Panasonic FZ2500 vs FZ1000

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ2500 (called Panasonic FZ2000 in some regions) and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1000 are two digital cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively, in September 2016 and June 2014. Both the FZ2500 and the FZ1000 are fixed lens compact cameras that are equipped with an one-inch sensor. Both cameras offer a resolution of 20 megapixels.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications

Panasonic FZ2500		Panasonic FZ1000
Fixed lens compact camera		Fixed lens compact camera
24-480mm f/2.8-4.5		25-400mm f/2.8-4.0
20 MP – 1" sensor		20 MP – 1" sensor
4K/30p Video		4K/30p Video
ISO 125-12,800 (80 - 25,600)		ISO 125-12,800 (80 - 25,600)
Electronic viewfinder (2360k dots)		Electronic viewfinder (2359k dots)
3.0" LCD – 1040k dots		3.0" LCD – 921k dots
Swivel touchscreen		Swivel screen (not touch-sensitive)
12 shutter flaps per second		12 shutter flaps per second
350 shots per battery charge		360 shots per battery charge
138 x 102 x 135 mm, 915 g		137 x 99 x 131 mm, 831 g

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Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ2500 and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1000? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

Body comparison

The physical size and weight of the Panasonic FZ2500 and the Panasonic FZ1000 are illustrated in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive views from the front, the top, and the rear side are shown. All width, height and depth dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Panasonic FZ1000 is somewhat smaller (4 percent) than the Panasonic FZ2500. Moreover, the FZ1000 is markedly lighter (9 percent) than the FZ2500. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the FZ2500 nor the FZ1000 are weather-sealed.

The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the two cameras alongside a broader set of comparators. In case you want to display and compare another camera duo, you can use the CAM-parator app to select your camera combination among a large number of options.

Body Specifications

#		Camera Model	Camera Width	Camera Height	Camera Depth	Camera Weight	Battery Life	Weather Sealing	Camera Launch	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price
1.		Panasonic FZ2500	138 mm	102 mm	135 mm	915 g	350	n	Sep 2016	1,199	amazon.com
2.		Panasonic FZ1000	137 mm	99 mm	131 mm	831 g	360	n	Jun 2014	899	ebay.com
3.		Canon G9 X Mark II	98 mm	58 mm	31 mm	206 g	235	n	Jan 2017	529	ebay.com
4.		Canon G3 X	123 mm	77 mm	105 mm	733 g	300	Y	Jun 2015	999	ebay.com
5.		Canon G5 X	112 mm	76 mm	44 mm	353 g	210	n	Oct 2015	799	ebay.com
6.		Canon G9 X	98 mm	58 mm	31 mm	209 g	220	n	Oct 2015	529	ebay.com
7.		Panasonic LX10	106 mm	60 mm	42 mm	310 g	260	n	Sep 2016	699	amazon.com
8.		Panasonic ZS100	111 mm	65 mm	44 mm	312 g	300	n	Jan 2016	699	ebay.com
9.		Sony RX10 III	133 mm	94 mm	127 mm	1051 g	420	Y	Mar 2016	1,499	ebay.com
10.		Sony RX100 V	102 mm	58 mm	41 mm	299 g	220	n	Oct 2016	999	ebay.com
11.		Sony RX10 II	129 mm	88 mm	102 mm	813 g	400	Y	Jun 2015	1,299	ebay.com
12.		Sony RX100 IV	102 mm	58 mm	41 mm	298 g	280	n	Jun 2015	999	ebay.com
13.		Sony RX100 III	102 mm	58 mm	41 mm	290 g	320	n	May 2014	799	ebay.com
14.		Sony RX100 II	102 mm	58 mm	38 mm	281 g	350	n	Jun 2013	749	ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
Convert to Imperial

Any camera decision will naturally be influenced heavily by the price. The manufacturer’s suggested retail prices give an idea on the placement of the camera in the maker’s lineup and the broader market. The FZ1000 was launched at a somewhat lower price (by 25 percent) than the FZ2500, which makes it more attractive for photographers on a tight budget. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down.

Sensor comparison

The size of the imaging sensor is a crucial determinant of image quality. All other things equal, a large sensor will have larger individual pixel-units that offer better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Moreover, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more control over depth-of-field in the image and, thus, the ability to better isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be more expensive and lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Both cameras under consideration feature an one-inch sensor and have a format factor (sometimes also referred to as "crop factor") of 2.7. Within the spectrum of camera sensors, this places the review cameras among the medium-sized sensor cameras that aim to strike a balance between image quality and portability. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

The two cameras under review do not only share the same sensor size, but also offer an identical resolution of 20 megapixels. This similarity in sensor specs implies that both the FZ2500 and the FZ1000 have the same pixel density, as well as the same pixel size. It should, however, be noted that the FZ2500 is much more recent (by 2 years and 3 months) than the FZ1000, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time.

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ2500 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 125 to ISO 12800, which can be extended to ISO 80-25600. The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1000 offers exactly the same ISO settings.

In terms of underlying technology, the FZ2500 is build around a BSI-CMOS sensor, while the FZ1000 uses a CMOS imager. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

Consistent information on actual sensor performance is available from DXO Mark for many cameras. This service is based on lab testing and assigns an overall score to each camera sensor, as well as ratings for dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), color depth ("DXO Portrait"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"). Of the two cameras under review, the FZ2500 has a notably higher overall DXO score than the FZ1000 (overall score 6 points higher), which gives it an advantage in terms of imaging quality. This advantage is based on 0.9 bits higher color depth, 0.9 EV in additional dynamic range, and 0.1 stops in additional low light sensitivity. The following table provides an overview of the physical sensor characteristics, as well as the sensor quality measurements for a selection of comparators.

Sensor Characteristics

#		Camera Model	Sensor Class	Resolution (MP)	Horiz. Pixels	Vert. Pixels	Video Format	DXO Portrait	DXO Landscape	DXO Sports	DXO Overall
1.		Panasonic FZ2500	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	4K/30p	23.0	12.6	538	70
2.		Panasonic FZ1000	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	4K/30p	22.1	11.7	517	64
3.		Canon G9 X Mark II	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	1080/60p	21.9	12.5	522	65
4.		Canon G3 X	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	1080/60p	21.4	12.3	521	63
5.		Canon G5 X	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	1080/60p	21.4	12.3	471	62
6.		Canon G9 X	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	1080/60p	21.5	12.3	495	63
7.		Panasonic LX10	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	4K/30p	22.8	12.5	581	70
8.		Panasonic ZS100	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	4K/30p	22.8	12.5	559	70
9.		Sony RX10 III	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	4K/30p	23.1	12.6	472	70
10.		Sony RX100 V	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	4K/30p	22.8	12.4	586	70
11.		Sony RX10 II	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	4K/30p	23.0	12.6	531	70
12.		Sony RX100 IV	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	4K/30p	22.8	12.6	591	70
13.		Sony RX100 III	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	1080/60p	22.4	12.3	495	67
14.		Sony RX100 II	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	1080/60p	22.5	12.4	483	67

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but can also record movies. The two cameras under consideration both have sensors whose read-out speed is fast enough to capture moving pictures, and both provide the same movie specifications (4K/30p).

Feature comparison

Beyond body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. The two cameras under consideration are similar with respect to both having an electronic viewfinder. However, the one in the FZ2500 offers a slightly higher resolution than the one in the FZ1000 (2360k vs 2359k dots). The adjacent table lists some of the other core features of the Panasonic FZ2500 and Panasonic FZ1000 along with similar information for a selection of comparators.

Core Features

#		Camera Model	Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots)	Control Panel (yes/no)	LCD Specifications (inch/000 dots)	LCD Attach- ment	Touch Screen (yes/no)	Max Shutter Speed *	Max Shutter Flaps *	Built-in Flash (yes/no)	Built-in Image Stab
1.		Panasonic FZ2500	2360	n	3.0 / 1040	swivel	Y	1/4000s	12.0/s	Y	Y
2.		Panasonic FZ1000	2359	n	3.0 / 921	swivel	n	1/4000s	12.0/s	Y	Y
3.		Canon G9 X Mark II	none	n	3.0 / 1040	fixed	Y	1/2000s	8.2/s	Y	Y
4.		Canon G3 X	optional	n	3.2 / 1620	tilting	Y	1/2000s	5.9/s	Y	Y
5.		Canon G5 X	2360	n	3.0 / 1040	swivel	Y	1/2000s	5.9/s	Y	Y
6.		Canon G9 X	none	n	3.0 / 1040	fixed	Y	1/2000s	6.0/s	Y	Y
7.		Panasonic LX10	none	n	3.0 / 1040	tilting	Y	1/4000s	10.0/s	Y	Y
8.		Panasonic ZS100	1166	n	3.0 / 1040	fixed	Y	1/2000s	10.0/s	Y	Y
9.		Sony RX10 III	2359	Y	3.0 / 1229	tilting	n	1/2000s	14.0/s	Y	Y
10.		Sony RX100 V	2359	n	3.0 / 1229	tilting	n	1/2000s	24.0/s	Y	Y
11.		Sony RX10 II	2359	Y	3.0 / 1229	tilting	n	1/3200s	14.0/s	Y	Y
12.		Sony RX100 IV	2359	n	3.0 / 1228	tilting	n	1/2000s	16.0/s	Y	Y
13.		Sony RX100 III	1440	n	3.0 / 1229	tilting	n	1/2000s	10.0/s	Y	Y
14.		Sony RX100 II	optional	n	3.0 / 1229	tilting	n	1/2000s	10.0/s	Y	Y
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.

One differentiating feature between the two cameras concerns the touch sensitivity of the rear screen. The FZ2500 has a touchscreen, while the FZ1000 has a conventional panel. Touch control can be particularly helpful, for example, for setting the focus point.

The reported shutter speed information refers to the use of the mechanical shutter. Yet, some cameras only have an electronic shutter, while others have an electronic shutter in addition to a mechanical one. In fact, both cameras under consideration feature an electronic shutter, which makes completely silent shooting possible. However, this mode is less suitable for photographing moving objects (risk of rolling shutter) or shooting under artificial light sources (risk of flickering).

The Panasonic FZ2500 and the Panasonic FZ1000 both have an intervalometer built-in. This enables the photographer to capture time lapse sequences, such as flower blooming, a sunset or moon rise, without purchasing an external camera trigger and related software.

Both the FZ2500 and the FZ1000 have zoom lenses built in. The FZ2500 has a 24-480mm f/2.8-4.5 optic and the FZ1000 offers a 25-400mm f/2.8-4.0 (focal lengths in full frame equivalent terms). Hence, the FZ2500 provides a wider angle of view at the short end, as well as more tele-photo reach at the long end than the FZ1000. Both cameras offer the same maximum aperture.

Concerning the storage of imaging data, both the FZ2500 and the FZ1000 write their files to SDXC cards. Both cameras can use UHS-I cards, which provide for Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 104 MB/s.

Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ2500 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1000 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

Input-Output Connections

#		Camera Model	Hotshoe Port	Internal Mic / Speaker	Microphone Port	Headphone Port	HDMI Port	USB Port	WiFi Support	NFC Support	Bluetooth Support
1.		Panasonic FZ2500	Y	stereo / mono	Y	Y	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
2.		Panasonic FZ1000	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
3.		Canon G9 X Mark II	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	Y
4.		Canon G3 X	Y	stereo / mono	Y	Y	mini	2.0	Y	Y	-
5.		Canon G5 X	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	-
6.		Canon G9 X	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
7.		Panasonic LX10	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
8.		Panasonic ZS100	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
9.		Sony RX10 III	Y	stereo / mono	Y	Y	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
10.		Sony RX100 V	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
11.		Sony RX10 II	Y	stereo / mono	Y	Y	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
12.		Sony RX100 IV	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
13.		Sony RX100 III	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
14.		Sony RX100 II	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-

The FZ2500 is a recent model that features in the current product line-up of Panasonic. In contrast, the FZ1000 has been discontinued (but can be found pre-owned on ebay). As a replacement in the same line of cameras, the FZ1000 was succeeded by the Panasonic FZ2500. Further information on the features and operation of the FZ2500 and FZ1000 can be found, respectively, in the Panasonic FZ2500 Manual (free pdf) or the online Panasonic FZ1000 Manual.

Review summary

So what conclusions can be drawn? Is the Panasonic FZ2500 better than the Panasonic FZ1000 or vice versa? A synthesis of the relative strong points of each of the models is listed below.

Advantages of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ2500:

• Better image quality: Scores markedly higher (6 points) in the DXO overall assessment.
• More dynamic range: Captures a larger spectrum of light and dark details (0.9 EV of extra DR).
• Better sound control: Has a headphone port that enables audio monitoring while recording.
• Larger viewfinder image: Features a viewfinder with a higher magnification (0.74x vs 0.70x).
• More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (1040k vs 921k dots).
• Fewer buttons to press: Is equipped with a touch-sensitive rear screen to facilitate handling.
• Wider view: Has a wider-angle lens that facilitates landscape or interior shots.
• More tele-reach: Has a longer tele-lens for perspective compression and subject magnification.
• More modern: Reflects 2 years and 3 months of technical progress since the FZ1000 launch.

Arguments in favor of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1000:

• Easier device pairing: Supports NFC for fast wireless image transfer over short distances.
• More affordable: Was released into a lower priced segment (25 percent cheaper at launch).
• More heavily discounted: Has been around for much longer (launched in June 2014).

If the count of individual advantages (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the FZ2500 is the clear winner of the match-up (9 : 3 points). However, the relevance of individual strengths will vary across photographers, so that you might want to apply your own weighing scheme to the summary points when reflecting and deciding on a new camera. A professional wedding photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a travel photog, and a person interested in cityscapes has distinct needs from a macro shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Panasonic FZ2500 and the Panasonic FZ1000 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Superzoom Camera listing whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the comparison of the spec-sheets of cameras can offer a general idea of their imaging potential, it remains incomplete and does no justice, for example, to the way the FZ2500 or the FZ1000 perform in practice. User reviews, such as those found at amazon, can sometimes inform about these issues, but such feedback is often incomplete, inconsistent, and biased.

Expert reviews

This is why expert reviews are important. The following table reports the overall ratings of the cameras as published by some of the major camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

Expert Camera Reviews

#		Camera   Model	AP   score	CL   score	DCW   score	DPR   score	EPZ   score	PB   score	Camera Launch	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price
1.		Panasonic FZ2500	..	+	..	82/100	4.5/5	5/5	Sep 2016	1,199	amazon.com
2.		Panasonic FZ1000	4/5	+ +	..	82/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jun 2014	899	ebay.com
3.		Canon G9 X Mark II	4/5	..	4/5	75/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jan 2017	529	ebay.com
4.		Canon G3 X	3.5/5	+	..	..	4.5/5	4/5	Jun 2015	999	ebay.com
5.		Canon G5 X	5/5	+ +	..	78/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Oct 2015	799	ebay.com
6.		Canon G9 X	3.5/5	+ +	..	..	4.5/5	4.5/5	Oct 2015	529	ebay.com
7.		Panasonic LX10	..	+ +	4/5	81/100	4/5	4.5/5	Sep 2016	699	amazon.com
8.		Panasonic ZS100	4.5/5	+ +	..	82/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jan 2016	699	ebay.com
9.		Sony RX10 III	5/5	+	..	84/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Mar 2016	1,499	ebay.com
10.		Sony RX100 V	4.5/5	+ +	..	83/100	4/5	4.5/5	Oct 2016	999	ebay.com
11.		Sony RX10 II	5/5	+ +	..	82/100	4.5/5	4/5	Jun 2015	1,299	ebay.com
12.		Sony RX100 IV	4.5/5	+ +	..	85/100	4/5	4.5/5	Jun 2015	999	ebay.com
13.		Sony RX100 III	5/5	+ +	..	82/100	4.5/5	5/5	May 2014	799	ebay.com
14.		Sony RX100 II	5/5	+ +	..	79/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jun 2013	749	ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

The above review scores should be interpreted with care, though. The ratings were established in reference to similarly priced cameras that were available in the market at the time of the review. A score, therefore, has to be seen in close connection to the price and market introduction time of the camera, and rating-comparisons among cameras that span long time periods or concern very differently equipped models make little sense. It should also be noted that some of the review sites have over time altered the way they render their verdicts.

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Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you would like to check on the differences and similarities of other camera models, just make your choice using the following search menu. Alternatively, you can follow any of the listed hyperlinks for comparisons that others found interesting.

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