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Panasonic Lumix FZ2000 (FZ2500) Expert Review - Verdict

Item: Panasonic Lumix FZ2000 (FZ2500)
Rating: 4.5
Author: Joshua Waller

Value For Money

The Panasonic Lumix FZ2000 is available for £1039, which makes it quite expensive compared to the FZ1000, however, if you compare it to the Panasonic Lumix GH4R body only at £939, then the FZ2000 represents quite good value for money. Alternatives to look at include the following ultra zoom cameras with a 1inch sensor:

Panasonic Lumix FZ1000 - 16x, 12fps, EVF, vari-angle screen, 4K video, £629
Panasonic Lumix FZ2000 - 20x, 12fps, EVF, vari-angle screen, CINE/4K video, £1039
Sony Cyber-shot RX100 III - 25x, 14fps, EVF, tilting screen, 4K video, £1399
Canon Powershot G3 X - 25x, 5.9fps, no EVF, tilting screen, FullHD video, £599

You could also have a look at other ultra-zoom cameras in our Top 10 Ultra Zoom Bridge cameras, or have a look at our Top 10 4K Video Cameras. You'll also need to buy a (large and fast) memory card, and a case or bag to keep your camera safe and protected - have a look at our complete guide to camera bags.

Panasonic Lumix FZ2000 Verdict

The Panasonic Lumix FZ2000 offers a 20 megapixel 1inch CMOS sensor, and a new 20x optical zoom lens, with a bright f/2.8 aperture at the wide-angle end of the lens. The camera has a great 3inch tilting touch-screen, as well as a large, bright, high-resolution electronic viewfinder, with a comfortable rubber surround. Build quality is very good and the camera has a lot in common with the Panasonic Lumix GH4, which means that the FZ2000 would make an excellent second camera to anyone familiar with Panasonic's other cameras.

The camera will record 4K video, including CINE resolution, and has a number of advanced options and controls. The biggest drawback is that as you use the zoom, the lens stops down to f/4.0 from 80mm equivalent, which reduces the camera's low-light performance. Due to this, you may prefer a different camera, with a brighter lens, or interchangeable lenses if you have the budget available. If you mostly shoot in good light, or can add light to a scene then this limitation may not be such an issue for you. Video quality is very good, and there are numerous options and controls available, making this an excellent all-in-one camera for those that want both high quality video and stills.

Whilst we were expecting slightly better image quality, the results were good with generally good colour, and exposure. The camera also offers impressive focus performance, with rapid focus that is reliable, ensuring every shot is sharp. The camera also gives good noise performance, with images staying quite sharp until you reach ISO1600 and above. Images were also slightly softer at the telephoto end of the lens.

There are numerous external controls and buttons, as well as full manual controls, and if you're a beginnner, you can also use the camera in auto mode, or one of the scene modes and still get great shots, as well as very high quality 4K video.

Panasonic Lumix FZ2000 Pros

Excellent focus performance
Quick operation
Wi-Fi connectivity
Unlimited video recording
4K CINE video recording
Dual-axis electronic level
Custom buttons and ND Filters built-in
Large electronic viewfinder
Raw shooting

Panasonic Lumix FZ2000 Cons

f/4.0 from 80mm equivalent zoom
To select some of the different video frame rates you have to switch between NTSC and PAL
Softer photos at the telephoto end
Quite large

Features5/5

Handling4.5/5

Performance4/5

Value4/5

Overall Verdict

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Photographs taken using the Panasonic Lumix FZ2000 (FZ2500)

Comments

pablophotographer 8 1.4k 357

19 Sep 2016 12:26PM

Like 0

Hello Panasonic, your customer here. Is it too difficult to add the focal lengths on the lens barrel?
pablophotographer

northlondon43 6

18 Jan 2017 9:28PM

Like 0

£1100? A similar review today on Tech Radar says £600!!!

joshwa Plus

9 908

18 Jan 2017 11:20PM

Like 1

Quote:£1100? A similar review today on Tech Radar says £600!!!

If you check any of the retailers such as Amazon, Wex, Park Cameras, etc, the price is definitely around £1099 for the Panasonic Lumix FZ2000. Thanks.

Last modified by joshwa on 18 Jan 2017 11:21PM

ChrisV 13 2.3k 26

19 Jan 2017 1:23PM

Like 0

Quote:£1100? A similar review today on Tech Radar says £600!!!

If you go to the any of the commercial links on that site they take you [as I suspected] to offers on the FZ1000 - which is still on the market and considerably cheaper.

Last modified by ChrisV on 19 Jan 2017 2:03PM

StrayCat 15 19.1k 3

23 Mar 2017 6:53PM

Like 1

I still feel my FZ1000 was, and still is, a bargain, at $540 shortly after it was initially released. I really tried to find something that would entice me to upgrade to the FZ2000, but honestly I can't. I would buy the FZ1000 again today at the price I got it for. However, that said, it seems a great tool for anybody who is serious about video, and even though it isn't weather resistant, and comes up a bit short in focal length to the Sony, I think the much lower price makes it the obvious first choice for anyone wanting to have an all-in-one kit for convenience. For anyone considering, who hasn't used a camera with a 1-inch sensor, you will be pleasantly surprised at how very close to M4/3 the quality is, and how deep you can crop without noise becoming a problem. The built-in ND filter seems it might be a good idea for video buffs, however, I can't remember using, or having to use, the vari-nd filter I bought with the FZ1000. There are few accessories required with these cameras; I have left the hood on the lens the entire time I've had the camera, and I purchased 2 spare batteries from third party suppliers, and I've been using a Lexar Professional 64gb 633x U3 the entire time I've had the camera. You will need a card designated U3 for 4K video. I have a leather wrist strap, very comfortable, and have never used a neck strap on it. The stills taken from 4K video are 8mp and are good quality, also very easy to scroll through video on the camera and extract and save the stills. The FZ2000 seems to put this class of camera in a very useable category for hobbyists and enthusiasts, like myself, and for anyone else who wants the convenience of an all-in-one tool like a Swiss Army Knife. Good review Joshwa, and a great camera.

Last modified by StrayCat on 23 Mar 2017 6:53PM

aitchess3 5

29 Nov 2017 12:52PM

Like 1

Quote:Hello Panasonic, your customer here. Is it too difficult to add the focal lengths on the lens barrel?
pablophotographer

The FZ1000 did do this; the reason the FZ2000/2500 doesn't is that the lens barrel DOESN'T MOVE whilst the camera is turned on - it is always fixed at this extension, so there's no way they could put the focal lengths on it as they'd mean nothing (obviously it retracts into the housing when the camera is powered off, however). It has internal zoom, in other words. This is good as it's very quick (when required) and quiet and the camera doesn't alter its balance as you zoom, either. The extension of the barrel is less than the competing cameras at full zoom.

Last modified by aitchess3 on 29 Nov 2017 12:53PM