The
new Panasonic DMC-FZ1 is another of those cameras that has prompted
a number of readers to write in and ask for a review. No wonder, since
the FZ1 is equipped with a Leica 12X stabilized zoom that has a
bright f2.8 constant aperture.
Although
the lens barrel protrudes, the overall size of the FZ1 is reasonably compact,
and the camera fits comfortably on an open hand. Still, the FZ1 is clearly
not the type of camera one can slip into a pocket.
Four controls occupy the top right side of the FZ1: the shutter release
with the zoom control around it, the mode dial, and a small button to
select the single or burst modes.
As is now common with most cameras, the zoom control doubles as a tool
to magnify an image in Playback (2, 4, 8, or 16X) when pushed to the T
side; and show thumbnails (9 per screen) with the W side.
The
Burst mode button provides two modes:
Burst
L captures 2 frames per second at the highest resolution
and least compression for up to 4 frames; while when using stronger
compression, the burst can capture 7 frames. (*)
Burst
H captures 4 frames per second at the highest resolution
and least compression for up to 4 frames; while when using stronger
compression, the burst can capture 7 frames. (*)
(*)
these numbers are only valid when using an SD (Secure Digital) memory
card. Using a MM (MultiMedia) card, the read/write speed is slower.
The Mode Dial is used to select any of the 8 shooting modes or the Playback
mode:
Normal
Mode: shutter speed and aperture are automatically selected
by the camera, but the user has control over all other photo parameters.
Macro
Mode: offers the same possibilities as the Normal mode, but
allows the camera to come as close as 5 cm (1.95 inch) to a subject
when the lens is set to wide angle.
Portrait
Mode: uses a wide aperture to soften the background while maintaining
the subject in sharp focus.
Sports
Mode: gives preference to a fast shutter speed to capture movement.
Night
Portrait Mode:
uses a slow shutter speed and flash to capture both foreground and
background at night. (When the flash is opened in this mode it is
forced to Slow Sync with Red-eye Reduction.)
Panning
Mode:
allows tracking a subject with a slow shutter speed that will cause
the background to blur. In this mode the stabilizer only compensates
for vertical jitter.
Motion
Images Mode:
captures a video with a 320 x 240 frame size with sound. Focus,
zoom, white balance, and aperture are locked at the first frame.
Recordings last as long as there is space on the memory card.
Simple
Mode:
fully automatic, the mode minimizes the menu options.
Playback:
to play back both stills and movies (with sound).
The
Lumix FZ1 is equipped with an electronic viewfinder (EVF), with a diopter
corrector on its right side, that offers a reasonably sharp image, and
which of course can show all the camera settings.
To the right of the EVF is the button for the FZ1's pop-up flash. The
flash is designed with a double hinge so that when opened it is sufficiently
high to prevent the lens from casting a shadow in the lower part of the
image.
The
back of the Lumix FZ1 supports the remaining external controls of the
camera, and a 1.5 inch LCD monitor with 114,000 pixels.
The use of the LCD monitor or of the electronic viewfinder is decided
with the Display button.
At each press of the button, the camera cycles through 4 modes:
1
LCD
Monitor
On
with information overlay (EVF Off).
2
LCD
Monitor
On
with only the focus brackets (EVF Off).
3
EVF
On
with information overlay (LCD Off).
4
EVF
On
with only the focus brackets (LCD Off).
Next
is the Focus button. This button can be used to pre-focus the camera
on a subject — useful when the Panning mode is used — instead
of having to maintain the shutter release at mid-course. The function
is enabled in the camera's Recording menu.
The last control in the upper part of the FZ1's back is the On/Off slider
switch. The camera powers up very quickly and is ready to shoot in 2 seconds.
Three
other controls are grouped within a raised area that encompasses the LCD
monitor, to the left of the FZ1's speaker. Uppermost is the Menu
button; below, a 4-direction controller that is used to navigate the menus,
and also serves for additional functions:
The
up arrow of the control is for Exposure
Compensation and Auto
Bracketing. Compensation is possible over ±2EV in 1/3
EV increments. Bracketing can be done over 3 frames and ±1EV
also in 1/3 EV increments.
The
left arrow turns on the Self Timer. Two delays are available,
2 seconds, or 10 seconds.
The
right arrow controls the Flash Modes (the flash must be open for
the function to work). The modes available are Auto, Auto with Red-eye
Reduction, Forced On, and Slow Sync with Red-eye Reduction. Forced
off is selected by leaving the flash closed.
The
down arrow of the controller has 2 extra functions. First, it turns
on Instant Review, which allows a quick look at the last captured
photo for at least 5 seconds. Moreover, the image can be magnified
for a closer look (8X), or deleted, if need be.
As
a secondary function, the down arrow also serves to confirm specific
actions in the menus.
The last button is
the Delete button:
The
delete button is available to delete a single image when the Review
mode is used, or delete photos when the Mode Dial is set to the
Playback position.
Ergonomically,
the Lumix DMC-FZ1
is a camera that works. The buttons and controls are well-placed and sufficiently
separated so that they are easily memorized. The functions they serve
are likewise clear, which helps enormously in making the camera useable,
quickly and accurately.
.
This, in addition to the lens barrel that protrudes 3.8 cm (1.5 inch)
from the front of the camera, imparts the FZ1 with a good, stable feel
in use.
