Compared to digital SLRs and some other megazoom cameras, the small, lightweight 6-megapixel Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ7 feels almost like a toy. Only after acknowledging its powerful 12X (36mm-to-432mm, 35mm-equivalent) optically stabilised lens, manual controls, extended selection of scene modes, and VGA movie capture do you realise that this camera's capabilities far outstrip its size and weight. Despite some image flaws, this modest upgrade to the 5-megapixel Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ5 will likely be as popular as its predecessor, appealing to a broad range of photographers who want a camera that will allow them to improve -- or prove -- their photographic skills.
Design
Available in black or silver, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ7's plastic-and-metal body feels well made despite its light weight -- a mere 375 grams with an SD card and the proprietary battery installed. You won't be putting this camera in your pocket, but you'll barely know it's there when it's slung over your shoulder or around your neck.
In the box, you'll find a lens adapter that accommodates the bundled lens hood and optional filters. Unfortunately, the adapter-hood combo causes vignetting at wide angles, with or without the flash. Frankly, using the lens hood was just too much of an ordeal, so we often left it at home when out shooting.
The external controls that populate the top and back of the camera are well organised.
Atop the comfortably sized handgrip, you'll find the zoom lever, a button for activating the two optical image stabilisation modes, and an AF/MF button that switches between autofocus and manual focus. Program, aperture- and shutter-priority, manual, macro, movie, scene, and the camera's Simple mode, which allows for no-brainer shooting, are accessed via the camera's small but smoothly ratcheted mode dial.
Even with the new, larger -- but still low-resolution -- 2.5-inch LCD, there's plenty of room for external controls on the back of the camera. There, you'll find buttons to pop up the flash and to switch between the EVF and the LCD, as well as a joystick to adjust manual exposure settings and manual focus, a control button that cycles between display options and controls the display mode, and a dual-purpose control for both continuous shooting or deleting shots. The left, right, and down arrow pads on the four-way controller provide direct access to the self-timer, the flash modes, and review/playback. The up arrow invokes exposure compensation (exposure bracketing in full manual mode), flash compensation, and white-balance fine-tuning (in all but automatic white balance). In Simple mode, the same arrow accesses only the backlight option.
The center button calls up the menu and acts as a set button. All in all, it's a pretty convenient layout, and you rarely have to go into the menu; even when you do, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ7's menu system is easy to navigate.
Features
Two of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ7's main features -- its 12X zoom lens and its optical image stabiliser (OIS) -- work well together. Like other Panasonic OIS cameras, the DMC-FZ7 has two image stabilisation modes: one is always on; the other is activated when you press the shutter halfway. I prefer the latter mode; it's less draining on the battery. Either allowed me to shoot slower shutter speeds than normal (about two stops), decreasing the need to push the ISO higher or use a tripod in low light.
The lens, which covers a 35mm-equivalent focal range of 36mm to 432mm, sports a maximum aperture of ranging from f/2.8 to f/3.3. New for the FZ series is manual focus control via the joystick. There are two MF-assist options; one enlarges just the center of the screen, while the other enlarges the entire screen for more accurate focusing. The camera's multiple AF modes include high-speed AF modes that freeze the screen briefly and, of course, standard AF.
Enthusiasts who crave high-end features will appreciate the DMC-FZ7's manual exposure controls, with shutter speeds ranging from 8 seconds to 1/2,000 second or 60 seconds to 1/2,000 second in full manual mode. Colour-bias tweaking is available for all but auto white balance; contrast, sharpness, and saturation adjustments as well as multiple metering modes are also available.
In addition to JPEG and TIFF (raw is unavailable), the DMC-FZ7 offers three different aspect ratios, 4:3, 3:2, and 16:9, which are also available in the camera's movie mode. The 16:9 movies have a resolution of 848x480, rather than a letterboxed VGA. Because each aspect ratio uses different portions of the CCD, file sizes (resolution) and optical zoom range differ for each.
With a bevy of scene modes (including the new Starry Sky with long exposure shutter speeds of 15, 30, and 60 seconds) and a Simple mode with minimal menu options, beginners who want the benefits of a megazoom and OIS should feel comfortable using the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ7, too.
Performance
Slightly more responsive than its already peppy predecessor, the DMC-FZ5, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ7 generally delivers the goods. Start-up time to first shot takes about 2.8 seconds, with time between shots measuring 1.5 seconds with and without flash for JPEGs and remains a respectable 7.7 seconds when shooting TIFF.
The camera shines in all three of its burst modes (high, low, and unlimited), delivering between 1.3fps and 3.1fps, depending upon the mode. Shutter lag is minimal in bright light, although it's slightly more noticeable in dim light, even with the camera's AF assist lamp.
Still, the DMC-FZ7 does a good job of locking focus in dimly lit conditions, and at the same time, the LCD gains up to deliver a bright view in low light. Although the low-resolution LCD shows some ghosting in low light due to a slow refresh rate, it's bright and clear when shooting indoors and out. It also offers both extrabright and High Angle settings; the latter makes it easier to view the monitor at an angle. The EVF is also low resolution and, while sufficient for composing when necessary, is a less attractive choice for viewing than the LCD.
(Shorter bars indicate better performance)
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Typical shot-to-shot time | |
Time to first shot | |
Shutter lag (typical) |
(Longer bars indicate better performance)
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Typical continuous-shooting speed |
Image quality
Overall, our test shots look quite good, with even exposures and accurate colours. The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ7's lens produces reasonably sharp images throughout the focal range, though the left side tends to be a little softer than the rest. Throughout the range, we also noticed blue edges stemming from blooming in the blue channel and occasional purple fringing along high-contrast areas.
Even as low as ISO 80, you can see how noise degrades details, such as the text on the tape measure.
New for the DMC-FZ7, Panasonic introduces high-sensitivity mode, which adds ISO 800 and ISO 1,600 to the camera's range. Unfortunately, noise is noticeable as low as ISO 80 -- bad enough to obscure small details -- and, not surprisingly, becomes worse at higher sensitivities. Photos are pretty much unusable at ISO 800 and ISO 1,600.
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kkdemak
08/09/2008, 06:28 AM
rating
9/10
Reliable, solid camera, quality pictures, a "must have" item for both beginners and enthusiasts
Pros: Light weight, optical stabilization, mega zoom, long battery life, Leica lens, superb colors, very fine macros, adaptable optical zoom, high quality movie
Cons: Twilight pictures - not very stabilized, noise at higher iso, uncompressed movies, no zoom while filming
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maistora
03/03/2007, 11:39 PM
rating
9/10
Chose the Lumix for the Leica lens (I own, and have used in the past, a classic Leica M3 film camera). Few non-SLR cameras in this price range offer 12x optical zoom and this lens is superb.
Plenty of functionality and features cater for every skill level, taste and style. Instead of criticising, bother to learn your FZ7 and use correctly what it has to offer!
Yes, it gets noisy at higher ISOs but which camera doesn't? Don't expect the (otherwise great) OIS to do miracles if you have Parkinson's and are trying to take handheld shots of racing horses form a racing tractor. Also, at the wide end of the zoom don't expect fish-eye captures of 180-degree panoramic landscapes (you need a WA adapter for this, and they are available in a variety of qualities and prices). Don't blame the USB speed, just read (instantly) the memory card in your PC - works at lightning speed.
Nothing in this price range comes anywhere close in optical quality and features choice.
Pros: - superb Leica lens
- wealth of features and functions
- compact size and weight, fits (outer) pockets like no SLR does
- image stabilisation (critical for the long zoom this lens offers)
- good balance between- and choice from auto, semi-auto and manual modes for every kind of photographer
- amazingly affordable, especially if you shop around a bit
Cons: - higher noise than the best cameras at ISO-s above 200. Apart form avoiding such ISO settings, a good solution to the problem is noise removal software like NeatImage and similar products, including the built-in filters in PhotoShop.
- zoom not wide enough at the short end (36mm equivalent, could be 28 or less). The solution is an external adapter that can be bought for anything between £20 and £120 (US$35-200) - and the respective quality variations. Make sure you get the right thread adaptor to fit the Leica extension hood.
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anonymous
18/12/2006, 11:48 AM
rating
5/10
Old Canon A40 took better shots than the Panasonic.
Pros: Light weight
Cons: Too much noise - blurry images
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Frank
08/12/2006, 11:07 PM
rating
8/10
Love this Camera!! I have owned 5 Digital Camera and this one is by far the best!!
Pros: Picture Quality
Fast Recovery
Mamy,many Features gor a Camera in this price range!
Cons: Maybe a little noisey if you shoot over iso 200. Keep it at iso 8- or 100,and you will not have any problems with noise (No mote yjam other Cameras in this price Range)
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dougsinnott
20/11/2006, 04:40 AM
rating
9/10
I already own a Canon 300d(Rebel),and a Fuji S602Z,and find the Panasonic quick and easy to use in comparison,and the large viewing screen a great aid to composition.
Prior to buying the FZ7 I usually preferred using the S602 mainly for its convenience over the Canon,as with a 28-200mm zoom attached,it was a heavy combination to carry about,although the photographic quality was good,although not really significantly better than the Fuji.
I think the S602z has stood up quite well,considering its a 3MP camera,producing 6MP recording pixels.
It has always produced sharp,colourful prints,and is is easy to hold at low shutter speeds.It must be one of Fuji's classic digital cameras.
Pros: A long zoom lens,very compact,excellent battery life,well made.It saves lugging a heavy DSLR around with a couple of lenses.
Cons: Probably the eyepiece could be larger,like my S602,for easier viewing,but they all seem about this size.Noise is noticeable at high ISO,but that is common to most compacts anyway,at lower ISO's A4s are fine,even when cropped a bit.
The macro mode works well,and the anti-shake is a boon.
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photoguru
06/11/2006, 07:11 PM
rating
9/10
Great camera. Best in its class. Performance, value and user-friendly leader.
Pros: Lens, handling, feel, speed
Cons: Won't take AA batteries
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01/10/2006, 04:57 PM
rating
5/10
too much noise
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12/09/2006, 07:52 PM
rating
9/10
cheap and quality
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