Panasonic FZ1000 Vs. ILCs With Superzoom Lenses

Thanks, Steve. I'm still in the market for the FZ1000: I went into the local camera store a few months back, and handled the it, and although its nearly the same size as my K5+lens, it feels really well balanced, and so, even though its weight is much the same, actually feels lighter. I'm just waiting for the price to drop a bit more, over here :)
 
I agree with the article, my FZ1000 has been very capable. Throw in other pluses like the 4K video, 120 fps 1080p mode, and it's nearly unbeatable for travel/vacation.
 
Thanks for posting this. I agree with the author's premise, and it squares with my experience.

As an intriguing alternative to the FZ1000, the FZ200 is smaller, lighter, and offers constant f/2.8 from 24mm to 1200mm (e, at full optical and digital zoom).

Cheers, Jock
 
The GH4 and 14-140mm f3.5-5.6 should actually be the lightest (just!) combination at 825g vs 831g for the FZ1000. I suspect that he is using the weight of the original (and heavier) 14-140mm f4-5.8 which would add up to the 1020g quoted. A more comparable Panasonic m4/3 camera to the FZ1000 would be the new G7 which would weight 675g including lens, rather than the higher specced, higher priced and heavier GH4. I'll have to take his word on the FZ1000 being better but it certainly isn't lighter.
 
The FZ does go out to 400 mm (35 equiv) at f4, which would make this a good safari camera. Of course, I don't know how well sealed this camera is against dust.
 
The high end of 200 in the RX10 makes it a bit too short for a good wildlife camera. In that sense the LZ1000 is much better at 400. Outdoor cameras just need to be a bit tougher or their owners need to be careful. Of course, I'm just making idle talk. The Panasonic is an amazing photographic tool.
 
I'm hoping it will be the single tool I need/want, to replace all my Nikon1 stuff. I am seriously over ILC cameras, tempted as I am by many of them. When I leave the house, those are no longer the first thing I think of, to pick up to take with me. I intend to replace some of the compacts with a single compact which will be either the LX100, or the Fuji X-30. But, I think that in time, I will be a 100% Panasonic person.
 
Sue,

I recently acquired a lx100. It ended up retiring my Fuji x100 and Panasonic lx3. Both zoom ranges should take care of around 80% or more for most people. It's the super wide or the tele end where it could be an issue for some people. Given u already have the Nikon One system, have u thought about using it for where the lx100 or x30 won't cut it.

I chose the lx100 for the following
- fast aperture
- same m43 sensor as used in gx7, gm1 and 5
- 4k video plus 4k picture mode (vacations mostly)
- back to basics w/ control layout just like Fuji cameras I like
- wide fov is 24 not 28
- while it works like the Fuji x100, but for those times u aren't using the camera, hit the iAuto button and set it for 28 or 35 fov and hand it off to anyone to take a picture of u and your family.
- resume last zoom position (I leave it mostly at 50 fov)

I looked at both the rx10 and the fz1000.. They are great cameras and they cover a great zoom range. If u want an all in one, I don't think u can go wrong w/ either. But i am covered by my Fuji x bodies or m43 camera bodies when I need to go to either extreme.

I was looking for a good compromise between weight, high iso and compact size w/ a good evf. For me that ended up w/ the lx100. I could have gone w/ new gm5 and the pancake collapsible 12-32 as well, but it is not a fast zoom. Put a f2.8 zoom on it and u loose the compact size and weight. I don't print big enough to need more than 12mp anyway. My norm is 8x10 with occasional 13x19. If u print bigger, consider going to at least 16mp. Ymmv.

Good luck
Gary

PS... Forget the user manual that comes in the box, download the advance user manual from the Panasonic website.
 
Last edited:
Thanks, Gary. If I want really good IQ, I probably would always be looking to my Pentax gear. I don't like having more than one ILC system, and the Nikon1 is something I am well over. I was briefly considering the 70-300 1Nikkor lens but not at the price they want. Ditto the 32mm. I'll be happy with the FZ to cover that existing range. Never know, it might even replace the Pentax gear as well. Not doing much with that, either. I take all your points about the LX, but the FZ is first on my list. LX or X30 are at least 6 months behind that.
 
Have fun w/ the fz1000.. There are common features in many of the Panasonic cameras like the 4k picture mode (if I remember correctly).. Normal movies are 16:9 aspect ratio and the Panasonic will,allow u during playback to extract an 8mp jpg (lx100 can't remember about fz1000). But the 4k picture allows u to shoot the movie in whatever aspect ratio and setup u are in when u were shooting pictures. I can remember how many times I have been on vacation when I am shooting video of something and would have loved to have taken a picture in the middle. Yes there are csc that allow this, but I think this 4k picture works better for me. Anyway only time will tell if I will really make use of it since I don't normally shoot video except on vacation.

Gary
 
Last edited:
The EVF makes a huge difference for travel, especially since bright sunshine is often a factor. It also helps to stabilize the camera at the long end.
 
that thing really looks the business. I can't imagine trying to frame a shot at 600mm without an EVF.
With a tilting screen, the waist level position with the LCD braced on the midsection and the neck-strap taut is pretty stable. The aperture gets pretty small at the 600 end, but low light is what the wide end is for.
 
With a tilting screen, the waist level position with the LCD braced on the midsection and the neck-strap taut is pretty stable. The aperture gets pretty small at the 600 end, but low light is what the wide end is for.
I agree - I think that position is MORE stable than a viewfinder to an eye. If you can find a wall or post to lean back agains, having the camera at belly/waist level against a taut strap and a belly is damn near as solid as a tripod. The human head atop a neck isn't nearly as stable a platform as two legs and strap around that same neck... And when you hold a camera like this, it's usually pretty easy to shade it from direct sunlight too.

I'll be real interested in how good this lens is through the range and how quickly it moves up from f2.8. If it can hold something in the f3.2-3.5 range up to 100mm, this could be a pretty great little travel camera for those who like all-in-one solutions. If it's notably smaller than the FZ1000 or RX10. If not, I'm not sure how much that last 200mm of reach is gonna matter to most folks. And certainly having the option of an EVF isn't a BAD thing...

-Ray
 
I agree - I think that position is MORE stable than a viewfinder to an eye.

More stable, it may be depending on technique. But for tracking something moving (birding would be a top use for many considering 600mm reach), I prefer pressing the camera to my face and following the action with my head.

I enjoy using tilty screens, until you get past 100mm where small movements at the camera end mean wild swings on the subject end.
 
Back
Top