Here
are a few images that accurately reflect the abilities of any given camera
model. The images are altered only in terms of size and sharpness after
reduction and by the JPEG compression used. Unless otherwise mentioned,
assume that any marbling or artefacts visible in the images are due to
the compression required to display them here. We feel however, that they
still faithfully represent the results we experienced.
STILL
LIFE PHOTO
The
subject is backlit with natural light coming from an open window, and
the camera's flash provides light for the foreground.
Panasonic has devised
an ingenious double hinge system for the pop-up flash of the FZ1. This
allows the flash to fire over the zoom lens, and avoids having the lens
cast a shadow which would be otherwise visible in wide angle — a
problem some other long zoom cameras have.
With this image, the FZ1 lights the subject correctly, and quite evenly.
Photo
Information
Format:
JPEG
Aperture:
f2.8
Exposure:
Program
Shutter
Speed:
1/30
Res.:
1600
x 1200
Flash:
On
Quality:
Fine
ISO:
50
File
Size:
750
KB
Focal
Length:
35
mm (35mm Eq.)
ZOOM
PHOTO
Now
we zoom in on a specific area. The intent is to test the sharpness of
the image at the zoom's maximum setting. The camera remains at the same
distance as with the preceding photo.
When the lens is set to its maximum, the magnification is so great that
with this subject, the effect is akin to a macro shot. The FZ1 captures
a sharp image with excellent colour and excellent detail.
Regrettably, the FZ1 does not offer an uncompressed format, which would
have been useful to ascertain if the slight edge blurring visible in the
cropped image below is due to the compression.
Photo
Information
Format:
JPEG
Aperture:
f2.8
Exposure:
Program
Shutter
Speed:
1/30
Res.:
1600
x 1200
Flash:
On
Quality:
Fine
ISO:
50
File
Size:
789
KB
Focal
Length:
420
mm (35mm Eq.)
Aperture: f 3.3, shutter speed 1/100 sec.,100 ISO.
MACRO
PHOTO
The
Lumix FZ1 provides a Mode Dial position for the macro mode. With the lens
set to wide angle, the camera is able to focus at a minimum distance of
5 cm (2 in.); while at the maximum telephoto, focus requires at least
1.2m (47 in.) to the subject. In wide angle, the FZ1 has a field of view
measuring 5.75 cm (2.25 inches) from one edge of the frame to the other,
horizontally.
The
FZ1 captures excellent macro shots, but some barrel distortion is noticeable
when the lens is at the wide angle position. With subjects that have straight
lines that will end up along one of the frame's edges, it is better to
back up slightly and zoom in a bit, which avoids the distortion completely.
BUILDING PHOTO
This
image is our "outdoor" test. The architecture of the building, in particular
the angled girders, immediately show the presence of jaggies. The shadowed
entrance can also often reveal the quality of the exposure.
Used outdoors and in bright sunlight, the metering
system of the Panasonic FZ1 handles both the highlights and shadows very
well. The wide angle, equivalent to a 35mm, is sufficient and the image
is sharp from edge to edge.
Photo
Information
Format:
JPEG
Aperture:
f4.6
Exposure:
Program
Shutter
Speed:
1/500
Resolution:
1600
x 1200
Flash:
Off
Quality:
Fine
ISO:
50
File
Size:
785
KB
Focal
Length:
35
mm (35mm Eq.)
ZOOM
PHOTO
Zoomed in at what is
the 35mm equivalent of a 420mm telephoto, the stabilizer shows its value.
With non-stabilized lenses, it is normally advisable to maintain a shutter
speed above the number of the focal length. In other words, with a telephoto
such as this, ideally a shutter speed above 1/400 sec. should be used
to prevent camera shake when the camera is handheld.
With the help of the stabilizer, which compensates for camera shake, the
FZ1 captures a very crisp image at 1/125 sec.
Photo
Information
Format:
JPEG
Aperture:
f4
Exposure:
Program
Shutter
Speed:
1/125
Resolution:
1600
x 1200
Flash:
Off
Quality:
Fine
ISO:
50
File
Size:
784
KB
Focal
Length:
420
mm (35mm Eq.)
2
shots of the same subject are presented here. For the one above, the metering
was done on the shadow area of the entrance, for this one (at right and
below) the metering was done using a portion of the entrance directly
lit by the sun.
Although the FZ1 is equipped with a spot meter, the default averaging
meter pattern was used. The difference with both exposures shows that
the system provides good flexibility. Worth noting, the second image makes
it possible to read the little sign on the front door, while the one above
provides a look inside the building.
Photo
Information
Format:
JPEG
Aperture:
f4
Exposure:
Program
Shutter
Speed:
1/650
Resolution:
1600
x 1200
Flash:
Off
Quality:
Fine
ISO:
100
File
Size:
793
KB
Focal
Length:
420
mm (35mm Eq.)
NIGHT
PHOTO
This
camera is capable of long exposures, and an image captured late at night
is presented to give an idea of its capabilities.
Aperture:
2.8; shutter speed: 8 sec, 400 ISO.
Although
not specifically indicated, the FZ1 seems to do some form of noise reduction
processing after capture. The camera processes the image for an equivalent
amount of time as the exposure prior to saving it, which it does not do
for photos recorded with a fast shutter speed.
Using the Night Portrait Mode, a slow shutter speed of 8 seconds is available.
On a dark night, an 8 second exposure is insufficient to produce a clear
image at 50, or even 100 ISO.
At
200 ISO an image starts to appear, but to begin to capture a life-like
photo, the sensitivity needs to be pushed to 400 ISO.
The image section shown below is cropped from the lower portion of the
full frame, and shows a plane taking off from the airport in the distance.
At 400 ISO, some noise is visible in the image.
