Panasonic Announces ZS300: A Pocket 15x Zoom Camera for Everyday Shooting

The Panasonic ZS300 has been announced, a compact point-and-shoot camera designed for casual photographers and anyone who wants a dedicated camera that’s easy to carry everywhere. With a 1-inch sensor, 15x optical zoom (24-360mm equivalent), and 4K video recording, it aims to deliver more versatility and image quality than your smartphone, without the bulk of a DSLR or mirrorless camera + lens.

The ZS300’s standout feature is its 15x optical zoom lens, covering a 35mm-equivalent range of 24-360mm. Built-in Wi-Fi lets you transfer images wirelessly to your phone using Panasonic’s Image App, making it easy to share your shots on the go.

What I like about the specs is that the ZS300 offers aperture priority, shutter priority, and full manual exposure modes. I always aim for maximum creative control and really appreciate manual mode. I think that’s also perfect for those who are still learning the basics of photography so they can practice the connection between ISO, aperture and shutter speed and see how it all works and relates in real life. It also allows you to shoot RAW files alongside JPEGs, giving you more flexibility in post-processing.

What I see as a major downside for a compact camera, at least in 2026, is that the touchscreen LCD is fixed (non-tilting), and there’s no viewfinder.

As far as video goes, the Panasonic ZS300 records 4K video at 30fps and Full HD at up to 60fps. Another downside is that clips are limited to 15 minutes per recording. SO, I don’t think vloggers would find it particularly useful with such limited video length, but it could be used for some casual shots or B-roll.

With its compact size and decent image quality, I believe a camera like this could be useful for casual photos and photo walks, street photography, and learning.

Panasonic ZS300 Specs

Imaging

Effective Sensor Resolution	20.1 MP (Effective), 20.9 MP (Actual)
Image Sensor	1″-Type CMOS
Image Stabilization	Optical (Lens), Sensor-Shift (5-Axis)

Lens

Focal Length	8.8–132mm (24–360mm equivalent)
Optical Zoom	15x
Digital Zoom	Up to 30x
Aperture	f/3.3–6.4 (Max), f/8 (Min)
Focus Range	19.7″–∞ / 50 cm–∞ (Wide); 39.4″–∞ / 100 cm–∞ (Wide)
Optical Design	13 Elements in 11 Groups

Exposure Control

Shutter Speed	Electronic: 1/16000–1 sec; Mechanical: 1/2000–60 sec
Bulb/Time Mode	No
ISO / Gain Sensitivity	80–6400 (Extended: 80–6400)
Metering Method	Center-Weighted Average
Exposure Modes	Aperture Priority, Manual, Program, Shutter Priority
Exposure Compensation	-5 to +5 EV (1/3 EV Steps)
White Balance	AWB, Cloudy, Color Temp, Daylight, Flash, Incandescent, Shade, White Set 1–4
Continuous Shooting	No
Interval Recording	No
Self-Timer	2 / 10 sec

Still Image Capture

Aspect Ratio	1:1, 3:2, 4:3, 16:9
Image File Format	JPEG, RAW

Video Capture

Internal Recording	MP4
Resolutions	3840×2160; 1920×1080 (30/60 fps); 1280×720 (30 fps)
Recording Limit	15 minutes (4K)
Broadcast Output	NTSC
IP Streaming	No
Built-In Microphone	Stereo
Audio Recording	2-Channel AAC

Interface

Media/Memory Card Slot	1× SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I)
Internal Storage	No
Video I/O	No
Audio I/O	No
Power I/O	1× USB-C Input
Other I/O	1× USB-C (Data) Input/Output
Wireless	Wi-Fi (802.11b/g)
Mobile App Compatible	Panasonic Image App (iOS & Android)
GPS	No

Monitor

Display Type	Fixed 3″ Touchscreen LCD
Resolution	1,840,000 Dot

Viewfinder

Type	No Viewfinder Support

Flash

Built-In Flash/Light	Yes, Flash Only
Flash Modes	Auto, Auto/Red-Eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced On/Red-Eye Reduction, Slow Sync, Slow Sync/Red-Eye Reduction
Effective Flash Range	ISO Auto: 0.6–6.8 m (Wide), 1–3.9 m (Telephoto)
Non-Shoe Flash Connection	No

General

Environmental Resistance	No
Battery	Li-Ion, 7.2 V, 1025 mAh (~360 shots)
Shoe Mount	No
Dimensions (W×H×D)	111.25 × 66.29 × 45.21 mm
Weight	295 g (with battery & card)

Pricing and Availability

The Panasonic ZS300 is priced at $897.99, it’s ready for preorders, and should start shipping soon.

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