A few months ago, I bought a Panasonic FZ1000 that was a open box item. It was a good deal. Its price was reduced but it still qualified for Panasonic's 3 year warranty program. It filled the super zoom void in my gear line up that had existed since I sold off all of my fixed lens Nikons (A1000, B700 and P1000). I hadn't intended to replace them since I had acquired three Nikon interchangeable lens cameras (ILC), a D7500, D750 and Z50.
Then I saw the FZ1000 mentioned in a discussion of cameras with 1" sensors. I was intrigued by the fact that a camera that was released in 2014 was part of the discussion in 2020. With some research, I found that it had more than a few features similar to my ILCs, particularly the ability select focus points and to set up back button focus (BBF). The professional reviews gave it high marks so I decided to take a flyer. I wasn't disappointed but once I entered that rabbit hole, I began to compare the FZ1000 with its siblings, the FZ2500 and FZ1000 II.
I dismissed the FZ2500 from consideration. Reviewers seem to be in agreement that it takes stills that compare well with the FZ1000 but that it's definitely intended to excite folks who shoot a lot of video. I can't remember the last time I shot a video but I can almost guarantee that when I did, I used my phone to do so. Also, I wasn't really swayed by the additional reach or the integrated ND filter that it incorporates.
For the FZ1000 II, the reviews mention the obvious improvements (touch screen, improved EVF, lower weight, extending the aperture range to f/11, etc). Of these, two are particularly important in my view. A deeper buffer is a welcome addition for continuous shooting when capturing RAW+JPG. The added command dial more closely replicates my ILCs as well as addressing potential wear problems with the single push style dial on the FZ1000. The FZ1000 II reviews, however, seem to miss or gloss over some of the more subtle differences between the FZ1000 and the FZ1000 II. Admittedly, these may only be important to me. For others, YMMV.
The location of the AF/AE LOCK button on the FZ1000 II versus where it is on the FZ1000 has changed. Based on some rough measurements, it appears to have been moved slightly to the right (3-4mm) and down (5-6mm) relative to the right side and bottom surface, respectively, of the FZ1000 II body. Also, the separation between the AF/AE LOCK button and the Q.Menu button (Fn6) appears to have increased. That means that the AF/AE LOCK button which I set up for back button focus (BBF) is easier to reach and the possibility of inadvertently calling up the Q.Menu is reduced.
With regard to Fn buttons, reviews seem to pretty much ignore the defaults assigned to Fn1 and Fn2 on the left side of the lens. I'm a fan of both choices. Fn1 is Focus Area Set and Fn2 is AF-ON. Both are useful functions that are available without burrowing into any menu. Likewise, the "soft" function buttons (Fn9 - Fn13) that are available along the right edge of the touch screen in REC mode also get little or no mention. Available by touching the screen, their default assignments include such useful items as setting up WiFi (Fn9), and displaying the Level Gauge (Fn10) or a Histogram (Fn11).
In the REC menu, when the camera is configured for Auto Focus Flexible (AFF) or Auto Focus Continuous (AFC), an important item has been added, AF Sensitivity. It allows selection of how slowly/quickly the AF system will react before refocusing. For example, suppose a subject (think kids or critters) becomes blocked from view. This feature lets the photographer decide, if that circumstance occurs, whether to delay an AF change (wait to reacquire the subject) or quickly refocus on the new subject. This is a feature that is included in both of my Nikon DSLRs.
In the end, I gifted my FZ1000 to a family member and bought an FZ1000 II. I haven't taken a lot of shots with it yet but I'm quite happy with it so far based on admittedly limited use. Here are some images.
https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/64363628
Then I saw the FZ1000 mentioned in a discussion of cameras with 1" sensors. I was intrigued by the fact that a camera that was released in 2014 was part of the discussion in 2020. With some research, I found that it had more than a few features similar to my ILCs, particularly the ability select focus points and to set up back button focus (BBF). The professional reviews gave it high marks so I decided to take a flyer. I wasn't disappointed but once I entered that rabbit hole, I began to compare the FZ1000 with its siblings, the FZ2500 and FZ1000 II.
I dismissed the FZ2500 from consideration. Reviewers seem to be in agreement that it takes stills that compare well with the FZ1000 but that it's definitely intended to excite folks who shoot a lot of video. I can't remember the last time I shot a video but I can almost guarantee that when I did, I used my phone to do so. Also, I wasn't really swayed by the additional reach or the integrated ND filter that it incorporates.
For the FZ1000 II, the reviews mention the obvious improvements (touch screen, improved EVF, lower weight, extending the aperture range to f/11, etc). Of these, two are particularly important in my view. A deeper buffer is a welcome addition for continuous shooting when capturing RAW+JPG. The added command dial more closely replicates my ILCs as well as addressing potential wear problems with the single push style dial on the FZ1000. The FZ1000 II reviews, however, seem to miss or gloss over some of the more subtle differences between the FZ1000 and the FZ1000 II. Admittedly, these may only be important to me. For others, YMMV.
The location of the AF/AE LOCK button on the FZ1000 II versus where it is on the FZ1000 has changed. Based on some rough measurements, it appears to have been moved slightly to the right (3-4mm) and down (5-6mm) relative to the right side and bottom surface, respectively, of the FZ1000 II body. Also, the separation between the AF/AE LOCK button and the Q.Menu button (Fn6) appears to have increased. That means that the AF/AE LOCK button which I set up for back button focus (BBF) is easier to reach and the possibility of inadvertently calling up the Q.Menu is reduced.
With regard to Fn buttons, reviews seem to pretty much ignore the defaults assigned to Fn1 and Fn2 on the left side of the lens. I'm a fan of both choices. Fn1 is Focus Area Set and Fn2 is AF-ON. Both are useful functions that are available without burrowing into any menu. Likewise, the "soft" function buttons (Fn9 - Fn13) that are available along the right edge of the touch screen in REC mode also get little or no mention. Available by touching the screen, their default assignments include such useful items as setting up WiFi (Fn9), and displaying the Level Gauge (Fn10) or a Histogram (Fn11).
In the REC menu, when the camera is configured for Auto Focus Flexible (AFF) or Auto Focus Continuous (AFC), an important item has been added, AF Sensitivity. It allows selection of how slowly/quickly the AF system will react before refocusing. For example, suppose a subject (think kids or critters) becomes blocked from view. This feature lets the photographer decide, if that circumstance occurs, whether to delay an AF change (wait to reacquire the subject) or quickly refocus on the new subject. This is a feature that is included in both of my Nikon DSLRs.
In the end, I gifted my FZ1000 to a family member and bought an FZ1000 II. I haven't taken a lot of shots with it yet but I'm quite happy with it so far based on admittedly limited use. Here are some images.
https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/64363628
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