Panasonic DMC-FZ5

Reviewed April 2005

Introduction

The Panasonic DMC-FZ5 is a mid-range camera that has been the source of much interest since it was announced, as it is one of the few cameras that have an image stabilized 12X zoom, and a 5 megapixel resolution.

As it was with the FZ3, the FZ5's zoom control also serves to view thumbnails (9 per screen) when pushed towards the W side, and to zoom into an image under review (up to 16X) when pulled to the T side.

Two small buttons are positioned directly behind the zoom control and shutter. The first of these is new:

The Mode Dial is positioned between these two buttons, and the pop-up flash. The Dial provides 9 positions:

Normal Mode: shutter speed and aperture are automatically selected by the camera, but the user has control over all other photo parameters.

The DMC-FZ5 is equipped with both a 1.8 inch, 130,000 pixel LCD monitor, and a 114,000 pixel electronic viewfinder (EVF) that shows 100% of the frame. In addition, a small dial on the left of the exit pupil provides a diopter correction.

As always, the EVF makes it possible to see the menus, and make setting changes, or even play back images without having to use the LCD monitor.

Four buttons and the Power Switch are aligned on the right of the viewfinder.

The first, on top, serves to pop open the built-in flash. Below, the button on the left labelled EVF/LCD is to switch back and forth between the LCD monitor and the electronic viewfinder.

The next button is labelled DISPLAY and controls the information superimposed on the viewfinder, or the monitor's image (note that this button has no effect when the camera is set to Simple mode):

• The default display shows the capture mode, resolution and image size, the frame counter, and the aperture and shutter speed when the release is pressed halfway.
• Pressing the button once adds a real-time histogram which is a graphical representation of the brightness of the image.
• A second press of the DISPLAY button shows the image in the upper left side of the display and places the camera settings on a black background to the right and below the screen.
• Pressing the button a third time replaces all the superimposed information by a composition grid and the AF brackets.
• While a fourth and last press of the button removes the composition grid leaving only the AF brackets.

In Playback mode the DISPLAY button calls up the histogram for the image under review, and reveals its shooting parameters.

The EXPOSURE button is next and it serves to select exposure parameters — aperture or shutter speed or both when the camera is set to the Manual mode — along with the 4-direction control.

Last is the aforementioned Power Switch for the FZ5, which displays a small green LED light when the camera is on.

To the right of the LCD monitor, the top button, MENU, calls up either the Recording mode menus, or the Playback menu depending on the setting of the Mode Dial. (See the Characteristics section of the review for more information on the various menus). In addition, the button also serves to change Scene modes when the Mode Dial is set to the SCN position.

Below, the 4-direction control provides additional functions beyond its basic use as a means to navigate the menus, and review images in Playback:

	The up arrow controls 4 different functions: Exposure Compensation over ±2EV in increments of 1/3 EV (the only function available with the Simple Mode ). Bracketing which captures 3 images, bracketing the as-metered image with one that is underexposed and one which is overexposed by 1/3 EV increments, over a range of ±1 EV. And, when the white balance is set to something other than Auto, it too can be bracketed, capturing one image with a reddish tint, one using the current camera setting for white balance, and one image with a bluish tint. Fourth and last, the Flash Exposure can also be compensated over ±2EV in increments of 1/3 EV. As noted above, when the camera is set to the Simple mode, the Exposure Compensation button allows the camera to automatically compensate for backlighting.
	The left arrow controls the Self-timer, offering one of two possible delays: 2 or 10 seconds (10 sec. only with the Simple Mode).
	The right arrow controls the Flash Modes: Auto, Auto with Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, and Slow Sync with Red-eye Reduction. Forced off is selected by leaving the flash closed.
	While the down arrow accesses the Instant Review mode which displays the last captured image for 5 seconds, and allows it to be magnified up to 8X.

The last external control of the camera is below the 4-direction control:

	In the capture modes and if previously enabled in the menu, the button serves to to pre-focus the camera on a subject — useful when the Panning mode is used — instead of having to maintain the shutter release at mid-course.
	In the Instant Review mode, or the Playback mode, the button serves to delete one or more unwanted images.

In comparison to the FZ3, the Panasonic DMC-FZ5 shows few changes to the previous external controls with the exception of the welcome addition of a direct control over the stabilizer, avoiding the need to go through the menu.

This is a camera that offers a good ergonomic design, and has well-placed controls that are easily understood and remembered, making it one of the simplest cameras to use.