Panasonic LUMIX DMC-FZ300
Camera Summary:
What I like (and use):
- 12.1 megapixel, 24x zoom capability
- F2.8 to F8 aperture across full zoom range
- Can half click shutter button to preview shot, including exposure/filters
- Dustproof/Splashproof Body
- Allows me to shoot in light rain/snow/dust
- 4K Video and 4k Burst Mode
- Impressive Macro Focus
- 3 Inch Display (Dual Axis)
- 1040k Dot
- External Microphone Jack and hot shoe
What Could be Better?:
- Low Light Performance
- Noticeable noise at ISOs above 800
- Due to small 1/2.3″ sensor
- Better low light performance than most phones
- Video stabilization
- Not bad for the price (5-way stabilization)
- Does not compare to higher-end cameras
- Slight jitter at 60fps
- Non-Removable Lens
Price: Amazon
Do I Recommend It?: YES
The FZ300’s rugged design has allowed me to take pictures in miserable conditions. Bad weather is no longer an excuse to stay home. Its 24x zoom capability makes it great for nature and street photography, and its aperture range is F2.8-F8 across its zoom, allowing for focused telephoto shots. The FZ300 has a shutter speed ranging from 60s to 1/4000s (up to 1/16000s with the electronic shutter). This allows users to catch animals, cars, and shifty people in action. These features also make it much easier to get the right exposure for your shot. Aside from photography, it can also be used for 4K video; a feature usually reserved for pricey cameras. Another high-end feature is its dual axis tilt display. These qualities make it a great vlogging camera. The FZ300’s biggest downside is its nighttime performance, which is not much better than a phone camera. However, depending on the user, its zoom and 4K video make may make this a worthy trade-off. Overall, it is one of the most versatile cameras I have had to fortune to work with.
Who Should Buy It?:
This camera is great for both nature photographers and street photographers. Its high shutter speed and fast aperture make it possible to get clear, focused shots of birds and breakdancers. If you like shooting in dust or inclement weather conditions, this camera is for you. I have journeyed through snowstorms and windy days at the beach with it. Ultimately, I took more of a beating than the camera. I would also recommend the FZ300 for beginners who are undecided between a camera for stills or video. It is quite affordable and is decent at both. It’s also is also a great starter camera for those who don’t want to invest in several lenses. (See Do I Need a Fancy Camera?) I would not recommend this camera for low light (after sundown) shots or for use in dark interiors since there are better cameras for this. If you need to do this with the FZ300, you should use an external light source, such as a window, its pop-up flash, a reflector, or artificial lighting.
My Experience
There are hundreds of websites providing technical reviews for this camera, so I’m not going to bore you with the specs (Panasonic’s official specs). I have laid out its key features above. What I hope to accomplish is provide you with my personal experience with the camera, and show you how I use it. Before I begin, I must mention that this camera has been my sidekick for two years, so I am slightly biased towards it. I have learned to make it work for my needs, including getting past its shortcomings.
Since this is my main camera, most of the shots on this site were taken using the FZ300. For daytime outdoor shots, the image quality is great. As you can see, the images are quite clear and noise free at low ISOs. The F2.8 aperture through the full zoom range allows you to let more light in and get the right exposure. Here are some unedited daytime shots at 100 ISO.
I think the FZ300 captures a nice range of colors, and with post-processing, you can really make these images pop (especially if you shoot in RAW). For some examples of lightly edited work done with this camera, you can see this post I made earlier.
As I mentioned before, this camera is dustproof and splashproof. It let me shoot in the middle of a snowstorm, and it was impervious to salt and sand.
Rough, ain’t it?
With one minute of editing…
Now that we’ve gotten the positives out of the way, let’s look at some of the FZ300’s drawbacks and how I work around them. The main issues I’ve had with the camera is shooting after dusk and indoors. If I need to bump the ISO above 800, there is noticeable noise. Due to this fact, shoot mostly in good light. Here are some handheld shots I took at higher ISOs.
ISO 800, 1/250s, F2.8
ISO 1600, 1/60s, F2.8
ISO 5000, 1/60s, F2.8 (Blur due to low shutter speed)
As you can see, the images get progressively noisier, but the first two are quite usable. However, if you use a tripod, you can decrease the shutter speed, allowing more light for your shots. I would recommend shooting in raw so that you can filter some noise out.
There are several ways that I shoot in less than ideal lighting conditions. If I really had to get a picture, I would switch to black and white and shoot with the camera’s built-in flash. I usually try to make use of artificial light sources if I can. This allows me to bump up the ISO without getting color noise, and it also makes the images look less washed out. To B&W graininess is more aesthetically pleasing than color noise.
Some examples from this post
The final aspect that should be covered is the FZ300s video capabilities. I am in no way a video specialist or vlogger, but I have made videos with this camera in the past. The video quality was decent, and the stabilization wasn’t too shabby. However, there is slight jitter when filming 60 fps, but it wasn’t a huge problem. The dual axis tilt screen makes it easy to get the right shot, and it has a hot shoe for a microphone. Here is an example, but keep in mind that this video was compressed and reduced from 60fps to 30 fps in order to post to this site.
Conclusions
The FZ300 has an admirable range. It is perfect for daytime nature and street photography, and it’s a decent video camera as well. Its dual axis display feature is a must-have for anyone getting creative with their shots. Its durable design allows you to work in extreme environments without worrying about moisture or dust. However, its low light performance is lacking. In the end, it all depends on your needs and standards, but it works for me.
It is my goal to make honest reviews of all products, and I am in no way paid or sponsored by their makers. I only recommend products that have truly helped me. If you decide to purchase this or another product through my Amazon link, I receive a small compensation at no cost to you. Your purchases help to keep this website going. Thank you for giving my humble site the time of day.