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Wednesday, 6 August 2014

Panasonic FZ1000 Introduction


Evening scene Sydney. FZ1000, tripod. I shot the same scene last year on GH3 with 35-100mm f2.8 lens mounted. On my assessment this is the best zoom lens for the M43 system. The FZ1000 image matches it for resolution of fine detail across most of the frame except the edges and corners but even there it is very close. In the original file on screen I can read all the words on the signs on the expressway overpasses.
 
Is this the best fixed zoom lens camera of all time ?
Is the FZ1000 the beginning of the end for the ILC ?
I started using cameras 60 years ago. For most of that time I have used  interchangeable lens cameras (ILC) because that has been the way to decent performance with a range of lens focal lengths. But the least appealing and least ergonomically satisfactory feature of an ILC is the process of changing lenses. I hate changing lenses. I hate having to buy and carry a bunch of lenses. The whole business is complicated, awkward and expensive. When a photo op. appears I invariably have the wrong lens mounted.
I really want  an "all in one" camera which has a fixed zoom lens providing a wide range of focal lengths together with good enough picture quality and performance.
Many users   want the same thing. Most DSLR buyers mount some kind of zoom lens, often a "travel zoom" type at purchase and leave it in place permanently. Camera makers have tried to meet the need for a more compact approach to the problem.  Thus we have fixed travel zoom lens cameras and fixed superzoom lens cameras in various configurations.
But there have been  problems with each of  these interpretations of  the ideal "do everything" camera.
Long zoom lenses on DSLRs are quite large, heavy and expensive. Similar zooms for the Micro Four Thirds system are smaller but still have limitations on focal length range if compact dimensions are to be maintained.  Long zoom lenses on compacts without an EVF look good on paper but are very difficult to hold steady at the long end of the zoom. Superzooms with an EVF have until now all had very small sensors which compromise picture quality.
Recent advances in technology  have allowed  the use of many high quality aspheric elements in lens design. This has enabled the development of smaller lenses with a high zoom range.  Small sensors are improving every year.
The Sony RX10  released last year utilised these new technologies to create an advanced, modern version of the "all purpose" camera with the picture quality, performance, lens focal length range and maximum aperture of a good quality ILC with two high performance interchangeable lenses.  All this came on the market in a package much smaller and less expensive than the equivalent ILC with twin f2.8 lens kit.
As is often the case Sony was first to market with this new style camera. Unfortunately as is also often the case Sony's ergonomic design was less than optimal so I passed on the RX10 and  waited for a more coherently realised version on the same theme. In due course this appeared in the form of the..... 
Lumix FZ1000,  the latest do everything wunderkamera from Panasonic.  This uses the same or very similar 15.86mm (diagonal dimension), back illuminated, 20Mpx sensor as the RX10, possibly the Sony IMX183CQ.
But the FZ1000 wraps a more appealing package around the sensor at a substantially lower initial price. The FZ1000 has almost double the zoom range, better ergonomics, faster performance and 4K video.
I found this irresistible so I bought one and am very pleased that I did so.
The FZ1000 comes close to the camera I have been wanting for the last 60 years.
It is the first  "one module" camera to make me think very hard about selling off all my ILC equipment, bodies and lenses. It's that good and I am fussy about picture quality and performance.
I think the FZ1000 really does represent the beginning of the end for the ILC as a camera genre. I believe it easily meets the requirements of most camera users, including expert/enthusiast types,  in most situations most of the time. I believe that for all but professional users it makes the ILC redundant.
Followers of this blog will be reading a lot about the FZ1000 in coming months.

 

 

10 comments:

  1. I too hate changing lenses. In fact I dislike it so much that I instead took two cameras with me on a recent vacation in Nova Scotia. The Oly EM1 with 12-40 took about 70%-80% of my images and the older and smaller EM5 with kit 40-150 took the remaining pictures. Of course, that still doesn't meet the range of the FZ1000, but I don't think I had more than one or two images that would have been better with more than the 300mm-equiv from the 40-150. Nevertheless, I am following the FZ1000 reviews closely and look forward to more of your excellent and unique reports.

    Peter F.

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  2. I understand the logic of your post about the end of the ILC. However, for most people, cameras are tools to capture a subject in the circumstances where it occurs. The FZ1000 appears to be effective for a much wider range of conditions than the Panasonic FZ50 bridge camera I still own. However, I don't think that the FZ1000 will be fully effective for macro/closeups or for wildlife photos at more than 400mm eq. focal length.

    Once the FZ1000's price sinks a bit, it may be an attractive alternative to entry level DSLRs with kit lenses.

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  3. Andrew -- I just purchased an FZ1000 and set it up largely according to your excellent and detailed suggestions. I have used it for one outing and have been very pleased except for my concern that I might have a defective EVF.

    At the default brightness setting is is barely usable outdoors in bright sun (I live in California). At the highest brightness setting it is barely usable. In contrast, my wife has an Olympus Stylus-1; its EVF is entirely usable in bright sun at its default setting. Do you have any thoughts on this? Thanks.

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  4. I purchased a panasonic fz1000. I have a question.

    Can I leave the macro always active? I ask this question because I realized that if I can not take the picture off close, but if it is active I always have the full range available and then macros and canvases without limits for each situation. What I do not know is that if you leave the macro always active, this may compromise the photos taken with the canvas or may wear out some component of the camera.
    In short, is there any reason why I should disable the macro?

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  5. HI Galaxy, When Macro is on the lens can focus closer than when macro is off. For general photography this is not required and can result in the lens ranging back and forth more than necessary when focus is difficult to acquire. This could in some conditions slow down the process of acquiring correct focus. I doubt any harm would be done.
    Andrew

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    Replies
    1. Thank you very much for your reply. You have been very kind. I would like to ask you another question: do you know if this camera has an internal battery for clock and date? I am very worried about it because on an old Fuji I got out of corrosive liquid and damaged the motherboard. Since this FZ1000 is really beautiful, I would not want one day to happen the same thing. I hope Panasonic has put a modern "supercap" in place of the traditional internally welded lithium battery. I tried and I saw several photos of the FZ1000 open, but I could not identify where the lithium battery is welded for clock and date. sorry for my English.

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  6. HI, Yes the FZ1000 has an internal battery for storing data when the replaceable battery is removed. All digital cameras need one. I have not heard any reports of problems with Panasonic ones.
    Andrew

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    Replies
    1. Hi Andrew

      I see you active on this blog. Could you please if you know the details I asked on my below post. which is -

      Thanks in advance.

      -----------

      I have purchased FZ1000 recently and looking for option in camera to embed Date and Time in JEPG pictures.

      Does anyone know if we have this option in FZ1000.
      ----------

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  7. Hi,

    I have purchased FZ1000 recently and looking for option in camera to embed Date and Time in JEPG pictures.

    Does anyone know if we have this option in FZ1000.

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  8. Hi, All digital cameras have this info in the EXIF data which is part of the image file. All you have to do is set the camera's clock correctly.
    Andrew

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