Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1000

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1000 is a bridge camera released in 2014. The lens is fixed to the body, so the camera works as one self-contained unit rather than the start of a lens system.

That makes it a sensible pick for photographers who want a single camera for both stills and video without buying extra lenses. The 20-megapixel one-inch sensor handles one job while 4K recording covers the other, all in the same body.

Carrying it sits in the middle ground. The body measures 137 x 99 x 131 mm and weighs 831 grams, so it needs a bag rather than a pocket, but you never have to make room for spare glass.

A 20-megapixel one-inch CMOS sensor sits at the heart of the camera. That resolution leaves room for cropping, and both specifications feed into the Optics score of 61, a good result that places the camera around the middle of cameras in our database for Optics.

For moving subjects, bursts reach up to 12 fps, which lets you pick the best frame from an action sequence. The 49 autofocus points give you plenty of selectable positions when your subject sits away from the centre of the frame.

In-body stabilisation is on board, reducing camera shake when you shoot handheld at slower shutter speeds. It will not freeze a moving subject, but it makes dim-condition shooting more confident.

The ISO range runs from 125 to 12800 and the shutter reaches 1/4000 of a second, enough for most daylight work. Framing through the 2.36-million-dot electronic viewfinder gives you an accurate preview of exposure and is easier than the rear screen in bright sun.

Recording tops out at 4K, which holds detail when footage is viewed on large screens. The Video score of 83 rates the camera's video capability as very good.

Frame rates reach up to 60fps, so you can capture movement smoothly or slow footage for a gentle slow-motion effect. The listed maximum resolution and maximum frame rate are separate figures, so confirm which mode suits your project before a shoot.

A built-in timelapse function lets the camera capture moving sequences of slow scenes, such as clouds or a sunset, without interval gear attached.

Clips record in either MPEG-4 or AVCHD. Expect 4K files to fill a card faster than lower-resolution footage, so carry spare capacity.

Framing is well served on the back of the camera. The 3-inch TFT screen carries 2.36 million dots, so it is pleasingly detailed, and it flips out for shooting low to the ground or over a crowd.

The screen is not touch-sensitive, so you change settings with the physical controls instead. Combined with the absence of weather sealing, which means the camera needs protecting from rain and dust, these gaps keep the Features score modest at 58.

Wireless options cover both WiFi and Bluetooth for linking the camera to phones and other devices. There is no GPS, so location tagging has to be added another way if you want it.

Light is flexible for a fixed-lens camera. A built-in flash covers casual indoor shots, and an external flash can be fitted when the internal unit is not powerful enough.

Everything records to a single SD, SDHC or SDXC card. With no second slot there is no in-camera copy of your work, so packing spare cards is a sensible habit.

The DMW-BLC12PP battery is rated at 360 shots per charge. Treat that as a guideline rather than a promise, since screen, flash and video use can draw power faster. A second battery is worthwhile for long days.

There is no USB charging, so the battery cannot be topped up from a laptop or power bank. You will need to plan charging around mains access or carry charged spares. Together with the single card slot and the 360-shot battery rating, this puts the Storage & Battery score at 21, which rates as limited.