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Panasonic seems to be testing the waters to see if there is still interest in bridge travel zoom cameras priced attractively at less than US $500. It has updated its very popular 2017 Lumix FZ80 with a higher resolution and much larger 2.36M-dot 0.74x magnification EVF (up from 1.17M-dot 0.46x mag.). The larger and more detailed EVF should make it easier to view and more comfortable to compose in the electronic viewfinder. It has also updated the resolution of the 3.0-in. Touch Screen LCD from 1.04M to 1.84M, and added convenient USB Type-C charging.
The Lumix FZ80D retains the other features: a 18.1-MP 1/2.3″ MOS sensor; a whopping 20-1200mm (equiv.) 60x image stabilized optical zoom F2.8-5.9 fixed lens with Zoom Compose Assist; 4K/30P video, 4K PHOTO function (shoot at 30 fps and extract an 8-MP still); 10 fps Continuous Shooting, HD 720P/120 slow motion; dedicated macro button (1 cm/0.4 in.); built-in Wi-Fi, pop-up flash (a rarity nowadays) and hot shoe.
The Panasonic Lumix FZ80D is now available for US $479.99.
If only Panasonic had released the FZ80D just before the April 8 Total Solar Eclipse. With an appropriate filter attached, it would have been a perfect camera to shoot eclipses. We are still expecting a number of solar and lunar eclipses this year that will be visible in different parts of the world: Sep 17-18 Partial Lunar Eclipse, Oct 2 Solar Eclipse, Oct 17 Lunar Eclipse.
The FZ80D may still garner interest for the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics, and of course a super zoom camera is always the quintessential camera for any sports events.
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