Panasonic Lumix DC-FZ1000 II Panasonic - Review 🏆

The Panasonic Lumix DC-FZ1000 II is a premium bridge camera with an impressive feature set. It has a 20.1MP 1-inch MOS sensor combined with a versatile Leica DC Vario-Elmarit 16x optical zoom lens, which provides a focal range of 25-400mm (35mm equivalent). Some of the key features and specs include:

• 20.1MP 1-inch High Sensitivity MOS sensor
• Leica DC Vario-Elmarit f/2.8-4 zoom lens with 16x optical zoom (25-400mm)
• 4K video recording (QFHD 4K: 3840 x 2160)
• 12 fps continuous shooting with autofocus
• DFD autofocus system
• OLED Live View Finder with 2.36M dots
• 3-inch tilting touchscreen LCD with 1.24M dots
• Built-in WiFi and Bluetooth
• USB charging and power delivery support

This bridge camera aims to deliver excellent image quality, fast performance, and a versatile zoom range in a relatively compact body. It's designed for enthusiasts and pros looking for a lightweight do-it-all camera for travel and everyday shooting.

Design

The Panasonic Lumix DC-FZ1000 II has an excellent physical design and build quality. The body is constructed from high-quality plastic with a textured grip, providing a sturdy yet lightweight feel. Despite its large 1-inch sensor, the overall size is quite compact at 136.8mm x 97.3mm x 131.7mm and weighs just 810g.

The contoured handgrip makes it very comfortable to hold, with intuitive button placement for easy operation. There are plenty of dials and controls, including a manual zoom lever, giving a DSLR-like experience. The buttons have a high-quality feel and provide satisfying tactile feedback when pressed.

Overall, the physical design is very well executed. The FZ1000 II feels like a premium quality camera, with a sensible control layout that provides an enjoyable shooting experience. The compact body size paired with robust build quality makes this an ideal bridge camera for travel and everyday use. For an even more compact option, you might consider the Panasonic Lumix TZ200. This model offers a smaller form factor while still featuring impressive specs and build quality, making it highly portable for on-the-go photography.

Image Quality

The Panasonic Lumix DC-FZ1000 II features a 20.1 megapixel 1-inch high sensitivity MOS sensor, which is large for a bridge camera. This enables the camera to capture excellent levels of detail and perform well in low light.

The image processing engine does a great job of minimizing noise while retaining fine details up to mid-range ISO settings. Images are crisp with vivid colors straight from the camera. Dynamic range is also good, providing flexibility when post-processing RAW files.

In terms of low light performance, the FZ1000 II performs admirably thanks to its relatively large sensor size. Noise control is excellent through ISO 1600 with some slight noise and loss of fine details becoming noticeable at ISO 3200. However, images remain very usable. At the highest ISO settings of 12800 and 25600, heavy noise reduction leads to greater loss of fine details and some mottling effects. But the camera remains surprisingly capable in extremely low light conditions.

Overall, the 1-inch sensor in the FZ1000 II delivers excellent image quality for a bridge camera, matching or exceeding the performance of some DSLRs. Enthusiast and professional photographers will appreciate the quality and level of control provided.

Another notable product is the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ2000, which also features a 1-inch sensor and offers an impressive 20x optical zoom. This model enhances video recording capabilities with support for 4K video and V-Log L recording, making it a versatile option for both photographers and videographers. With improved autofocus and a robust build, it caters to enthusiasts looking for an all-in-one solution.

Video Quality

The Panasonic Lumix DC-FZ1000 II captures high-quality video in a range of resolutions and frame rates. The camera can shoot 4K video at up to 30fps, providing crisp and detailed footage. You can also shoot Full HD 1080p video at up to 60fps for smooth, high resolution footage.

For 4K video, the FZ1000 II uses MP4 compression with the H.264 codec. When shooting Full HD, you have the choice of recording in either MP4 or AVCHD formats. The AVCHD option allows for higher bitrates up to 28Mbps compared to 24Mbps for MP4, resulting in better video quality overall.

A key advantage of the FZ1000 II is the ability to record 4K video with full sensor readout and no pixel binning. This results in higher resolution 4K footage with more accurate colors and improved dynamic range compared to cameras that skip lines or pixels when recording 4K. Slow motion video is also possible in Full HD at up to 120fps.

Overall, the FZ1000 II provides an excellent range of video capabilities for enthusiasts or amateur videographers looking for high quality footage and extensive video controls. The combination of 4K resolution, Full HD at high frame rates, and flexible compression options make this a very capable hybrid camera for both stills and video.

Autofocus

The Panasonic Lumix DC-FZ1000 II has an impressive autofocus system with Depth from Defocus technology. It utilizes 225 focus areas for quick and precise focusing. The autofocus is very fast and accurate in both still photos and videos.

For still photos, it can achieve focus in around 0.09 seconds. The autofocus is reliable even in low light conditions. It can accurately track and stay focused on moving subjects. This makes it great for action shots and wildlife photography.

For video recording, the continuous autofocus works smoothly without any pulsing or hunting. It provides consistent focus transitions when switching between subjects at different distances. The autofocus tracking is also highly effective when filming moving subjects. Overall, the autofocus capabilities make this an excellent bridge camera for both stills and video.

Features

The Lumix DC-FZ1000 II has an impressive array of features for both photo and video shooting. It offers a variety of shooting modes including aperture priority, shutter priority, manual, and full auto for flexibility. The burst shooting speed reaches 12fps with AF-C, allowing you to capture fast action. 5-axis hybrid O.I.S+ stabilization provides up to 5 stops of compensation for sharp images even when handholding the camera.

Built-in WiFi and Bluetooth allow wireless image transfer and remote control from smartphones or tablets using the Panasonic Image App. The camera has USB charging capability via the USB port which is very convenient when travelling. Other handy features include 4K live cropping to stabilize footage in post, HDR photo mode, focus stacking, time lapse and stop motion animation modes.

Lens

The Lumix DC-FZ1000 II comes with a Leica DC Vario-Elmarit 16x optical zoom lens, which provides a very versatile focal range of 25-400mm (35mm equivalent). This allows you to capture wide landscape shots, get close with telephoto, and everything in between.

With a bright f/2.8-4 maximum aperture, the lens lets in plenty of light for shooting in low-light conditions. Image quality remains sharp and detailed across the zoom range. Chromatic aberration is also well controlled.

The lens incorporates Panasonic's Power O.I.S stabilization, which does an excellent job reducing camera shake for crisp handheld shots. 5-axis hybrid O.I.S+ stabilization further enhances video recording.

Overall, the lens produces images with excellent edge-to-edge sharpness, minimal distortion, and beautiful bokeh when shooting wide open. It's a versatile high-quality lens well-suited for travel and everyday use.

Connectivity

The Panasonic Lumix DC-FZ1000 II offers a solid set of connectivity options. In terms of ports, it has micro HDMI and USB 2.0 Micro-B ports. For wireless connectivity, the camera has both Bluetooth and WiFi built-in.

The Bluetooth allows for easy pairing with smartphones and tablets for image transfer. It uses Bluetooth Low Energy technology for smooth connections.

The WiFi gives you additional flexibility for transferring images as well as remote control capabilities. You can use the free Panasonic Image App to connect your mobile device to the FZ1000 II via WiFi. This allows you to view images, remotely control the camera, and transfer files. The WiFi signal is quite reliable and pairs quickly with NFC-enabled devices.

Overall, the connectivity options on the FZ1000 II allow for flexible wireless image transfers and remote shooting. The ports and wireless capabilities make it easy to get your photos off the camera and onto other devices.

Battery

The Panasonic Lumix DC-FZ1000 II has excellent battery life, thanks to its 1250mAh lithium ion battery. On a full charge, you can expect to take around 440 shots per charge using the rear LCD, or 400 shots per charge when using the electronic viewfinder. This battery life is significantly better than most other bridge superzoom cameras, allowing you to shoot all day without worrying about running out of juice.

Charging the FZ1000 II is easy with the included AC adaptor and USB cable. Simply plug the AC adaptor into a wall outlet and connect the USB cable from the adaptor to the camera's micro USB port. This will fully charge the battery in approximately 2 hours. The camera can also be charged via USB by connecting it to a computer or USB power bank, though charging will be significantly slower. Overall the FZ1000 II offers versatile charging options and impressive battery efficiency for such a versatile bridge camera.

Summary

The Panasonic Lumix DC-FZ1000 II is an excellent bridge camera that offers a lot for both photo and video enthusiasts. Here's a quick rundown of the pros and cons:

Pros:

• Large 1-inch 20MP sensor provides great image quality
• Fast autofocus and burst shooting up to 12 fps
• Versatile 16X zoom lens with big aperture (F2.8-4)
• Excellent 4K video and mic input for vlogging
• Great EVF and vari-angle touchscreen
• Numerous shooting modes and manual controls
• Bluetooth and WiFi for easy photo transfer and remote control

Cons:

• No weather sealing
• Mediocre battery life
• No built-in flash
• Bulky and heavy body

Overall, the FZ1000 II delivers excellent photo and video quality in a versatile bridge camera design. It's a great choice for enthusiasts looking for an all-in-one camera with plenty of controls and lens reach. While not perfect, it provides tremendous value at this price point.

Final Verdict: 4/5 stars