Panasonic FZ330 Comparison Review
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ330 (called Panasonic FZ300 in some regions) is a fixed lens compact camera that was announced in July 2015 and is equipped with a 1/2.3-inch sensor. It offers a resolution of 12 megapixel.
Is the Panasonic FZ330 a good camera? The FZ330 has a Camera Elo of 2210. This rating puts the FZ330 among the top 30 percent of all superzoom compact cameras. In terms of its sensor size category (small sensor cameras), the FZ330 ranks among the top 20 percent. Based on its within category standings, the camera earns a 4.5-star performance rating.
| Panasonic FZ330 |
|---|
| Fixed lens compact camera |
| 25-600mm f/2.8 |
| 12 MP, 1/2.3" Sensor |
| 4K/30p Video |
| ISO 100 - 6 400 |
| Electronic viewfinder (1440k dots) |
| 3.0 LCD, 1040k dots |
| Swivel touchscreen |
| 12 shutter flaps per second |
| Weathersealed body |
| 380 shots per battery charge |
| 132 x 92 x 117 mm, 691 g |
Read on to find out more about the camera's size, sensor, features, reception by expert reviewers, and how it compares to other digital cameras.
Body comparison with a credit card
The physical dimensions of the Panasonic FZ330 relative to a credit card are illustrated in the side-by-side display below. Three consecutive views from the front, the top, and the rear side are shown. All size dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.
The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the Panasonic FZ330 alongside a set of comparators. If you want to review a camera pair side-by-side, just select a right-side comparator from among the camera models in the table. Alternatively, you can also move across to the CAM-parator tool and choose from the broad selection of possible comparisons there.
| Camera Model |
Camera Width |
Camera Height |
Camera Depth |
Camera Weight |
Battery Life 1 |
Weather Sealing |
Camera Launch 2 |
Launch Price (USD) |
Street Price |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Panasonic FZ330 | 5.2 in | 3.6 in | 4.6 in | 24.4 oz | 380 | Y | Jul 2015 | 599 |  | |
| Canon G3 X | 4.8 in | 3.0 in | 4.1 in | 25.9 oz | 300 | Y | Jun 2015 | 999 | | |
| Canon SX60 | 5.0 in | 3.7 in | 4.5 in | 22.9 oz | 340 | n | Sep 2014 | 549 | | |
| Fujifilm X30 | 4.7 in | 2.8 in | 2.4 in | 14.9 oz | 470 | n | Aug 2014 | 599 | | |
| Leica X-U Typ 113 | 5.5 in | 3.1 in | 3.5 in | 22.4 oz | 450 | Y | Jan 2016 | 2,950 | | |
| Panasonic FZ1000 | 5.4 in | 3.9 in | 5.2 in | 29.3 oz | 360 | n | Jun 2014 | 899 | | |
| Panasonic LX100 | 4.5 in | 2.6 in | 2.2 in | 13.9 oz | 300 | n | Sep 2014 | 899 | | |
| Panasonic FZ200 | 4.9 in | 3.4 in | 4.3 in | 20.7 oz | 540 | n | Jul 2012 | 599 | | |
| Panasonic FZ150 | 4.9 in | 3.2 in | 3.6 in | 18.6 oz | 410 | n | Aug 2011 | 499 | | |
| Panasonic LX5 | 4.3 in | 2.6 in | 1.7 in | 9.6 oz | 400 | n | Jul 2010 | 499 | | |
| Sony RX10 II | 5.1 in | 3.5 in | 4.0 in | 28.7 oz | 400 | Y | Jun 2015 | 1,299 | | |
|
Notes: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders. (1) Number of images that can be taken on a full battery charge according to the CIPA-standard; (2) Official announcement. |
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The listed prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The Panasonic FZ330 was launched in the US market at a price of $599. 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. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.
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Sensor comparison with a 35mm slide
The size of the sensor inside a digital camera is one of the key determinants 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. Furthermore, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more possibilities to use shallow depth-of-field in order to isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors are more costly to manufacture and tent to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.
The Panasonic FZ330 features a 1/2.3-inch sensor and has a format factor (sometimes also referred to as "crop factor") of 5.6. Within the spectrum of camera sensors, this places the Panasonic FZ330 among the smaller-sensor digicams that favor affordability and compact design.
Since 2007, DXO Mark has published sensor performance measurements that have been derived using a consistent methodology. 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"). The adjacent table reports on the physical sensor characteristics and the outcomes of the DXO sensor quality tests for a sample of comparator-cameras.
| Camera Model |
Sensor Class |
Resolution (MP) |
Horiz. Pixels |
Vert. Pixels |
Video Format |
DXO Portrait |
DXO Landscape |
DXO Sports |
DXO Overall |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Panasonic FZ330 | 1/2.3 | 12.0 | 4000 | 3000 | 4K/30p | 19.3 | 11.0 | 97 | 38 | |
| Canon G3 X | 1-inch | 20.0 | 5472 | 3648 | 1080/60p | 21.4 | 12.3 | 521 | 63 | |
| Canon SX60 | 1/2.3 | 14.2 | 4608 | 3072 | 1080/60p | 19.2 | 10.8 | 127 | 39 | |
| Fujifilm X30 | 2/3 | 12.0 | 4000 | 3000 | 1080/60p | .. | .. | .. | .. | |
| Leica X-U Typ 113 | APS-C | 16.1 | 4928 | 3264 | 1080/30p | .. | .. | .. | .. | |
| Panasonic FZ1000 | 1-inch | 20.0 | 5472 | 3648 | 4K/30p | 22.1 | 11.7 | 517 | 64 | |
| Panasonic LX100 | Four Thirds | 12.7 | 4112 | 3088 | 4K/30p | 22.3 | 12.5 | 553 | 67 | |
| Panasonic FZ200 | 1/2.3 | 12.0 | 4000 | 3000 | 1080/60p | 19.1 | 10.8 | 114 | 37 | |
| Panasonic FZ150 | 1/2.3 | 12.0 | 4000 | 3000 | 1080/60p | 19.4 | 10.9 | 132 | 40 | |
| Panasonic LX5 | 1/1.7 | 10.0 | 3648 | 2736 | 720/60p | 19.6 | 10.8 | 132 | 41 | |
| Sony RX10 II | 1-inch | 20.0 | 5472 | 3648 | 4K/30p | 23.0 | 12.6 | 531 | 70 |
Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but can also record movies. The FZ330 indeed provides movie recording capabilities. The highest resolution format that the FZ330 can use is 4K/30p.
Feature comparison
Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the FZ330 has an electronic viewfinder with a resolution of 1440k dots. The viewfinder offers a field of view of 100% and a magnification of 0.70x. The following tables report on some other key feature differences and similarities of the Panasonic FZ330 and comparable cameras.
| Camera Model |
Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots) |
Control Panel (yes/no) |
LCD Size (inch) |
LCD Resolution (000 dots) |
LCD Attach- ment |
Touch Screen (yes/no) |
Mech Shutter Speed |
Shutter Flaps (1/sec) | Built-in Flash (yes/no) |
Built-in Image Stab |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Panasonic FZ330 | 1440 | n | 3.0 | 1040 | swivel | Y | 1/4000s | 12.0 | Y | Y | |
| Canon G3 X | optional | n | 3.2 | 1620 | tilting | Y | 1/2000s | 5.9 | Y | Y | |
| Canon SX60 | 922 | n | 3.0 | 922 | swivel | n | 1/2000s | 6.4 | Y | Y | |
| Fujifilm X30 | 2360 | n | 3.0 | 920 | tilting | n | 1/4000s | 12.0 | Y | Y | |
| Leica X-U Typ 113 | optional | n | 3.0 | 920 | fixed | n | 1/2000s | 5.0 | Y | n | |
| Panasonic FZ1000 | 2359 | n | 3.0 | 921 | swivel | n | 1/4000s | 12.0 | Y | Y | |
| Panasonic LX100 | 2764 | n | 3.0 | 921 | fixed | n | 1/4000s | 11.0 | n | Y | |
| Panasonic FZ200 | 1312 | n | 3.0 | 460 | swivel | n | 1/4000s | 12.0 | Y | Y | |
| Panasonic FZ150 | 202 | n | 3.0 | 460 | swivel | n | 1/2000s | 12.0 | Y | Y | |
| Panasonic LX5 | optional | n | 3.0 | 460 | fixed | n | 1/4000s | 2.5 | Y | Y | |
| Sony RX10 II | 2359 | Y | 3.0 | 1229 | tilting | n | 1/3200s | 14.0 | Y | Y |
One convenient feature of the FZ330 is the presence of an on-board flash. While this built-in flash is not very powerful, it can at times be useful as a fill-in light to brighten deep shadow areas.
Connection 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-FZ330 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.
| Camera Model |
Hotshoe Port |
Internal Microphone |
Internal Speaker |
Microphone Port |
Headphone Port |
HDMI Port |
USB Port |
WiFi Support | NFC Support |
Bluetooth Support |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Panasonic FZ330 | Y | stereo | mono | Y | - | mini | 2.0 | Y | - | - | |
| Canon G3 X | Y | stereo | mono | Y | Y | mini | 2.0 | Y | Y | - | |
| Canon SX60 | Y | stereo | mono | Y | - | mini | 2.0 | Y | Y | - | |
| Fujifilm X30 | Y | stereo | mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | - | - | |
| Leica X-U Typ 113 | Y | stereo | mono | - | - | - | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
| Panasonic FZ1000 | Y | stereo | mono | Y | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | Y | - | |
| Panasonic LX100 | Y | stereo | mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | Y | - | |
| Panasonic FZ200 | Y | stereo | mono | Y | - | mini | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
| Panasonic FZ150 | Y | stereo | - | - | - | mini | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
| Panasonic LX5 | Y | mono | mono | - | - | mini | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
| Sony RX10 II | Y | stereo | mono | Y | Y | micro | 2.0 | Y | Y | - |
It is notable that the FZ330 has a microphone port. Such an external microphone input can help to substantially improve the quality of audio recordings when a good external microphone is used.
The FZ330 has a zoom lens built in (4.5-108.0mm f/2.8-2.8), which, in full frame equivalent terms, provides a focal length range from 25 to 600mm. The camera is, hence, ready to shoot, while remaining more compact in size than an interchangeable lens camera with an optic that offers similar focal length and aperture specifications.
Expert reviews
While the comparison of technical specifications can provide a useful overview of the capabilities of different cameras, it remains partial and cannot reveal, for example, the handling experience and imaging performance when actually working with the FZ330. User reviews, such as those found at amazon, can sometimes inform about these issues, but such feedback is often incomplete, inconsistent, and biased. This is why expert reviews are important. The following table reports the overall rankings of the cameras as published by some of the major camera review sites (cameralabs, dpreview, ephotozine, imaging-resource, photographyblog).
| Camera Model |
camera labs |
dp review |
ephoto zine |
imaging resource |
photography blog |
Camera Launch |
Launch Price (USD) |
Street Price |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Panasonic FZ330 | + + | .. | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Jul 2015 | 599 | |
|
| Canon G3 X | + | .. | 4.5/5 | 3.5/5 | 4/5 | Jun 2015 | 999 | |
|
| Canon SX60 | + + | 75/100 | 4/5 | .. | 4.5/5 | Sep 2014 | 549 | |
|
| Fujifilm X30 | .. | 76/100 | 4.5/5 | 4/5 | 4.5/5 | Aug 2014 | 599 | |
|
| Leica X-U Typ 113 | .. | .. | .. | .. | 3.5/5 | Jan 2016 | 2,950 | |
|
| Panasonic FZ1000 | + + | 82/100 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Jun 2014 | 899 | |
|
| Panasonic LX100 | + + | 85/100 | 5/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | Sep 2014 | 899 | |
|
| Panasonic FZ200 | + + | 80/100 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Jul 2012 | 599 | |
|
| Panasonic FZ150 | + + | 76/100 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 4.5/5 | Aug 2011 | 499 | |
|
| Panasonic LX5 | + | 73/100 | 4.5/5 | 5/5 | 4.5/5 | Jul 2010 | 499 | |
|
| Sony RX10 II | + + | 82/100 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | 4/5 | Jun 2015 | 1,299 | |
|
| Notes: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available. | |||||||||
The review scores listed above should be treated with care, though. The ratings are only valid when referring to cameras in the same category and of the same age. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and comparing ratings of very distinct cameras or ones that are far apart in terms of their release date have little meaning. It should also be noted that some of the review sites have over time altered the way they render their verdicts.
Panasonic FZ330 FAQ
Below are some additional questions and answers concerning some particular features of the FZ330.
What technology is the imaging sensor in the FZ330 based on?
The camera has a BSI-CMOS (Backside Illuminated Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensor at its core.
Which image processing chip is used to convert the raw signal into an image file and perform noise reduction and image sharpening?
Panasonic equipped the FZ330 with the Venus image processor.
What is the ISO sensitivity range of the FZ330?
The camera has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 6400.
Does the camera have a selfie-friendly screen?
Yes, the LCD-screen of the FZ330 is flexible and can be turned to be front-facing for capturing selfies.
Is completely silent shooting possible with the Panasonic FZ330?
The camera has an electronic shutter option, so that it is indeed feasible to capture images without any shutter noise.
Do I need to purchase an external camera trigger to shoot time-lapse sequences?
No, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ330 has an intervalometer built-in, so that low frequency shooting (for example, flower blooming, sunset, moon rise) can be undertaken without the need to purchase a separate external intervalometer and related software.
Is it difficult to use manual focus lenses with the Panasonic FZ330?
The FZ330 offers focus peaking as a manual focus aid. This feature works by placing a colored highlight on in-focus zones within the image.
Does the Panasonic FZ330 feature an autofocus assist light?
Yes, the camera has a lamp built-in that can illuminate the subject and improve autofocus in low-light settings.
Does the Panasonic FZ330 support the Ultra High Speed (UHS) bus interface for SD cards?
Yes, the camera can indeed use UHS-I cards (data transfer speed of up to 104 MB/s).
Which battery does the FZ330 use?
The camera gets its power from the DMW-BLC12 (here at amazon), which is a rechargeable Lithium-Ion power pack.
Camera to camera comparisons
In case you are interested in seeing how this camera compares to another one, just use the search menu below. An an alternative, you can also directly jump to any one of the listed comparisons that were previously generated by the CAM-parator tool.
- Canon 1D vs Panasonic FZ330
- Canon R vs Panasonic FZ330
- Leica S-E Typ 006 vs Panasonic FZ330
- Nikon D7000 vs Panasonic FZ330
- Nikon D750 vs Panasonic FZ330
- Panasonic FZ1000 II vs Panasonic FZ330
- Panasonic FZ330 vs Panasonic G10
- Panasonic FZ330 vs Panasonic GH2
- Panasonic FZ330 vs Panasonic GX9
- Panasonic FZ330 vs Pentax MX-1
- Panasonic FZ330 vs Sony HX400V
- Panasonic FZ330 vs Zeiss ZX1
| Camera Model | Panasonic FZ330 | |
| Camera Type | Fixed lens compact camera | |
| Camera Lens | 25-600mm f/2.8 | |
| Launch Date | July 2015 | |
| Launch Price | USD 599 | |
| Sensor Specs | ||
| Sensor Technology | BSI-CMOS | |
| Sensor Format | 1/2.3" Sensor | |
| Sensor Size | 6.17 x 4.55 mm | |
| Sensor Area | 28 mm2 | |
| Sensor Diagonal | 7.7 mm | |
| Crop Factor | 5.6x | |
| Sensor Resolution | 12 Megapixels | |
| Image Resolution | 4 000 x 3 000 pixels | |
| Pixel Pitch | 1.53 μm | |
| Pixel Density | 42.74 MP/cm2 | |
| Moiré control | no AA filter | |
| Movie Capability | 4K/30p Video | |
| ISO Setting | 100 - 6 400 ISO | |
| Image Processor | Venus | |
| DXO Sensor Quality (score) | 38 | |
| DXO Color Depth (bits) | 19.3 | |
| DXO Dynamic Range (EV) | 11.0 | |
| DXO Low Light (ISO) | 97 | |
| Screen Specs | ||
| Viewfinder Type | Electronic viewfinder | |
| Viewfinder Field of View | 100% | |
| Viewfinder Magnification | 0.70x | |
| Viewfinder Resolution | 1440k dots | |
| LCD Framing | Live View | |
| LCD Size | 1040k dots | |
| LCD Attachment | Swivel screen | |
| Touch Input | Touchscreen | |
| Shooting Specs | ||
| Focus System | Contrast-detect AF | |
| Manual Focusing Aid | Focus Peaking | |
| Maximum Shutter Speed | 1/4000s | |
| Continuous Shooting | 12 shutter flaps/s | |
| Silent Shooting | Electronic Shutter | |
| Time Lapse Photography | Intervalometer Built-in | |
| Fill Flash | Build-in Flash | |
| Storage Medium | SDXC cards | |
| Second Storage Option | Single card slot | |
| UHS card support | UHS-I | |
| Connectivity Specs | ||
| External Flash | Hotshoe | |
| USB Connector | USB 2.0 | |
| HDMI Port | mini HDMI | |
| Microphone Port | External MIC port | |
| Wifi Support | Wifi built-in | |
| Body Specs | ||
| Environmental Sealing | Weathersealed body | |
| Battery Type | DMW-BLC12 power pack | |
| Battery Life (CIPA) | 380 shots per charge | |
| Body Dimensions |
132 x 92 x 117 mm (5.2 x 3.6 x 4.6 in) |
|
| Camera Weight | 691 g (24.4 oz) |
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