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 superzoom 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 |
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Time to first shot |
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Shutter lag (typical) |
(Longer bars indicate better performance)
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Typical continuous-shooting speed |
Image quality
Overall, our test shots look reasonably good, with even exposures and accurate colours. The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ7's lens produces fairly 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.
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.
Edited by Lori Grunin
Additional editing by Kate Macefield
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David Glasgow 18 June 2006
Good: Sharp pictures, 2.5-inch LCD screen, image stabilisation, and strong flash
Bad: People who run it down, especially who never owned one!
Comment: This is a very special camera, so light, yet very well made, has a nice feel in your hands....
The colours are spot on, I never have to adjust too much, very pleasing results!
Another nice element is the image stabilisation, which works very well indeed, much better than other different cameras' stabilsation, as Panasonic have been in this field for a long time. They have received praise all over the world for their mega O.I.S which is ahead of its time. It means taking pictures without blur 99% of the time, especially at slower shutter speeds. Finally I will close by saying the battery is perfect, it holds a lot of power, enough to last a whole week without needing to recharge, which takes only just over 2 hours! No more need for AA batteries .
9/10 for build and camera layout and 10/10 for image quality as it seems to get everthing spot on (for the asking price of £260 which I paid, an excellent investment).
Thanks for reading!
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