Aperture: f11.3, shutter speed 1/80 sec., 50 ISO (stabilizer).
The Panasonic DMC-FX5 is probably the only
compact digital camera with a stabilized 3X zoom on the market
today, since image stabilizers are typically the domain of a
handful of digital cameras with long zooms.
The function of the image stabilizer is to prevent vibrations from affecting
the image sharpness. The stabilizer acts to dampen the slight movements
that occur when a camera is handheld and which, when the shutter speed
is low, can be the cause of a blurry image.
With the DMC-FX5, the stabilizer
has two distinct modes. The first, Mode 1, keeps the stabilizer
functioning as long as the camera is turned on. With this mode,
the stabilization helps lessen the vibration that might be observable
on the LCD monitor.
The second, Mode 2, places the stabilizer in stand-by, until the
moment at which the image is captured. While this mode does not stabilize
the image on the LCD monitor, it has the advantage of consuming less power,
allowing the rechargeable Lithium ion battery to last longer than it does
with Mode 1.
Aperture: f2.8, shutter speed 1/80 sec., 50 ISO.
Aperture: f4.9, shutter speed 1/8 sec., 50 ISO (stabilizer).
As always, the stabilizer is most effective
when the zoom is at the telephoto end of its range, as it is
then that the maximum aperture available to the camera — the
aperture that lets in the most light — is only f4.9, and
that camera movements are magnified along with the subject.
This said, it is important to note that first, while the stabilizer will
allow a sharp image at a lower shutter speed than would be possible without
it, there are situations when the stabilizer won't help.
Second, it is also important to
note that when the stabilizer is active and the camera is in
Program mode, the program stops giving preference to the shutter
speed, and instead gives preference to a greater depth of field
by selecting a smaller aperture. Put another way, while the stabilizer
is turned on, the camera allows smaller apertures and slower
shutter speed since the stabilizer compensates for any potential
camera shake. Unlike when the stabilizer is turned off, when
the camera tries to maintain a high shutter speed — through
the use of as wide an aperture as possible — in an effort
to capture the image sufficiently quickly so as to avoid camera
shake.
So, a bit counter-intuitively, when shooting action photos with the FX5
it is probably a good idea to turn off the stabilizer so the camera will
prefer a faster action-stopping shutter speed.
With or without the stabilizer, the DMC-FX5 usually
yields crisp images. But the best image quality is obtained when
the sensitivity is at 50 ISO, which very rarely picks up noise.
At higher ISO settings, 100 and 200, noise can become visible
in shadow areas, being more noticeable at the 200 setting.
The DMC-FX5 only captures JPEG images — no uncompressed format is
available — and only has two levels of compression.
Aperture: f4.9, shutter speed 1/40 sec., 50 ISO.
The Fine image quality, the
image format that sustains the least amount of JPEG compression,
is still quite compressed and most images appear to have a compression
ratio that is in the 1:10 range.
Aperture: f8, shutter speed 1/200 sec., 50 ISO.
While with most subjects the compression does
not cause obvious artefacts, with some highly detailed subjects
it can lower the overall sharpness, giving the image a soft focus
look. In our view, considering that the FX5 is equipped with
an image stabilizer to improve its image quality, it should have
also been equipped with the option to save photos with a minimal
compression such as the Super Fine mode available on the
DMC-LC1.
Still, overall the Panasonic DMC-FX5 offers a good image quality. Photos
attest to the fact that the lens has little distortion at its widest
angle, and none at all at the telephoto end; and that there is no serious
chromatic aberration.
Interestingly, although exposures are metered using an averaging pattern,
photos show that metering behaves much more like a centre-weighted system
as the brightness that is evaluated at the centre of the frame has a noticeable
impact on the entire frame.
Like a few other Panasonic cameras, the DMC-FX5 includes an image format
that is specifically designed to be viewed on an high definition
television (HDTV).
The HDTV format captures an image
that measures 1920 x 1080 pixels, compatible with newer televisions
that support the 1080i standard.
The format is ideal for some types of photos (travel, landscapes) which
are not particularly well suited for prints — often a small size
print does not do these subjects justice — but which are ideal for
projection. One caveat though, the DVD player must support the format as
well.
In most respects, the DMC-FX5
is quite a standard point and shoot. It provides few advanced
controls to the user, and no manual control over the aperture
or the shutter speed. And, while it offers a good image quality,
the relatively strong compression applied with the Fine image
quality is a limitation. In our opinion, the DMC-FX5 will have
to rely on its inclusion of optical stabilization technology
in such a compact camera to give it an edge over others.
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