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 artifacts 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
This subject is photographed in a room that has
a mix of fluorescent and incandescent light, but which is not
brightly lit. The camera's flash is used to add fill light.
The backdrop is 1.95 m (6.5 ft) from the camera.
The pop-flash of the DMC-FZ3 provides ample light for this subject, allowing
for a bright exposure that has no noticeable light fall off in the corners
of the frame.
Photo
Information
Format:
TIFF
Aperture:
f2.8
Exposure:
Program
Shutter Speed:
1/60
Res.:
2016 x 1512
Flash:
On
Quality:
Uncompressed
ISO:
80
File Size:
8.9 MB
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.
Zoomed in, the powerful zoom of the FZ3 is able to capture a portion of
the old photographic paper envelope. The level of detail the lens is able
to capture is excellent, and the image reveals the texture of both the
paper and the printing screen (see below).
Photo
Information
Format:
TIFF
Aperture:
f2.8
Exposure:
Program
Shutter Speed:
1/60
Res.:
2016 x 1512
Flash:
On
Quality:
Uncompressed
ISO:
80
File Size:
8.9 MB
Focal Length:
420 mm (35mm
Eq.)
Aperture: f2.8, shutter speed 1/4 sec., 80 ISO.
MACRO PHOTO
Although the FZ3 has a Macro mode dial position,
the camera is capable of macro focus while set to any still image
mode with the exception of the Program and Scene modes. The macro
distance of the FZ3 is 5 cm (1.95 in.) when the lens is at the
wide angle end. But in fact, the camera is able to capture razor-sharp
photos with the front element of the lens approximately 1 inch
from the subject, yielding a horizontal field of view that is
just under 4cm (1.5 inch).
At this distance, some barrel distortion
is unavoidable, but given an appropriate subject the distortion
is not noticeable, and this minimum allows the DMC-FZ3 to produce
excellent images.
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 the wide angle end of the Leica lens avoids any overt barrel
distortion, the most common type of distortion with digital cameras. Left
at its default settings, the camera captures a clear image, correctly exposed
by the metering.
Photo
Information
Format:
TIFF
Aperture:
f4.6
Exposure:
Program
Shutter Speed:
1/400
Resolution:
2016 x 1512
Flash:
Off
Quality:
Uncompressed
ISO:
80
File Size:
8.9 MB
Focal Length:
35 mm (35mm Eq.)
ZOOM PHOTO
The photo presented here is taken with the camera handheld, and with the
stabilizer set to Mode 2, its most effective setting. When set to Mode
2 the stabilizer is only called upon to stabilize the image at the precise
moment the image is captured. The result is that while the image was moving
very noticeably in the viewfinder prior to capture, the FZ3 is able to
record a sharp image that shows a great deal of detail.
Photo
Information
Format:
TIFF
Aperture:
f4
Exposure:
Program
Shutter Speed:
1/125
Resolution:
2016 x 1512
Flash:
Off
Quality:
Uncompressed
ISO:
80
File Size:
8.9 MB
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.
With its 8 second maximum exposure
time in the Manual mode, the DMC-FZ3 can capture photos of well-lit
night scenery while at its lowest and least noisy ISO setting.
With all long exposures, noise processing is automatically performed
by the camera by recording a second image with the same exposure
time, but without opening the shutter so as to only record noise,
information that is then used to delete that noise from the photo.
By gradually increasing the sensitivity,
the image becomes brighter, but the noise becomes more and more
noticeable, even after processing. Indeed the best results are
obtained at 80 and 100 ISO, sensitivity levels that require a
fairly well-lit subject.
Still, as with the absence of a very low compression JPEG format, the 8
second maximum exposure of the FZ3 remains one of its limitations, as it
does not allow capturing dimmer subjects.
Compare Prices for Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ3 Battery
Test Photos
