June 20, 2009

Panasonic Lumix DMC FS7 Review

The Panasonic Lumix DMC FS7 is a mid priced, pocket sized digital camera. In terms of main features it has 10 megapixels and a 4x optical zoom lens. As with other Panasonic cameras in this series you can trade off some of the megapixels and increase the amount of zoom. For example when shooting at below 3 megapixels the maximum zoom available is 7.1x magnification or at 5 megapixels you can increase the zoom to 5.7x magnification. This makes the Lumix DMC FS7 quite a flexible camera. Shooting at 5 megapixels still gives you scope to produce prints of around 8 x 11 inches in size. Most people find this plenty for holiday snapshots etc.
It is this type of feature that gives the Lumix DMC FS7 a small edge over other similarly priced digital cameras. Other little extras include a LCD screen with a special setting that makes the screen a lot easier to see if you need to hold the camera above your head to take a photo. This may come in useful if you are in a crowd and would like to take a shot of events unfolding in front of you. Likewise I think it is a good idea to give you an option to increase the size of the text used in the menu system. Most people would not want to use this feature, but for anyone whose eyesight is not what it was this can help to make the Lumix DMC FS7 that bit easier to use. The LCD screen is a good size at 2.7 inches. This is now becoming the standard screen size.
Other features worth a mention include a starry sky mode. This mode allows you much greater control over shutter speeds and can help you to take much better photos. If you are going to use slower shutter speeds then the fact the camera has image stabilisation built in will also be of interest. This feature is not a necessity on cameras with fairly short zoom lenses, but every little helps when it comes to taking sharp photos.
You may also notice the camera has an Intelligent Auto setting. This is said to help the camera recognise certain scenes and to detect when a subject is moving or the camera is not completely still. Again I would not say any of this is a necessity, but it may help improve your photos a notch or two.
We have now reached the stage in the evolution of digital cameras where the majority are able to take a decent snapshot. This is especially true if you are not looking to enlarge picture size outrageously. Even so I felt the Lumix DMC FS7 had a slight edge over a number of similarly priced cameras I have tested recently. A lot of this is down to the sharpness of the photos and also the level of detail the camera is able to bring out in light shade. In some of my tests the level of contrast in the shot is high and I felt the camera handled these tricky scenes better than most cameras do.
In terms of looks and design there is not a great deal to report. The camera has a simple design and to be honest it looks roughly similar to so many other digital cameras. That is not to say the camera is unattractive. You also have a selection of colours available. Panasonic state the Lumix DMC FS7 is available in silver, pink and black, but I have also seen pictures of the camera in green and blue, so these colours must be available somewhere.
If you are looking for this type of camera then you are spoilt for choice. There are even four similar models, including the Lumix DMC FS7 that Panasonic alone has introduced in the spring of 2009. This camera offers good vale for money and stands up well against other models.
Andy writes and reviews digital cameras for Cameras.co.uk. See his test shots and ratings for the Panasonic Lumix DMC FS7
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andy_Needham

May 6, 2009

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS7 Detail


-10.1-megapixel resolution captures enough detail for poster-size prints
-4x MEGA optical image-stabilized zoom; F2.8 Leica DC Vario-Elmarit lens
-Intelligent Auto (iA) mode
-2.7-inch LCD screen
-Capture images to SD/SDHC memory cards (not included)
-maximum_aperture_range: F/2.8-5.9
-Minimum focal length: 5.5 millimeters
-Maximum focal length: 22 millimeters
-Lens Type: Zoom lens
-optical_sensor_size: 1/2.5"
-Included Flash Type: Built-in flash
-Display Size: 2.7 inches
-light_sensitivity: ISO 100, ISO 800, ISO 400, ISO 200, ISO auto, ISO auto (1600-6400), ISO 1600
-Image types: JPEG
-Shooting Modes: Frame movie mode
-Exposure Control Type: Candle, Beach, Snow, High sensitivity, Starry sky, Soft skin, Baby1, Baby2, Portrait mode, Aerial photo, Hi-speed burst, Party/indoor, Night portrait, Self-portrait, Pet, Scenery, Food, Fireworks, Night scene, Underwater, Sports mode, Sunset
-Viewfinder Type: None
-Width: 3.8 inches
-Depth: 0.9 inches
-Height: 2.1 inches
-Weight: 4.1 Ounces