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Panasonic FZ80 vs Panasonic FZ300 Comparison

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Camera to replace
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Panasonic FZ80

18 MP | 1/2.3 BSI-CMOS Sensor

Panasonic FZ80
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Panasonic FZ300

12 MP | 1/2.3 CMOS Sensor

Panasonic FZ300
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Panasonic FZ80 vs Panasonic FZ300 Comparison Overview

In this review, we will be comparing the FZ80 and the FZ300, two Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by Panasonic. Panasonic FZ80 was introduced to the market in January 2017 and Panasonic FZ300 was launched in July 2015. There is 18 months difference between FZ80 and FZ300 so we don't expect to see a huge technology difference between these two cameras but it would still give an advantage to younger FZ80, especially in sensor tech.

We can expect this to be a close match up because both models are ranked amongst the best in Small Sensor Superzoom cameras. Out of 245 cameras in this class, Panasonic FZ80 is ranked #8 with an overall score of 59 and Panasonic FZ300 is ranked #1 with an overall score of 69.

Here is a brief look at the main features of the Panasonic FZ80 and Panasonic FZ300 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Panasonic FZ80 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2017-01-04
  • 18MP - 1/2.3 BSI-CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 80 - 3200 ( expands to 6400)
  • 20-1200 mm F2.8-5.9 Zoom Lens
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3.00" Fixed Type Screen
  • 1166k dot Electronic viewfinder
  • 10.0fps continuous shooting
  • 4K (UHD) - 3840 x 2160 video resolution
  • 240fps High-Speed Video
  • Built-in Wireless
  • 616g. 130 x 94 x 119 mm
  • Also known as Lumix DMC-FZ85

Panasonic FZ300 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2015-07-16
  • 12MP - 1/2.3 CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • 25-600 mm F2.8 Zoom Lens
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3.00" Fully Articulated Screen
  • 1440k dot Electronic viewfinder
  • 12.0fps continuous shooting
  • 4K (UHD) - 3840 x 2160 video resolution
  • Built-in Wireless
  • 691g. 132 x 92 x 117 mm
  • Weather-sealed Body
  • Replaced Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200 Compare

Let's read on in the following sections in order to better understand in detail how the Panasonic FZ80 and Panasonic FZ300 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.


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Reasons to choose Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ80 over Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300
Sensor Resolution
18 MP vs 12 MP 50% more pixels
Weight
616 g vs 691 g 75 g lighter
Focal Length - Wide
20mm vs 25mm 5 mm wider coverage
Focal Length - Tele
1200mm vs 600mm 600 mm longer tele reach
Optical Zoom
60x vs 24x more flexible focal coverage
Flash Coverage
14.1m vs 8.8m 5.3m longer range
Focus Bracketing
Yes vs No Take multiple photos shifting focus point
Focus Stacking
Yes vs No Stacks photos in-camera to maximize depth of field
UHS Card Support
UHS-I vs none Read/Write in High Speeds
CHECK FZ80 PRICE


Reasons to choose Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300 over Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ80
LCD Screen
Fully Articulated vs Fixed Type Flexible shooting positions
Max ISO
6.400 vs 3.200 100% higher Max ISO
Max Mech. Shutter
1/16000s vs 1/2000s faster mechanical shutter
Continuous Shooting
12.0fps vs 10.0fps 2 fps faster
Battery Life
380 shots vs 330 shots 50 more frames with a single charge
Microphone Port
Yes vs No High quality audio recording option
Environmental Sealing
Yes vs No shoot at tough conditions
Max Aperture - Tele
2.80 vs 5.90 faster lens at tele
Viewfinder Resolution
1440k dot vs 1166k dot 23% higher resolution
Sensor Pixel Area
2.34µm2 vs 1.56µm2 49% larger pixel area
CHECK FZ300 PRICE

Common Strengths of Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ80 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300
Wireless Connection
Yes vs Yes Better connectivity
Image Stabilization
Optical vs Optical Sharper images at longer focal lengths and long exposures
Built-in Flash
Yes vs Yes Useful in low-light
External Flash Shoe
Yes vs Yes Better for flash photography
Touch Screen
Yes vs Yes Easy control of camera functions
Viewfinder
Yes (Electronic) vs Yes (Electronic) Better framing and control
RAW Support
Yes vs Yes Better image quality
Face Detection Focus
Yes vs Yes very handy for portraits
LCD Screen Resolution
1.040k dots vs 1.040k dots High resolution screens
Max Continuous Shooting
10.0fps vs 12.0fps Fast shooting speeds
Manual Focusing
Yes vs Yes both have manual focusing modes
Manual Exposure
Yes vs Yes better exposure control
Timelapse Recording
Yes vs Yes creative shooting
Focal Length - Tele
1200mm vs 600mm Very good Telezoom
AE Bracketing
Yes vs Yes Useful for tough lighting conditions and HDR
4K Photo Mode
Yes vs Yes Extract 8MP photos from 4K Video
Post Focus Mode
Yes vs Yes Change focus point after taking a shot
Smartphone Remote
Yes vs Yes Remote control your camera with a smartphone
Common Weaknesses of Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ80 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300
Panasonic FZ80 vs Panasonic FZ300: Physical Specs and Body Features Comparison

Size and weight are big decision factors when you are trying to find the ideal camera for your needs. In this section, we are going to illustrate the Panasonic FZ80 and Panasonic FZ300 side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Panasonic FZ80 has external dimensions of 130 x 94 x 119 mm (5.12 x 3.7 x 4.69″) and weighs 616 g (1.36 lb / 21.73 oz) (including batteries). Panasonic FZ300 has external dimensions of 132 x 92 x 117 mm (5.2 x 3.62 x 4.61″) and weighs 691 g (including batteries).

Below you can see the front-view size comparison of the Panasonic FZ80 and the Panasonic FZ300. Panasonic FZ300 is 2mm shorter and 2mm thinner than Panasonic FZ80 but it is also 2mm wider.

Panasonic FZ80 vs Panasonic FZ300 Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of the Panasonic FZ80 and the Panasonic FZ300 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of the Panasonic FZ80 and Panasonic FZ300.

Panasonic FZ80 vs Panasonic FZ300 Camera Size Comparison - Back View
Comparison image of the Panasonic FZ80 and the Panasonic FZ300 Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Panasonic FZ80 and Panasonic FZ300.
Panasonic FZ80 vs Panasonic FZ300 Camera Size Comparison - Top View
Top View Comparison image of the Panasonic FZ80 and the the Panasonic FZ300 Size

Weight is another important factor, especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Panasonic FZ80 is 75g lighter than the Panasonic FZ300 but we don't think this will make a significant difference.

Weight Comparison

Bridge Cameras

FZ80
FZ300
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

Bridge Cameras

FZ80
FZ300
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

Thanks to the weather-sealed body of the FZ300, you can use this camera with more confidence under conditions where there is risk of exposure to water and dust compared to the FZ80.

LCD Screen Size and Features

Panasonic FZ80 and Panasonic FZ300's LCD screens have the same diagonal size of 3.00 inches.

On the other hand, Panasonic FZ300 sports a Fully Articulated screen which you can change the angle and position of the screen almost freely, making it possible to shoot from waist or over-the-head levels, and especially very useful for shooting selfies and video. Panasonic FZ80's LCD screen is a fixed type which provides almost no flexibility in shooting positions compared to FZ300.


Panasonic FZ80 vs Panasonic FZ300: Sensor Comparison

Panasonic FZ80 has a 18.0MP 1/2.3 (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized BSI-CMOS sensor and features Venus Engine processor. On the other hand, Panasonic FZ300 has a 12.0MP 1/2.3 (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized CMOS sensor and features Venus Engine processor.

Panasonic FZ80's sensor provides 6MP more than Panasonic FZ300's sensor, which gives a significant advantage in real life. You can print your images larger or crop more freely. On the other hand, please keep in mind that Max sensor resolution is not the only determinant of resolving power. Factors such as the optical elements, low pass filter, pixel size and sensor technology also affects the final resolution of the captured image.

Below you can see the FZ80 and FZ300 sensor size comparison.

Panasonic FZ80 vs Panasonic FZ300 Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Panasonic FZ80 and Panasonic FZ300 Cameras


Panasonic FZ80 and Panasonic FZ300 have the same sensor sizes so they will provide same level of control over the depth of field when used with same focal length and aperture. On the other hand, since Panasonic FZ300 has 49% larger pixel area (2.34µm2 vs 1.56µm2) compared to Panasonic FZ80, it has larger pixel area to collect light hence potential to have less noise in low light / High ISO images.

Panasonic FZ80 vs Panasonic FZ300 Lens Specs Comparison

Panasonic FZ80 features a 20-1200 mm F2.8-5.9 60x zoom lens whereas Panasonic FZ300 features a 25-600 mm F2.8 24x zoom lens.

Panasonic FZ80 has 5mm wider coverage than the Panasonic FZ300. Both cameras has a max aperture of f2.80 at the wide end. On the tele end, Panasonic FZ80 has 600mm longer reach than the Panasonic FZ300. However, with a max aperture of f2.80, Panasonic FZ300 is faster at tele end.

Wide Coverage

DSLR-Like Cameras

FZ80
FZ300
Widest - Samsung WB2200F
Average
Telezoom

DSLR-Like Cameras

FZ80
FZ300
Longest - Nikon P1000
Average
Max Aperture at Tele

DSLR-Like Cameras

FZ80
FZ300
Fastest - Olympus 1
Average
Max Aperture at Wide

DSLR-Like Cameras

FZ80
FZ300
Fastest - Sony RX10 III
Average
What types of Photography are Panasonic FZ80 and Panasonic FZ300 Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Panasonic FZ80 and Panasonic FZ300 for five different photography types in order to make your decision process easier in case you are specifically interested in one or more of these areas.

Panasonic FZ80 for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE

Panasonic FZ300 for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE
Very High Resolution Sensor: 18.0MP
Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
External Flash Shoe
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Average Ergonomics&Handling
Small 1/2.3 sensor
Read the details
Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
External Flash Shoe
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
Average Ergonomics&Handling
Small 1/2.3 sensor
Read the details

Panasonic FZ80 for Street Photography

GOOD

Panasonic FZ300 for Street Photography

GOOD
Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Fast Lens at Wide: f2.80
20 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Medium sized Body
Small 1/2.3 sensor
Read the details
Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Fully Articulated LCD Screen
Fast Lens at Wide: f2.80
25 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Medium sized Body
Small 1/2.3 sensor
Read the details

Panasonic FZ80 for Sports Photography

AVERAGE

Panasonic FZ300 for Sports Photography

GOOD
Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
External Flash Shoe
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Fast Continuous Shooting: 10.0fps
49 Focus Points
Wireless Connection
1200 mm Tele Lens
Average Ergonomics&Handling
Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
Environmental Sealings
Slow Lens at Tele: f5.90
Read the details
Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
External Flash Shoe
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Fast Continuous Shooting: 12.0fps
Environmental Sealings
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/16000s
49 Focus Points
Wireless Connection
600 mm Tele Lens
Fast Lens at Tele: f2.80
Average Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Panasonic FZ80 for Daily Photography

AVERAGE

Panasonic FZ300 for Daily Photography

GOOD
RAW shooting capability
60.0X Optical Zoom
Medium size Body
Small 1/2.3 sensor
616g
Body Thickness 119mm
Read the details
RAW shooting capability
Environmental Sealings
24.0X Optical Zoom
Medium size Body
Small 1/2.3 sensor
691g
Body Thickness 117mm
Read the details

Panasonic FZ80 for Landscape Photography

POOR

Panasonic FZ300 for Landscape Photography

POOR
Very High Resolution Sensor: 18.0MP
RAW shooting capability
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
20 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small 1/2.3 sensor
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details
RAW shooting capability
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Environmental Sealings
25 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
Small 1/2.3 sensor
Read the details

Panasonic FZ80 vs Panasonic FZ300: OUR DECISION

You may have already made your decision about which camera suits better for your needs and your budget so far, but in case you wonder how we rated Panasonic FZ80 and Panasonic FZ300, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 69 different specs, current price and DxO Mark scores (where possible) in order to make a more objective and consistent comparison.

Here is a summary of how Panasonic FZ80 and Panasonic FZ300 scores compare:

Panasonic FZ80
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #17 out of 113 in SLR-like (bridge) cameras
Ranked #306 out of 1260 in all Cameras
Panasonic FZ300
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #4 out of 113 in SLR-like (bridge) cameras
Ranked #156 out of 1260 in all Cameras

Panasonic FZ300 has a higher Overall Score than the Panasonic FZ80 and would be our choice if we have to decide between these two cameras.

Panasonic FZ80
Panasonic FZ80
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Panasonic FZ300
Panasonic FZ300
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Panasonic FZ300 vs Panasonic FZ80 Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ80 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300
Brand Panasonic Panasonic
Announced 2017-01-04 2015-07-16
Body Type SLR-like (bridge) SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor
Type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Size 1/2.3 1/2.3
Dimensions 6.17 x 4.55 mm 6.17 x 4.55 mm
Area 28.07mm2 28.07mm2
Megapixels 18 megapixels 12 megapixels
Max Resolution 4896 x 3672 4000 x 3000
Max Native Light sensitivity 3,200 ISO 6,400 ISO
Max Boosted Light Sensitivity 6400 ISO -
Min Native Light sensitivity 80 ISO 100 ISO
RAW Support
Autofocus
AF Touch
AF Continuous
AF Single
AF Tracking
AF Selective
AF Center
AF Multi Area
AF Live View
AF Face Detection
AF Contrast Detection
AF Phase Detection
Number of Focus Points 49 49
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens Focal Range 20-1200 mm (60x) 25-600 mm (24x)
Max Aperture F2.8-5.9 F2.8
Macro Focus Range 1cm 1cm
Screen
Type Fixed type Fully Articulated
Size 3.00" 3.00"
Resolution 1,040k dots 1,040k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder Resolution 1,166k dots 1,440k dots
Viewfinder Coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder Magnification 0.46x n/a
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/2000s 1/16000s
Max Electronic Shutter 1/16000s n/a
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Built-in Image Stabilization Optical Optical
Built-in Flash
Flash Range 14.10 m (at Auto ISO) 8.80 m (at Auto ISO)
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 10.0 fps 12.0 fps
Multi-Segment Metering
Average Metering
Spot Metering
Partial Metering
AF-Area Metering
Center Weighted Metering
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution 3840 x 2160 3840 x 2160
Video Formats MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity Built-In Built-In
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 616g 691g
Dimensions 130 x 94 x 119mm 132 x 92 x 117mm
Battery Life 330 shots 380 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS None None
DxO Sensor Scores
Report a correction Report a correction


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