Panasonic's wide-angle Lumix DMC-FX30 gets reviewed

Panasonic's 7.2-megapixel Lumix DMC-FX30 doesn't hold any world records in terms of size or amenities, but the point-and-shoot does manage to offer up some fairly decent innards for a relatively modest price -- none of which matter if performance suffers. To find out just how worthy Panny's wide-angle, OIS-equipped snapper is of your cash, DigicamReview took it for a spin and threw in its two cents (er, pence). Interestingly, the device was generally hailed as an excellent choice for those in the market for a pocketable camera, as the highly-regarded Leica 3.6x optical zoom lens, effective image stabilization, versatile 2.5-inch LCD, logical menu structure, and respectable image quality all took home praises. The only real digs on the shooter came from high amounts of noise when shooting with a cranked ISO (and even some at ISO 100) and the inclusion of red-eye in some snapshots, but both negatives aren't strangers to the handheld camera realm. Overall, reviewers seemed overly giddy about the FX30, and while we'd certainly give Canon's SD800 IS a glance before plunking down on this wide-angled digicam, the low price of the Panasonic just might help make up your mind.

[ruttiger @ Jun 1st 2007 8:28AM]

These guys really need to spend some time on their sensors. Noise at ISO 100 and 200 is completely unacceptable these days and until they fix that these cameras just aren't serious contenders. The difference between the Pany and the Fuji shots is huge.

[Jeffrey @ Jun 1st 2007 9:24AM]

You pixel-counters spend more time worrying about a film grain that's completely not noticable in prints rather than taking good pictures.

[ruttiger @ Jun 1st 2007 10:05AM]

It's not the noise itself but rather the effects. As the rveiew shows, the test shots, even at ISO100 and 200, have quite heavy image processing to reduce noise. This processing robs the pic of detail giving you a reduced quality image as a result.

It's not too bad, agreed, but the Fuji is miles ahead in overall 'pixel' quality.

[Rob @ Jun 1st 2007 9:38AM]

Not sure which "pixel-counters" you're referring to, but give me a camera with lower (high ISO) noise AND a lower pixel count any day!

[elflaco @ Jun 1st 2007 10:51AM]

I enjoy my panasonic camera, I have the fx01, but I had the Canon SD500 before my sister lost it. The noise on the panasonic was very noticeable compared to a canon, I saved money by getting the panasonic, which I still recommend, but if you have the extra cash, go for a Canon. I would have bought an older Canon model over the Panasonic, but I wanted image stabilization, which I think only the SD700 had at that point, and it was much more expensive than the Panasonic.