sensor when shooting at a loftier sensitivity.

That said, at that place are all the same reasons to cull the FZ300 over either the G3 10 or the FZ1000. While the G3 X matches it in zoom range and betters the FZ300 in image quality, it omits an EVF, doesn't focus every bit quickly, doesn't support 4K video capture, and is significantly more expensive. The FZ1000 is a improve match—it'south still more expensive, but includes an EVF and 4K recording, though it omits the atmospheric condition and dust protection included with the FZ300, making it a less highly-seasoned choice for travel and nature photography.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300 : Sample Image

Controls and Features
The trunk is rife with physical controls. There's a zoom rocker and manual focus dial on the left side of the lens, along with a button to toggle between standard autofocus and autofocus with the macro shooting range enabled. The top plate includes a mechanical release for the pop-up flash, equally well as the hot shoe, mode dial, power switch, command punch, zoom rocker, shutter release, record button, and programmable Fn1 (EV bounty by default) and Fn2 buttons.

The Fn4 push button is nestled on the rear plate, to the left of the EVF—past default it toggles between the rear LCD and EVF, with a third setting activating the eye sensor for automatic switching. The AF/AE Lock button sits to the right of the eyecup; it's surrounded by a switch that changes between AFF/AFS, AFC, and MF focus modes. A iv-way directional pad, with middle Carte/Set button, sits to the correct of the LCD—directional presses are used for menu navigation, also as to set the drive mode, focus area, ISO, and white balance. Additional rear controls include Fn3 (past default information technology activates the Q.Menu, and deletes images during playback), Brandish, and Play.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300 : Sample Image

The Q.Carte du jour is an overlay brandish that gives you lot quick access to additional settings, without having to go into the carte or losing track of your frame. You can adjust the aperture, EV compensation setting, flash output, focus area, focus mode, ISO, paradigm size and file format, metering design, motion-picture show style, shutter speed, video quality, and white rest from this menu.

Similar other contempo Panasonic models, the FZ300 supports the company'southward 4K Photo fashion. It captures 8-megapixel stills (the same resolution every bit 4K video) at 30 frames per second, merely is capable of doing and then at higher shutter speeds than are typically used for video (in order to freeze motion), and at the narrower 4:3 attribute ratio notwithstanding photographers prefer. Y'all will be limited to JPG shooting when using the 4K Photograph feature, but it's a skilful way to capture images at an extreme frame rate to make sure yous go the perfect moment when photographing fast-moving action. If you accept a large retentivity bill of fare you tin can rattle off 4K images for but shy of 30 minutes before having to accept your finger off of the shutter release.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300 : Sample Image

The rear LCD is a vari-angle bear upon screen. It swings out from the body and rotates to face anywhere from straight downwards to straight ahead—that's not just a boon for selfie photographers, only also a plus for videographers who want to requite an interview bailiwick an idea of how a shot is framed. The display is crisp (ane,040k dots) and brilliant. The touch functionality is nicely implemented—yous can use it to navigate through menus and activate on-screen controls, just information technology's likewise possible to tap an area of the frame to ready a focus point. If y'all enable Bear upon Pad AF, the rear display remains sensitive to touch on when you're using the EVF, and so yous can notwithstanding set the focus point by affect even when the photographic camera is at heart level.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300 : Wi-Fi Remote

Wi-Fi is an expected feature in modern cameras. The FZ300 supports wireless image transfer (for JPGs) when paired with the free Panasonic Paradigm App for Android and iOS. The app also supports geotagging (bold that your telephone and the photographic camera'due south clock are synchronized) and remote control. Full transmission control is available—yous can adjust discontinuity, EV compensation, shutter speed, and white balance, amid other settings, and zoom in and out. A Live View feed is shown on your telephone'due south screen. It's a smooth stream, and you lot tin tap to focus on an area just as if you were using the rear display itself. At that place'due south even a special shutter release setting that takes a picture when your phone's accelerometer detects a sudden change in move—that'due south useful for capturing shots of jumping into the air.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300 : Sample Image

In addition to the hot shoe (which can be used to mount an external mic or flash), the FZ300 includes a standard microphone input, a connector for a wired remote control, a proprietary USB port, and a standard micro HDMI connexion. The SD/SDHC/SDXC memory card slot sits in the bottom, in the aforementioned compartment every bit the battery. Panasonic includes an external wall charger—it has an integrated plug, and then you don't have to worry almost finding a power string to charge the battery.

Performance Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300 : Benchmark Tests
The FZ300 has a big ability zoom lens, just it still manages to plough on, focus, and capture an image in under a 2d. Its speed doesn't finish there—information technology tin focus in 0.02-2d, regardless of whether you lot're shooting at 25mm or 600mm, and is capable of capturing photos at 12.4 frames per 2nd. Focus does irksome a bit in very dim calorie-free (0.7-second), and flare-up shooting is limited to twenty Raw+JPG, 23 Raw, or 96 JPG photos. It compares favorably with the Canon SX60, which requires 1.8 seconds to start, slows to 0.half-dozen-2nd when focusing at its telephoto extreme, tops out at 6.3fps when shooting JPGs, and slows to 1.4fps in Raw format.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300 : Sample Image

I used Imatest to check the sharpness of the FZ300's zoom lens. The 12-megapixel sensor resolution, which is a plus when shooting at high ISOs, does limit the corporeality of detail that the camera is able to resolve. Still, at 25mm f/ii.8 information technology scores ane,875 lines per picture height on a center-weighted sharpness exam, which is in excess of the one,800 lines we look for in an image. A second exam at 100mm shows that the lens performs similarly there, managing i,920 lines. Performance is stiff at the center and mid-parts of the frame, but the edges driblet a chip in fidelity, showing near ane,600 lines. That'southward even so a solid result for a camera of this type.

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The FZ300 keeps dissonance under ane.5 percent through ISO 3200 when shooting JPGs at the default setting. That likewise is an excellent criterion result for a camera with a ane/ii.3-inch paradigm sensor. But noise reduction does detract from paradigm quality. There is quite a chip of smudging of details at ISO 3200, and while you tin all the same make out discrete lines in our ISO test scene, very fine detail is wiped abroad. Image quality is actually quite like at ISO 1600 and 800; just reducing the sensitivity to ISO 400 shows noticeable improvement in image fidelity. Photos are crisper however at ISO 200 and bear witness stiff detail for a 12-megapixel photographic camera, even in the nigh intricate areas of our exam scene. If you lot're shooting outdoors during daylight hours you'll likely not take to push the ISO very far, but high sensitivities will come into play when photographing indoor scenes.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300 : Sample Image

The Canon SX60 actually ekes out a bit more particular when shooting JPGs at comparable ISOs thank you to an excellent xvi-megapixel paradigm sensor, but its lens doesn't capture equally much lite when zoomed in, so it will take to apply a college ISO when shooting in dim conditions. If you're curious about how image quality holds upward at each full-end ISO setting y'all can take a expect for yourself; pixel-level crops are included in the slideshow that accompanies this review.

If you prefer to capture images without in-camera noise reduction, you tin opt to shoot in Raw format. At sensitivities through ISO 400 the FZ300 does a good job capturing item and minimizing noise in Raw, although images could stand to be sharpened a bit beyond the Lightroom ($9.99/Month at Adobe) defaults in social club to lucifer JPGs in crispness. Grain is heavy, simply acceptable, at ISO 800. At ISO 1600 and 3200 grain is heavy and distracting, just details still polish through. Yous should avoid shooting at ISO 6400, regardless of whether you lot're working in Raw or JPG manner. These are withal solid, admitting not class-leading, results for a ane/2.3-inch paradigm sensor. But if y'all do opt to spend a bit more than on the FZ1000 and its 1-inch sensor you'll find that you can shoot JPGs through ISO 6400 and Raw photos through ISO 12800 and still net a useable image.

Video is captured at up to 4K resolution in MP4 format at 24 or 30 frames per 2nd. You can also capture video at 1080p or 720p at 60fps or 30fps in MP4 format. If you opt for AVCHD recording yous can record at 1080p24, 1080p30, 1080i60, or 1080p60. Recording at 4K gives you plenty of resolution, but information technology's not the crispest 4K video I've seen. If you don't have focus fixed, the camera can occasionally hunt for it and add a slight mistiness to footage, and video is equally grainy every bit you'd expect in dim calorie-free. Stabilization is a strong point—recording handheld footage at 600mm is a task that'south basically impossible without paradigm stabilization, and while the FZ300 does bear witness some movement in the frame (the videographer—me in this example—shares a portion of that blame), information technology's corking at all when yous consider the narrow angle of view. Videos are stabilized along five axes using a hybrid system. In addition to steadying video, it'southward as well constructive for tracking subjects in the EVF and capturing well-baked stills at longer shutter speeds.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300 : Sample Image

Conclusions
Panasonic's FZ200 stayed on the market for quite some time—it was a standout performer upon its release and nevertheless an excellent option if you buy information technology today at a very friendly cost point. The FZ300 maintains the 12-megapixel image sensor and 25-600mm f/2.8 lens, but improves the build quality by adding weather sealing, a crisper EVF, and a sharp vari-bending touch-sensitive display. Panasonic is asking a premium price for the new model, however, and at $600 at that place are other serious cameras vying for your dollar. The upgrades that it offers over the FZ200 are tactile—especially the improved EVF and lightning-fast autofocus—simply I wouldn't fault someone for opting to buy the older model at one-half the cost, even if some of its hardware is dated.

Our Editors' Choice for superzooms, the Canon SX60 HS, is also a pricey camera. It too has a crisp EVF, a vari-angle rear display, and supports Raw image capture. Its image output is a bit sharper, and while its lens doesn't capture as much light when zoomed in, it covers an ambitious 65x (21-i,365mm) range. The FZ300 is better a ameliorate camera in some aspects—the Canon doesn't include 4K video, doesn't focus as quickly, and doesn't offering weather sealing—but overall, I still give a slight edge to the SX60. Its image quality is excellent, with results that bear witness a bit more than item than the FZ300, and while superzooms are always praised for telephoto attain, the SX60'southward 21mm wide-bending lens sets it autonomously from the crowd.

If y'all're willing to forgo some zoom, and y'all're already shopping for a photographic camera in this price segment, don't count out another Panasonic model. The FZ1000 is selling for less than its $900 MSRP, and its ane-inch sensor puts information technology in a different class in terms of image quality. Its zoom range only reaches 400mm, but it can withstand some cropping to bring it more than in line with the reach of the FZ300. The biggest knock confronting the FZ1000 is its build quality—for a camera every bit expensive equally it is, its plastic trunk is an issue, and it lacks weather condition sealing, which is a downer for a photographic camera that's so well-suited for travel.