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Wednesday, 31 July 2024

Panasonic Lumix FZ300 End of production retrospective 1 August 2024

 

All photos Lumix FZ300


As I write this in  early August 2024 the Panasonic Lumix FZ300 is listed on B&H Photo in New York as “discontinued” and is either not listed or selling at run-out prices elsewhere.

The type of camera which most appeals to me for its all-round versatility and do-most-things-in-one-package capability is the bridge camera.

And my all time favourite bridge camera is the Panasonic Lumix FZ300.

Panasonic’s first offering in the FZxxx series of bridge cameras was the FZ100 of 2010. This set the general concept and design which has continued through the line. The FZ100 had most of the ingredients of subsequent models, including a DSLR style shape with full handle, EVF in a hump over the lens axis, a fully articulated monitor screen, small 7.7mm diagonal sensor with a moderate (12-14 Mpx) pixel count, 4:3 aspect ratio and a 25-600mm (full frame equivalent) f2.8-5.2 power zoom lens of good quality.

The FZ150 of 2011 was an improved version of the FZ100 with a better sensor and performance.

The FZ200 of 2012 introduced an improved body design and controls, a new 12Mpx sensor and a new Leica designed 4.5-108mm constant f2.8 lens (full frame equivalent 25-600mm). The FZ200 gained a near-cult following among bridge camera users who understand the benefits of this remarkable lens.

I can find no listing of any other camera with such a lens, making the FZ200 and FZ300 the only cameras ever offered with a 25-600mm (equivalent) constant  f2.8 lens.

The FZ300, introduced in 2015, uses the same sensor and lens as the FZ200 in an upgraded body with weather sealing and improved handling and controls.

I believe the nine year production run of the FZ300 may be the longest in digital camera history. I have trawled through  camera listings on the Digital Photography Review website but am unable to locate any model from any maker with a longer production run.

A long production run means buyers continued to put up their cash to purchase the product which means that the product itself continued to offer something worth buying for a long period of time.

So, what does the FZ300 get right ?

The answer to that is: just about everything it could get right, given the sensor size and basic concept.  The only issue about which I would complain is inconsistent quality control of the lens with a disappointingly high level of sample variation. The best ones are really very good at all focal lengths across the frame at f2.8. The worst samples are not good and some are unacceptable.

Imagine a small camera with width and height barely greater then some compacts, but with a 25-600mm (equivalent) constant f2.8 lens, good image quality, good ergonomics and good performance at a budget price. That describes the FZ300 which also has robust construction, very good image stabiliser, good EVF and good fully articulated touchscreen.

I have been making photos for 70 years. For most of that time I used 35mm film cameras. I rate the FZ300 as having a level of image quality about the same as that of 35mm film with a good prime lens. Some may doubt this but I have many 35mm negatives and transparencies in my personal photo library for direct comparison with recent photos made with various digital cameras.

So if the FZ300 is so good, why has it been discontinued ?

As usual the manufacturer has nothing to say about this so we are left to speculate. Maybe the sensor is no longer available, maybe sales have declined to an uneconomic level,  Maybe budget conscious consumers are more attracted to the superzoom lens numbers of the Lumix FZ80/80D and Canon SX70.  Maybe, maybe.

Is the not-very-new FZ80D intended as a replacement for both the much unloved FZ80 and the FZ300. Who knows ?

Us mere consumers might imagine that it would be good marketing practice for Panasonic to communicate their product development intentions to us, but no such luck unfortunately. I have never understood why camera makers (it’s not just Panasonic) maintain this frustrating code of silence about their plans.

Here are some pictures taken with the FZ300 to celebrate the end of this model which actually is unique as no other camera model has the same or even similar feature set.

 












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