Our Japanese friends from Digicameinfo shared the first image of the new Panasonic FZ1000. While this is not a MFT camera it’s certainly a suprirsingly high quality and very interesting camera to talk about! It has some good-looking features like (marked in bold):
– 1.0-inch CMOS sensor
– Venus engine
– 25-400mm equivalent f/2.8-4.0 Leica DC Vario Elmarit lens.
– Lens configuration is 15 pieces in 11 groups. 5 aspherical lens (8 Side)
– AF linear motor. AF speed is 0.09 seconds
– 0.66 seconds start-up time
– 4K video
– 4K PHOTO to cut out a still image of 8 million pixels from 4K video
– The space recognition AF by DFD
– EVF is 2.36 million dot-inch organic EL 0.39
– A monitor 920,000 dot 3.0-inch
– Continuous shooting 12 frames / second
– Wi-Fi, NFC
– Focus peaking, ring type manual focus
– Camera RAW development
This new camera will compete straight against the Sony RX10 (specs here at Amazon). But it has a much more useful 25-400mm lens range and records 4K video! Easy to guess the new LX8 will use the same sensor and hopefully also the same EVF. We still don’t know if this is the same 20MP Sony RX100M3 sensor or a brand new Panasonic or Aptina sensor.
—
For sources: Sources can send me anonymous info at 43rumors@gmail.com (create a fake gmail account) or via contact form you see on the right sidebar. Thanks!
For readers: Don’t miss any news. Join our group on facebook and follow our tweets.
Rumors classification explained (FT= FourThirds):
FT1=1-20% chance the rumor is correct
FT2=21-40% chance the rumor is correct
FT3=41-60% chance the rumor is correct
FT4=61-80% chance the rumor is correct
FT5=81-99% chance the rumor is correct
135 Responses
The big news is that Panasonic is using DFD from the GH4 for fast continuous AF. That means the LX8 will likely have this as well.
I just hope they fix the 4K focus speed issue.
Good point. If this works as well as the GH4, then this would be a great little sports cam.
DFD requires fast CPU. Fast CPU would produce more heat.
Small body of LX8 might be not capable of dissipating that much heat.
But, it uses smaller 1 inch sensor which generates less heat than micro 4/3 sensor.
I guess it will become the RX10 competition. So it will be priced at around $1300
RX10
Sorry, I changed it.
hope you wrong about the price 🙂
Nice camera and that’s a heck of a lens… it would be nice to see a Leica branded F2.8-4 24-400mm equivalent zoom for m4/3. I bet they’d sell a ton of ’em.
Unfortunately it’d weigh a ton…
and cost an arm, leg, liver and a kidney 😉
can the lens maintain f2.8 at 200mm ??
Sony will counter with sexier design and 24-300 at constant f2.8. No 4K but that RX100-like 50Mbps video
i guess sony will counter with RX10M2 with 4k, especially as their current 1″ sensor allready does 4K on the AX100 camcorder
Would rather have f2 24-200mm 🙂 But, yeah, they’ll whack in an XAVC-S codec at 50Mbps to create an ultimate 1080p machine in the RX10Mk2 I’d buy it. It’s the crippled codec that’s let down the current RX10.
I had two of the earlier FZ series. Excellent cameras, but the sensor was a little wanting when the light was poor. These superzooms are fantastic for safaris and similar jaunts, and Panasonic with the Leica designed lenses have always delivered good bang for the buck!
If have equivalent options as the RX10 (audio input, ND Filter, zebras, etc) plus the unlimited time recording (something that rx10 cannot do) then this camera will become a excellent event recorder.
Time recording is not limited by hardware but by duty. If a video recording device can do more than 29mn recording, it became a video recorder and this add a 5.4 % duty 🙁
Lumix G series cameras has no such limitation, at least not on NTSC countries.
Wow! That lens is a much, much better trade-off to me than the constant f2.8 24-200mm equivalent in the RX10. Where the LX8 seems like it trades off a little bit too much in physical size compared to the RX100, this actually seems like a vastly better high-end bridge camera than the RX10, assuming the lens quality is anywhere near as good.
The FZ1000 will have much better video than Sony RX10
Good to see that Pana is goinfg for Sony. That is only positive for us when these two fight each other with their high speced cameras!
Seems to be the poor mans GH4. It should have also weather sealing (like Gh4 and RX10) and together with the swivel screen and the longer zoom it seems to be a very attractive package in comparison to the RX10.
Question: What will the price look like? 800€ would be nice.
For me, the rx10 is an interesting camera- good enough IQ, and a nice range and features- but it’s just too big and too expensive for what it is to be practical. I understand the lens is very good, but I’m willing to sacrifice a little ultimate corner performance for size/weight reduction. Go lightweight- modern plastics can be a good thing!
If this Panny is under $1000 and doesn’t weigh as much as a brick, it could be a very interesting option for me.
Wonder if the sensor will be as good as the one of Sony
It’s surely the same sensor than sony, but of course a different jpeg processing.
It could also be Aptina or Samsung, and there is a very little chance that it even be something new, like Panasonic’s own sensor. We’ll know soon enough.
Please bolding the “The space recognition AF by DFD”. It’s not just “good looking” but shooting star!
DFD is now deployed in only GH-4.
How to you know? DFD is a software thing, so ANY camera can do it.
No, it also depends on hardware.
NASA sent people to Moon with less computational power than any current smartphone, and now people are using it for shooting pigs with birds.
Panasonic wanted to bring DFD AF to market quickly — so they added a chip to GH4, this doesn’t imply that algorithms cannot be optimized to use less power.
Not directly. DFD requires CPU (or LSI as they like to call it) with sufficient processing power.
CPU upgrade + lens OOF profile + firmware is all what’s needed for camera to have DFD. Pretty much a no brainer for fixed lens camera.
1 inch sensor in DSLR size body and with premium price…………..LOL
MUCH smaller then the smallest DSLR not even considering the lens(and zoom range you’ll won’t be able to achieve on a DSLR). Apples and oranges.
Not that I would buy one, but for most people this camera is all they need. And if it’s to big and/or zoom isn’t important, then the RX100 of LX8.
There are already zooms for APS-C DSLRs with more reach,
Nikon 18-300, Tamron 16-300…
And they are dog slow. Enjoy that F6.3 at the long end… hope that ISO doesn’t ruin your images too badly.
on APS-C F6.3 is equivalent to F3.6 on 1″, therefore noise will be the same as with this Panasonic.
Say that noise and IQ is the same, the Nikon 18-300 alone weighs more and is more expensive then the entire Fz1000 camera. And then you’re still missing for example excellent video capabilities and Wifi control.
Not that the fz1000 is THE camera for me, but I can at least see the point.
lol. according to bhphoto fz1000 weights 831 g and nikon 18-300 weights 830 g– that it, less.
tamron 16-300 is both cheaper and lighter.
I agree that fz1000 has a point, but you claims about lack of dslr lenses and dslr size always more (counterexample: canon 100d with small lens is smaller than the fz) are lies
Do any DSLR bodies offer 4k for this kind of money?
I am amazed how many people want mirrorless digital camera in shape which was developed for SLR film cameras.
Because it is desirable to have the EVF & flash hotshoe centred on the same axis as the lens & that by default takes on the general shape of an SLR, the rest is ergonomics etc.
Nope. EVF is shifted vertically from lens’ axis.
Due to photographers’ duckling syndrome, it’s desirable for manufacturers to repeat the same brick-with-grip design again and again.
It is a sukkers market.
In my opinion, the new LX8 (24-90mm) would be nicely complemented by the new FZ1000 superzoom if the superzoom range were 90-400mm.
The IQ and the dimensions of the superzoom would be much better.
But…. what do I know….
But then you only have a superzoom compact that starts at 90mm and you would have to switch cameras to go wide? then it would be called the ‘not so super but really kind of inconvenient’ zoom camera
There are a lot already of 18-250 zooms for APS-C DSLRs, and there are new 18-300, 16-300 which give more focal range than this Lumix
Please not again, everybody knows that.
Nobody is going to buy a 90-400mm compact camera, because it will have very little use as an all-round camera.
For things like that we have other options, like camera´s with interchangeable lenses.
camera with fixed lens may have much better ergonomics (e.g. videocameras)
The FZ1000 will make a fine competitor against Sony RX10, the Olympus Stylus 1, and a great replacement for the FZ200.
Many consumers do not want to change lenses. They want a do-all camera in a practical package with a great lens. This new FZ1000 includes 4K video which should clench it for many non-professional photographers
I hope its priced below 1000$. And it will be a great carry around camera.
Looks good except there doesn’t seem to be enough room on the front for the Leica red dot – necessary so that they can sell the rebadged one for three times as much; after all, it already has a “Leica” lens, ha ha.
Hahahahahahahahaha! Lol worst idea ever!
Award-winning photographers don’t tend to make fun of other people’s cameras. They’re too busy caring about the photos…
We make fun of you, not of your camera. Got it?
Ah. In that particular case, you are human garbage and your opinion is null and void.
400m is nice and all, but the question for me is when it drops down from f2.8. Is it going to compete with the Sony RX10 through to 200m. If not, then meh. f2.8 at 200m then f4 at 400m, winning!
I thought that Oly has cooperation with Sony ..not Panasonic. …Mhh ?
Just because Panasonic uses Sony sensors (assuming that they do, which we don’t know), it doesn’t mean that the two companies cooperate. It would be a buyer-seller relationship, nothing else.
just came to my mind as lx8 is “copy” of rx100mk3 and fz1000 “copy” of RX10
Pany is really coming up with some excellent new cameras recently with very significant advances and improvements like 4K, 1″ sensor, more practical lens reach and speed and higher resolution EVF and screen not to mention ultra fast auto focus. This would appear to be the best superzoom cam yet with little more to be improved on. While most others have gone for the longest reach race irrespective of slower lens speed Pany has gone to best image quality with 1″ sensor and a 25-400/f2.8-4 which can easily be converted to 50-800mm of same speed for birding etc with front end converter. I would assume that it will still use a swivel screen as other FZ models did. I only hope the price will be affordable but expect it to be in range of $1000.
I would think that if the lens quality is good which it should be this would be an excellent choice of a camera to use on photographic safaries.
Have my doubts about the lens quality, 16x zoom is too much
The FZ200 which is good has 24X. With FF lenses this would be a reach but remember with smaller lenses it is possible to build higher quality ones cheaper than those designed for larger sensors.
Panasonic has led the market in quality of the superzoom lenses. To my knowledge they haven’t yet produced a dud lens in this product area. Their max zoom settings have generally represented good image quality and not just spec marketing. Up to now the main limitation has been due to the small FZ sensors, but this FZ1000 should address that.
Looks alot like the G6 body. Which is a good thing.
Who asked you by the way? losergirlie?
Jesus, SD. It took you almost two days to find this comment?
World’s worst stalker. And photographer 🙂
SD… how was your weekend? Did you get out and take some pictures?
There must be a market for super-zoom cameras, and a benefit in having the best one. I must admit I still would like to see a G7 m4/3rds camera with the stills features of the GH4.
Panasonic has opted to invest in the development of the FZ1000 rather than a G7
Does this have full sensor readout for video, and f2.8 at 200mm? dimensions? vs RX10
Good question regarding the readout. And I understand the people would want F2.8 at 200mm. I for myself would prefer the doubled tele end.
So good to have competition. 🙂
Actually looks closer to the GH3 body than either the G6 or FZ200.
Yes the Pany superzoom sales are very good. Based on most of the sales figures I have seen these the recent superzooms are outselling even Pany’s m4/3 models in many markets so we should not be surprised to see them placing more emphasis on them.
Very interesting upcoming camera…The one in all !! Any schedule for market release ? What Canon is doing in the meantime ? No more rumors about the SX60HS & G17 1″ sensor…
This is not a Canon site
I can tell from the comments…
Open your mind Gguest…It’s always nice to get more news from other silent brands as well (I said Canon but it’s also the same query with Nikon Coolpix P8000…)
“What Canon is doing in the meantime ?”
Fortunately, Canon does nothing interesting, all the way since 7D (5 years). At least now people who know anything about cameras don’t buy Canons anymore, only morons continue to buy junkorebels and stupidoelphs. If Canon would actually start making competitive cameras again, we would not have a competition at all.
Just got this tweet from Unique Photo : Tune in to our hangout tomorrow at 1 p.m. EST to see how you can produce #4K video on a budget with @LumixUSA #LumixLounge #ULumix!
and this one: Catch the event at http://bit.ly/1qufh8n and don’t forget to participate by tweeting #UEventLive
This sucks! We don’t need more digital cameras! When will the camera manufacturers learn? Digital will never capture the essence of reality, the way that film does. Real, authentic photographers have grown tired of this digital fad.
So stop using internet and send us a letter next time for your comment
I’m pretty sure he was being ironic / sarcastic.
We’re even getting film-trolls now ? WTF WENT WRONG WITH THIS SITE!?
Actually we need daguerreotypy.
Painting is the only proper way to register images.
😀 😀
Now that’s what I’m talking about! A 1-inch sensor and 4K!!! Way to go, Panasonic. Stick it to Sony! Yes! The camera wars are heating up, and we benefit from it.
Great to have competition in the market. Now Sony will have to add 4K to it’s next RX-Cameras, too.
They could have allready done it with the 1″ BSI Sensor, as shown in the AX100, but they choose not to do so because of no competetion and to protect their camcorders. This changes now, thank you Panasonic.
1″ inch sensors are of course slightly better than 4/3″ sensors, despite their smaller size, but they still suck. You can take a perfectly composed picture of an interesting subject, nail the exposure and focus, but it will all be nullified because the sensor is tiny. What could have been a brilliant photo, if taken with a large sensor camera, will instead be worthless. Hopefully, the readers of this site will change their moronic ways, and invest in a superior system.
It won’t be “nullified”, it will be less good. Sure, given the prices, the handful M43 buyers around should be livid 🙂
In what reality today is a 1″ sensor better in terms of IQ, ISO and DR than m43’s? Give us some sources, we’ll wait.
People will certainly “change their moronic ways” if you insult them.
This guy must also be being ironic or sarcastic.
Seems to be a lot of that going around.
Good joke, my friend! I get it!
No, the 1″ sensor is NOT better than the larger 43 sensor, and that is a FACT. You are an idiot.
“What could have been a brilliant photo, if taken with a large sensor camera, will instead be worthless.” LOL!! You have just put the word “ironic” to a higher level ;-)!
This is the best post I have seen on this site. Thank you for brightening my day with a good laugh. Well done!
An you keep lugging with your dslr and are always too late to make that perfect photo.
How far out does it go at f2.8? Why 25mm instead of 24mm?! 24mm is the minimum wide a camera should have!!
Tough, I am not going to buy it then.
1mm! That’s outrageous! OMFG! And that’s just me underreacting to it.
Actually, if you want to be nitpicky, it’s 24.5mm.
9.1mm*2.7 crop factor…
This is the sort of cameras people on cheap cruises shoot. The slightly better cabin passengers shoot M43.
I hate those poor losers. If I’m on a cruise, I definitely don’t want to be reminded of poverty. I just want my leica to take photos of me and my priced purrfect cat on the cruise.
You sound like you know what you’re talking about
This might be useful for rectal examinations!
You must have a BIG A*** H*** then!
If the LX8 has this same EVF, I’ll buy without a doubt.
Now let´s see if it has organic aperture and digital mechanism….
Interesting! I’ll probably pass on this and go for a RX100, LX8 or maybe X30 (because I’m a weight weenie when backpacking / bike packing and I guess this FZ1k will be 800+ grams), but still, interesting!
really want to find out a bit more about this one. I have been planning on getting a G6, but with no g7 in sight, this might be what I end up with. I just hope they get rid of the stupid 30 min recording limit!
“I just hope they get rid of the stupid 30 min recording limit!”
That would be with the “stupid” governments that impose it with their duties. 😉
let me rephrase that….I hope they get rid of the stupid 30 minute recording limit IN THE UNITED STATES. 😀
Damn you governments with your regulations…. :-/ Am agreed here.
Fantastic camera, but by spec, I like RX10’s constant f/2.8 better (unless FZ1000 keeps f/2.8 all the way to 200 mm equivalent, which I bet it does not and hits f/4 somewhere at 50-70mm).
The 4K of the FZ1000 will be cool however if it is of good enough quality (as it is from Panasonic, I am hoping so), and is something that the RX10 lacks. To me, what will matter more is the price, if it can come for significantly less than the RX10 which is a rather pricey camera.
If this 4k just 8Mpix crop of the 20Mpix sensor like they often do, its crop factor will be similar to the tiny 2/3″ sensors and wide video will be impossible. I don’t see how they can easily get away with line skipping, unless it is irregular 1 line over 2 pattern.
FZ1000 is already close to F4 by 100m
Excellent. Finally a decent superzoom. Let’s see how big it is first…
That’s huge and bulky like tank, and ugly like DSLR.
Pana’s design should consult with Sony’s team. I will get RX100mkIII any day.
They aren’t even comparable in any way whatsoever. 24-70mm is a lot different to a 25-400mm lens.
This FX1000 competes with the Sony RX10. Panasonic has the upcoming LX8 to compete with your blessed RX100. Apple to apple.
Sorry dude I for one will compare this Pana to Sony RX100mkIII. This is how general user or buyer like me will do.
There is no general user like you. You’re unique. Other will compare comparable poroducts.
No, I don’t think a general user or buyer is like you at all. You buy unicycles when you go shopping for a bicycle. The general user or buyer has brains attached that can differentiate sizes and shape.
This Pana is a high end superzoom, just like Sony’s RX10. Both camera are not very compact, both have a big zoom range.
In the high end compact class you’ll have the Sony RX100mk3 which competes with Panasonics new LX8. Both are pretty small, and don’t have big zoom ranges(but have bright lenses).
You can’t compare the LX8 with RX10 or the RX100 with FZ1000. Totally different camera’s. First decide what you’ll want. Do you want of need big zoom ranges? Is size and weight important. Then you can decide which camera “class” is best suitable for you. Then you can buy your camera…(or not, and go with a system with interchangeable lenses).
Mark here gave you good advice. Let me add one thing: if you buy a system camera, avoid m43. it has the worst quality / price ration in the market and it is probably going to go out of business soon.
its out, Unique Photo is taking pre-orders @ 899.00 with a free 64gb UHS-1 U3 card! http://www.uniquephoto.com/lumixlounge
0.39 EVF…is that the magnification? That’s absolutely awful if it is.
Checked the original Japanese article, I think 0.39 means the panel size of EVF (0.39″ OLED panel)
http://www.youtube.com/embed/mL-G7bjWE2c?rel=0&autoplay=1&wmode=transparent
4k sample by FZ1000
Wow. At 1080 it’s plenty good enough for travel / backpack videos. This should be better than the RX10 — Sony doesn’t “get” good ergonomics, and the grip of the RX10 is too thin to counterbalance the huge lens effectively. Seems to be a design feature for Sony: the RX1 is the same.
finally FZ50 has a worthy successor