Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP8 review

Those who like scene modes will be pleased to know that the DMC-FP8 has 28 of them. The list includes familiar options, like 'portrait', 'landscape' and 'night scenery', and more unusual artistic choices, like 'high dynamic range', 'pinhole' and 'film grain' (the last two are limited to shots of 3 megapixels and below). A 'my scene' option is also available, letting you associate a favourite scene mode with a spot in the shooting-mode menu. The fully automatic intelligent-auto mode gets a spot on the shooting menu, too. Finally, there's a movie mode capable of capturing some very good video at a high-definition resolution of 1,280x720 pixels, and you get use of the quiet optical zoom while recording.

Speedy snapper
For its price and size, the DMC-FP8 offers first-rate performance. Throwing the power switch will get you up and shooting in less than a second, although it takes longer to focus and capture the first shot -- 1.7 seconds. The shutter lag in bright conditions averaged 0.4 seconds in our lab tests and the DMC-FP8 felt fast compared with other cameras in its class. Unfortunately, it's not nearly as quick to focus and shoot in dim lighting, taking a more ordinary 0.8 seconds. Its shot-to-shot times are pretty good, though: 1.9 seconds without the flash, and 2.4 seconds with it. The DMC-FP8 can shoot in bursts of three or five shots, depending on the quality setting, and does so at a fast 1.9fps.

The DMC-FP8's overall photo quality is very good, although those planning to make prints larger than 8 by 10 inches will be less happy with the results. Like most cameras in its class, the DMC-FP8 produces its best photos below ISO 200. The results are decent from ISO 200 all the way up to ISO 800. Detail is strong and subjects are sharp, but, when viewed at 100 per cent, images look a little over-processed.

Photos above ISO 800 are fairly unusable -- there's plenty of graininess, colour shifting and yellow splotches throughout pictures. 'Keep your sensitivity setting at or below ISO 800' is easy to say, but this is first and foremost a point-and-shoot camera. Panasonic's otherwise reliable intelligent-auto mode is over-cautious, favouring higher ISOs, and, in that mode, there's no way to set a limit on sensitivity.

The wideangle lens exhibits some mild barrel distortion on the left side and there's also some pincushion distortion when the lens is fully extended. Although the occasional test shot showed chromatic aberration, it was only noticeable in larger prints. Sharpness is consistent from edge to edge, too. Colours are generally accurate, bright and natural. Exposure is very good, but the auto white balance leans towards warm when not under natural light.

The HD video quality is very good and, again, you do get use of the near-silent optical zoom.

Shooting speed (in seconds)
(Shorter bars indicate better performance)

Time to first shot

Typical shot-to-shot time (flash)

Typical shot-to-shot time

Shutter lag (dim)

Shutter lag (typical)

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP8

1.7 

2.4 

1.9 

0.6 

0.4 

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T900

1.4 

2.2 

1.4 

0.7 

0.4 

Nikon Coolpix S570

2 

3.8 

2.2 

0.8 

0.6 

Canon Digital IXUS 120 IS

1.4 

6.2 

2.9 

0.9 

0.6 

Conclusion
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP8 is a solid snapshot camera. It's faster than many of the cameras in its class, has a good wideangle lens and offers long battery life. It's not much to look at, however, and it has a tendency to pick higher-than-necessary ISOs, which wouldn't be so bad if it delivered better photo quality at its highest ISOs. If you don't care about its design and aren't afraid to take advantage of its normal-picture mode, it's definitely an ultra-compact worth considering.

Additional editing by Charles Kloet