Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ330EBK Bridge Camera with 25 – 600 mm
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ330EBK Bridge Camera with 25 – 600 mm Zoom and Full Range F2.8 – Black
4K Video and 4K Photo – Capture the Moment
Special moments you want to remember can occur at any time and should be captured in high resolution. Now Panasonic’s 4K technology is available for everyone. With the introduction of the Lumix FZ330, you will be able to record video in 4K (3840 x 2160 pixels, 30 fps, 100 Mbit/s). Furthermore, with the 4K Photo feature, you can extract the right photo out of a 4K video sequence easily on the camera and save it as an 8 megapixel equivalent still image.
The Lumix FZ330 frees your creativity for both video and photo.
Splash/Dustproof Rugged Design
To be tough enough to withstand even heavy field use, the Lumix FZ330 adopts splash/dustproof rugged design. It comes with sealings onto every joint, dial and button to pass the stringent test quality standard of flagship DSLM (Digital Single Lens Mirrorless) cameras. You can take the Lumix FZ330 for outdoor photography under harsh weather conditions from marshy jungle to windy desert.
1.440k-dot, 0.7x Large OLED LVF
The Lumix FZ330 comes with a high-resolution (1,440k-dot) OLED Live View Finder which allows high visibility thanks to a 10,000:1 contrast and precision framing even under direct sunlight conditions. High 0.7x magnification (35 mm camera equivalent) makes it easy to see image details. Also with all your settings displayed right in front of your eye, your pictures will always come out exactly how you want them to.
RAW Data Development in Camera
The Lumix FZ330 can shoot images in RAW-format and even develop them inside the camera, to adjust the following settings: Colour space setting (sRGB/AdobeRGB), white balance, exposure compensation, photo style, intelligent D-range control, contrast, highlight/shadow, saturation, noise reduction, intelligent resolution, sharpness.
| Dimensions: | 5.18 x 4.61 x 3.6 cm; 691 Grams |
| Model: | DMC-FZ330EBK |
| Batteries Included: | 1 Lithium Ion batteries required. (included) |
| Manufacture: | Panasonic |
| Dimensions: | 5.18 x 4.61 x 3.6 cm; 691 Grams |
| Origin: | Japan |
Positive
Size, weight and functionality
Low light capture
Value for money
Excellent bridge camera
Negative
None detected so fa
This is a replacement for exactly the same model, when a security operative managed to hurl the previous one to the steel floor of a ship’s entrance gangway. This has been my wife’s best friend for several years. The super viewfinder is crucial for her and the camera’s ease of use is tops. Super lens and good top end focal length for birdie pictures. Why not replace a machine that has been brilliant!
pros
i found that the stills in the 4k video produce very life like pictures lots of detail with fine fur
the wider aperture stays the same size thought the 600mm range offsets the rather dinky sensor that you find on iphones
the f28 wide aperture staying wide up to 600mm with a lot of practice can produce bokeh photos and very fine feathers and fur equivalent to a micro 4/3 camera only in bright sunlight
connections for a microphone and remote shutter and flash very useful for video
light
weather proof
52mm thread can take many filters and attachments
Cons
Macro is not quite macro
auto focus and tracking of high speed objects ie freezing birds in flight is not very good
iso is limited to 100 to 6400
takes decent photos but not micro 4/3 dslr quality with a proper optical lens
video stablisation not as smooth as a go pro or action camera
Its my b camera on trips if i need to take something fast and zoom i
Like all up to now.very pleased with pictures. Can’t be bad!
Very easy to use, great pictures and phenominal zoom on standard lense. There is a guy on youtube with a 10 part series on how to set up and use the camera; Graham Houghton. Check that out because it is very helpful.
Even low light photos came out fine
Practising at moment so not tried in rain to check if waterproof.
Bought this for my daughter for her birthday. She has spent many hours photographing our dogs and horses. Seems very straight forward to use and she does most of the editing etc through her phone. Would highly recommend for someone starting out.
This is easy to navigate and produces high quality photos, what more could you ask for. I got a large memory card so it has almost unlimited photos. The options for changing photos are great, no need for photoshop.
When he’s not doing this, he also uses it for taking pics of scenery and holiday snaps with his girlfriend.
My dad says it’s the best camera he has ever owned (hence he wanted the exact same again), he said its very easy to use (and my dad is a technophobe), lots of features and takes great photos whatever the weather.
Still trying to learn about how to use this camera. But looks all good so far.
This is my first proper camera and I love it, it’s easy to use although I haven’t yet tried even half of the different functions! The only minor drawback is that the less basic functions are on a cd which having recently replaced my laptop I can’t use ! Lol
Build quality excellent, crisp pictures and easy to use. Worth downloading the manual as there is so much to the camera you could miss if you don’t go through the nanual. I bought it specifically for the interval function and it hasn’t disappointed.
It could be the dream camera for people who want to go beyond just switching a camera on and taking a quick shot, an automatic that will use the correct setting but will also allow you to make own adjustments as you progress your knowledge of photography. I’m more than happy letting the camera do the work.
2nd Panasonic we own. Lovely picture and great pictures. Still learning about all the things it can do but so far so good!
Excellent buy. I used this camera for the first time in The Gambia and was impressed with the quality of the photos. No tripod but good clear photos even at full zoom.
great camera very flexible easy to use in auto but great when using manual
My photographic interests are very broad – landscape, historic buildings, wildlife, family portraits and pets. The FZ330 has produced lovely photographs in all of these categories in varying light conditions. Start up and autofocus are like lightening, the EVF is great, and a constant f2.8 throughout the zoom produces excellent clear hand held images at maximum range. Viewed on a computer, or printed up to A3 size, I would suggest that they are as good as those taken with my DSLR.
The FZ330 can handle everything from macro to high zoom, and to cover that range with a DSLR would require several lenses costing a fortune. You would also need a strong back and a very strong bag to carry them all! Professional photographers may need to lug all that gear about, but the rest of us do not with a bridge camera as good as this on the market. The FZ330 is an absolute pleasure to use.
Awsome camera – too much to talk about of how many functions this has but it takes pics like pro quality ! Great stuff !
So I have just bought back into the FZ range and am absolutely delighted with it …
-Viewfinder: superb
-Screen: touch functionality is brilliant and you can disable it if it’s not your thing
-Handling: feels just right in the hand – I tried the FZ1000 and it wasn’t nearly as comfortable
-Lens sharpness: brilliant and better in my view than the standard telephoto lenses you typically get for SLR’s
-Photo quality: very good with natural colours – I use the camera mainly for bird pictures in good daylight and have it set to ISO capped at 200 in aperture priority at F4 for best results, but you can push the ISO higher and use the F2.8 to still get excellent output in lower light.
-Video: no idea as I’ve not used it yet
All in all, I thoroughly recommend this camera for general purpose use especially if you are not someone who spends time in front of the computer looking at pictures blown up to 100% to look for noise (many do believe it or not!).
Don’t be put off by the zoom only being 600mm – many go further, but won’t match the sharpness and will have detail blotched out by noise reduction where they have to raise the ISO by at least 2 stops to compensate for a higher aperture value – only the FZ can do F2.8 all the way through to 600mm.
Extremely pleased with the camera, what value for money! Wonderful service from the seller, the first time that I have bought from them, but not the last.
I did have an issue at first as I brought a 64GB SDXC card and it was not recognised from the camera connected to the PC or straight in to a card reader due to me running windows 7. As I was switching over to a new PC with windows 10 this didn’t bother me as it worked fine on the new PC. Not an issue with the camera but just worth think about when purchasing your SD cards for it.
Overall, I thoroughly recommend this camera if you want an excellent all round camera but do not want the expense of a top level slr. It’s certainly as good as my canon eos300!
However, I fully acknowledge and appreciate that the quality of its build, imaging and range of features is superb in a camera of this type and price.
In the following review …. well, to be honest, it’s more a collection of thoughts, impressions and experiences rather than a full-blown technical review …. I will at times be comparing the FZ330 to the Canon SX60HS which was my primary camera. As of now, I think the FZ330 will replace it.
A brief bit of background will set the following thoughts into a context to help you to decide whether what I write is helpful to you or not :- I’ve been interested in photography since the mid 1970’s when, age 30, I bought a Pentax 35mm SLR which I used in conjunction with a Weston V lightmeter. I used that setup (plus a wide angle and a zoom lens) for well over 20 years before moving on to a Fuji S7000 digital camera and eventually the Canon SX60HS. My primary interests are in macro, landscape and ‘candid’ work. In the latter category, I have been asked to take informal records of guests and gatherings at 6 weddings with results that have often elicited the comment that my informal ‘captures’ have subsequently evoked better memories than the albums created by formal wedding photographers. For five of those occasions I used the S7000 and the SX60HS for one. I mention all that to validate my claim to be an experienced, ‘intuitive’ amateur rather than a technically proficient amateur. Of relevance to those and all following comments are the facts that I prefer to concentrate on getting photographs rather than navigating endless menus. I have no real interest in movies because stills are my main interest. I sometimes use my digital camera(s) for tabletop animation. I use Photoshop if I want to apply effects and have no interest whatsoever in doing that ‘in camera’.
Right – on to the cameras themselves rather than me …
The 330 takes stunning images. I became aware of that from the moment I started trying it out. I’m not a great fan of superzooming but the quality and stability of the 330 lens and system was a revelation. Equally, it’s usefulness for macro work was just as good. To my admittedly ageing eyes, the image quality of the 330 seems slightly better than for the SX60HS and it’s zoom is definitely MUCH better – albeit not as far reaching as the Canon. If you’re a dyed-in-the-wool superzoomer then maybe the 330 isn’t for you. But if you value stability and image quality then it should be a camera that you consider very carefully.
The 330 has a touchscreen. This works very well, even with a screen protector fitted to it. The SX60HS does not have the same type of screen, so this was my first experience of using one. I know that touchscreens are currently the ‘in’ thing (along with increasingly ridiculous amounts of zoom) and although it’s easy to use, I personally found that using it intruded on the process of taking a photograph. The EVFs of both cameras work exceptionally well and give very clear images in their own right. (The precursor to the SX60Hs, the SX50HS had a famously awful EVF). Perhaps because of my history using the old Pentax, I still prefer to work with a viewfinder when and where I can, so both the 330 and SX60HS allowed me to do that with ease. The 330 has an advantage in that it detects whether you are using the viewscreen or the EVF and switches between them automatically when you put or remove your eye from the EVF. That is a very useful function.
The viewscreen for the Canon is pleasingly uncluttered by mini-icons whereas the 330 screen often has many of these in view – although they can be removed at a touch of DISP button. With the 330, of course, the icons become active controls when you use the main viewscreen. At first, the camera is as intuitive to use as the Canon if (as is likely) you begin by using the ‘Intelligent Auto’ function. You can, in fact stay with that setting for quite a long time as you familiarise yourself with the camera.
To demonstrate this, I am uploading 4 photos. All were taken during the writing of this review. All were taken within 4 minutes from inside a room on a rather dull day. I used the IA setting without any subsequent tweaks, changes of setting or use of any software other than a resizer to reduce the image and file sizes so that Amazon would accept them. I’ll leave it to you to decide how well the 330 works at the basic level of Intelligent Auto. In the future, I will try to remember to upload a few additional images.
(—- UPDATE April —- I’ve just added some images to demonstrate the zoom. I deliberately chose a few quick shots in which the purpose of the zoom isn’t immediately obvious. All were handheld in a slight breeze. All zooms are maximum. They are as follows:
Canal and path – but there’s a tiny black bird on the far bank. The zoomed shot is of that bird.
Bridge over canal and power lines in sky. Tiny bird on one cable. The zoomed shot is of that bird.
Tangles branches of tree. Two collared doves on one branch. The zoomed shot is of the pair.
2nd shot along canal with path on right. The zoomed shot shows what is happening at the lock gates.
View through arch of bridge over canal. Tiny white marker in distance. The Zoomed shot is of that marker.
It is at this point that my own experience, preferences and idiosyncracies come into play – the 330 has a multitude of options, functions and settings. For me – and I stress that personal point of view – these can quickly become intrusive. However, the 330 does allow you to assign your favourite settings to several function keys as well as C1, C2 or C3 modes and this is a boon. The Canon and, let’s face it, pretty well modern bridge and DSLR cameras work in the same way. However, the 330 does seem to be extremely well designed in this respect. It’s just that as yet I haven’t mastered everything. The Canon is not as well provided with the option to assign as many different preferred settings or modes. Whereas the Canon has C1 and C2 modes accessible via the mechanical wheel, the 330 has just one ‘C’ on its wheel and you choose between C1, C2 or C3 by using the touchscreen. (There may be another way but as yet I haven’t found it).
So – at the moment, I’m finding that the 330 has a fairly steep learning curve after my experience of the type of menu systems that Canon use. I’m finding that by pressing a button at the wrong time or for the wrong reason, the camera can plunge me into a menu screen that I wasn’t expecting. This can become very frustrating but is something that will no doubt become easier and clearer with use and practise..
On the other hand, I am coming to the opinion that the 330 – once understood – will be by far the better camera. It focuses faster than the Canon, especially where zoom is concerned and the EVF gives a brighter image AND is auto switches depending upon whether you are choosing to use it or the main viewscreen. One slight problem with the EVF is that if you have the touchscreen exposed, your nose rubs against it and can leave smears.
I therefore end by repeating my belief that the 5 star rating for the 33 will be fully justified once I have got past my remaining difficulties in learning how best to use and control it. I’m not going to down-rate it simply because I still have a lot to learn about how best to use it. My experience does suggest that if you are new to digital cameras or are upgrading from a model which had fewer functions and features, then allow plenty of time to get to know how to best use the 330. However, my experiences thus far also suggest that this is a brilliant camera and that alone provides the motivation to carry on using it and learning how best to use it.
My final comment is that neither camera provides a full manual. In both cases I chose to upload the full pdf of the manuals to companies who print and bind them. The cost wasn’t excessive and was very worthwhile. The companies I used were camera-manual.com and print-my-pdf.com. From the one I ordered a spine-bound manual and from the other a spiral bound manual. Of the two types, the latter is massively more usable. Both companies provided very well produced books of the pdf files.
So there you have it – a mostly non-technical collection of thoughts and experiences which I hope will be of some use to you.
Over the years, I found that Ex-Pro products are worth the money.
Ex-Pro Panasonic DMW-BLC12E, DMW-BLC12, DE-A79B, DE-A79, DE-A80 Dual (Twin) Battery Fast Charge Digital Camera Charger for Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5, DMC-G6, DMC-GH2, DMC-FZ200, DMC-FZ1000
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Panasonic-DMW-BLC12E-DMWBLC12E-Replacement-DMC-FZ1000/dp/B00H3IBQVY?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00
I used to keep an anti-UV filter attached at all times. I now prefer to use a clear protective cover:
Panasonic Panasonic 52mm Lumix G Protective Filter
The only other type of filter I regularly use is a polariser:
Zomei Ultra Slim AGC Optical Glass PRO CPL Circular Polarizing Polarizer Lens Filter – 52mm
Good cases that suit your personal needs can be tricky to find. For the moment I use one of these, but I’m finding a few problems with it:
Mantona Premium Camera Bag black (quick access, dust cover, shoulder strap, for camera with lens and accessories)
Arrived very promptly. Delighted overall.
my only criticism is you cannot buy at a discount. Beware of cheaper imports from outside Europe ( guarantee ) & no cash back.