Panasonic updates 60x superzoom bridge camera with Lumix FZ80D

In the all-singing all-dancing digital devices era it’s tempting to assume that bridge cameras are a thing of the past. The new 60x superzoom Panasonic Lumix FZ80D proves otherwise.

The Panasonic FZ80 was released seven years ago and was the epitome of a bridge camera. These occupy a middle ground between simple point-and-shoot and their more fully featured mirrorless and DSLR cousins, and have been largely squeezed out of the market by the lower end becoming that bit more capable in recent years.

What they need for success is a USP. And the Lumix FZ80D has a doozy in the shape of the fixed Lumix DC Vario 60x zoom f/2.8-5.9 lens, which provides a full-frame equivalence of 20-1200mm. This is equipped with Panasonic's POWER O.I.S. optical image stabilisation to keep things sharp, and also features an Intelligent Zoom mode that bumps things up to 120x (a massive 2400mm).

So, seven years on from the original, what do you get that’s new? Not much to be honest; Panasonic has taken an ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ approach to the FZ80D and this is a minor upgrade that will have the main benefit of releasing more stock onto the market. So you get the same 1/2.3-inch 18MP sensor, which is definitely on the small size in 2024, and the same lens (which presumably you want), but to that Panasonic has added a USB-C charging port, upgraded EVF and LCD displays, and a handy Zoom Compose Assist function that lets you zoom out quickly, relocate your target, and head back in.

For video you get basic 4K/30p recording, a 4K Video Mode records up to 4x resolution in Full HD, and the 4K Photo feature allows you to select an 8MP photo from your 4K video footage. But no-one’s really here for the video, are they?

You also have to pay more money. The FZ80 was $399 when it was released, the FZ80D will be $478.

The camera is a compact one at 130.2 x 94.3 x 125.2 mm (5.13 x 3.71 x 4.93”) and weighs just 640 grams (1.41 lb) with a memory card and battery. Current availability looks like being August and it will be sold as the FZ82D in Europe and the FZ85D in Japan.