Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ150 Pro Reviews

THE FZ150 is a solid and capable superzoom camera that boasts impressive image quality considering it's 24X optical zoom range. Sharpness is high, aberrations are well-controlled, and its capable optical image stabilization system makes working at its extreme effective focal lengths relatively pain-free.

The Panasonic Lumix FZ150 is among the best superzoom cameras available on the market. It may not have the very best picture quality, nor is its 24x optical zoom lens the grandest out there. But what the FZ150 does get right you'll more than know about: the autofocus speed is superb, the burst mode super-fast, Raw shooting is a very big tick in the box and the lens-based Power OIS stabilisation is excellent. If money is no object and you're after an ‘all rounder' superzoom camera then there's little better than the Lumix FZ150.

The Panasonic FZ150 is undoubtedly expensive for what is essentially a seriously beefed-up compact camera, but with its stand-out new sensor it could well be the only still and video camera that most people actually require. Having the ability to shoot everything from wide-angle landscapes to close-up action shots and capture some of the best quality video on the market, all from one light and relatively compact device, is a real attraction of this camera, coupled with the FZ series' proven handling and ease-of-use. Watch out Sony, Panasonic have seriously upped their game with the new Lumix DMC-FZ150...

Like the FZ47, the Panasonic Lumix FZ150 combines a 24x zoom with a 12-megapixel sensor in a compact design light enough to carry in your hand for hours, that puts all the controls that matter right at your fingertips. That makes it a pleasure to use in almost any situation. While it isn't a fatal flaw, the FZ150 does tend to blow out the highlights (like most digicams) but the EV control is easily accessible to make the right adjustment right away. And while noise reduction has been improved, using ISO 400 or above will reduce detail, although not evenly across the image. Panasonic has refined its noise suppression algorithms to handle highlight detail differently from shadow detail. A boon to brunettes if not to blondes. You also have to admire the autofocus speed. There's almost no shutter lag, even at telephoto, when you prefocus, a real benefit in a megazoom. There are a enough tricks like High-Speed video and Handheld Night Shot to amuse anyone, but there's also some unusual but helpful features like a hot shoe, RAW support, and the side lever for focus or zoom control. That makes the FZ150 a photographer's camera.

This camera does everything, does it brilliantly and at an amazing price. SLR snobs may scoff; for everyone else, it’s a fantastic buy

The Panasonic Lumix FZ150 is one of the most satisfying all-round super-zoom cameras I've tested, and all it took was a sensor upgrade over the previous model. Last year's Lumix FZ100 was already packed to the hilt with features to delight enthusiasts, but the image quality was disappointing. Now by simply fitting a lower resolution sensor with better processing, the FZ150 finally shows us what this powerful chassis is capable of. With the FZ150 you get a very usable 25-600mm lens range with great stabilisation, snappy autofocus and effective tracking. You get also get very fast continuous shooting and the choice of full manual or fuss-free automatic exposures, along with the ability to shoot in RAW, which really does record greater tonal detail than in-camera JPEGs. There's great quality 1080p video, complete with full manual control, a microphone input which works with third party mics (via an adapter) and doubles-up as a remote control / intervalometer socket, a selection of special effects and the ability to zoom or take stills while filming. Then there's the detailed 3in fully-articulated screen and flash hotshoe. To be fair, if you swapped 1080p for 1080i and lost the special effects, you'd pretty much have the earlier FZ100's feature-set, but again the crucial difference this time round is Panasonic has fixed the image quality to be as good as, and in some cases slightly better than its rivals.

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ150 offers a long 24x zoom range, 1080p video recording, and fast continuous shooting. It's priced a little high when you compare it with competitors, but it's still a very capable camera.

Ultimately the thing that sticks in the throat with regard to the FZ150 is the price, which is expensive for a fixed lens camera, and could alternatively buy you a starter digital SLR and standard zoom lens. OK, so that won’t offer anywhere near the focal range out of the box that the FZ150 offers, but it will provide slightly more versatility in years to come. Having said that, street pricing will be cheaper and if it’s just the one camera and the one lens you’re after, then there is certainly a place for this Lumix and its super zoom ilk, even in the age of the Compact System Camera. And incidentally, for those on a budget who don’t need a tilt and rotate screen, both resolution and optical zoom spec are matched by the less pricey Panasonic FZ48 at a suggested price around £350.

The Panasonic Lumix FZ150 is an extremely competent all round camera providing a wealth of useful features, a large optical zoom and an emphasis on image quality and speed, thanks to the 12 megapixel MOS sensor.

Hobbyists and enthusiasts who want a megazoom camera with a lot of control over final results should strongly consider the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ150.

With its huge focal range and generous range of features, including the ability to record Raw image files, the FZ100 is primarily a camera of convenience. Compared to other superzooms in particular and compact cameras in general, the FZ150’s image quality scores quite well, although it still falls some way short of what cameras with larger sensors are capable of. At 24x the FZ150 isn't the furthest reaching superzoom on the market either, although it does offer a good range of features alongside solid hi-def movie recording abilities. Ultimately, if convenience tops your list of priorities and having a 24x optical zoom to hand is more important than core image quality, then the FZ150 certainly merits a closer look.

Record-breaking performance, dependable image quality, superb controls and a fantastic video mode make this versatile camera worth the high price.