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Panasonic FZ100

 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100 front
 
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F2.8-5.2) lens
  • 540g - 124 x 82 x 92mm
  • Launched July 2010
  • Updated by Panasonic FZ200
  • Read full specs
  • Alternatives
  • Size Comparison
  • FAQ
Portability
67
Imaging
37
Features
62
Overall
47

Panasonic FZ100 summary

Panasonic FZ100 is Panasonic's Small Sensor Superzoom camera first revealed on July of 2010. It uses a 14 MegaPixel, CMOS 1/2.3" size sensor with a max resolution of 4320 x 3240.

Panasonic released the more recent Panasonic FZ200 (Read Full Comparison) to update this camera.

The FZ100 places at #38 out of 244 in Small Sensor Superzoom cameras and over all #479 out of 1465 for digital cameras in our collection. You should look at our Smart camera search to find camera rankings based on your custom factors.

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The following is a graph of specific factors used in the rating system.

Panasonic FZ100 family

The Panasonic FZ100 is part of a family of products. You can see the full list below.

ModelVisualizeLensResolutionSensor SizeReleased
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-FZ80 front thumbnailPanasonic FZ80
FZ100 vs FZ80
20-1200mm
F2.8-5.9
18MP1/2.3"2017
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-FZ300 front thumbnailPanasonic FZ300
FZ100 vs FZ300
25-600mm
F2.8
12MP1/2.3"2015
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Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-FZ70 front thumbnailPanasonic FZ70
FZ100 vs FZ70
20-1200mm
F2.8-5.9
16MP1/2.3"2013
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-FZ200 front thumbnailPanasonic FZ200
FZ100 vs FZ200
25-600mm
F2.8
12MP1/2.3"2012
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-FZ60 front thumbnailPanasonic FZ60
FZ100 vs FZ60
25-600mm
F2.8-5.2
16MP1/2.3"2012
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-FZ150 front thumbnailPanasonic FZ150
FZ100 vs FZ150
25-600mm
F2.8-5.2
12MP1/2.3"2012
Photography Glossary
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-FZ47 front thumbnailPanasonic FZ47
FZ100 vs FZ47
25-600mm
F2.8-5.2
12MP1/2.3"2011
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-FZ40 front thumbnailPanasonic FZ40
FZ100 vs FZ40
25-600mm
F2.8-5.2
14MP1/2.3"2010
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-FZ100 front thumbnailPanasonic FZ10025-600mm
F2.8-5.2
14MP1/2.3"2010
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-FZ35 front thumbnailPanasonic FZ35
FZ100 vs FZ35
27-486mm
F2.8-4.4
12MP1/2.3"2010
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-FZ28 front thumbnailPanasonic FZ28
FZ100 vs FZ28
27-486mm
F2.8-4.4
10MP1/2.3"2009
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Panasonic FZ100 Pros and Cons

Here is a checklist of advantages and drawbacks of the Panasonic FZ100 based on aspects that are often considered important in a camera.

built-in flash
display is selfie friendly
features face detection autofocus
features tracking autofocus
good minimum ISO (100)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
good video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
great reach (600mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes external microphone jack
includes HDMI support
incredible zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
relatively wide (25mm)
screen can move to multiple angles
supports RAW formats
you can focus manually
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
missing headphone jack
missing Timelapse function
more heavy than competition in class (540g)
pixelated screen (460 thousand dot)
sluggish at full zoom (f5.2)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
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Panasonic FZ100 Sensor features

The Panasonic FZ100 is powered by the Venus Engine FHD processor chip. The measurement of the sensor on the Panasonic FZ100 is 6.08mm x 4.56mm (1/2.3"). The 28 mm² sensor is able to capture 4320 x 3240 pixels with aspect ratios of 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9. The camera boasts Image Stabilization (Optical). In body stabilization is better than digital stabilization since the latter may lead to cropping.

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The CMOS sensor boasts 14 megapixels and supports a native ISO range of 100 to 6400. RAW photos are supported therefore you have more room to maneuver in post.

The graphic below displays the FZ100's sensor size compared to other common sizes. The FZ100 sensor comes with a crop factor of 5.9 and is showcased in green.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100 sensor size Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

To get a sense of different aspect ratios, you should refer to the visual below.

Camera sensor aspect ratios

Panasonic FZ100 dimensions

Panasonic FZ100 is 1.19 lb (540 grams / 19.05 oz) and the overall size of the camera is 124mm x 82mm x 92mm (4.9" x 3.2" x 3.6"). The weight of typical Small Sensor Superzoom camera is 387 grams and the Panasonic FZ100 is more heavy than other rivals.

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The following is a pic of the Panasonic FZ100 beside a soda so you can have a feel for its size.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100 dimensions scale

The top view here will illustrate the button arrangement on the FZ100.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100 topview buttons dials

Panasonic FZ100 Lens features

The FZ100 has a built-in lens with a focal range of 25-600mm making it a 24.0 x zoom which is huge and will make it easier to zoom right in.

At it's widest 25mm, it will have an aperture of f2.8 and that is quite sluggish and not very good in low light situations and you will probably find it hard to capture good bokeh. You will likely also need to increase your ISO giving you noisy files. For the long end, 600mm is superb zoom and comes to f5.2 making it pretty sluggish and you will have to go with slow shutter speeds.

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Panasonic FZ100 Connectivity

The FZ100 has the following connectivity:

  • USB Yes
  • HDMI Yes

Digital cameras that include NFC and / or Bluetooth support can easily be used wirelessly via smartphones. You will be able to transfer pictures and in some cases change camera settings without the hassle of connecting directly with the camera.

Some apps also stream a Liveview and hit the shutter if you are not close to the camera. If the camera contains a HDMI out, it could be attached to an external monitor. A good number of cameras will allow you to charge the battery pack using the USB socket.

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Panasonic FZ100 Video features

The max video resolution on the Panasonic FZ100 is 1920 x 1080 and it can save in AVCHD format. 1080p resolution can provide a good balance for quality vs file size but 1080p will not give you much room to downsample. Even though the body features a microphone socket, it is missing a headphone socket which means you will not be able to check your sound levels.

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Panasonic FZ100 Weather Sealing

There is no environment proofing for the Panasonic FZ100 so you have to be careful in rainy and dusty situations.

Panasonic FZ100 Display and Viewfinder

The Panasonic FZ100 houses a 3 inch fully articulated display with a resolution of 460 thousand dots.

The display is selfie friendly to get self portraits as well as group photos if needed. Please note that the display screen offers no touch support.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100 screen and viewfinder Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

The View Finder specifications regarding Panasonic FZ100 are below:

  • ViewFinder Electronic

Viewfinders are quite handy for bright outdoor situations which can make the camera display washed out and very difficult to view.

Panasonic FZ100 Shutter features

Panasonic FZ100 continuous shooting speed is 11.0 frames per second. The max shutter speed is 1/2000 seconds.

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Panasonic FZ100 Flash and Hot shoe features

Panasonic FZ100 boasts both built in flash and also external flash support.

Panasonic FZ100 Autofocusing features

Panasonic FZ100 boasts only Contrast Based Autofocus and doesn't have Phase Detect Autofocus. Phase Detection autofocusing is a lot faster & accurate than Contrast Based autofocusing. The camera boasts Face detect which makes it handy for taking photos of people.

It also includes Tracking Autofocus for subjects on the move. Panasonic FZ100 has got manual focusing in case it is required for low light situations or you want more exact control on focusing.

Photography Glossary

Panasonic FZ100 Battery life

The usual Small Sensor Superzoom camera battery life is 316. Fujifilm HS35EXR features the maximum (600) battery life for this kind of cameras.

Here is a collection of Small Sensor Superzoom cameras that come with the highest battery life:

Panasonic FZ100 for varying categories of photography

The following graph provides a outline of the Panasonic FZ100 for varying categories of photography. To see more, visit the specific paragraph below.

Panasonic FZ100 as a Portrait photography camera

The Panasonic FZ100 receives a points tally of 54 which is reasonable, meaning that it is relatively appropriate to use for portraits. Photographing portrait images favors heavily to sensor dimensions, RAW support together with the capability to use external lighting.

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focusing manually
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
comes with face detection focus
saves RAW formats
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")

Panasonic FZ100 Street photography factors

With a modest points total of 58, the Panasonic FZ100 is fairly appropriate to buy for street photography. A very good street photography camera provides a fine balance of image quality and portability.

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screen articulates fully
built in image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW files
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
heavier than competitors in class (540 grams)

Panasonic FZ100 Sports photography details

A moderate sports photography points tally of 51 suggests the Panasonic FZ100 is relatively acceptable for photographing sports. A camera needs good focusing plus continuous shooting for sports photography.

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incredible zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
includes tracking focus
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus

Panasonic FZ100 Travel photography factors

Portability is super crucial when buying a camera for travel. All things considered, the Panasonic FZ100 gets a decent 59 as a travel camera which is relatively suitable to take with you on your holidays.

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good megapixels (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
selfie friendly screen
decently wide (25mm)
great reach (600mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
heavier than average (540 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)

Panasonic FZ100 Landscape photography information

For anybody planning to purchase a camera for landscape photography, the most vital aspect will no doubt be image quality. The Panasonic FZ100 at it's reasonable rating of 51 for a landscape camera is reasonably appropriate in the current market.

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manual focus
quite wide (25mm)
screen is a good size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (14MP)
exports RAW formats
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no Time Lapse function

Vlogging with Panasonic FZ100

A vlogging camera really should offer a moving screen, microphone input and preferably image stabilization. Considering all the details, the Panasonic FZ100 is a very decent pick as a vlog camera as it gets a nice rating of 64.

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pretty wide (25mm)
selfie friendly screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect focusing
good video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
has microphone socket
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
more heavy than competitors in class (540g)

Panasonic FZ100 Alternatives

If you are trying to find replacements to the FZ100, below is a collection of the highest ranked cameras that fall in to the category of Small Sensor Superzoom.

The diagram listed below provides you an overview of the FZ100 versus it's top scoring rivals listed previously.

These are some more cameras you may regard as alternate options. To review a comprehensive comparison, visit the "compare" link.

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Specifications

General Information
Make
Panasonic
Model type
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100
Type
Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched
2010-07-21
Body design
SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Sensor type
CMOS
Powered by
Venus Engine FHD
Sensor size
1/2.3"
Sensor measurements
6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area
27.7mm²
Sensor resolution
14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio
1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution
4320 x 3240
RAW files
Max native ISO
6400
Lowest native ISO
100
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Cross type focus points
0
Lens
Lens mount type
fixed lens
Lens zoom range
25-600mm (24.0x)
Max aperture
f/2.8-5.2
Macro focusing range
1cm
Crop factor
5.9
Screen
Range of display
Fully Articulated
Display size
3 inches
Display resolution
460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type
Electronic
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating
not tested
DXO Color Depth rating
not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating
not tested
DXO Low light rating
not tested
Features
Min shutter speed
60s
Max shutter speed
1/2000s
Continuous shutter speed
11.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation
Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance
9.50 m
Flash modes
Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions
1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution
1920x1080
Video data format
AVCHD
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless
None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS
None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight
540 gr (1.19 lbs)
Dimensions
124 x 82 x 92mm (4.9" x 3.2" x 3.6")
Other
Self timer
Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media
SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots
1
Retail pricing
$500