The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX7 captures
images with a 1/2.5 inch, 5.36 million pixel CCD of which 5
million pixels are effective to yield a maximum image size
of 2560 x 1920 pixels.
CCD sensitivity starts at 80 ISO but, can also be set to 100, 200, or 400
ISO in the menu. Set to Simple mode, sensitivity is forced to Auto,
allowing the camera to adjust the sensitivity between 80 and 200 ISO as
required when the flash is not in use, or between 100 and 400 ISO when
the flash is used.
The DMC-FX7 is equipped with
a Leica DC Vario-Elmarit 3X zoom which is similar to the zoom
used on its predecessor, the FX5. The zoom covers a focal range
of 5.8 to 17.4 mm, equivalent in the 35 mm film format to a
35 to 105 mm, and is composed of 7 elements in 6 groups, of
which 3 have aspherical surfaces to minimize curvilinear distortion.
At the wide angle end apertures start at f2.8 and extend to f8.0, while
at the telephoto end the range is from f5.0 to f14.0.
Shutter speeds cover from 1/2000
second to 8 seconds, but with some restrictions: the maximum
exposure time of 8 seconds is only available when the camera
is set to Night Scenery, while the Simple mode is limited to
a maximum of 1/8 second. In other modes the user can specify
the maximum exposure time in the menu (see further) selecting
from 1/8, 1/4, 1/2 or 1 second, and noise reduction is automatically
applied to images captured at low shutter speeds.
The FX7 is capable of capturing images at any one of 6 sizes:
2560 x 1920 pixels,
2048 x 1536 pixels,
1600 x 1200 pixels,
1280 x 960 pixels,
640 x 480 pixels
or using HDTV format (16:9) at a size of 1920 x 1080 pixels.
Whatever their size, photos are stored in JPEG format, at either one of
two compression levels. Fine offers the least amount of compression,
a ratio of approximately 8:1, and Standard, a stronger compression
which has a ratio that averages around 16:1. No uncompressed format is
available.
When set to the Simple mode (),
the FX7 provides a limited menu that fits on a single screen, consisting
of an option to choose the image size and three other options that are
otherwise found in the Setup menu:
Pict. Mode selects one of three image sizes/quality: Enlarge,
to produce 20 x 25 cm (8 x 10 in.) prints (2560 x 1920
Fine); 4" x 6"/10 x 15cm *, to print a
standard size photos (1600 x 1200/Standard) or E-mail,
which captures small size photos (640 x 480 pixels) so
they can be attached to e-mail. (* note that 4 x 6 inch
prints will be better if the source image is captured at
2560 x 1920 Fine than the 2-megapixel image size of 1600
x 1200 preset here.)
Auto review: On or Off, serves to select if the
image is displayed for 1 second immediately post capture.
Beep: is to adjust the volume of sounds that accompany
camera operations (off, low, high).
Clock Set: is to set the time and date on the
FX7.
A more detailed menu is provided with all other recoding modes,
and an access to the full Setup menu is also included (see
the Interface and Software section of this review for
a detailed look at the options of the Setup menu):
White Balance: has settings for Auto, Daylight,
Cloudy, Halogen (incandescent), Preset, to recall a custom
setting; and White Set, to set the white balance for ambient
conditions so it can be recalled later with the previous
option.
Sensitivity: Auto or 80, 100, 200, 400 ISO.
Pict. Size: to select one of the 6 image sizes (see
above).
Quality: to choose the compression level, Fine or Standard.
Audio Rec.: On or Off. This option allows recording
a 5 second voice annotation immediately after an image
is captured.
AF Mode: selects the way the auto focus operates:
automatic with 9-area AF, Auto with 3-area horizontal AF,
1 area at centre, or spot.
AF Assist Lamp: controls whether or not the auto
focus assist lamp comes on when there isn't sufficient
light for the AF to operate by itself. The assist lamp
has an effective range of 1.5 m (4.92 ft).
Slow Shutter: sets the lowest shutter speed available
to all modes with the exception of the Simple Night Scenery
modes (1/8, 1/4, 1/2 or 1 second).
Digital Zoom: On or Off. The 4X digital zoom captures
the central part of the normal frame and interpolates it
to the image size currently in use. Digitally zoomed images
exhibit a noticeable loss of sharpness.
Col. Effect offers four colour effects or Off: Cool,
increases blue tones, Warm increases red tones, Black
and White, or Sepia.
Pict. Adj.: this option is exclusively available
when the camera is set to Normal or Macro,
and offers alternative settings that change sharpness: Natural (softens
the image), Standard (the default), or Vivid (sharpens
the image).
Flip Anim.: allows creating an animation from
a series of still images (up to 100 frames) for a maximum
animation time of 20 seconds.
Set to capture Motion Images (video clips), the DMC-FX7's
menu is limited to a single screen that contains 5 options: white
balance, frame rate (30 fps or 15 fps), AF Mode, AF
assist lamp and digital zoom.
The Playback menu — not available when the camera is in the Review mode — provides
options for making some modifications to the images stored on the memory
card, or assign them printing tags. The DMC-FX7 is compatible with DPOF and PictBridge,
making it possible to print out photos directly on similarly compatible
printer without the use of a computer.
The Playback menu's options are spread over two screens, and as with the
recording menus, an access to the Setup menu is provided:
Rotate: allows rotation of still images in 90° increments.
Protect: allows selecting and tagging images so
they cannot be accidentally erased.
DPOF Print: serves to select which photos will
be printed on a DPOF or PictBridge compliant printer, or
by a printing service. The number of prints to make of
each photo can be specified, and so can whether or not
the date will be superimposed on the photo.
Slide show: allows selecting photos to be included
in a slide show, all or only those that have been selected
through DPOF. In addition the on-screen time time for the
photos included in the show can be specified (1, 2, 3 or
5 seconds) and should a sound be associated with an image
can be turned off.
Audio Dub: makes it possible to add a voice annotation
lasting up to 10 seconds to any still image unless it has
been protected.
Resize: allows resizing down an image and saving
it over the original, or as a new image.
Trimming: serves to crop an image and either over-write
the original with the cropped version, or save it as anew
image. Images that have an attached sound, or those that
have been rotated, or captured in HDTV format or at 640
x 480 pixels cannot be trimmed.
Format: to format the memory card. Note that protected
images are erased when the card is formatted.
The FX7 is compatible with SD (Secure
Digital) memory cards and with MMC (MultiMedia) cards. The
card slot is located underneath the camera, covered by a solid
plastic sliding door, in a compartment that also contains the
battery.
Although a 5 megapixel camera, the DMC-FX5 is retailed with an all too
limiting 16MB SD card, and the purchase of a larger capacity memory card
should be made while if the camera is purchased.
Equipped with the supplied
16MB card the DMC-FX7 can store:
Resolution
Fine
Standard
2560
x 1920
5
11
2048
x 1536
9
17
1600
x 1200
14
28
1280
x 960
22
41
640
x 480
69
113
1920
x 1080 (HDTV)
13
25
The Lumix FX7 is powered by a very
thin Lithium ion battery (CGA-S004A). The battery provides
a long lasting charge, particularly in view of the constant
use of the large 2.5 inch LCD monitor, giving the FX7 a very
reasonable autonomy. The battery is held in place by a small
spring-loaded latch, preventing it from accidentally sliding
out when the memory card is ejected. A charger is supplied
with the camera (DE-991B) and a full charge of the battery
is completed in approximately 2 hours.
At the top, and gold coloured, is the USB port (2.0 Full Speed), and the
A/V (audio Video) Out, and both cables are supplied with the FX7.
The A/V Out signal can be set to either NTSC or PAL in the Setup menu (see
the Interface and Software section of this review for more information
about the Setup menu).
The lower connection is for an
optional adapter/charger (DMW-CAC2). It can be used to power
the camera for extended periods — such as when a slide
show is being presented on a television — while charging
the battery simultaneously.
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Characteristics
),
the FX7 provides a limited menu that fits on a single screen, consisting
of an option to choose the image size and three other options that are
otherwise found in the Setup menu:
