internet.commerce
|
The Panasonic DMC-FZ20 offers
a 5 megapixel resolution and a 12X stabilized Leica zoom.
Without a doubt, it would appear that this combination of elements
is the primary motivation for many of the review requests
we have had for this camera.
Like the DMC-FZ10, the
FZ20's predecessor, the camera is available in two finishes, one silver,
one black. |
 |
| The top of the DMC-FZ20 supports
a flash shoe, mounted directly behind the pop-up flash. The shoe
is compatible with all standard flash units and with Panasonic's
DMW-FL28. |
The layout of the controls on
the DMC-FZ20 is identical to that of the FZ10. The top right
side of the camera is occupied by the 2-stage Shutter
Release button, the Zoom Control — the ring around the
shutter release — the Mode Dial and the Single/Burst Mode
button.
In addition to controlling the zoom, in Playback, the zoom control also
serves to see 9 thumbnails of the captured images with the W side,
or magnify a portion of an image (up to 16X) when pushed to the T side. |
 |
To those that were available on
the FZ10, Panasonic has added an extra burst mode, No Limit,
on the DMC-FZ20:
 |
Burst L captures 2
frames per second for up to 4 frames at the
best image quality, and up to 7 frames with the highest
compression. |
 |
Burst H captures 3
frames per second or up to 4 frames at the best
image quality, and up to 7 frames with the highest compression. |
 |
No Limit: captures 2
frames per second with no limit on the number of frames. |
Similarly, the Mode dial is redesigned, offering separate positions for
the Priority Modes and the Manual mode while consolidating the Scene modes
into 2 positions that can each be set to a specific scene mode independently. |
 |
And, in comparison to the FZ10,
the FZ20 provides additional scene modes (see further).
However, for the Program, Priority and Manual modes, the FZ20
is unchanged from the FZ10:
 |
Program can either be
used to let the camera set the aperture and shutter speed;
or when the Exposure button on the back of the camera
is pressed, to choose alternate combinations of shutter speeds
and apertures that would result in a correct exposure (Program
Shift) but which can be either biased towards the shutter
speed, or the depth of field by selecting a smaller or larger
aperture. |
|
 |
Aperture Priority provides
control over the aperture from f2.8 to f8 in
10 steps while the FZ20 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 selected shutter
speed. |
 |
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 remaining Mode dial positions consist of the Playback mode  ,
the Macro mode and the two Scene mode access points:
 |
Macro allows capturing
images with the lens 5 cm (1.95 inches) from the subject
when the zoom is set to the widest angle, a focus range which
is also available when the camera is set to any of the P/A/S/M
modes. |
 |
Motion Image Mode captures
video with sound at a 320 x 240 frame size and at either
one of two frame rates. Zoom, white balance, and aperture
are locked at the first frame, while focus can be set at
the first frame, or continuous if the option is selected
in the menu. Recordings last as long as there is space on
the memory card and the frame rate, 30 fps or 10 fps, is
selected in the menu. |
As noted above, each of the two Scene positions on the Mode dial offer
the same modes:
 |
Portrait Mode is intended
for daylight use. It uses auto ISO and a wide aperture to
soften the background. As always, the use of the zoom is
recommended to increase the effect of the wide aperture. |
 |
Sports Mode is intended
for outdoor use and uses auto ISO. This mode gives preference
to a fast shutter speed to capture movement, and requires
that the subject be at least 5m (16.5 ft) from the camera. |
 |
Scenery Mode also has
a focus range of 5m (16.5 ft) to infinity. ISO sensitivity
is set to auto, the flash is forced to Off, and the AF assist
light is also forced Off. |
 |
Night Scenery Mode forces
sensitivity to 100 ISO to minimize noise, forces the flash
to Off and uses infinity focus which requires that the subject
be more than 5m (16.5 ft) away. The shutter speed is slow
(up to 8 seconds) and a tripod is necessary. |
 |
Night Portrait Mode uses
a slow shutter speed and flash to capture both foreground
and background at night.The flash is forced to Slow Sync
with red-eye reduction and the sensitivity is set to Auto. |
 |
Panning Mode is designed
to make it easier to capture moving subjects while panning
the camera. Sensitivity is forced to 80 ISO, and a slower
than normal shutter speed is used. The stabilizer only compensates
for vertical jitter. Manual focus is best for this mode. |
 |
Fireworks 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.) |
 |
Party Mode is designed
to take pictures in a dimly lit room. The mode uses Auto
ISO to boost sensitivity as needed, and if opened the flash
is set to Forced On with Red-eye reduction. |
 |
Snow Mode automatically
adjusts exposure (a positive exposure compensation is used)
and white balance to record snow faithfully. The ISO sensitivity
is set to Auto. |
|
|
More controls are positioned on the back of the FZ20, and of these four
buttons and one switch are positioned above the 2 inch 130,000 pixel
LCD monitor. Starting at the top, the  button
serves to release the built-in pop-up flash. Below are three elongated
buttons:
|
 |
when pressed once, the button
allows selecting apertures or shutter speeds, or both,
when the FZ20 is set to one of the priority modes or the
manual mode. In addition, it can also be used to shift
from the standard Program mode to the Program Shift mode
which makes it possible to select alternate combinations
of aperture and shutter speed. |
|
 |
 |
 |
controls the quantity of information
superimposed on the monitor or EVF's image. By default
the FZ20 superimposes the shooting mode, the stabilizer
mode, the flash mode, the image size, the image quality,
the battery state, the number of shots remaining and the
metering mode. In addition, a histogram can be displayed;
or composition guidelines; or the image can be shifted
to the upper left corner of the screen so that the settings
are more legible (out of frame display); or only the AF
brackets can be shown. |
|
 |
Selects whether the 2-inch
LCD monitor is used or the electronic viewfinder (EVF). |
The FZ20 is equipped with an electronic viewfinder with 114,000 pixels,
and a diopter correction is embedded on the left side of the viewfinder's
exit pupil. Although not as detailed as some other EVFs, it yields a picture
that is detailed enough for most subjects. |
 |
 |
Three more controls are arranged
in a semi-circle on the right of the monitor. At the top is the MENU button,
and pressing it displays the menu that is appropriate to the
mode that is currently set on the Mode Dial.
At the bottom is the Delete  button,
which serves to erase one or more pictures when the camera is in playback
mode. Or, in the recording modes, it can be used to erase images if the Auto
Review option in the Setup menu is turned on. |
| The Cursor buttons are grouped as
a single large control that provides functions above and beyond
navigation for the menus. Starting at the top, in the recording
modes the up arrow serves for: |
 |
Exposure
Compensation over ±2EV in 1/3 EV increments.
Auto
Bracketing over 3 frames and ±1EV in 1/3
EV increments.
White Balance compensation to tweak colour
tone towards blue or red over ±5 increments.
Flash compensation to compensate flash exposures
over 2 EV in 1/3 EV steps. |
|
 |
 |
 |
The right arrow selects Flash
Modes: Auto, Auto with Red-eye Reduction, Forced
On, and Slow Sync with Red-eye Reduction. Forced off
is assumed when the flash is closed. |
 |
The down arrow starts the Instant
Review mode which displays the last captured photo
for up to 10 seconds. Moreover, the image can be magnified
up to 8X, or deleted.
Worth noting, the Review mode does not replace the Playback mode,
and does not allow access to the Playback menu. |
|
 |
Finally the left arrow turns
on the Self Timer which can have one of two delays:
2 seconds, or 10 seconds. |
|
|
|
|
Introduction
