Panasonic FZ1000 Review: Proof positive that you don’t need a big bag of lenses for great photos

 

 

Long-zoom cameras have weathered the onslaught of the cameraphone better than the humble compact, but while their far-reaching zoom lenses provide a lot of convenience, they've not always been known for the best image quality. Last year, Sony changed that with its large-sensor RX10, and now Panasonic has its own rival offering.

The Panasonic FZ1000 and Sony RX10 are, essentially, a class of two. On the one hand, they're unrivaled in convenience and portability by interchangeable-lens camera kits. On the other, their long-zoom rivals feature much smaller image sensors that yield lower sensitivity and higher noise levels. That makes these two cameras very exciting indeed.

Last year, we reviewed the Sony RX10 and found much to love. And if you've read our recent Shooter's Reports -- you'll find part one here, and part two here -- you'll know that we were also thrilled by the Panasonic FZ1000. But which of the two ends up as our favorite large-sensor, long-zoom camera? Find out in the just-published conclusion of our Panasonic FZ1000 review!

(And when you're done, you can make your own comparisons to our Sony RX10 review. Don't forget to check out the numerous real-world and lab sample images, shot under the same conditions for both cameras.)