Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ30 reviewed

It may borrow its looks from a DSLR and its lens from Leica, but Panasonic's 8 megapixel Lumix DMC-FZ30 is a prosumer EVF (electronic viewfinder), and that's fine with Megapixel.net. The site gave the camera high marks for image quality, ergonomics, focusing and lens. The reviewer liked the DMC-FZ30's 12x stabilized zoom lens, calling it  "the most attractive feature of the camera." While the $600 price tag might drive some potential customers to spend a couple of hundred more on a DSLR, a host of beginner-friendly features (preset modes include "Soft Skin Mode," designed to remove wrinkles, and "Party Mode" for low-light shooting), as well as a solid movie mode, may be enough to keep some high-end customers in the EVF fold.

[Daimaou @ Akihabara News @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

I ordered it yesterday, even after I could read hard critics for its weakness in low light area... well will see but your comments is 100% accurate, I was ready to by a Canon Kiss N or 20D (Great but too much for my usage), but wanted to give a try to this quite powerful toy

[Marius @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Apparently in high demand* here in Germany. Ordered mine a month ago, but I'm afraid, I won't recieve it before november... :(
(*this or someone can't get his supply problems under control *cough*fz20*cough*)

[PixelBrat.com @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

I've had mine for a month and love it!! A wee bit noisier than most but nothing Neat Image can't handle. Awesome camera.

[Galley @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Looks like a nice update to my FZ20.

[Khanh @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Great camera, but boy isn't noisy. Don't plan to use it above ISO 80.

[Warren Long @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

I was forced to upgrade when I drowned my FZ20. I am very happy with the FZ30, especially the extended-zoom stuff. Yes, it seems a little weaker in low-light, non-flash situations. And that is weaker than the FZ20, which wasn't great. However, if you are willing to use the flash, it is VERY powerful. The zoom ring is nice, the battery life unbelievable.

[Mike Scott @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

I got one of the FZ30's a few days after it was released in Japan, and have taken it with me (and a FZ5) on a safari/beach holiday in Kenya. I have found that both cameras (including the FZ30) with one- or three-spot metering tended to produce slightly under-exposed pictures in virtually all lighting conditions and with nearly all subjects. I haven't tested the FZ30 with other metering set-ups, but I was slightly disappointed to find the results were quite dull. Since the Auto mode ought to produce good results, at present, I am not convinced that this is the case.
Having said all this, about 5% of the 400 or so photos were just about right, and the camera is easy to handle; the zoom is good; the detail is great; colour balance is neutral; the OIS is excellent; and the autofocus didn't fail me once!! The much-vaunted noise doesn't seem to be an issue.
One other thing worth noting is that the 8M pixels are only available for photos at 4:3 ratio (OK for 8 x 6 prints), but if you want the standard 6 x 4 or 5 x 7 you'll have to make do with fewer pixels (only 7M for 3:2 ratio). As things stand, this means (when compared with Nikon and one or two other Digital cameras) the 'usable' number of pixels (in the most common format) is probably being overstated.
Ultimately I have found it necessary to spend a lot of time post-processing the images to a) get acceptable images and b) cropping to suit 6 x 4 photo 'cards'.
(I am not a camera expert, and maybe I expected too much of the camera in Auto Mode)