LUMIX FZ300 One Camera To Rule Them All?

I use to have reservation on so called BRIDGE or Superzoom camera.

When I received the latest Lumix DMC-FZ300 from Panasonic NZ, I was rather amazed with the following features from a NZ$ 989.00 camera!

• A f/2.8 constant aperture 25-600mm (equivalent) 24x Leica zoom lens
• 12.1MP high sensitivity MOS, 1/ 2.33 inch sensor
• 0.7x  EVF with 1440k dot and eye sensor
• Rotating 3inch 1040k LCD touch screen 
• 5-axis hybrid IS
• ISO 100 to ISO 6400 sensitivities
• 12fps continuous shooting
• 4K photo / video, with stereo sound recording
• 1cm macro mode
• Wi-Fi  and QR code connection
• Built in 3.5mm microphone socket
• Splash and dust-proof weather-sealed body
• Large 380 shot battery

That 25-600mm f/2.8 lens must be a typo, right?

It is NOT a typo and Panasonic actually caused a stir when they launched the DMC-FZ200 with the same f/2.8 superzoom two years ago!

LUMIX G VARIO 35-100 / F4.0-5.6 Mini Zoom

When Panasonic NZ send me the tiny GM5 they included a just as tiny zoom lens.

According to them, the LUMIX G VARIO 35-100mm F4.0-6.6 ASPH. MEGA O.I.S. is...
"A versatile focal distance of 35-100mm (equivalent to 70-200mm on a 35mm camera) is useful in shooting snapshots, including portraits and close-ups, with an impressively defocused background to take advantage of the high portability of this lens. The auto focus system is driven by a stepping motor to achieve quiet, high-speed AF with a 240-fps capability."

Lumix GM5, a Much Better GM1!

If you are following my photo blog, you will realise that I am gaga over the Lumix GM1; this mini MFT small wonder is the only camera I use in the last one year!

Guess who got excited when Panasonic launched the GM1 replacement, the GM5?

Externally, the new GM5 still look a lot like a the GM1, with a little weigh gain.

The new GM5, left, has put on extra 6mm in thickness and 13g extra weight compare to the black GM1. The "grip" on the GM1 was a third party product which I highly recommend.