Everywhere you go, there are options coming out of your ears. For example, when you go to delete a photo in playback mode, you get the options to delete one image, a selection of images or all images. Contrast, sharpness, saturation and noise reduction can all be tweaked.
Our only reservation about the controls is that the touchscreen and the joystick sometimes compete with one another, as some features are adjusted onscreen and others with buttons and joystick. But the more familiar we got with the camera, the less of an issue this became.
One other feature worthy of note is the 60-second long shutter option for interesting night shooting.
Performance
The Lumix range features some excellent lenses and the FX500 is no
exception. The Leica-developed lens delivers really crisp images
corner-to-corner with no trace of barrel distortion despite the width
of the frame. Purple fringing is also kept under control very well.
The only image quality issue we have with the FX500 is that when it comes to noise control, the sensor isn't quite up to the high standard of the lens and the feature set. It's not bad: it just doesn't stand out from the compact crowd as much as it does in other areas. The price of a small sensor, especially when it's a high resolution sensor, is that more noise shows up. There's evidence of noise at ISO 200 with 400 and 800 showing sharp dips in quality and 1600 essentially unusable. The less said about the 3-megapixel, ISO 6,400 mode the better.
Still, images are fine for Web sharing and prints. Delving into the menus pays dividends as the ISO speed can be limited to a specified maximum and noise reduction can be tweaked to avoid smearing of detail. Playing about with the manual exposure controls, especially when using the long shutter, can also lead to some great night shots.
Conclusion
If looks are the most important criteria in your decision, the
rather plain FX500 can't hold a candle to the comely likes of the Canon Digital IXUS 90 IS. But in just about every other area, the FX500 knocks its competitors into a cocked hat. The Casio Exilim EX-Z200 is another wide-angle option, but you really can't go wrong with the excellent FX500.
Edited by Shannon Doubleday
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tomgth 7 April 2009
Good: erm....the colour?
Bad: Awful, Awful picture quality. Terrible, pixalated video
Comment: I picked this specifically on the recommendation of the CNET editors choice and the accompanying video. After 3 different Canon Ixus over the years, I find this really very disappointing. I’m going to get the screen on my old Ixus fixed and give this to my toddler.
I didn’t give it a zero simply for the fact that it does technically qualify as a camera by looking like one and having the ability to take a photo, albeit a dreadful one.
Not happy - waste of money
Krisman 24 December 2008
Good: Hi def video
Bad: Incredibly poor sensor, cheap build quality, rubbish stabilisation
Comment: This camera is the biggest disappointment in my 10 years of digital camera buying experience. I wanted to love this camera but it under performs in all areas. The sensor is dreadful and even in low light conditions it falls pieces producing some of the worst photos I have seen in years. I compared this with a £100 Samsung camera and more often than not the Samsung gave better results. This should not be the case given the £300 retail price. The video is a plus point and gives great hi def results given the size of the camera. The poor sensor means I cannot recommend this product as at the end of the day good photos should win over style and ease of use. Do not believe the hype!
Simon deeBee 21 August 2008
Good: Picture quality, lens range for such a small beastie
Bad: The fact that I'd have had to have paid twice as much if bought in the UK
Comment: Awesome little camera. Absolutely perfect for taking out cycling round Tainan County and snapping the locals (currently working in Taiwan just now). Even better was the price - 4gig card, spare battery, delightful wee tripod, carry case all for less than a 3 dart maximum!!
Wholly recommended from me.
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