In the last few years, the superzoom race has been pretty straightforward: Every year, companies trot out what is essentially last year's hardware with slightly longer zooms, and maybe one new feature. A few years ago, Panasonic decided to switch it up with itsLumix DMC-FZ200. Instead of going longer, Panasonic shortened the zoom range and gave the camera a constant f/2.8 aperture. This lets in more light across the entire zoom range, improving image quality enough for us to call it one of the best superzooms of 2012.
Panasonic is looking to improve upon the FZ200 with the new Lumix DMC-FZ300 (MSRP $599.99), a splash-proof superzoom with the same Leica-branded 24x f/2.8 zoom lens. The FZ300 keeps all the features that made the FZ200 stand out, but adds 4K video, faster burst shooting, and an improved design.
But with a new class of high-end, long zoom cameras out there–including Panasonic's own FZ1000 andSony's RX10–the upgrades may not be enough. It outperforms most other superzooms, but despite costing $600 it can't quite keep up with the high-end crowd. So is it in the superzoom sweet spot, or just stuck in the middle?
Design & Handling
Design-wise, all superzooms engage in a bit of subterfuge. They look just like entry-level DSLRs, even though inside they're little more than your garden variety point-and-shoot. The FZ300 in particular borrows a lot of design cues from the company's flagship mirrorless camera—the DMC-GH4—even though it has a much smaller 1/2.3-inch sensor.
That's part of the superzoom package though, as the small sensor is essential to getting such giant zoom ranges in such a relatively compact size. This is how cameras like the Canon SX60 HS can pack 60x worth of zoom in such a small footprint. The FZ300 makes a similar bargain, but instead of pushing the optical zoom to the limit, Panasonic's engineers focused on preserving a large f/2.8 aperture all the way through the zoom range. This lets in more light, resulting in sharper images and better low light performance.
Still, the FZ300 doesn't look like a simple point-and-shoot. With a deep grip, sharp angles, and a DSLR-style button mapping, the FZ300 looks ready to take on any assignment out of the box. The control scheme does require a little learning curve, but it's easy enough to allow users to start shooting quickly regardless of experience level.
Its 3-inch 1040k-dot touchscreen LCD helps, with a UI that lets you easily adjust settings without digging into the overly complex menu. The LCD also articulates, enabling you to get shots at tough angles with the camera above or below your field of view.
On top of the camera you will find your mode dial, power lever, command dial, shutter release, zoom lever, record button, and two function keys. Despite the lengthy list, the camera doesn't feel too crowded and almost all the controls are reachable with just your thumb or index finger. The only button I found tough to access was "Fn 2" button on top, as its central placement makes it a stretch.
In the wild, I must say that I found the FZ300 to be quite bulky for a point-and-shoot. But considering you're getting a 600mm (full-frame equivalent) weather-proofed camera, it's easy to put up with. A DSLR with this kind of reach would be much larger. And unlike many superzooms I found both the zooming and focusing to be fast and smooth, allowing you to keep track of your subject as you move in for a closer shot. It's also surprisingly easy to keep (relatively) steady at full zoom, so you don't have to worry as much about blurry images.
Features
The Panasonic FZ300 has all the usual bells and whistles, with most of the usual suspects like Wifi, burst modes, auto modes, scene modes, and various physical controls (most of which we detailed in the design section above). Some of the features are much less common on sub-$1,000 cameras, such as weather sealing, 4K video, and Panasonic's 4K photo burst modes.
The FZ300's dustproofing and splashproofing, especially, sets it apart from other point-and-shoots in its class. While you can't take it for a swim, it will survive piña coladas and getting caught in the rain. It's important to point out that the camera is not sealed against all debris, so it's very easy to get dirt and things like sand stuck in the moving parts—especially the telescoping lens. That'll ruin the camera pretty quickly, so beware.
As we mentioned in the performance section, the 4K video is sharper than 1080p video, but it otherwise isn't much better than your average point-and-shoot. It does allow you to use Panasonic's 4K photo mode, however. This allows you to capture 8MP images in a few different ways: The 4K Burst (30fps) captures images while the shutter is held down; The 4K Burst Start/Stop starts capturing once you've pressed the shutter release and stops when you press it again; Finally, the 4K Pre-Burst captures images before and after you've pressed the shutter release, perfect for times when you aren't sure when to fire.
The built-in WiFi is also worth calling out. It allows you to shoot remotely or share images via your smartphone. Simply connect with Panasonic's Image App and you'll have access to all of your camera's controls. This is useful for shooting in tough to reach areas or capturing images that you need to be in–such as a family photo.
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