Panasonic FZ300 as outdoors camera December 2017

FZ300 at (equivalent) 600mm. 

I use an indoors/outdoors paradigm for  choosing cameras. I hate changing lenses so ILCs are off my menu.

For mainly outdoor use enthusiast photographers are likely to be drawn to the Sony RX10 Mk4, Panasonic FZ1000 or FZ2500. Each of these cameras uses a version of the Sony “one inch” (15.9mm diagonal) sensor for very good image quality in a wide variety of conditions.

Cameras with the much smaller “1/2.3 inch” (diagonal 7.67mm) sensor get much less attention from reviewers and  users posting on forums.

However I have been using cameras with this sensor size quite extensively over the last few years and come to realise that with thoughtful use at the point of image capture and in post processing of RAW output, the better models can make surprisingly good pictures.

Good enough in fact to make very nice looking large prints, certainly up to the maximum size which a 17 inch (432mm) printer can make.

Having owned and tested all those which enable RAW output I have found that the best current model camera using the 7.67mm sensor is the Panasonic FZ300.

This camera manages to fit an (equivalent) 25-600mm constant f2.8 lens into a compact body with good ergonomics and performance at a very attractive price point.

What’s not to like ?

The main thing is a level of luminance noise greater than that seen in cameras with larger sensors at any comparable ISO sensitivity setting. There is usually also less dynamic range (highlight and shadow detail when subject brightness range is high) from the smaller sensors.  

But I will let you into a little secret. Noise levels which seem excessive when an image is viewed at 100% on a high resolution monitor are much less apparent when the picture is printed out. Luminance noise (grain) is noticeably less apparent and also less obtrusive in a print than in an image viewed on screen.

At 600mm.  In the original I can read the sign "Welcome aboard" above the entry way. Not bad for a budget camera, hand held on a sunny/hazy spring day with significant atmospheric distortion.

600mm, AFC and Burst-M at about 5 fps. No problem with follow focus on moving subjects.

There are often lots of helicopters flying about over Sydney harbour. I can reconfigure the camera from single shot to burst with follow focus in about 4 seconds.

In another 4 seconds I can reconfigure the camera to close up settings without the need for any additional equipment and get decent photos without needing a tripod.