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Panasonic Lumix ZS300 / TZ300: two-minute evaluate
Eight years in the past, and earlier than my time as Cameras Editor, TechRadar known as the Lumix ZS200 / TZ200 “essentially the most superior journey zoom digicam” and gave it a near-perfect 4.5 / 5 score in its evaluate — and that discontinued mannequin now has a shock successor, the Lumix TZ300.
Regardless of the years, there’s little or no between the 2 cameras; in truth, I can inform you the important thing variations in a single sentence: the 2026 mannequin features USB-C charging, however loses a built-in viewfinder. That’s it.
It’s nice to see the once-popular journey zoom compact available once more — I totally loved reviewing the older mannequin lengthy earlier than my TechRadar days — and it is now compliant with frequent charger EU legal guidelines because of its USB-C port, and able to compete for a spot on my finest compact cameras round-up. Nonetheless, in a manner the 2026 model is a pricier downgrade.
Will Panasonic’s resolution to strip the Lumix TZ300 again, with out seemingly compensating with new options, come again to chunk it?
The very fact is, compact digicam shipments are on the up once more, and proper now the Lumix TZ300 nonetheless has little competitors, so Panasonic would possibly simply money in anyway — I don’t suppose it wants to enhance is flagship journey zoom compact to maximise gross sales, simply make it out there once more, which is what it is completed.
This is the rear of the digicam. On the previous model, there was an EVF nestled into the highest left above the display screen, however right here, simply plastic (Picture credit score: Future / Tim Coleman)
- Panasonic Lumix ZS300 at BHPhoto for $897.99
Eradicating the viewfinder little doubt cuts prices down (not that these financial savings are handed onto the buyer), and could possibly be a mirrored image on how individuals are inclined to depend on screens extra in 2026. For me, it doesn’t really feel like a dealbreaker — the EVF within the unique mannequin wasn’t one of the best in any case.
What bothers me extra is that the brand new model offfers no compensation — there’s simply extra plastic instead of the place the viewfinder as soon as was — and it feels dated in different areas. For instance, within the absence of a viewfinder, I might have liked for Panasonic to put in a tilt mechanism for the 3-inch rear show for simpler viewing from awkward angles, however we once more have a set display screen.
Nor can we get Panasonic’s newest options seen in different latest cameras, corresponding to its improved autofocus and Actual Time LUTs colour profiles.
So what are we to make of the Lumix ZS300? There’s seemingly sufficient of a compact digicam resurgence to benefit Panasonic bringing the vary again to life, however not sufficient competitors or client want (or each) for Panasonic to really feel it was value producing a really new and improved mannequin — the standard was already there eight years in the past to fulfill immediately’s calls for.
The underside line is that I’m pleased to see the favored Lumix journey zoom return — I simply want for somewhat extra digicam.
Panasonic Lumix ZS300 / TZ300 specs
Swipe to scroll horizontallyPanasonic Lumix ZS300 / TZ300 specs:
Kind:
Compact, journey zoom
Sensor:
1-inch CMOS
Shows:
3-inch mounted touchscreen with 1.84m dots, no viewfinder
Reminiscence:
SD
Lens:
24-360mm equal, f/3.3-6.4 (15x optical zoom)
Battery:
Embedded rechargeable 1255mAh Enduro Lithium-Ion
Video:
4K 30p
Picture:
20MP
Dimensions:
4.4 x 2.6 x 1.8 inches / 111 x 66 x 46 mm
Weight:
0.75lbs / 337g with battery and SD reminiscence card
(Picture credit score: Future / Tim Coleman)
At present’s finest Panasonic Lumix ZS300 offers
Panasonic Lumix ZS300 / TZ300: Worth and availability
- Introduced in March 2026 and out there from the beginning of Might
- Prices $899 / £869 / AU$1,599
- Out there in black or grey
The Lumix ZS300 / TZ300 is anticipated to hit shops in Might 2026 and value $899 / £869 / AU$1,599. It is available in two varieties — the grey model that Panasonic despatched to me for this evaluate, and an all-black model.
That value pits the Lumix TZ300 in opposition to the likes of the Canon PowerShot V1, which is a vlogging digicam with a much bigger sensor, excellent autofocus and fashionable video expertise, however a narrower commonplace zoom vary. Given how a lot new tech is in Canon’s compact, it seems like higher worth (and there is rumored to be a travel-zoom model on the best way which may rain on the Lumix parade).
The identical cash may additionally get you a small newbie mirrorless digicam with equipment lens, corresponding to the wonderful Fujifilm X-M5. Total, the Lumix TZ300 seems like okay worth at finest.
Panasonic Lumix ZS300 / TZ300: Design
- Small and compact, with a foldaway / extending lens
- Lastly, USB-C charging
- No viewfinder, detail-rich mounted 3-inch touchscreen
I’ll cowl the core specs of the Lumix TZ300 on this evaluate, however most of what that you must know in regards to the digicam’s design and efficiency has already been lined in our Lumix TZ200 evaluate.
The Lumix TZ300 remains to be a tidily packaged digicam that slips simply right into a pocket, with a reassuring weightiness — it seems like a high quality piece of equipment.
There are rubberized entrance and thumb grips for a agency maintain, and each management is properly dampened but additionally responsive, as is the 3-inch touchscreen.
Picture 1 of 5
(Picture credit score: Future / Tim Coleman)(Picture credit score: Future / Tim Coleman)(Picture credit score: Future / Tim Coleman)(Picture credit score: Future / Tim Coleman)(Picture credit score: Future / Tim Coleman)
The lens folds neatly away when the digicam is powered off, and extends easily as you progress by the zoom vary, both utilizing the ring across the lens or the touchscreen — it’ll depend upon which capturing mode you’re utilizing.
It’s simple sufficient to set the digicam to auto and let it handle the settings based mostly on the scene you are photographing, however there are additionally sufficient guide controls to fulfill discerning photographers, together with guide publicity and auto ISO with the power to set a minimal shutter velocity (my go-to setup with my skilled digicam).
A pop-up flash is squeezed into the physique, and is a helpful characteristic for celebration portraits and artistic low-light images, particularly because it’s attainable to manually regulate its energy and swap between first and second curtain flash sync (the purpose at which the flash fires throughout publicity).
Picture 1 of three
(Picture credit score: Future / Tim Coleman)(Picture credit score: Future / Tim Coleman)(Picture credit score: Future / Tim Coleman)
I actually appreciated how slick the touchscreen perform felt, and the detailed 1.84m-dot show itself, however a pronounced bump serves to spotlight how its mounted design may have simply been upgraded to tilt with out growing the digicam’s footprint.
Though the unique viewfinder wasn’t one of the best when it comes to the viewing expertise, it was positioned well on the top-left, and felt simple to carry to the attention. I did miss having the choice within the new model of the digicam.
As talked about, with the viewfinder having been eliminated I might have preferred to see a tilt-screen improve to additional help viewing in vivid mild and at awkward angles; as it’s, there’s simply plastic the place the viewfinder was on the earlier mannequin.
Picture 1 of 6
This is the identical scene throughout the zoom vary, beginning with 24mm(Picture credit score: Future / Tim Coleman)Then 50mm(Picture credit score: Future / Tim Coleman)And 85mm(Picture credit score: Future / Tim Coleman)That is 135mm(Picture credit score: Future / Tim Coleman)And 240mm, successfully a 10x zoom setting(Picture credit score: Future / Tim Coleman)And here is the utmost 15x zoom attain(Picture credit score: Future / Tim Coleman)
Panasonic Lumix ZS300 / TZ300: Efficiency
- Versatile 15x optical zoom and first rate stabilization efficiency
- Respectable picture high quality, dated video specs
- On-the-go charging is helpful for touring
For such a flexible and small digicam, the picture high quality from the Lumix ZS300 / TZ300 is surprisingly good. Naturally, you lose somewhat sharpness on the telephoto finish of the zoom, however it’s nonetheless first rate sufficient.
What you additionally lose as you zoom in is mild sensitivity. That’s as a result of the utmost aperture is decreased from f/3.3 on the 24mm wide-angle finish to f/6.4 on the 360mm telephoto setting.
Lengthy-exposure images is not nicely served — the minimal attainable lens aperture is f/8, and there is no sensible option to make the most of an ND filter moreover bodily holding one in place in entrance of the lens.
Nonetheless, the 1-inch sensor knocks the socks off the a lot smaller one in Panasonic’s different latest journey zoom compact, the Lumix ZS99 / TZ99, a digicam that majors on versatility and worth, much less so on high quality. For me, this new Lumix, like its predecessor, strikes the best stability between high quality and flexibility.
Picture 1 of 13
(Picture credit score: Future / Tim Coleman)(Picture credit score: Future / Tim Coleman)Right here I drained to react shortly to this scene, however begin up time is not the quickest and the lens cowl received caught in my haste. (Picture credit score: Future / Tim Coleman)(Picture credit score: Future / Tim Coleman)(Picture credit score: Future / Tim Coleman)(Picture credit score: Future / Tim Coleman)(Picture credit score: Future / Tim Coleman)(Picture credit score: Future / Tim Coleman)(Picture credit score: Future / Tim Coleman)(Picture credit score: Future / Tim Coleman)(Picture credit score: Future / Tim Coleman)(Picture credit score: Future / Tim Coleman)(Picture credit score: Future / Tim Coleman)
Along with Panasonic’s traditional colour profiles, there are filter results together with cross course of and toy digicam. These results have been round for years, and in an age of Actual Time LUTS profile and flat LOG profiles for video recording, they really feel somewhat dated.
And, if it wasn’t already apparent, none of Panasonic’s present Actual Time LUTs or LOG profiles are current, which additionally means no entry to customizable LUTs as you get with the Lumix S9 mirrorless digicam.
There’s nothing new beneath the hood, which implies we’re getting an previous processor, restricted steady capturing speeds, and dated autofocus efficiency in comparison with different cameras at this value level.
The autofocus system did really feel dated to me. Sure, topic monitoring and face / eye detection was a factor again in 2018 and we nonetheless have it right here, however Panasonic’s latest mirrorless cameras have way more responsive autofocus efficiency.
Is having equally good autofocus an excessive amount of to ask for in a compact digicam? Possibly, however take a look at Canon, which has bestowed wonderful autofocus options on its PowerShot V1.
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A number of the 23 inventive filters(Picture credit score: Future / Tim Coleman)(Picture credit score: Future / Tim Coleman)(Picture credit score: Future / Tim Coleman)(Picture credit score: Future / Tim Coleman)(Picture credit score: Future / Tim Coleman)(Picture credit score: Future / Tim Coleman)(Picture credit score: Future / Tim Coleman)(Picture credit score: Future / Tim Coleman)(Picture credit score: Future / Tim Coleman)
There’s a significantly versatile macro focusing mode, thoughts you. Shut focusing is so efficient, in truth, you can successfully be touching your topic with the top of the lens and it’ll nonetheless be in sharp focus.
Battery life is first rate sufficient with out standing out. The 1,025mAh unit can seize as much as 360 pictures on a full cost in keeping with its CIPA score, which felt about proper based mostly on my use.
And on-the-go USB-C charging, a boon for touring, is an enormous improve within the new Lumix TZ300 over its predecessor, which doesn’t supply it.
Panasonic Lumix ZS300 / TZ300: testing scorecard
Swipe to scroll horizontallyPanasonic Lumix ZS300 / TZ300
Attributes
Notes
Ranking
Header Cell – Column 3
Worth
Contemplating this is similar digicam because the 2018 mannequin, however with no viewfinder, it feels somewhat expensive
3/5
Row 0 – Cell 3
Design
A 15x optical zoom and intuitive management format, however no viewfinder and a set display screen restrict usability
3.5/5
Row 1 – Cell 3
Efficiency
The flexibility to picture high quality combine is spot on in case you want a superb zoom, nevertheless video specs are dated
3.5/5
Row 2 – Cell 3
Ought to I purchase the Panasonic Lumix ZS300 / TZ300?
Purchase it if…
Do not buy it if…
Additionally contemplate
Panasonic Lumix ZS99 / TZ99
If it’s the zoom vary that appeals, then Panasonic’s personal Lumix ZS99 / TZ99 goes even additional and is a low-cost various. It has a higher 30x zoom vary and comparable dealing with, however its sensor is smaller and picture high quality is not any match for the TZ300. You possibly can additionally take a look at the Lumix FZ80D / FZ82D, which is analogous in efficiency to a budget Lumix ZS99 / TZ99, however is a bulkier bridge digicam.
Learn our in-depth Panasonic Lumix ZS99 / TZ99 evaluate
An altogether completely different type of compact digicam, the PowerShot V1 places high quality and efficiency first over zoom versatility. This has Canon’s newest autofocus system, higher video recording specs and a bigger sensor with quicker lens. For those who don’t want the zoom vary of the Lumix TZ300, then this could possibly be your finest various. There are rumors that Canon may launch a journey zoom compact in the identical mildew of the PowerShot V1. If it did, with the newest tech and comparable pricing, then it will higher the Lumix TZ300 in just about each metric.
Learn my in-depth Canon PowerShot V1 evaluate
How I examined the Panasonic Lumix ZS300 / TZ300
- I took the Lumix ZS300 / TZ300 touring for a few weeks
- I examined all of its picture and video modes
- I checked battery life and USB-C charging
Panasonic loaned me a Lumix TZ300 for 2 weeks to finish my evaluate. I used to be lucky to be touring in China throughout this era, and was subsequently in a position to make use of it for the situations it’s designed for, taking video and pictures of historical cities, portraits, vast vistas and extra.
I shot the identical picture sequences spanning the zoom vary of the lens, shoot pictures in uncooked and JPEG format, and video in 4K and 1080p with the varied body charges.
For lots of the check I used to be in changeable climate situations at excessive altitudes. I stored monitor of battery life, counting what number of pictures I may tackle a full cost, plus how lengthy it took to recharge the digicam.
- First reviewed April 2026
Panasonic Lumix ZS300: Worth Comparability
