The
Panasonic Lumix FZ1 has an interface designed so that it remains clearly
legible whether displayed on the LCD monitor or the EVF. Standard information
is positioned clearly and in such a way that keeps it from interfering
with the photographer's view of the subject. Menus are likewise presented
in a very legible way, each option opens up as it is reached, and its
choices are clearly marked.
Both the Recording and Playback menus work the same, and each provides
an access to the Setup menu. However, while most options are common
to both, a few are specific to the Recording and Playback modes. Recording
mode options are identified here with a red square, and those of the Playback
mode with a green square:
Monitor:
is to adjust the brightness of the LCD monitor.
Auto
Review: sets the image display time after capture (1 or 3 seconds
or Off).
Volume:
to adjust the speaker's playback volume.
Beep:
controls the camera beeps (High, Low, Off).
Power
Save: automatically turns off the FZ1 (2, 5, 10 min of Off).
No.
Reset: resets file numbering to 0.
Reset:
returns the camera to factory settings.
Clock
Set: to set the time and date on the FZ1.
Language:
select either English or Japanese.
Video
Out: NTSC or PAL.
Panasonic provides a printed manual with the FZ1. The manual covers all
aspects of the camera's functions, and is generally easy to follow, but
the translation is occasionally a bit confusing. For example, the section
entitled "Playing Back Images with a TV Monitor" offers the
following information: "Even if you set the menu selection for [VIDEO
OUT] to [PAL], the output signal is still NTSC." Which could leave
the user to wonder why it is necessary to bother with the setting in the
first place.
Software
A
single CD-ROM is included with the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1. The disk
contains a software suite from ArcSoft, Panasonic's own SD Viewer, Adobe
Acrobat, Quicktime, Picture Stage and the USB driver necessary for Windows
98 and Windows 98SE.
The Arcsoft software suite includes 4 titles:
PhotoImpressions 4: to edit photos.
Photobase
4: to edit and organize images and interface with Picture Stage
a program designed to upload images to PictureStage.com so they can
be shared over the web.
PanoramaMaker
3: to create panoramic images by stitching together a series of
photos that overlap.
PhotoPrinter
4: a print layout utility that makes it possible to arrange photos
to be printed.
Panasonic's
SD Viewer (shown at right) is a tool to organize, print, resize,
and view images.
The program can show images and the shooting data. The shooting data is
displayed to the right of the thumbnail but the information the program
provides does not include the focal length used. Images can be resized,
rotated, copied and re-saved, leaving the original file intact, if desired.
For image editing, the best tool offered is ArcSoft's PhotoImpressions
4. That program allows a fair amount of control over the image. Adjustment
is possible for brightness, contrast, saturation and hue, amongst others.
PhotoImpressions 4 also supports a type of layering that makes it possible
to control specific parts of an image while leaving others intact.
