I took Panasonics new 15x zoom travel compact camera on vacation, and it
still has no rival but flagship Chinese phones are getting close

Date:
Mon, 06 Apr 2026 11:36:01 +0000

Description:
The Lumix ZS300 / TZ300 travel compact is a refresh of the 8-year-old Lumix ZS200 / TZ200 but is the versatile snapper still relevant in 2026?

FULL STORY ======================================================================Panasoni c Lumix ZS300 / TZ300: two-minute review Eight years ago, and before my time as Cameras Editor, TechRadar called the Lumix ZS200 / TZ200 "the most
advanced travel zoom camera" and gave it a near-perfect 4.5 / 5 rating in its review and that discontinued model now has a surprise successor, the Lumix TZ300. Like the 2018 original, the Lumix ZS300 / TZ300 packs a stabilized 24-360mm f/3.3-6.4 lens and large 1-inch sensor, shooting 20MP stills and 4K video a tempting cocktail of quality and versatility, all in a truly pocketable body. Despite the years, there's very little between the two cameras; in fact, I can tell you the key differences in a single sentence:
the 2026 model gains USB-C charging, but loses a built-in viewfinder. Thats it.

Its great to see the once-popular travel zoom compact readily available again
I thoroughly enjoyed reviewing the older model long before my TechRadar days
and it's now compliant with common charger EU laws thanks to its USB-C port, and ready to compete for a spot on my best compact cameras round-up. However, in a way the 2026 version is a pricier downgrade.

Will Panasonic 's decision to strip the Lumix TZ300 back, without seemingly compensating with new features, come back to bite it?

The fact is, compact camera shipments are on the up again , and right now the Lumix TZ300 still has little competition, so Panasonic might just cash in anyway I dont think it needs to improve is flagship travel zoom compact to maximize sales, just make it available again, which is what it's done. Here's the rear of the camera. On the old version, there was an EVF nestled into the top left above the screen, but here, just plastic (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman) Panasonic Lumix ZS300 at Clifton Cameras for 869 Removing the viewfinder no doubt cuts costs down (not that those savings are passed onto the consumer), and could be a reflection on how people tend to rely on
screens more in 2026. For me, it doesnt feel like a dealbreaker the EVF in the original model wasnt the best in any case. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

What bothers me more is that the new version offfers no compensation theres just more plastic in place of where the viewfinder once was and it feels dated in other areas. For example, in the absence of a viewfinder, I would have loved for Panasonic to install a tilt mechanism for the 3-inch rear display for easier viewing from awkward angles, but we again have a fixed screen.

Nor do we get Panasonic's latest features seen in other recent cameras, such as its improved autofocus and Real Time LUTs color profiles.

So what are we to make of the Lumix ZS300? There is seemingly enough of a compact camera resurgence to merit Panasonic bringing the range back to life, but not enough competition or consumer desire (or both) for Panasonic to feel it was worth producing a truly new and improved model the quality was
already there eight years ago to satisfy todays demands.

The bottom line is that Im happy to see the popular Lumix travel zoom return I just wish for a little more camera. Panasonic Lumix ZS300 / TZ300 specs Swipe to scroll horizontally Panasonic Lumix ZS300 / TZ300 specs:

Type:

Compact, travel zoom

Sensor:

1-inch CMOS

Displays:

3-inch fixed touchscreen with 1.84m dots, no viewfinder

Memory:

SD

Lens:

24-360mm equivalent, f/3.3-6.4 (15x optical zoom)

Battery:

Embedded rechargeable 1255mAh Enduro Lithium-Ion

Video:

4K 30p

Photo:

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 memory card (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman) Today's best Panasonic Lumix ZS300 deals 869 View 869 View 869 View Show more We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices Panasonic Lumix ZS300 / TZ300: Price and availability Announced in March 2026 and available from the start of May Costs $899 / 869 / AU$1,599 Available in black or gray The Lumix ZS300 / TZ300 is expected to hit stores in May 2026 and cost $899 / 869 / AU$1,599. It comes in two varieties the gray version that Panasonic sent to me for this review, and an all-black version.

That price pits the Lumix TZ300 against the likes of the Canon PowerShot V1 , which is a vlogging camera with a bigger sensor, superb autofocus and modern video skills, but a narrower standard zoom range. Given how much new tech is in Canon s compact, it feels like better value (and there's rumored to be a travel-zoom version on the way which could rain on the Lumix parade).

The same money could also get you a small beginner mirrorless camera with kit lens, such as the excellent Fujifilm X-M5 . Overall, the Lumix TZ300 feels like okay value at best. Price score: 3/5 Panasonic Lumix ZS300 / TZ300: Design Small and compact, with a foldaway / extending lens Finally, USB-C charging No viewfinder, detail-rich fixed 3-inch touchscreen Ill cover the core specs of the Lumix TZ300 in this review, but most of what you need to know about the cameras design and performance has already been covered in our Lumix TZ200 review.

The Lumix TZ300 is still a tidily packaged camera that slips easily into a pocket, with a reassuring weightiness it feels like a quality piece of kit.

There are rubberized front and thumb grips for a firm hold, and every control is nicely dampened but also responsive, as is the 3-inch touchscreen. Image 1 of 5 (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman) (Image credit: Future / Tim
Coleman) (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman) (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman) (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman) The lens folds neatly away when the camera is powered off, and extends smoothly as you move through the zoom range, either using the ring around the lens or the touchscreen itll depend on which shooting mode youre using.

Its easy enough to set the camera to auto and let it take care of the
settings based on the scene you're photographing, but there are also enough manual controls to satisfy discerning photographers, including manual
exposure and auto ISO with the ability to set a minimum shutter speed (my go-to setup with my professional camera).

A pop-up flash is squeezed into the body, and is a handy feature for party portraits and creative low-light photography, especially since its possible
to manually adjust its strength and swap between first and second curtain flash sync (the point at which the flash fires during exposure). Image 1 of 3 (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman) (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman) (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman) I really appreciated how slick the touchscreen function felt, and the detailed 1.84m-dot display itself, but a pronounced bump serves to highlight how its fixed design could have easily been upgraded to tilt without increasing the cameras footprint.

Although the original viewfinder wasnt the best in terms of the viewing experience, it was positioned smartly at the top-left, and felt easy to bring to the eye. I did miss having the option in the new version of the camera.

As mentioned, with the viewfinder having been removed I would have liked to see a tilt-screen upgrade to further assist viewing in bright light and at awkward angles; as it is, there's just plastic where the viewfinder was on
the previous model. Image 1 of 6 Here's the same scene across the zoom range, starting with 24mm (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman) Then 50mm (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman) And 85mm (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman) This is 135mm (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman) And 240mm, effectively a 10x zoom setting (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman) And here's the maximum 15x zoom reach (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman) Design score: 3.5/5 Panasonic Lumix ZS300 / TZ300: Performance Versatile 15x optical zoom and decent stabilization performance Decent photo quality, dated video specs On-the-go charging is handy for traveling For such a versatile and small camera, the image quality from the Lumix ZS300 / TZ300 is surprisingly good. Naturally, you lose a little sharpness at the telephoto end of the zoom, but its still decent enough.

What you also lose as you zoom in is light sensitivity. Thats because the maximum aperture is reduced from f/3.3 at the 24mm wide-angle end to f/6.4 at the 360mm telephoto setting.

Long-exposure photography isn't well served the minimum possible lens aperture is f/8, and there's no practical way to utilize an ND filter besides physically holding one in place in front of the lens.

Still, the 1-inch sensor knocks the socks off the much smaller one in Panasonic's other recent travel zoom compact, the Lumix ZS99 / TZ99 , a
camera that majors on versatility and value, less so on quality. For me, this new Lumix, like its predecessor, strikes the right balance between quality
and versatility. Image 1 of 13 (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman) (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman) Here I tired to react quickly to this scene,
but start up time isn't the quickest and the lens cover got stuck in my
haste. (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman) (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman) (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman) (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman) (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman) (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman) (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman) (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman) (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman) (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman) (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman) In addition to Panasonics usual color profiles, there are filter effects including cross process and toy camera. These effects have been around for years, and in an age of Real Time LUTS profile and flat LOG profiles for video recording, they feel a little dated.

And, if it wasnt already obvious, none of Panasonics current Real Time LUTs
or LOG profiles are present, which also means no access to customizable LUTs as you get with the Lumix S9 mirrorless camera .

Theres nothing new under the hood, which means were getting an old processor, limited continuous shooting speeds, and dated autofocus performance compared to other cameras at this price point.

The autofocus system did feel dated to me. Yes, subject tracking and face / eye detection was a thing back in 2018 and we still have it here, but Panasonics recent mirrorless cameras have much more responsive autofocus performance.

Is having similarly good autofocus too much to ask for in a compact camera? Maybe, but look at Canon, which has bestowed excellent autofocus features on its PowerShot V1. Image 1 of 9 A selection of the 23 creative filters (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman) (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman) (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman) (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman) (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman) (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman) (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman) (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman) (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman) There is a particularly versatile macro
focusing mode, mind you. Close focusing is so effective, in fact, that you
can effectively be touching your subject with the end of the lens and itll still be in sharp focus.

Battery life is decent enough without standing out. The 1,025mAh unit can capture up to 360 shots on a full charge according to its CIPA rating, which felt about right based on my use.

And on-the-go USB-C charging, a boon for traveling, is a big upgrade in the new Lumix TZ300 over its predecessor, which doesnt offer it. Performance score: 3.5/5 Panasonic Lumix ZS300 / TZ300: testing scorecard Swipe to scroll horizontally Panasonic Lumix ZS300 / TZ300

Attributes

Notes

Rating Header Cell - Column 3

Price

Considering this is the same camera as the 2018 model, but without a viewfinder, it feels a little pricey

3/5 Row 0 - Cell 3

Design

A 15x optical zoom and intuitive control layout, but no viewfinder and a
fixed screen limit usability

3.5/5 Row 1 - Cell 3

Performance

The versatility to image quality mix is spot on if you need a good zoom, however video specs are dated

3.5/5 Row 2 - Cell 3 Should I buy the Panasonic Lumix ZS300 / TZ300? Buy it if... You want a quality and versatile travel compact

A 15x zoom range, stabilized lens and large 1-inch sensor combine for decent quality 20MP stills across the zoom range. The Lumix TZ300 shines for those whose travel snaps often feature distant subjects. Youd rather not use a
phone

Using a dedicated camera for photography can be a gratifying and creative experience over relying in your smartphone. Don't buy it if... You shoot a
lot of video

Yes, the Lumix TZ300 shoots 4K video, but the specs are dated now, and you
get more for your money from recent vlogging cameras such as the PowerShot
V1. You want the latest camera tech

If you didnt already know it, the Lumix TZ300 is a refresh of an eight-year-old camera with no new features besides USB-C charging, meaning youre getting the old processor, shooting speeds and autofocus performance. Also consider Panasonic Lumix ZS99 / TZ99 TODAY'S BEST DEALS 491.69 at very.co.uk 519 at Amazon 519 at Panasonic UK 519 at Clifton Cameras



If its the zoom range that appeals, then Panasonics own Lumix ZS99 / TZ99
goes even further and is a low-cost alternative. It has a greater 30x zoom range and similar handling, but its sensor is smaller and image quality is no match for the TZ300. You could also check out the Lumix FZ80D / FZ82D , which is similar in performance to the cheap Lumix ZS99 / TZ99, but is a bulkier bridge camera.



Read our in-depth Panasonic Lumix ZS99 / TZ99 review Canon PowerShot V1 TODAY'S BEST DEALS 743.99 at Amazon 859.99 at Canon UK 859.99 at very.co.uk 959 at Clifton Cameras



An altogether different kind of compact camera, the PowerShot V1 puts quality and performance first over zoom versatility. This has Canons latest autofocus system, better video recording specs and a larger sensor with faster lens. If you dont need the zoom range of the Lumix TZ300, then this could be your best alternative. There are rumors that Canon could launch a travel zoom compact
in the same mold of the PowerShot V1. If it did, with the latest tech and similar pricing, then it would better the Lumix TZ300 in virtually every metric.

Read my in-depth Canon PowerShot V1 review How I tested the Panasonic Lumix ZS300 / TZ300 I took the Lumix ZS300 / TZ300 traveling for a couple of weeks
I tested all of its photo and video modes I checked battery life and USB-C charging Panasonic loaned me a Lumix TZ300 for two weeks to complete my review. I was fortunate to be traveling in China during this period, and was therefore able to use it for the scenarios its designed for, taking video and photos of ancient towns, portraits, wide vistas and more.

I shot the same photo sequences spanning the zoom range of the lens, shoot photos in raw and JPEG format, and video in 4K and 1080p with the various frame rates.

For a lot of the test I was in changeable weather conditions at high altitudes. I kept track of battery life, counting how many photos I could
take on a full charge, plus how long it took to recharge the camera. First reviewed April 2026 Panasonic Lumix ZS300: Price Comparison 869 View 869 View 869 View 869 View No price information Check Amazon Show more We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices powered by



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/cameras/compact-cameras/panasonic-lumix-tz300-review


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