The days of bridge cams are not over! Panasonic revives the Lumix FZ80D and FZ82D

Panasonic defies expectations by releasing a relatively new superzoom small camera with a 20–1200mm lens.

Unexpectedly, Panasonic has updated the seven-year-old Lumix FZ80 (marketed as the FZ82 in Europe) bridge camera with a new model. In North America, the new model will be known as the Lumix FZ80D; in the UK and Europe, it will be known as the Lumix FZ82D.

The design, the integrated 60x zoom, and the 1/2.3-inch 18-megapixel sensor are just a few of the main features shared by the 2017 model and the updated version. Still, a few fresh features are being mixed in.

Starting with an improved eyelevel electronic viewfinder and a USB-C connection for easier charging are included. With a 0.74 magnification and 2,360k dots on display, the new EVF doubles the resolution of the previous generation.

Additionally, the rear 3-inch LCD display receives an improvement in image quality, with a resolution of 1,840k dots as opposed to the previous model's 1040k dots.

The Zoom Compose Assist button, located on the top plate, is a brand-new function that "lets you quickly zoom out with a single press of a button when you've lost your subject while telephoto shooting." If the lens offers you an effective focal length range of 20–1200mm, this could come in helpful.

One of the few manufacturers still producing bridge cameras is Panasonic; these cameras have a large built-in zoom lens and handle similarly to a DSLR. But in recent years, a lot of its bridge cameras have become scarce, making them frequently difficult to locate in stock. Better availability is hopefully ensured by the new model.

The new model also has a full range of exposure modes (manual, program, and aperture priority), 10 frames per second burst mode, optical image stabilization, and 4K video recording.

Priced at $479/£429, the Panasonic Lumix FZ80D/FZ82D will go on sale in July.