FZ1000 Tripod. The buildings on the hill are 6 kilometers from the camera. The sun set 15 minutes ago. I was easily able to focus manually in the EVF with peaking assist. |
The
FZ1000 was announced in June 2014. I bought one when it became available in
Australia and it soon became my preferred camera for almost everything.
I regard the FZ1000 as the most versatile and overall
most capable single piece of photographic equipment I have ever owned and I am
very fussy about picture quality, performance and ergonomics.
I was so happy to be rid of the burden of having to
change lenses that I sold all my interchangeable lens cameras (ILC) and lenses
and have never regretted doing so.
Panasonic really put everything they had into the
FZ1000. It is made in Japan, has an excellent ‘one inch’ (15.9mm diagonal)
sensor made by Sony, very good picture quality capable of very big enlargement,
an excellent 16x zoom lens, very good performance with the new DFD autofocus,
very good ergonomics and 4K video as a bonus.
These days so many cameras, particularly from Canon
and Nikon (but others too) are made to
fit a price hierarchy structure. As a result entry and intermediate models lack
features which could easily be included, presumably to encourage the buyer to
move up to a higher price point thereby realising more profit for the maker.
But Panasonic loaded the FZ1000 camera with every feature, function
and capability they could, thereby producing a really excellent product which
is a pleasure to use. It is also offered at a remarkably low price point. I think that the lens alone, if it were
supplied on a mount for an ILC would cost as much as the entire FZ1000 camera.
FZ1000 Canberra |
It
seems to me that the FZ1000 continues to suffer from
a lack of understanding by the market, resulting in modest sales rankings.
Today it ranks #71 in the Amazon ‘Point and Shoot’
list. All the cameras ahead of it are less expensive and some considerably so,
but they are also less well specified, most substantially so.
In my view the FZ1000 is not appropriately regarded as
a ‘point and shoot’ or a ‘compact’ or a ‘bridge’ camera.
It is a FZLC (fixed zoom lens camera) of considerable
capability, able to replace an entry or upper entry DSLR or MILC and a bag full
of lenses.
My research with mockups has demonstrated to my
satisfaction that if well designed (some cameras this shape are poorly
designed) the ‘humptop’ SLR shape with
handle, Mode Dial and Control Dial used
by the FZ1000 provides the best ergonomics and user experience.
Comments I read in online forums suggest that many
camera users lump the FZ1000 in with small sensor superzooms and travel zooms,
not realising that it is in a different class with regard to picture
quality and performance.
It is my impression from the forums that many
camera users are simply unable to believe that the FZ1000 is as good as it
really is. So they keep on buying entry level CanoNikon DSLRs which are less
expensive (with standard 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 kit lens) but also much less capable
and versatile.
I think Panasonic’s marketing people need to do more
to correct this apparent misconception.
They have produced a ground breaking product which is not getting the
market attention it deserves.
The
FZ1000 is the first
‘all in one’ FZLC which has allowed me with confidence to divest myself of all
my ILC gear. As such it has been very influential in my life. I now set forth
on photo expeditions with just one piece of equipment in a compact Lowe Pro
Apex 110 bag. I return home with
excellent photos or if not excellent the fault lies with me, not the camera.
FZ1000 Skulpcha Kulcha by the C |
Picture
Quality I tested the
FZ1000 against a Panasonic GH4 with 12-35mm f2.8, 35-100mm f2.8 and 100-300mm
lenses.
Overall the FZ1000 delivered slightly more resolution
and detail at most focal lengths than the
3 lens Micro 4/3 combination which cost 4 times as much.
The GH4 had about half to two thirds of an EV step
less noise at ISO 6400 than the FZ1000.
I found that my M43 cameras and the LX100 which uses a
cropped 4/3 sensor have slightly more highlight detail in some conditions than
the FZ1000.
Current M43 cameras are reported by DXO Mark to have
more dynamic range than the FZ1000 but in practice this is not a limiting
factor for photo results.
The FZ1000 uses (I believe, Panasonic is ridiculously
unforthcoming about this) the same 20 Mpx Sony ‘back side illuminated’ ‘one
inch’ 15.9mm diagonal sensor as the Sony RX100 Mk 2 and 3 and the Sony RX10.
The Sony technology appears to be effective in
extracting a level of imaging performance from the smaller sensor which is
almost equal to the best available 21.5mm 4/3 sensors and even some Canon 27mm
APS-C sensors.
Performance The FZ1000 responds quickly to all user
inputs. Shot to shot times are almost as fast as I can move my right index
finger up and down on the shutter release button. Single shot AF is fast and
accurate. The camera can follow focus on moving subjects with a high level of
accuracy, making it suitable for outdoor sports. Indoor sports are a little
more challenging but still possible.
Manual focus with peaking is accurate and easy to use.
The zoom lens allows the camera to switch seamlessly
from telephoto to wide angle to close ups with no need for extra equipment.
There is a built in flash always ready to use.
Some features of the FZ1000 and the FZLC genre in
general are of considerable benefit but not particularly obvious in the
specification sheet.
One of these is the diaphragm type leaf shutter. This
is almost silent in operation, allows flash synch at all shutter speeds up to
1/4000 second and never causes shutter shock.
I was reading some forum comments about the newly
announced Panasonic G7 yesterday. There was much chat about whether the focal
plane shutter in this camera (and almost all ILCs) had electronic first curtain
and/or whether E-Shutter is available.
All this reminded me that when I was using a GH4 with
the 14-140mm lens I had to use the E-Shutter in general photography to prevent
shutter shock, then switch to the mechanical shutter with sport/action/moving
subjects with shutter speed above 1/400 sec to avoid the ‘rolling shutter’
effect then switch on ‘shutter delay’ with slow speeds on tripod to prevent
shutter shock.
I found all this a complete pain and am disappointed
to see that the same rigmarole will apparently blight operation of the G7.
With the FZ1000 I have no need to be concerned about
all this hocus pocus with shutter types.
The leaf shutter works for everything unless I want
completely silent operation or a shutter speed of 1/16000 second (which I have
never done) in which case E-Shutter is available.
I note in passing that the FZ1000 Operating
Instructions, Page 164, indicate that
normal operation of the leaf shutter involves electronic start and
mechanical end to all exposures.
Ergonomics
Holding The handle and thumb support are substantial and mostly well shaped, but see
my suggestions for improvement below.
The camera is easily carried by the handle.
Viewing
The excellent monitor is fully articulating which is optimal. The EVF is
excellent, large and sharp with fast refresh rate.
The user can segue seamlessly from monitor to EVF
maintaining the same view with the same camera data.
Few cameras provide a better viewing experience.
Operating It is easy to adjust primary and secondary
exposure and focussing parameters while looking continuously through the
viewfinder without releasing grip on the camera with either hand.
Excellent. Not many cameras can match
this. The FZ1000 is a very nice camera
to operate.
Could
Panasonic improve the FZ1000 ? Yes, of course, but I must say they got this
one right in almost every substantive respect.
The cutaway shape of the thumb support is a bit odd
and should be reshaped. There is a pressure point on the upper surface of my
right third finger when I hold the handle. This could benefit from a mild
reshape. People with smaller hands might not notice this.
Other things would include improved sensor performance
as and when technology permits and improved follow focus on fast moving
subjects, also as and when technology permits.
Maybe more advanced lens making technology could
provide a longer zoom range and/or wider aperture.
One specific feature of the FZ1000 (and several other Panasonic cameras) really bugs me. If I am making a series of photos of a subject and press the Playback button mid way through the series to review the results, the camera waits some time, usually about 10-15 seconds then retracts the lens to the startup position. This is irritating as I then have to re zoom and re focus the shot. Panasonic should get rid of this annoying and apparently pointless behaviour or at least offer an option in the menus to disable it.
One specific feature of the FZ1000 (and several other Panasonic cameras) really bugs me. If I am making a series of photos of a subject and press the Playback button mid way through the series to review the results, the camera waits some time, usually about 10-15 seconds then retracts the lens to the startup position. This is irritating as I then have to re zoom and re focus the shot. Panasonic should get rid of this annoying and apparently pointless behaviour or at least offer an option in the menus to disable it.
Summary With the FZ1000 Panasonic has produced a game
changing camera which takes the Fixed Zoom Lens category to new levels of
versatility and capability.
I checked listings before posting this but I was
unable to find any [ILC+one lens] combination or FZLC providing equal picture
quality plus 16x f2.8-4.0 lens from any
maker at any price/size/mass point.
Some FZLCs with smaller sensors better the zoom specs
but lack the picture quality.
Some DSLRs and MILCs have better high ISO picture
quality but have a smaller aperture zoom
and are heavier and more expensive.
None of them puts together a package to match the
FZ1000.
I think the FZ1000 represents the dawn of a new era in
camera design, capability and versatility.
The 20th Century’s way of providing multiple focal lengths was interchangeable
lenses.
The 21st Century’s way is a fixed high tech
zoom lens with multiple aspheric elements.
I hope we will see competitors for the FZ1000 from
other makers. This might raise awareness in people who sell and buy cameras
about the benefits of a modern FZLC and promote development of the genre.
Thanks for your excellent objective review of the FZ100.
ReplyDeleteHave you used the izoom feature which Panasonic claims can double the zoom and still result in good images?
If so would appreciate your comments. Thanks
http://cameraergonomics.blogspot.com.au/2014/09/fz1000-extra-zoom-options.html
ReplyDeleteHi Victor, The link above refers to this issue. Thanks for the feedback
Andrew
Thank for all the information on fz1000 it has really helped....
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with your assessment of this groundbreaking camera. It's an incredible value for all the features and convenience it packs.
ReplyDeleteAndrew what are your recommended settings for Sharpness, contrast, etc. for the FZ1000? You had posted them before but I cant seem to find them. I remember sharpness was -5.
ReplyDeleteI am interested to know what software/editing program you use...
ReplyDeletecarole
HI Carole, I use Adobe Photoshop.
ReplyDeleteAndrew
A good article on the FZ1000. I fully agree with your assessment; except that the grip is perfect for my large hands with short fingers. I bought mine in March, 2015; and like you, have not used an interchangeable lens camera since. In testing, I found the FZ1000 gave about 10% higher resolution than a Canon 70D or 80D with the 18-135 IS or 70-300 IS lenses after they were calibrated for AF Micro Adjust. I also bought the Canon G7X II to have a pocketable equivalent. It shows the same resolution as the FZ1000.
ReplyDelete