Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ2500 Digital Camera
If there was ever a point-and-shoot that could do anything the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ2500 Digital Camera comes close with an incredible mix of advanced photographic capabilities thanks to a 20.1MP 1 High Sensitivity MOS Sensor and outstanding video specs which include DCI 4K format video at a true 24.00 fps. Benefitting all of these functions is a versatile Leica DC Vario-Elmarit f/2.8-4.5 lens with a far-reaching 20x optical zoom. This optic uses numerous specialized elements to guarantee sharp images and offers an outstanding 24-480mm equivalent zoom range. On top of this the camera features a DSLR-like body design that is very ergonomic including manual control rings a 0.74x 2.36m-dot OLED electronic viewfinder and a 3.0 1.04m-dot free-angle touchscreen LCD. Interestingly for a normally stills-focused camera the FZ2500 boasts incredible video features most notably DCI 4K (4096 x 2160) recording at 24.00 fps in addition to more conventional UHD 4K (3840 x 2160) and Full HD options. This capable camera also offers Panasonic's CINELIKE D and CINELIKE V picture profiles for professional grading capabilities and it can gain V-Log L through an optional upgrade. Along with this the camera has high bit rates of up to 200 Mbps using MP4 and MOV formats and it can output video over HDMI with a professional-quality 4:2:2 10-bit signal. Additionally the FZ2500 has a built-in ND filter for selectable levels as well as no recording duration limit. For stills the FZ2500 is a very capable system thanks to the high-resolution 1 sensor. This enables sensitivities up to ISO 25600 and continuous shooting rates of up to 50 fps with an electronic shutter and 12 fps with a mechanical shutter. Built-in Wi-Fi connectivity makes it easy to control and transfer photos to your mobile devices and a variety of 4K PHOTO modes leverage the power of 4K video to provide another method to capture fast action.
If there was ever a point-and-shoot that could do anything the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ2500 Digital Camera comes close with an incredible mix of advanced photographic capabilities thanks to a 20.1MP 1 High Sensitivity MOS Sensor and outstanding video specs which include DCI 4K format video at a true 24.00 fps. Benefitting all of these functions is a versatile Leica DC Vario-Elmarit f/2.8-4.5 lens with a far-reaching 20x optical zoom. This optic uses numerous specialized elements to guarantee sharp images and offers an outstanding 24-480mm equivalent zoom range. On top of this the camera features a DSLR-like body design that is very ergonomic including manual control rings a 0.74x 2.36m-dot OLED electronic viewfinder and a 3.0 1.04m-dot free-angle touchscreen LCD. Interestingly for a normally stills-focused camera the FZ2500 boasts incredible video features most notably DCI 4K (4096 x 2160) recording at 24.00 fps in addition to more conventional UHD 4K (3840 x 2160) and Full HD options. This capable camera also offers Panasonic's CINELIKE D and CINELIKE V picture profiles for professional grading capabilities and it can gain V-Log L through an optional upgrade. Along with this the camera has high bit rates of up to 200 Mbps using MP4 and MOV formats and it can output video over HDMI with a professional-quality 4:2:2 10-bit signal. Additionally the FZ2500 has a built-in ND filter for selectable levels as well as no recording duration limit. For stills the FZ2500 is a very capable system thanks to the high-resolution 1 sensor. This enables sensitivities up to ISO 25600 and continuous shooting rates of up to 50 fps with an electronic shutter and 12 fps with a mechanical shutter. Built-in Wi-Fi connectivity makes it easy to control and transfer photos to your mobile devices and a variety of 4K PHOTO modes leverage the power of 4K video to provide another method to capture fast action.
If there was ever a point-and-shoot that could do anything the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ2500 Digital Camera comes close with an incredible mix of advanced photographic capabilities thanks to a 20.1MP 1 High Sensitivity MOS Sensor and outstanding video specs which include DCI 4K format video at a true 24.00 fps. Benefitting all of these functions is a versatile Leica DC Vario-Elmarit f/2.8-4.5 lens with a far-reaching 20x optical zoom. This optic uses numerous specialized elements to guarantee sharp images and offers an outstanding 24-480mm equivalent zoom range. On top of this the camera features a DSLR-like body design that is very ergonomic including manual control rings a 0.74x 2.36m-dot OLED electronic viewfinder and a 3.0 1.04m-dot free-angle touchscreen LCD. Interestingly for a normally stills-focused camera the FZ2500 boasts incredible video features most notably DCI 4K (4096 x 2160) recording at 24.00 fps in addition to more conventional UHD 4K (3840 x 2160) and Full HD options. This capable camera also offers Panasonic's CINELIKE D and CINELIKE V picture profiles for professional grading capabilities and it can gain V-Log L through an optional upgrade. Along with this the camera has high bit rates of up to 200 Mbps using MP4 and MOV formats and it can output video over HDMI with a professional-quality 4:2:2 10-bit signal. Additionally the FZ2500 has a built-in ND filter for selectable levels as well as no recording duration limit. For stills the FZ2500 is a very capable system thanks to the high-resolution 1 sensor. This enables sensitivities up to ISO 25600 and continuous shooting rates of up to 50 fps with an electronic shutter and 12 fps with a mechanical shutter. Built-in Wi-Fi connectivity makes it easy to control and transfer photos to your mobile devices and a variety of 4K PHOTO modes leverage the power of 4K video to provide another method to capture fast action.
If there was ever a point-and-shoot that could do anything the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ2500 Digital Camera comes close with an incredible mix of advanced photographic capabilities thanks to a 20.1MP 1 High Sensitivity MOS Sensor and outstanding video specs which include DCI 4K format video at a true 24.00 fps. Benefitting all of these functions is a versatile Leica DC Vario-Elmarit f/2.8-4.5 lens with a far-reaching 20x optical zoom. This optic uses numerous specialized elements to guarantee sharp images and offers an outstanding 24-480mm equivalent zoom range. On top of this the camera features a DSLR-like body design that is very ergonomic including manual control rings a 0.74x 2.36m-dot OLED electronic viewfinder and a 3.0 1.04m-dot free-angle touchscreen LCD. Interestingly for a normally stills-focused camera the FZ2500 boasts incredible video features most notably DCI 4K (4096 x 2160) recording at 24.00 fps in addition to more conventional UHD 4K (3840 x 2160) and Full HD options. This capable camera also offers Panasonic's CINELIKE D and CINELIKE V picture profiles for professional grading capabilities and it can gain V-Log L through an optional upgrade. Along with this the camera has high bit rates of up to 200 Mbps using MP4 and MOV formats and it can output video over HDMI with a professional-quality 4:2:2 10-bit signal. Additionally the FZ2500 has a built-in ND filter for selectable levels as well as no recording duration limit. For stills the FZ2500 is a very capable system thanks to the high-resolution 1 sensor. This enables sensitivities up to ISO 25600 and continuous shooting rates of up to 50 fps with an electronic shutter and 12 fps with a mechanical shutter. Built-in Wi-Fi connectivity makes it easy to control and transfer photos to your mobile devices and a variety of 4K PHOTO modes leverage the power of 4K video to provide another method to capture fast action.
in 3 offers
The lowest price for Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ2500 Digital Camera right now is $1,499.00 at JB Hi-Fi, compared across 3 retailers.
The all-time low was $522.56 on 2 June 2026 — today's price is 187% above the lowest ever. It has been notably cheaper before — worth setting a price alert.
Prices last updated 13 June 2026.
Last updated at 13/06/2026 18:03:34
Panasonic LUMIX FZ2500 Photo-Video Hybrid Zoom Camera [4K Video]
Delivery $10.99
Brand Panasonic Lumix Fz2500 Digital Camera Black Aus Stock
Delivery $15
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a small commission for purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you. This helps support our site. Thank you!
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ2500 Digital Camera International Model
Delivery between 18–22 June $15.52
originally posted on bhphotovideo.com
I bought this camera as an upgrade for the FZ 1000. This camera has so many versatile features with 7 external function buttons plus 6 more on the screen to access conveniently a plethora of features. I primarily use this on my wilderness wanderings since it also takes does nice video. The lens has a variable and smooth zoom feature that can be controlled with the rotation switch by the shutter or on the base of the lens. It has built in ND with 3 different levels which I have found useful for those extra highlight situations when a slow shutter is desired. 4K of course, but it does crop to 36mm. Also a useful 4K crop where you can set on your screen a beginning and end point for the video recording to pan across the field of view for 20 or up to 40 seconds- this ... MoreI bought this camera as an upgrade for the FZ 1000. This camera has so many versatile features with 7 external function buttons plus 6 more on the screen to access conveniently a plethora of features. I primarily use this on my wilderness wanderings since it also takes does nice video. The lens has a variable and smooth zoom feature that can be controlled with the rotation switch by the shutter or on the base of the lens. It has built in ND with 3 different levels which I have found useful for those extra highlight situations when a slow shutter is desired. 4K of course, but it does crop to 36mm. Also a useful 4K crop where you can set on your screen a beginning and end point for the video recording to pan across the field of view for 20 or up to 40 seconds- this does however crop to 1080 and not 4K as far as I understand. This allows for some FHD level smooth panning videos.I love the versatility of the lens. About 480mm equivalent optical zoom and a good macro ability with minimal distance to subject about 2cm! Built in flash is decent; hot shoe mount; external mic and headphones; the battery placement allows changing batteries while mounted. Time lapse timer and built in video builder. Burst mode; multiple bracket modes; multi-image mode, variable frame rate video from 2- 120 fps (in high resolution MOV format).....Compact to carry without extra lenses. And I think the best value.How to make this camera perfect:Lens sharpness- I agree the lens is not super sharp with photos but still sharp. Interestingly, I damaged the lens barrel and had to send it in for repair. It came back with noticeably improved sharpness. That leads me to believe a minor tweak might improve that issue.Sensor: I wish it had a larger sensor. Could it be engineered with a 4/3? That would be a welcome kick up.Focus: Panasonic just put on a different focus system on the S5M2. Generally, this camera suffers from the same deficiencies of staying focused on the prime object particularly with continuous. It does a decent job staying focused during much of the zoom range, better when zooming out than in, but it is unreliable and just when you think you have a nice, smooth video zoom, it might suddenly lose focus.Better stabilization, particularly for video.Better external control of recording with phone app that would allow slow zoom so as to have completely hands off.This camera is largely ignored in discussions with influencers. No camera can be the best at everything. If I could get Panasonic to make those improvements, this would I believe come very close to the ideal versatile and affordable hybrid camera.
originally posted on bhphotovideo.com
I'll keep this short and sweet. The video on this is perfect. I would not purchase this if you want to use it for pictures. I got this because of what I saw what it could do for video on YouTube. I own the Sony a7r3, so yeah, that's why I say that about taking pictures with this. I use it the fact that it shoots 4k and an zoom to 720mm without loss of quality is great. You lose the stabilization, but I use it for filming wildlife, which are normally not moving much. Throw a raynox 250 on this, and you have fun to last. The built in ND filters is a great addition that I utilize often. That's very helpful. The flip out screen is a plus and the ability to connect an external monitor is another plus. I have no complaints about this for video. I use it when I don't want ... MoreI'll keep this short and sweet. The video on this is perfect. I would not purchase this if you want to use it for pictures. I got this because of what I saw what it could do for video on YouTube. I own the Sony a7r3, so yeah, that's why I say that about taking pictures with this. I use it the fact that it shoots 4k and an zoom to 720mm without loss of quality is great. You lose the stabilization, but I use it for filming wildlife, which are normally not moving much. Throw a raynox 250 on this, and you have fun to last. The built in ND filters is a great addition that I utilize often. That's very helpful. The flip out screen is a plus and the ability to connect an external monitor is another plus. I have no complaints about this for video. I use it when I don't want to lug my main camera with the 1.4x tc plus 100-400 g.So much for short and sweet. =)
originally posted on ebay.com
THIS CAMERA ARRIVED INTACT AND ON TIME. YES I WOULD BUY FROM SELLER AGAIN. AS FOR THE CAMERA , THIS THING IS GREAT!!!! THIS HAS THE MAGNIFICATION THAT EXCEEDS THE NIKON P-1000 WHICH HAS A 3000MM MAGIFICATION . THE FZ2500 I JUST BOUGHT HAS A APPROX 3100MM MAGNIFICATION , WITH A BIGGER SENSOR A 1INCH SENSOR AS OPPOSED TO A 1/3.2 SENSOR NIKON P-1000 HAS. I WILL SAY TO GET GREAT PICS AT THIS MAGNIFICATION YOU WILL HAVE TO ANCHOR YOUR TRIPOD DOWN TO DO IT.LOVE THE ND FILTERS BUILT IN THE CAMERA, LOVE THE DYNAMIC ZOOM AND DIGITAL ZOOM ON THIS THING, THATS HOW I AM ABLE TO PULL OFF 3100MM MAGNIFICATION IF I NEED IT. GREAT IN LOW LIGHT,HAS A FAST AUTOFOCUS SYSTEM, SO FAST YOU DON'T NEED TO SETUP BACK BUTTON FOCUSING , UNLESS YOU WANT TO. THIS IS SOMETHING I FOUND OUT IN THE ... MoreTHIS CAMERA ARRIVED INTACT AND ON TIME. YES I WOULD BUY FROM SELLER AGAIN. AS FOR THE CAMERA , THIS THING IS GREAT!!!! THIS HAS THE MAGNIFICATION THAT EXCEEDS THE NIKON P-1000 WHICH HAS A 3000MM MAGIFICATION . THE FZ2500 I JUST BOUGHT HAS A APPROX 3100MM MAGNIFICATION , WITH A BIGGER SENSOR A 1INCH SENSOR AS OPPOSED TO A 1/3.2 SENSOR NIKON P-1000 HAS. I WILL SAY TO GET GREAT PICS AT THIS MAGNIFICATION YOU WILL HAVE TO ANCHOR YOUR TRIPOD DOWN TO DO IT.LOVE THE ND FILTERS BUILT IN THE CAMERA, LOVE THE DYNAMIC ZOOM AND DIGITAL ZOOM ON THIS THING, THATS HOW I AM ABLE TO PULL OFF 3100MM MAGNIFICATION IF I NEED IT. GREAT IN LOW LIGHT,HAS A FAST AUTOFOCUS SYSTEM, SO FAST YOU DON'T NEED TO SETUP BACK BUTTON FOCUSING , UNLESS YOU WANT TO. THIS IS SOMETHING I FOUND OUT IN THE MANUAL THAT NO ONE MENTIONS WHEN SELLING THIS CAMERA , IS ITS FAST AUTO FOCUSING SYSTEM.ALL I DO IS TURN THE CAMERA ON,,ITS ALREADY FOCUSING CONTINOUSLY, I PUT IT TO MY EYE OR LOOK AT SCREEN,I PUSH SHUTTER HALF WAY,PIC IS ALREADY TAKEN, THIS WILL EVEN WORK IN BURST MODE AS WELL, 4K MOVIES ON THIS THING IS AWESOME.NEED A VIDEO CAMERA...THIS IS IT....DOWNSIDE......IT IS A BEAST, ITS HEAVY SOMEWHAT........BUT YOU GET USED TO IT.....I DID......I AM SO GLAD I BOUGHT THIS. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS ....LASTLY ITS A FIXED LENS 24-480MM...ENJOY
| Aspect Ratio | 1:1, 3:2, 4:3, 16:9 |
| Sensor Type | MOS |
| Sensor Size | 1" |
| Image File Format | JPEG, Raw |
| Image Stabilization | Digital, Optical (5-Axis) |
Panasonic LUMIX FZ2500 Photo-Video Hybrid Zoom Camera [4K Video]
Delivery $10.99
Brand Panasonic Lumix Fz2500 Digital Camera Black Aus Stock
Delivery $15
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a small commission for purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you. This helps support our site. Thank you!
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ2500 Digital Camera International Model
Delivery between 18–22 June $15.52
I bought this camera as an upgrade for the FZ 1000. This camera has so many versatile features with 7 external function buttons plus 6 more on the screen to access conveniently a plethora of features. I primarily use this on my wilderness wanderings since it also takes does nice video. The lens has a variable and smooth zoom feature that can be controlled with the rotation switch by the shutter or on the base of the lens. It has built in ND with 3 different levels which I have found useful for those extra highlight situations when a slow shutter is desired. 4K of course, but it does crop to 36mm. Also a useful 4K crop where you can set on your screen a beginning and end point for the video recording to pan across the field of view for 20 or up to 40 seconds- this ... MoreI bought this camera as an upgrade for the FZ 1000. This camera has so many versatile features with 7 external function buttons plus 6 more on the screen to access conveniently a plethora of features. I primarily use this on my wilderness wanderings since it also takes does nice video. The lens has a variable and smooth zoom feature that can be controlled with the rotation switch by the shutter or on the base of the lens. It has built in ND with 3 different levels which I have found useful for those extra highlight situations when a slow shutter is desired. 4K of course, but it does crop to 36mm. Also a useful 4K crop where you can set on your screen a beginning and end point for the video recording to pan across the field of view for 20 or up to 40 seconds- this does however crop to 1080 and not 4K as far as I understand. This allows for some FHD level smooth panning videos.I love the versatility of the lens. About 480mm equivalent optical zoom and a good macro ability with minimal distance to subject about 2cm! Built in flash is decent; hot shoe mount; external mic and headphones; the battery placement allows changing batteries while mounted. Time lapse timer and built in video builder. Burst mode; multiple bracket modes; multi-image mode, variable frame rate video from 2- 120 fps (in high resolution MOV format).....Compact to carry without extra lenses. And I think the best value.How to make this camera perfect:Lens sharpness- I agree the lens is not super sharp with photos but still sharp. Interestingly, I damaged the lens barrel and had to send it in for repair. It came back with noticeably improved sharpness. That leads me to believe a minor tweak might improve that issue.Sensor: I wish it had a larger sensor. Could it be engineered with a 4/3? That would be a welcome kick up.Focus: Panasonic just put on a different focus system on the S5M2. Generally, this camera suffers from the same deficiencies of staying focused on the prime object particularly with continuous. It does a decent job staying focused during much of the zoom range, better when zooming out than in, but it is unreliable and just when you think you have a nice, smooth video zoom, it might suddenly lose focus.Better stabilization, particularly for video.Better external control of recording with phone app that would allow slow zoom so as to have completely hands off.This camera is largely ignored in discussions with influencers. No camera can be the best at everything. If I could get Panasonic to make those improvements, this would I believe come very close to the ideal versatile and affordable hybrid camera.
I'll keep this short and sweet. The video on this is perfect. I would not purchase this if you want to use it for pictures. I got this because of what I saw what it could do for video on YouTube. I own the Sony a7r3, so yeah, that's why I say that about taking pictures with this. I use it the fact that it shoots 4k and an zoom to 720mm without loss of quality is great. You lose the stabilization, but I use it for filming wildlife, which are normally not moving much. Throw a raynox 250 on this, and you have fun to last. The built in ND filters is a great addition that I utilize often. That's very helpful. The flip out screen is a plus and the ability to connect an external monitor is another plus. I have no complaints about this for video. I use it when I don't want ... MoreI'll keep this short and sweet. The video on this is perfect. I would not purchase this if you want to use it for pictures. I got this because of what I saw what it could do for video on YouTube. I own the Sony a7r3, so yeah, that's why I say that about taking pictures with this. I use it the fact that it shoots 4k and an zoom to 720mm without loss of quality is great. You lose the stabilization, but I use it for filming wildlife, which are normally not moving much. Throw a raynox 250 on this, and you have fun to last. The built in ND filters is a great addition that I utilize often. That's very helpful. The flip out screen is a plus and the ability to connect an external monitor is another plus. I have no complaints about this for video. I use it when I don't want to lug my main camera with the 1.4x tc plus 100-400 g.So much for short and sweet. =)
THIS CAMERA ARRIVED INTACT AND ON TIME. YES I WOULD BUY FROM SELLER AGAIN. AS FOR THE CAMERA , THIS THING IS GREAT!!!! THIS HAS THE MAGNIFICATION THAT EXCEEDS THE NIKON P-1000 WHICH HAS A 3000MM MAGIFICATION . THE FZ2500 I JUST BOUGHT HAS A APPROX 3100MM MAGNIFICATION , WITH A BIGGER SENSOR A 1INCH SENSOR AS OPPOSED TO A 1/3.2 SENSOR NIKON P-1000 HAS. I WILL SAY TO GET GREAT PICS AT THIS MAGNIFICATION YOU WILL HAVE TO ANCHOR YOUR TRIPOD DOWN TO DO IT.LOVE THE ND FILTERS BUILT IN THE CAMERA, LOVE THE DYNAMIC ZOOM AND DIGITAL ZOOM ON THIS THING, THATS HOW I AM ABLE TO PULL OFF 3100MM MAGNIFICATION IF I NEED IT. GREAT IN LOW LIGHT,HAS A FAST AUTOFOCUS SYSTEM, SO FAST YOU DON'T NEED TO SETUP BACK BUTTON FOCUSING , UNLESS YOU WANT TO. THIS IS SOMETHING I FOUND OUT IN THE ... MoreTHIS CAMERA ARRIVED INTACT AND ON TIME. YES I WOULD BUY FROM SELLER AGAIN. AS FOR THE CAMERA , THIS THING IS GREAT!!!! THIS HAS THE MAGNIFICATION THAT EXCEEDS THE NIKON P-1000 WHICH HAS A 3000MM MAGIFICATION . THE FZ2500 I JUST BOUGHT HAS A APPROX 3100MM MAGNIFICATION , WITH A BIGGER SENSOR A 1INCH SENSOR AS OPPOSED TO A 1/3.2 SENSOR NIKON P-1000 HAS. I WILL SAY TO GET GREAT PICS AT THIS MAGNIFICATION YOU WILL HAVE TO ANCHOR YOUR TRIPOD DOWN TO DO IT.LOVE THE ND FILTERS BUILT IN THE CAMERA, LOVE THE DYNAMIC ZOOM AND DIGITAL ZOOM ON THIS THING, THATS HOW I AM ABLE TO PULL OFF 3100MM MAGNIFICATION IF I NEED IT. GREAT IN LOW LIGHT,HAS A FAST AUTOFOCUS SYSTEM, SO FAST YOU DON'T NEED TO SETUP BACK BUTTON FOCUSING , UNLESS YOU WANT TO. THIS IS SOMETHING I FOUND OUT IN THE MANUAL THAT NO ONE MENTIONS WHEN SELLING THIS CAMERA , IS ITS FAST AUTO FOCUSING SYSTEM.ALL I DO IS TURN THE CAMERA ON,,ITS ALREADY FOCUSING CONTINOUSLY, I PUT IT TO MY EYE OR LOOK AT SCREEN,I PUSH SHUTTER HALF WAY,PIC IS ALREADY TAKEN, THIS WILL EVEN WORK IN BURST MODE AS WELL, 4K MOVIES ON THIS THING IS AWESOME.NEED A VIDEO CAMERA...THIS IS IT....DOWNSIDE......IT IS A BEAST, ITS HEAVY SOMEWHAT........BUT YOU GET USED TO IT.....I DID......I AM SO GLAD I BOUGHT THIS. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS ....LASTLY ITS A FIXED LENS 24-480MM...ENJOY
In the short time I have owned this camera, I have already put thousands of still pictures through it already and am loving it! I had a FZ1000 which was plain wearing out from extensive use and a perhaps a couple too many drops. This new camera has a somewhat longer reach than the FZ1000 which helps with backyard birds, and I hope with flowers after spring finally arrives. The continuous focus is fast, the new control wheel to change settings located near the shutter release is a godsend-and works even with gloves. And the touchscreen is extremely helpful and fast. My sunsets have been very nice, even handheld at slow shutter speeds. I still have much to explore, such as the ND filters, and I still have not had occasion to use the flash. I worried about two things ... MoreIn the short time I have owned this camera, I have already put thousands of still pictures through it already and am loving it! I had a FZ1000 which was plain wearing out from extensive use and a perhaps a couple too many drops. This new camera has a somewhat longer reach than the FZ1000 which helps with backyard birds, and I hope with flowers after spring finally arrives. The continuous focus is fast, the new control wheel to change settings located near the shutter release is a godsend-and works even with gloves. And the touchscreen is extremely helpful and fast. My sunsets have been very nice, even handheld at slow shutter speeds. I still have much to explore, such as the ND filters, and I still have not had occasion to use the flash. I worried about two things from reviews I read. 1. The focus was thought not to be sharp and 2. People said that it was more of a video camera than a still camera. I'm almost exclusively a still camera photographer, and have found it is great for stills and the focus is as sharp as my FZ1000. I considered another FZ1000 because how much I liked that, and my worries about the focus etc., but took the chance on this instead, mostly because of the longer focal length. Overall a very nice upgrade from the FZ1000. I am very pleased! Next? I'm going to read the manual to learn the features I haven't used yet:) Having had four Lumix cameras in a row makes me very familiar with the brand, but it is always helpful to read the manual eventually!
If you want versatillity in a camera you need to look at this one. no need to carry extra lens, just this and a spare battery will keep going all day. NO it doesnt give you the BESt pic possible but they can be very good once you get through the learning curve of how to use it- get past auto- which is excellent and get into manual apatures and the magic happens. GIven good light the results have been great. Raw shooting using Corel Aftershot 3 pro ( buy a lifetime licence and stop renting the opposition) and the CORRECT camera profile adds extra ability to manipulate raw to another level. Most Jpegs are more than acceptable. Add in post focus 4 k video - 430mm zoom in RAW and there isnt much else I need. I would recommend this camera for serious amatuers wanting to ... MoreIf you want versatillity in a camera you need to look at this one. no need to carry extra lens, just this and a spare battery will keep going all day. NO it doesnt give you the BESt pic possible but they can be very good once you get through the learning curve of how to use it- get past auto- which is excellent and get into manual apatures and the magic happens. GIven good light the results have been great. Raw shooting using Corel Aftershot 3 pro ( buy a lifetime licence and stop renting the opposition) and the CORRECT camera profile adds extra ability to manipulate raw to another level. Most Jpegs are more than acceptable. Add in post focus 4 k video - 430mm zoom in RAW and there isnt much else I need. I would recommend this camera for serious amatuers wanting to move up without dragging around all the spare lens etc.
I bought it to replace my very heavy but excellent Canon D 70 with a high quality 75 - 300 zoom, which I didn't want to lug on 3 mile hikes in Patagonia. The camera is easy to use, and fills the same zoom range as my Canon lens. Image quality is often, but not always outstanding. I found that at ISO 400 or higher, noise creeps into enlargements much earlier than it would in my DSLR. Since bird photography often requires such enlargement, this camera did not meet my needs as much as I hoped it would.Video quality is wonderful, but I am mostly a still photographer. Focussing is very fast and accurate; I used mostly the "spot" mode, which generally worked very well for me. There are features, like "continuous focus" that I haven't tried as yet.Another unexpected ... MoreI bought it to replace my very heavy but excellent Canon D 70 with a high quality 75 - 300 zoom, which I didn't want to lug on 3 mile hikes in Patagonia. The camera is easy to use, and fills the same zoom range as my Canon lens. Image quality is often, but not always outstanding. I found that at ISO 400 or higher, noise creeps into enlargements much earlier than it would in my DSLR. Since bird photography often requires such enlargement, this camera did not meet my needs as much as I hoped it would.Video quality is wonderful, but I am mostly a still photographer. Focussing is very fast and accurate; I used mostly the "spot" mode, which generally worked very well for me. There are features, like "continuous focus" that I haven't tried as yet.Another unexpected hitch - the RAW files cannot be opened by Adobe, nor converted to DNG files by Adobe. (unless this has changed recently) They can be opened by "Silky Pix," or by Corel Paint Shop, but since I am used to Adobe, this was inconvenient. At this time I am shooting JPEG only.At about 1200 dollars, a nature photographer might be better served by buying (from Adorama, of course) an entry level DSLR with a 75 - 300 kit lens. While I am pleased with most of the images I got with the FZ 2500, I can't recommend it to still photographers at that price point. Video enthusiasts may feel differently.
As an event videographer, I'm looking for versatility, image quality, video quality and ease of setup and use and this camera feels like a great alternative to the camcorders I'm used to using. I use the Sony AX100 and the AX53 camcorders and I'm willing to say that at the lowest bit rate of 28Mbs, the FZ2500 looks better and has a better image quality. The in body stabilization or IBIS is really good and handheld footage at long zooms is possible. In concert lighting in a theater, the image is fast to focus and does not drift. Slow zooms are kept in focus. Only when zooming quickly does it lose tracking and then quickly catches up after a quick zoom. I tried extreme low light focus testing and it seems to do a good job if not hunting. In a dark room, I pointed the ... MoreAs an event videographer, I'm looking for versatility, image quality, video quality and ease of setup and use and this camera feels like a great alternative to the camcorders I'm used to using. I use the Sony AX100 and the AX53 camcorders and I'm willing to say that at the lowest bit rate of 28Mbs, the FZ2500 looks better and has a better image quality. The in body stabilization or IBIS is really good and handheld footage at long zooms is possible. In concert lighting in a theater, the image is fast to focus and does not drift. Slow zooms are kept in focus. Only when zooming quickly does it lose tracking and then quickly catches up after a quick zoom. I tried extreme low light focus testing and it seems to do a good job if not hunting. In a dark room, I pointed the camera at a black wall to attempt to make the camera go out of focus and quickly panned to a computer monitor and it it quickly found focus! It so much faster at finding focus than the Sony AX100 with a similar 1" sensor. There are also many different ways to zoom in in this camera. There is zoom lever by the shutter button that is a way of zooming quickly. The zoom ring for subtle brief adjustments, and the Fn1 and Fn2 buttons for slow tight and wide zooms. The slowest setting in the Fn1 and Fn2 buttons is more like a creeping zoom. The medium speed is nice a smooth and still feels slower than Sony zoom. I still need to experiment with the 4K footage. So I can't comment on it. But if it's anything like the HD, I'm sure it's great. I own a Gh2, two GH4 cameras, a G85, Lx100 and a variety of great lenses. This is not a low light monster but for well lit scenes or even high contrast scenes, this camera is great. The Lumix menus are the same across the cameras and the stabilizer features are similar to that of the G85. I look for continuous video recording because I do some much event work and this camera can do that. It also has a battery door where a pigtail from a dummy battery can be inserted when I plan on using a wall adapter for extended recording of events in a stationary environment. I have had nothing but positive experiences with the Panasonic lineup and this camera is no exception. Final thoughts: This camera is a keeper and a welcome addition to my collection. I plan of doing some travel videos soon and I'm sure a majority of my daytime scenes are going to be shot using this camera! I would recommend this camera to someone who needs a really strong all in one kind of camera with a built in super zoom! Perhaps I should add the vlog option as well.
In 2006 I got a Panasonic Lumix FZ30 in 2006 and it was excellent. Its features seemed straightforward and simple and easy to use. I especially liked the manual zoom feature.After several years the sensor developed spots and I got an FZ200.The FZ200 had a motor-driven zoom and was generally a disappointment. Zoom and focus tended to overshoot, making fine control difficult.In 2014 I got an FZ1000 which was acceptable but still had the motor-driven zoom and focus overshoot problem. But, I liked using it despite its bulk and weight. It had many features I never wanted to use or take the time to learn. My main and continuing problem in everyday use was hitting a random button by mistake and then having to stop and figure out how to get back to where I was. Usually ... MoreIn 2006 I got a Panasonic Lumix FZ30 in 2006 and it was excellent. Its features seemed straightforward and simple and easy to use. I especially liked the manual zoom feature.After several years the sensor developed spots and I got an FZ200.The FZ200 had a motor-driven zoom and was generally a disappointment. Zoom and focus tended to overshoot, making fine control difficult.In 2014 I got an FZ1000 which was acceptable but still had the motor-driven zoom and focus overshoot problem. But, I liked using it despite its bulk and weight. It had many features I never wanted to use or take the time to learn. My main and continuing problem in everyday use was hitting a random button by mistake and then having to stop and figure out how to get back to where I was. Usually turning the camera off then on was the easiest solution.In 2018 I got an FZ2500. It is like an FZ1000 perfected. I especially like that the lens does not move when zooming. The greater weight and bulk must not bother me because I have not touched the FZ1000 (which still works perfectly) since getting the FZ2500.I still wish there were focus and zoom controls that were manual without an electric motor doing the actual work, but the FZ2500 does a pretty good job at both focus and zoom..The FZ2500 has a host of features I am sure I will never use, but somehow the problem of accidentally hitting the wrong button and ending up in one of those unknown functions seems not to happen very much. Since getting a Sony MVC-FD91 in 1999 I have owned many digital cameras. This one is the best by far.
A very capable camera which requires some serious learning and training on part of the user. It is somewhat heavy, but that's to be expected with the superzoom lens that has the specs that this one has. It's comfortable to hold and very responsive once you get to know how to use it's capabilities. Excellent for video work!
This is a fabulous video camera with exceptional image quality. I own 2 units and a Lumix G85 for my interview studio and the images are as good as any broadcast camera 3 times the price. The camera has ND filters, a servo port for hooking up an ext zoom controller, 10bit 4:2:2 HDMI output and optional vlog for super high quality production when paired with an Atomos Ninja, clean video output and unlimited video record time. Also the camera will record 4K in camera while outputting 1080 for live stream applications so a high quality 4k output is possible. Highly recommended for most video applications. Not a run & gun camera, not weather sealed and photos are just adequate, this camera is more suited for video use. Lots of after market add on's available like ext ... MoreThis is a fabulous video camera with exceptional image quality. I own 2 units and a Lumix G85 for my interview studio and the images are as good as any broadcast camera 3 times the price. The camera has ND filters, a servo port for hooking up an ext zoom controller, 10bit 4:2:2 HDMI output and optional vlog for super high quality production when paired with an Atomos Ninja, clean video output and unlimited video record time. Also the camera will record 4K in camera while outputting 1080 for live stream applications so a high quality 4k output is possible. Highly recommended for most video applications. Not a run & gun camera, not weather sealed and photos are just adequate, this camera is more suited for video use. Lots of after market add on's available like ext power supply. Also the position of the tripod mount is in the centre of the body allowing for the battery door to be open for ext power usage. A small but important consideration for studio use. The audio record quality is actually very good. I was recording on an external recorder but have found the in camera audio record quality for studio talking head is excellent . I have used these cameras in very demanding, long day, long week, shoot situations and they have exceeded my expectations and are rock solid. Would I use this for run & gun news or photos, no, but for studio HDMI output or high end doc use with an ext recorder, absolutely as it is possible to accomplish the shallow depth by moving the camera back and using the zoom, all in a bridge camera for around $1000US. Great image, expectational versatility in a very robust package for studio video, corporate, live stream, doc production.
| Aspect Ratio | 1:1, 3:2, 4:3, 16:9 |
| Sensor Type | MOS |
| Sensor Size | 1" |
| Image File Format | JPEG, Raw |
| Image Stabilization | Digital, Optical (5-Axis) |
