Quick Verdict
The Panasonic Lumix FZ1000 II offers the same great 16x optical zoom lens and 20mp sensor as the FZ1000, but updates the camera to include an improved touch-screen, a better electronic viewfinder, and improved controls. Photo and video quality is good, and the camera offers good value for money.
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- Cons
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The Panasonic Lumix FZ1000 II is the recent upgrade to the FZ1000 and with it comes a few minor tweaks / improvements but are the changes enough to make those who originally owned the FZ1000 upgrade? We'll be answering this question, and more, in our full review of this new ultrazoom camera.
The Panasonic Lumix FZ1000 II is Panasonic's premium ultra-zoom bridge camera, with a 16x optical zoom lens, a 20mp 1inch BSI CMOS sensor, and 4K video recording. The Panasonic Lumix FZ1000 II will be available from the end of March 2019 for £769.99.
Panasonic Lumix FZ1000 II Features
The Leica certified 16x optical zoom lens and the 20.1MP sensor is the same as you find in the original FZ1000 but Bluetooth is now built-in along with a 3.0-inch, 1,240k-dot 180-degree rear monitor which is now touch-control so you can set focus quickly and also configure 5 on-screen buttons for quick access to controls.
As well as a 180-degree tilt, the screen on the Lumix FZ1000 II has a +/- 270-degree swivel range so you can spin it around so you can see yourself if you need to shoot a piece to camera or want to try out a selfie. You can also turn the screen around so it faces the camera body which will protect it from scratches when in your camera bag.
If you don't want to use the rear monitor, there is a 0.39-inch OLED Live View Finder which has a 2,360k-dot resolution and 0.74x magnification, up from 0.7X on the FZ1000.
There's a 4K photo option, along with 4K video (3840x2160 pixel resolution at 30/25/24p), and you can use various 4K photo functions which include Post Focus, Focus Stacking and the ability to combine multiple images. There's also a new 'Auto Marking' feature that helps you choose the best image from footage you've shot at 30fps.
Other interesting, and useful, features include 5-axis Hybrid O.I.S.+, high-speed burst shooting, Wi-Fi, various photo filters and a new minimum aperture of f/11. There's also a new Zoom Compose Assist feature that Panasonic says will help you keep track of subjects when they suddenly leave the frame and for the most part, it's a useful feature; quickly switching to a wide-angle view so you can see more in the frame before returning to the zoom point you had set previously.
Panasonic also says that the FZ1000 II has a quick start-up time and autofocus speeds of approximately 0.09 seconds, a burst rate of 12fps (AFS), plus a high-speed (electronic) shutter sporting 1/16000 seconds and we'll let you know if all of these statements are true later in this review.
As for the overall design, it is similar to the FZ1000 with the addition of a few more function buttons, and some buttons are moved around. There are two control dials instead of just one, and a new red ring around the lens to add a more premium look. There are 13 customisable function buttons so you shouldn't run out of ways you can make the camera's functions unique to your shooting style. It also has the familiar 'bulky with big grip' design bridge cameras have.
Key Features
- 20.1mp 1inch BSI CMOS sensor
- 16x optical LEICA certified zoom lens, f/2.8-4.0
- 35mm equivalent of 25mm-400mm
- 5-axis Hybrid O.I.S.+
- 3inch touch-screen, 1240K dots
- 0.39-inch OLED Live View Finder, 2360K dots
- 4K Photo
- Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
- New minimum aperture of f/11
- Autofocus speeds of approximately 0.09 seconds
- Burst rate of 12fps
- High-speed (electronic) shutter - 1/16000 seconds
- Various creative modes including photo filters (incl a new L.Monochrome D mode), Post Focus & Focus Stacking
Video Features
- 4K UHD Video
- 3840x2160 resolution
- 30/25/24p
- Auto Marking
- Microphone socket
Panasonic Lumix FZ1000 II Handling
The Panasonic Lumix FZ1000 II looks very similar to the orginal FZ1000, on first glance, however there are a number of subtle, but worthwhile improvements, including the addition of a new top command dial behind the shutter button. You'll also notice there are now three (new) function buttons on the left-hand side of the lens (Fn1, Fn2, Fn3), two function buttons on the top (Fn4 - defaults to exposure compensation, and Fn5), and on the back three more function buttons, Fn6 (Q. Menu), and Fn7 (delete, back) and Fn8 (LVF). The video record button has also been moved.
The drive mode dial on the top left of the camera has been updated to include the 4K focus stacking mode, which joins the other drive modes of self-timer, continuous shooting, interval shooting, 4K photo, and single shot.
The handgrip feels deep, and the rubber texture gives a good grip. If you've got small hands, then you may find the camera grip quite large. This rubber grip continues around to the back of the camera, and there is a protruding section for your thumb to grip on to. Unfortunately, there is no longer a rubber grip on the left-hand side of the camera, however as the lens should be the main area held on to this shouldn't be of too much concern.
The camera body is constructed using plastic, however, this feels solid, and tough, with no immediately visible signs of flex. No doubt, this also keeps the cost down, in comparison to making the camera out of metal. The tripod socket is near the middle of the camera and is made of metal. The battery compartment is also where you'll find the memory card slot, and has a locking mechanism, as well as a spring-loaded latch to hold the battery in.
The focal lengths are marked on the (plastic) lens barrel. The control ring around the lens, as well as the exterior of the lens are made of metal.
The FZ1000 II weighs 810g, making it lighter than the FZ2000 at 966g (including battery and memory card).
The FZ1000 II features an electronic viewfinder (EVF), which Panasonic likes to call the LVF (Live Viewfinder). The EVF in the FZ1000 II has had an upgrade and now gives 0.74x magnification, compared to 0.7x on the FZ1000. The resolution remains the same at 2360K dots, and the view looks good, with a good size, as well as dioptre adjustment.
There are a number of different focus options, including continuous, and manual focus. You can set the focus point using the touch screen, or use the 4-way controller. There is face and eye-detection which works well, and AF tracking is available. The 3inch screen looks great, with a clear view, and excellent viewing angles.
The Panasonic menus are clearly laid out, and easy to navigate, with each section colour coded. There's a "MyMenu" section where you can add your most commonly used settings for quicker access. The Q. (Quick) Menu gives quick access to common settings on the rear screen so that you don't need to go into the menus all the time, and the large number of external controls and buttons helps with this. You can use the touch-screen in all parts of the menu system rather than using the 4-way controller if you want.
Battery life - Battery life is rated at 400 shots according to Panasonic / CIPA test results, which is good, and an improvement over the FZ1000. The camera now also supports USB charging, using a MicroUSB cable, unfortunately it's not been updated to USB Type C. The battery used is the same as the FZ1000, so if you are upgrading, you will be able to use any spare batteries you have.
Panasonic Lumix FZ1000 II Performance
The performance section is where we look at the image quality performance of the camera. Additional sample photos and product shots are available in the Equipment Database, where you can add your own review, photos and product ratings.
Panasonic Lumix FZ1000 II Sample Photos
Panasonic Lumix FZ1000 II Lens test images
The 35mm equivalent zoom range of 25mm-400mm is useful and most images, throughout the zoom range, remain sharp. However, the top of the church, which was captured at the 400mm end of the zoom, is a little soft but it's the only image out of the few we captured that is.
Selfies aren't the easiest thing to capture with a bridge camera but skin colour is accurate and the image is sharp as too are the portraits with flash removing shadows and adding catchlights to eyes.
Close-focusing is admirable with lovely bokeh in the background of the macro shots and the shot of the worm has plenty of detail, too.
The addition of a new minimum aperture of f/11 gives you more scope for creativity as do the digital filters with the black & white filters producing some of the best results.
The aperture available on the lens changes as you zoom, so at 25mm equivalent the brightest aperture available is f/2.8. As you zoom this is reduced, so at 30mm the aperture is f/3.0, and this continues as you zoom further towards the telephoto end of the lens:
f/2.8 at 25mm-26mm equivalent
f/2.9 at 26mm to 28mm
f/3.0 at 29mm to 33mm
f/3.1 at 34mm to 40mm
f/3.2 at 41mm to 46mm
f/3.3 at 47mm to 51mm
f/3.4 at 51mm to 55mm
f/3.5 at 57mm to 62mm
f/3.6 at 64mm to 69mm
f/3.7 at 70mm to 82mm
f/3.8 at 84mm to 104mm
f/3.9 at 105mm to 164mm
f/4.0 at 170mm onwards
Panasonic Lumix FZ1000 II ISO test images
Panasonic Lumix FZ1000 II White-balance test images
Panasonic Lumix FZ1000 II Digital filters
Panasonic Lumix FZ1000 II Sample Videos
Video can be captured in 4K (3840x2160 pixel resolution at 30/25/24p) at up to 100mbps, and you can also extract 8.3MP frames from your 4K video footage with the 4K Photo options. Video quality is very good, with plenty of detail, although care needs to be taken to avoid wind noise. Some noise is picked up from the lens when using optical zoom. You can record FullHD video at frame rates up to 60fps, or you can record high-speed video at up to 120fps.
There are numerous options, including colour profiles, with Cinelike D (flat) and Cinelike V available. ISO6400 is the highest available ISO speed. There's also a 3.5mm microphone socket on the side, but no headphone socket. Video can be recorded for up to 29 minutes and 59 seconds, if you wanted to record for longer then you could look at the FZ2000 with unlimited video recording. When recording 4K video, the focal range changes to 37mm to 592mm equivalent due to the crop factor.
*5-Axis Hybrid O.I.S. compensation works in video recording, and is a combination of optical and electronic image stabilisation. This isn't available for 4K video or high-speed video recording, where standard optical image stabilisation is still active. Using just optical zoom, the camera can struggle to keep video stable when using the telephoto end of lens, so a tripod or stable surface is recommended.
You can watch additional FZ1000 II videos on the ePHOTOzine YouTube Channel.
Value For Money
The Panasonic Lumix FZ1000 II is available (or will be available) for £769, this makes it good value for money, being cheaper than much of the competition. Alternatives with a larger (1inch) sensor, and bridge camera styling include the following:
Panasonic Lumix FZ1000, 16x optical zoom lens, 12fps shooting, 4K video, £519
Panasonic Lumix FZ2000, 20x optical zoom lens, 12fps shooting, CINE 4K video, £849
Sony Cyber-shot RX10 IV, 25x optical zoom lens, 24fps shooting, 4K video, £1729
Have a look at more ultra-zoom / bridge cameras in the Top 10 Best Ultra Zoom Cameras Round-up, or have a look at the Best Pocket Zoom Cameras if you're looking for something smaller. You'll also need to buy a 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 FZ1000 II Verdict
The Panasonic Lumix FZ1000 II isn't particularly ground-breaking, in that it takes the original FZ1000 and updates it with the latest connectivity, including Bluetooth, and refreshes a number of other features, including improving the screen, with a higher resolution 3inch touch-screen, as well as improving the electronic viewfinder, giving you a higher magnification of 0.74x. The functions and controls have been updated, to give you more function buttons, as well as an additional control dial. This makes the camera easier to use, as well as easier to customise to how you'd like it. You'll also find a "MyMenu" screen where you can add your favourite settings.
For users of the FZ1000, there may not be enough reason for them to rush out and upgrade to this camera. However, if you're looking for an all-in-one bridge camera with a high-quality lens, then the FZ1000 II has it all. Image quality is good, with good noise performance, and the camera offers rapid focus, as well as a responsive experience. 4K video recording quality is excellent, and you can use 4K photo to get 8mp shots at 30fps.
The price remains competitive, and when it's available, we expect it to be popular as a bridge camera that gives better noise performance and image quality when compared to ultra zoom cameras with smaller sensors.
| The Panasonic Lumix FZ1000 II builds on the success of the FZ1000, and delivers a great all-round camera. |
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