Equipped with a 1/2.5-inch CCD
composed of 7.38 million pixels, of which 7.2 million are
effective, the DMC-FX30 is able to record images at a variety
of sizes and aspect ratios:
Ratio
4:3
Ratio
3:2
Ratio
16:9
7M:
3072 x 2304 5M :
2560 x 1920 3M:
2048 × 1536 2M :
1600 × 1200 1M:
1280 × 960 0.3M:
640 x 480
6M :
3072 × 2048 2.5M:
2048 × 1360
5.5M:
3072 × 1728 2M :
1920 × 1080
Images are saved using one of two levels of JPEG compression,
each identified by a symbol:
the least compression, with a ratio
of 6:1 to 8:1 depending on the complexity of the subject.
a much stronger compression that uses a ratio that ranges
from 12:1 to 18:1.
The sensitivity range of the FX30's CCD starts at 100 ISO
and can climb up to 1250 ISO. Set to any of the scene modes
or to the Simple mode the camera controls the sensitivity
and adjusts it automatically over a range that covers from
100 to 800 ISO with one exception, the High Sensitivity
mode, which can go as high as 3200 ISO. In addition,
as with all current compact cameras from Panasonic, the FX30
is equipped with a special mode called Intelligent ISO
which gradually increases sensitivity, taking into account
the focal length in use, the subject's motion and the effect
of the optical stabilizer to minimize the ISO increase while
still capturing a sharp image.
The DMC-FX30 has a Leica
DC Vario-Elmarit 3.6X optical zoom that covers a
focal length range of 4.6 to 16.4 mm, the equivalent
of a 28 to 100 mm zoom on a 35 mm camera. The zoom
is optically stabilized with the Mega
O.I.S. system that absorbs the involuntary movements
of the photographer. Apertures start at f2.8 through to f8
when the lens is at the wide angle end, and f5.6 through f16
at the telephoto end.
Generally, the shutter speed range extends from 1/2000 second
to 1 second, but long exposure times of 15, 30 or 60 seconds
can be selected when the camera is set to the Starry Sky
mode. Noise reduction processing is automatically applied
to all long exposures.
The FX30 has a non-interpolating
digital zoom. The digital zoom takes advantage
of the full resolution of the CCD to offer cropped images
when the image size is set to resolutions less than
the maximum, that show a field of view that would be comparable
to what a lens longer than the camera's maximum telephoto
would capture. Image sizes that can use the digital zoom are
indicated with the letters (Extended Zoom).
The Simple mode of the FX30 does not offer
a Quick Menu — called up by the FUNC
button in other modes — and the only menu available
is displayed when the MENU/SET button is
pressed. This menu contains only 4 options:
Picture Mode serves to select the image size according
to the use the image will be put to:
Enlarge is intended to make 8 x 10 inch prints
(20 x 25 cm) using an image size of 3072 x 2304 pixels
and a Fine compression setting.
4 x 6 inch/10 x 15 cm sets the camera to record
a 2048 x 1360 pixel image using a Standard compression
setting.
E-mail captures photos at a 640 x 480 pixel
size with a Standard compression.
Auto Review decides whether or not the image is
shown on the monitor immediately post-capture.
Beep serves to adjust the volume of the sounds
produced by the camera (Off, Low, High).
Clock Set: allows setting the internal clock and
calendar of the FX30.
With all the modes that are less "point and shoot"
— including the scene modes — the recording menu
is longer even though the number of options available is related
to the shooting mode in use. The maximum number of options
is only shown when the camera is set to the Normal
()
mode, the scene modes omitting the options that might affect
their pre-settings.
The menu is composed of two sections, each identified by
a tab on the left side of the screen: the section that contains
Recording options and the one that contains
Setup options(see the Interface
and Software section of the review for details on
the Setup options). The list below contains all the possible
options of the REC. menu:
White Balance provides settings for: Auto,
Daylight, Cloudy, Halogen (incandescent), White Set 1, and
White Set which serves to set the white balance under ambient
light that does not fit one of the presets, and store the
setting.
Sensitivity:
Set to the Normal or Macro
modes this option allows selecting: Auto, 100, 200,
400, 800, 1250 ISO.
Set to IntelligentISO
mode, sensitivity can be adjusted over a range of 400,
800 or 1250 ISO.
Aspect Ratio: serves to select the aspect ratio
of still images (4:3, 3:2 or 16:9), or of movies (4:3 or
16:9).
Picture Size: serves to select the image size (see
above) according to the selected aspect ratio.
Quality: serves to choose one of the two JPEG compression
levels (see above).
Picture Mode: this option replaces the
two preceding options when the camera is set to capture
movies, and allows selecting the movie frame size(VGA, QVGA or 16:9) and frame rate (30 fps or 10
fps).
Audio Rec.: serves to capture 5 seconds of sound
immediately after an image's capture that will be associated
with it. (This option is not available when the camera is
set to the Starry Sky scene mode.)
AF Mode serves to select the way the auto focus
operates:
5 AF point in a cross shape at the centre of the frame.
3 horizontal AF points at the center of the frame
for high speed focusing.
1 wide area centre AF, also for high speed focusing.
1 standard AF point at the centre of the monitor.
1 small AF point (spot AF) at the centre of the monitor.
Stabilization: controls the stabilizer mode. The
options offered are the same as those offered with the Quick
Menu (see the Ergonomics section of
the review for more details).
Burst: serves to capture images continuously, as
explained in the Ergonomics section
of the review.
AF Assist Lamp: controls the AF assist lamp —
the same lamp is used for the self-timer — which comes
on automatically when the ambient light is too soft to allow
the auto focus to operate reliably.
Slow Shutter serves to select the maximum exposure
time: 1/8 second in most capture modes (1/4, 1/2 or 1 second).
Digital Zoom: On or Off. Provides control over
the standard (interpolating) 4X digital zoom.
Colour Mode serves to choose how images are recorded:
Standard, Natural, Vivid, Cool, Warm, Black and White or
Sepia.
Clock Set: allows setting the internal clock and
calendar of the FX30.
When the DMC-FX30 is set to the Playback mode, the
menu has a similar presentation, but this time the two sections
are Play and Setup. The
first section, Play, offers the following
options:
Slide Show: serves to review all images
in sequence, or only those tagged as favorites. The
on-screen time of each image can be selected (1, 2, 3 or
5 seconds or manual, but only for Favorites), a transition
effect, and/or sound can be set as well.
Favorites: this option allows selecting
images as Favorites. All other images can then be erased,
or the Favorites can be seen in a slide show.
Rotate Display: serves to display all
images captured vertically with the correct orientation.
Rotate: serves to rotate photos in 90°
increments to the right or the left.
Date Stamp: allows superimposing the
date and time of capture on images.
DPOF Print: serves to select images for printing
on a DPOF compatible printer or a DPOF service, or a PictBridge
compatible printer when the FX30 is connected to one. The
number of copies to make of any one image, or whether or
not an Index print should be made can be decided.
Protect: serves to tag images as Protected, which
prevents them from being accidentally erased.
Audio Dub: allows adding a 10-second voice annotation
to an already captured image. Audio cannot be added to protected
images.
Resize: serves to make a smaller size copy of an
image, as long as the image remains at the same aspect ratio
(4:3, 3:2 or 16:9) and then save it either as a new image
or overwrite the existing image.
Trimming: makes it possible to capture a section
of an image that has been zoomed in on screen and save it
as a new image at the closest image size. Images with sound,
or those that have been rotated, or those that have been
captured at the smallest image size of each aspect ratio
cannot be trimmed.
Aspect Conversion: serves to convert 16:9 aspect
ratio images to 3:2 or 4:3 for printing.
Copy: serves to copy images from the internal memory
to a memory card, or vice-versa.
Format: to format either a memory card or the internal
memory.
The DMC-FX30 is equipped
with a 27 MB internal memory, as well as an SD
(Secure Digital), SDHC (Secure Digital High
Capacity) and MMC (MultiMedia) compatible memory card
slot. Worth noting, however, movies can only be captured using
the internal memory or SD/SDHC cards.
The memory card slot is covered by the door that also covers
the battery, underneath the camera. The battery is held in
place by a small spring-loaded clip when the cover door is
opened.
The chart below gives an approximate
idea of capacities for both the internal memory and an optional
1 GB SD card:
27 MB internal Memory
Ratio
4:3
16:9
3:2
Compression
Size
7M
5M
3M
2M
1M
0.3M
5.5M
2M
6M
2.5M
JPEG
7
5
16
27
41
130
9
25
8
19
JPEG
14
21
33
53
78
210
19
48
16
37
1 GB SD Memory Card
Ratio
4:3
16:9
3:2
Compression
Size
7M
5M
3M
2M
1M
0.3M
5.5M
2M
6M
2.5M
JPEG
270
390
600
970
1470
4640
360
910
300
680
JPEG
540
770
1180
1880
2740
7550
710
1720
600
1310
Motion
Picture (hh:mm:ss)
Ratio
4:3
16:9
Format
30
fps VGA
10
fps VGA
30
fps QVGA
10
fps QVGA
30
fps
10
fps
Internal
Memory
—
—
00:00:53
00:02:40
—
—
1 GB
SD Card
00:11:00
00:32:50
00:32:50
01:35:00
00:09:20
00:28:10
The FX30 is powered by a small, rechargeable Lithium-ion
(DMW-BCE10PP). The wall charger (DE-A39B) is included in the
kit, and requires approximately 2 hours to recharge a fully
depleted battery.
The FX30 only has two external connections, hidden behind
a hard plastic door on the right side of the camera.
At the top a gold plated connector serves to connect the
camera to a computer or printer using the supplied USB (2.0
Full Speed) cable, or the A/V Out cable (also supplied with
the camera) which allows it to be connected to either an NTSC
television, or a PAL television.
The lower connector is for
the optional AC/DC transformer that can be used to power the
camera from household current, or recharge its battery.
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Characteristics
:
2560 x 1920
which gradually increases sensitivity, taking into account
the focal length in use, the subject's motion and the effect
of the optical stabilizer to minimize the ISO increase while
still capturing a sharp image.
)
mode, the scene modes omitting the options that might affect
their pre-settings. 
