Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1000: An Overview

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1000 is the long-awaited successor of the FZ50, which was released 8 years ago. The long gap between the releases of the two models has been worth it, since the techies at Panasonic have clearly put in a lot of thought into the Lumix DMC-FZ1000. We’re talking about a viewfinder with a higher resolution, a better pixel count and video output. The large sensor and zoom are perhaps the only features that remind us of the old FZ50. All in all, the new FZ1000 is a camera that promises to do multiple things.   Related: Panasonic unveils the tiny M43 Lumix DMC-GM1 One look at the technical specifications will explain all the reason behind the hype around the release of this camera:

• 20.1 megapixel 1"-type MOS sensor
• 25-400mm equiv. F2.8-4 Leica lens
• 3-inch LCD with 920K dots
• OLED EVF with 2.36M dots
• 5-axis stabilization
• 4K video recording
• 1080p at up to 60p, 28Mbps (MP4 or AVCHD)
• 120fps quarter-speed 1080p
• 3.5mm microphone socket
• Clean HDMI output
• Wi-Fi with NFC

Design: Now the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1000 is, without a doubt, a really big camera. Instead of a standard super-zoom compact camera, this one is almost the size of a mid-range DSLR, and so is the build. Then again, the controls are more like a mid-range DSLR’s than a superzoom. It is also way too comfortable to hold for a superzoom. The FZ1000 has a sturdy plastic body, albeit without a premium feel. Operation and Image Quality: The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1000 operates smoothly and is easy to use. The large sensor delivers what it promises. Colors are vibrant, details are sharp and the image quality is definitely impressive at lower ISO settings. There is no noise in the images up to ISO 800, and even at higher ISOs such as ISO 3200, the details are retained and noise is unnoticeable unless you view images at 100% magnification. It is only if you work at the extreme top of the ISO range that you will notice a substantial loss in details in JPEGs. If you want more control over color, greater dynamic range and noise reduction, shooting RAW is the solution. Conclusion: The FZ1000 is definitely on the bulkier side. There is no inbuilt ND filter and no Auto ISO in movie mode. However, the pros of the FZ1000 outweigh the cons, and how! First off, the FZ1000’s 1"-type sensor gives superb image quality. The camera has one of the best Auto-Focus performances in its range. It has an electronic shutter that facilitates silent shooting. There is an option for in-camera RAW conversion. 4K video recording and high quality HDMI output earn it extra brownie points. You can even extract 8MP still shots from the 4K videos. It gives all the manual controls of a premium compact camera and is an ideal compact camera for capturing both video and photos. Final Verdict: All in all, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1000 is an interesting compact camera. It fares well on both image and video quality scales. It is impressively responsive and is surprisingly easy to hold and operate for its size. If you like the views expressed in the blog post, share it with your friends. Panasonic Lumix is available on Unique Photo and can be ordered online. Also read: A peek into the new Panasonic Lumix GX7