When Panasonic introduced the DMC-FZ1 last
year, with its excellent 12X Leica stabilized zoom, it
met with a number of favourable reviews. However, the FZ1 only
had a 2 megapixel resolution, and in a world where 3 and 4 megapixel
cameras are now entry-level, it was obvious that a higher
resolution version was necessary. So, here is the DMC-FZ10, first
unveiled at the end of 2003.
The DMC-FZ10 has a comfortable
grip with a rubber surface and a flat top, unlike many current
designs that angle the top of the grip towards the front of the
camera so the shutter release will be more naturally positioned
under the index.
In part, the FZ10 continues some of features and controls of the FZ1.
Four controls occupy the area
above the grip: the Mode Dial, the Shutter Release with the Zoom
control around it, and a small button to select the Single or
Burst Modes.
The shutter release is 2-stage, locking the exposure parameters and the
auto focus when held halfway; while the zoom control also serves in Playback,
magnifying an image when pushed to the T side (up to 16X), and presenting
a screen of 9 thumbnails when pushed towards the W side.
Burst modes are selected with a small
button behind the shutter release. The two burst modes of the
FZ10 provide similar capabilities as those of the FZ1, but add
an extra frame to the bursts at the highest image quality:
Burst L captures 2
frames per second for up to 5 frames at the
best image quality, and up to 7 frames with the highest
compression.
Burst H captures 4
frames per second or up to 5 frames at the best
image quality, and up to 7 frames with the highest compression.
Likewise, the Mode Dial retains Scene modes from the FZ1, but replaces
the "Simple" and "Auto" modes of the FZ1 with more
advanced and versatile modes:
Program Mode: lets the
camera control both aperture and shutter speed, while leaving
the user in full control over all other settings. Moreover,
with a press of the Exposure button (see further),
the FZ10 provides for Program shift, allowing the user to
select alternative combinations of apertures and shutter
speeds.
A/S/M is the access
to the Aperture or Shutter Priority, and the Manual mode.
The selection of the specific mode is made in the menu.
Aperture Priority: provides
control over the aperture from f2.8 to f8 in
10 steps while the FZ10 sets a matching shutter speed.
Shutter Priority: provides
shutter speeds ranging from 1/2000 to 8 seconds while
the camera matches an aperture to the selection.
Manual Mode: offers
control over the aperture — f2.8 to f8 — and
a shutter speed range that covers from 1/2000 sec
to 8 seconds at f8.
The other modes on the dial are
carried over from the FZ1:
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.
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.
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.)
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.
Last is the Playback mode, identified by the standard symbol: .
The FZ10 is equipped with an electronic
viewfinder with 114,000 pixels. A diopter correction is provided
on the right side of the viewfinder's exit pupil, and the viewfinder's
eyecup is made of hard plastic, not rubber.
Either the EVF, or a 2 inch LCD monitor with 130,000 pixels, can used to
frame images. The selection of either is made with a dedicated button [EVF/LCD]
next to the viewfinder; while above it a round button serves to release
the pop-up flash.
On the opposite side from the
viewfinder, the FZ10 has its power switch, and 2 other elongated
buttons. EXPOSURE serves to switch the 4 direction control
from its default alternate functions (exposure compensation,
self-timer, flash modes, review) to a control for aperture and
shutter speed when the A/S/M modes are used; while in the Program
mode, it allows using the 4-direction control to select alternate
combinations of aperture and shutter speed.
The other button, DISPLAY, controls
the amount of information overlaid on the screen, be it the EVF
or the LCD monitor.
By default, the FZ10 overlays the most pertinent camera settings on the
image. Pressing the Display button once, adds a real-time histogram,
indicating the distribution of brightness in the frame. A second press
of the Display button replaces the overlay by a grid to help composition.
A third press of the Display button clears the screen entirely with
the exception of the AF brackets. Finally a fourth press of the Display
button returns the screen to its default.
Two other buttons and the 4-direction
controller are positioned on the right of the monitor. The MENU button
displays the FZ10's menu, according to the mode in use. The button
is to delete one or more pictures.
As mentioned above, the 4-direction control provides additional functions
beyond navigation of the menus, and of images in the Playback mode:
The up arrow has 4 additional
functions, each accessed in turn:
Auto
Bracketing Bracketing can be done over 3 frames
and ±1EV in 1/3 EV increments.
White Balance compensation allows adjusting
colour tone towards blue or red over ±5 increments.
Flash compensation makes it possible to compensate
flash exposures over EV in 1/3 EV steps.
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
up to 10 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 left arrow turns on
the Self Timer. Two delays are available, 2 seconds,
or 10 seconds.
The last external control on the
FZ10 is the Auto focus/Manual focus switch, located on the left
side of the lens barrel.
In Manual focus, the focus is adjusted with a large ring — an electronic
control — and the central portion of the image is magnified on the
monitor, or the EVF. Although no distance indications are shown on-screen,
the system works extremely well and is very precise.
The FZ10 includes a large hood
as part of its kit. The hood is screwed onto the front of the
lens barrel once its metal trim has been unscrewed.
The lens hood is very effective outdoors, but has to be removed for flash
shots to avoid it blocking some of the flash's light, and causing a shadow
to appear in the lower part of the image.
Although the design of the FZ10
is generally similar to the FZ1, some improvements have been
made to the controls. With the FZ10 the EVF and monitor are controlled
with a dedicated button, and DISPLAY provides enhanced functions;
functions that had all been combined on the FZ1.
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Introduction
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button
is to delete one or more pictures.
