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| The cameras in this comparison. From the left, FZ1000, FZ2500, RX10M4, FZ300 |
My dream camera is one which can do everything, never requires changing lenses, is reasonably compact and reasonably affordable.
Camera makers are well aware of the potential market for such a device and have for years offered a range of models which attempt to fulfil the brief.
With no background in interchangeable lens cameras it is not surprising that Sony was early into the market with all purpose-do everything models.
One of the earliest was the Cybershot DSC-D770 of 1999.
This was about the same size and weight as the current RX10Mk4.
It had a one megapixel sensor and the lens covered a focal length range of 28-140mm.
Sony returned to this camera type at various times over the years but it was not until their “one inch” (actually 8.8x13.2mm, 15.9mm diagonal) sensor found its way into consumer models that the genuinely “do everything” camera started to look more like it could become a reality.
In the bridge camera genre the RX10 appeared in 2013 with a DSLR-like shape and a constant f2.8 24-200mm lens. This model had little appeal for me due to the limited zoom range and poor ability to follow focus on moving subjects.
In due course Sony allowed other makers to purchase their 15.9mm sensor.
Panasonic’s response to the RX10 was the FZ1000 with double the zoom range and much better follow focus capability.
The FZ1000 was the first camera which convinced me that I could give up all interchangeable lens models and do everything with just one camera.
In due course I added a wide aperture compact for interior low light situations.
However the FZ1000 has been the most important single camera model for me because of the change it made possible to my photographic practice.
It seems others are of like mind. The FZ1000 was announced in June 2014 so it is now over three years old but still available new and still selling well according to vendor listings.
I often read posts on user forums from FZ1000 owners who also found this camera allowed them to give up all their interchangeable lens gear with no regrets.
Sony followed up the RX10 with a Mk2, still with the 24-200mm lens then the Mk3 with a new and very impressive 24-600mm f2.4-4 lens of very good quality. Unfortunately the Mk3 still lacked a convincing follow focus capability.
This deficiency was at last rectified with the RX10 Mk4 which has impressive ability to hold focus on fast moving subjects.
Panasonic released the FZ2000/2500 towards the end of 2016. I see this as a complement to the FZ1000 but with enhanced video capability, rather than a replacement for it.
The FZ300 was announced in July 2015. This in my view is easily the best of those bridge cameras which have the very small so-called ½.3 inch (actually about 4.5x6.2mm) sensor. Although the FZ300 lens and sensor have the same specs as those of the previous FZ200, I find the FZ300 a much better camera with very responsive performance and good handling.
I have included the FZ300 in this comparison because on its own merits it is a very capable and versatile model which can make pictures good enough for most people most of the time in most photographic circumstances.
When I first thought of doing this four way comparison I envisaged it as a multi part work with detailed analysis and comparison of the features and capabilities of each model.
But after using the RX10Mk4 for a week and several thousand exposures it has become clear that this camera has clearly better picture quality and performance than any of the others, making it the obvious winner of the comparison and clearly best of the bridge camera genre, notwithstanding its ergonomic limitations.
Sony RX10 Mk4
This model retains the excellent lens and many other features including the body and most of the hardware from the RX10 Mk3 and adds on chip phase detect autofocus plus several refinements including a big speed boost to produce the best all-in-one bridge camera that has ever been made.
The RX10 Mk4’s specifications, features, capability, image quality and performance are all clearly better than the other models reviewed here.
For those prospective buyers who are not daunted by the price, look no further. If you want the best here it is.
For those who might be deterred by the price, wait for the deals which vendors offer at various times.
The RX10M4 offers continuous autofocus for stills at 24 frames per second, the highest rate ever achieved by any camera and higher than even the flagship A9.
I can’t find a use for this in my photographic practice. In fact I find even the Medium rate of 10 fps a bit faster than I need and yet the slow rate of 3 fps a bit too slow. An intermediate 6 fps would suit the work I do just fine.
I guess with the 24fps rate Sony is maybe doing two things
a) Saying “cop that you lot” to the other makers, establishing dominance in the camera specs “more and faster” contest and maybe
b) Moving forward to eventually merging stills and video into one capture type with variable frame rate.
The weakness of the RX10M4 (and the previous RX10 variants) is the ergonomics.
The Human-machine interface (HMI) as the technical people call it.
This is blighted by numerous faults and deficiencies which I will detail in another post. Suffice to say here that none of these is sufficiently egregious as to form an insurmountable barrier to purchase.
Panasonic FZ1000
Now getting a bit old the main appeal of the FZ1000 for the new camera buyer is its great value for money. Depending on the retailer and the deals on offer you can get almost three of these for the price of one RX10Mk4.
The FZ1000 still makes really good pictures and for those who find 400mm a long enough focal length it can be a very attractive option.
On my recent testing I found the ability of the FZ1000 to follow focus on moving subjects less accurate and consistent than the RX10Mk4.
There can also be significant lens quality variation between copies of the FZ1000 although the RX10M4 also appears to suffer from this on occasion, based on user forum reports.
Panasonic FZ2000/2500
This camera has easily the best handling and ergonomics of the four models compared here. All camera makers (including Panasonic !!) should note carefully how the user interface and the controls of the FZ2500 have been designed. It is a real photographer’s camera, a pleasure to control like a sports car.
Unfortunately this camera is let down by its lens. On its own merits the lens in the FZ2500 is not bad, (although some lenses on early release copies were reported to be unstisfactory) it is just not up to the standard of that in the RX10Mk4.
Over hundreds of photos of matched subjects I found the lens on the RX10Mk4 delivered sharper pictures than that of the FZ2500 at all focal lengths.
Panasonic FZ300
This is the smallest, lightest and least expensive of the group. I have used the FZ300 extensively and have become well acquainted with its capabilities. I rate the image quality achievable from this camera with RAW output and careful use to be at the upper end of what I could get from 35mm film and good quality prime lenses back in the film days. Add in nice handling, a very nice viewfinder, fast performance, ability to capture BIFs and that interesting 25-600mm f2.8 lens and you have quite an attractive package.
What’s more you can get almost four of these, new, for the price of one RX10M4.
If somebody told me that I have to use the FZ300 and only the FZ300 for the rest of my life, I would not be too distressed. I would just buy a clip on flash for indoor work and carry on making decently good photos.
Recommendations
1. If you want the best, forget the rest, get the RX10M4.
2. Those who use their camera primarily for video may be very well pleased by the FZ2500.
3. For the best value for money in a bridge camera used mainly for still photos, either the FZ1000 or FZ300 can do a good job. The FZ1000 with the larger sensor has better image quality but the FZ300 is smaller, is weather protected, has a longer, wider aperture lens and costs less. Note that both the FZ1000 and FZ300 can also make good quality 4K video.
What about the Canon G3X?
A 500mm supertelephoto lens and no EVF. What on earth were they thinking ???
A camera which takes several seconds to recover from one RAW shot. Who did they think would buy this thing ???
A long zoom camera with no effective ability to follow focus on moving subjects. Why ???
Canon has fallen waaaayyyy behind Sony and Panasonic in the bridge camera space.
What about Nikon and the rest of them ? Missing in action mostly.
Nikon does still have the P900 and the B700 which make decent photos considering their tiny sensors. But their performance is tediously and frustratingly slow.
What can Panasonic do now ?
We shall find out in due course I guess but to speculate:
They could try to match the RX10M4 point for point. This would mean starting with the excellent body of the FZ2500 and fitting a lens to match the Sony in every respect plus an upgrade to the DFD AF-C capability. My guess is they could do this and the result would likely cost about the same as the RX10M4.
If the FZ2500 had a lens and AF-C capability to match the RX10M4 it might have come out on top of this comparison.
Or maybe they could pull a rabbit out of a hat and come up with a greatly improved small sensor, which would allow a smaller overall body/lens size.
We shall see.
I think they have to do something though and fairly soon before big discounts make the RX10M4 more attractive financially.
Size and mass specifications all as measured by me
Model | Width mm | Height mm | Depth with filter and lens cap mm | Box volume c.c. w x h x d | Filter diameter mm | Mass with battery, card, filter, lens cap, lens hood |
Sony RX10Mk4 | 132 | 95 | 157 | 1969 | 72 | 1170 |
Panasonic FZ1000 | 137 | 99 | 138 | 1872 | 62 | 890 |
Panasonic FZ2500 | 138 | 103 | 144 | 2047 | 67 | 1055 |
Panasonic FZ300 | 131 | 92 | 124 | 1494 | 52 | 750 |
You can see that the FZ2500 has the greatest box volume. The extra width compared to the RX10M4 makes a fatter and more comfortable handle possible together with a control layout which requires fewer actions each less complex. The extra height allows a larger eyepiece and eyecup to be fitted for more comfortable viewing.
The extra length of the RX10M4 makes it more difficult to fit into standard camera bags.