Panasonic DMC-FZ50

Reviewed November 2006

Characteristics

The DMC-FZ50 is equipped with a 1/1.8 inch, 4:3 aspect ratio CCD composed of 10.1 million pixels, of which 10 million are effective when capturing a maximum image size of 3648 x 2736 pixels.

The FZ50's CCD has a sensitivity range of 100 to 3200 ISO, and the highest sensitivity setting is only accessible when the High Sens. mode is used. Set to P, S, A or M modes sensitivity can be set manually to 100, 200, 400, 800 or 1600 ISO. Using the Scene modes, as well as with the Auto mode, the camera takes charge of the sensitivity, adjusting it as necessary over a range that covers from 100 ISO through to 1600 ISO. In addition, and setting called Intelligent ISO is also available, a setting that takes into account the focal length in use as well as the effect of the optical stabilizer to minimize the sensitivity gain, and in turn the amount of noise that can affect the image.

The FZ50 — as was the FZ30 — is equipped with a 12X Leica DC Vario-Elmarit optical zoom that has a focal length range of 7.4 to 88.8 mm, the equivalent of a 35 to 420 mm on a 35 mm camera. Of course, as with all other current Panasonic Digital cameras, the zoom is stabilized with a Mega O.I.S.

The zoom's apertures start at f2.8 at the wide angle end and close down at f11, these values changing to f3.7 through f11 when the zoom is at the maximum telephoto end. The metallic ring at the front of the lens has four notches that allow attaching the lens hood that is included with the camera.

In addition, either of two lens converters can be attached to the lens, one a wide angle converter (DMW-LW55, 0.7X), and the other a telephoto converter (DMW-LT55, 1.7X), as well as an ND filter (Neutral Density).

The shutter speed range available to the camera varies with the shooting mode, with the aperture and whether or not the flash is used, but is at its broadest when the camera is set to the Manual mode, at which point it covers from 1/2000 second to 60 seconds. Moreover, noise reduction — the strength of which can be adjusted in the menu — is automatically applied to all long exposures.

As is the case with a number of other recent Panasonic cameras, the FZ50 offers a choice of aspect ratios, and each offers different image sizes:

4:3 Aspect Ratio	3:2 Aspect Ratio	16:9 Aspect Ratio
10M: 3648 x 2736 8M : 3264 x 2448 5M : 2560 x 1920 3M : 2048 x 1536 2M : 1600 x 1200	8.5M: 3600 x 2400 7M : 3248 x 2160 4.5M : 2560 x 1712 2.5M : 2048 x 1360	7M: 3584 x 2016 5.5M : 3072 x 1728 2M : 1920 x 1080
indicates the availability of a cropping digital zoom that does not interpolate the image (see further).

Two image formats are also offered:

• JPEG, which has a choice of two compression levels:
  • Fine, which applies the least compression and has the highest image quality for a compressed format.
  • Standard, which applies a stronger compression, making it possible to store more images in a given memory space but at a lower image quality.
• RAW, which simply records the image coming from the CCD without doing any post-capture processing, and which simply records the camera settings at the time the image was captured so they can be applied later using the software supplied with the camera (SilkyPix). When set to capture RAW format images, the FZ50 also records a JPEG version of the image using the Standard compression level. The RAW format is available at all three image aspect ratios, but only at the maximum image size.

As noted above, this camera is equipped with a non-interpolating digital zoom called Extended optical Zoom (EZ) that takes advantage of the maximum resolution of the CCD to produce the effect of an even longer focal length by cropping the image. The system, however, requires that the image size be set to something less that the maximum to be effective, a fact indicated by the suffix EZ to all images sizes less than the maximum.

While the FZ50 provides a quick access to commonly needed settings through its Function menu, all others are found in the main menu. The number of options contained in the menu depends on the mode in use, but the REC. menu presented when the FZ50 is used in the P, S, A or M modes contains the most choices. The REC. menu is identified by the first tab on the left of the menu screen, the other being the Setup menu (the Setup menu is covered in the Interface and Software section of the review):

• White Balance allows setting the white balance according to the ambient light source: Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Shade, Halogen (incandescent), Flash, White Set 1, White Set 2, and White Set, which serves to set the white balance under ambient light and then register the custom white balance setting into either White Set 1 or White Set 2.
• White Balance Adjust.: serves to fine tune the white balance, whatever the current settings, by moving a cursor around an Amber/Blue/Green/Magenta chart.
• Sensitivity: Auto (from 100 to 1600 ISO) or 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600 ISO when the camera is set to P, S, A or M, or Intelligent ISO.
• Aspect Ratio to select the image proportions: 4:3, 3:2 or 16:9.

• Picture Size: to choose the image size (see above).
• Quality: to select the image format, either of two JPEG compression levels or RAW + JPEG Standard.
• Audio Rec.: allows recording a 5-second audio clip immediately after the capture of an image, which is then associated with it. Only available with JPEG images.
• Metering Mode serves to select the metering pattern: Multiple, Centre-Weighted or Spot.

• AF Mode serves to choose the mode that matches the recording conditions and subject:
  • 9-area AF: the camera uses any of 9 focus areas.
  • 3-area AF High Speed: the camera focuses using any of 3 AF areas at the horizontal middle of the frame.
  • 1-area AF High Speed: limits the focus distance, which allows the camera to focus faster at the centre of the frame (the focus point can be moved to any point in the frame).
  • 1-area AF: as above, but using the entire focus range, which is a bit slower.
  • Spot Focusing: the camera focuses on a small area precisely at the centre of the frame. This mode also allows moving the focus point to another part of the frame, and furthermore also allows linking the spot meter to the AF point.
• Continuous AF (C-AF): when set to On, the camera focuses continuously, reducing the time it takes to focus on a subject, but consuming more power.

• AF Assist Lamp: to turn On or Off the AF Assist Lamp, which has a reach of 1.5 m (4.5 ft), and which is intended to help the AF system operate when the ambient light is insufficient for it to operate reliably.
• Focus/AE Lock: serves to choose the way the FOCUS/AE-Lock button operates, locking both Auto exposure and auto focus, or either one separately from the other.
• Direct Exposure Compensation: allows using the Front or Rear dials to adjust the exposure.
• Digital Zoom: to turn On or Off the digital zoom, which can have a magnification effect of either 2X or 4X. Unlike the Extended Zoom (EZ), this zoom crops the centre portion of the image and then interpolates it causing a loss of image quality.

• Colour Effect serves to select the way the image's colours are recorded: Off is the default colour mode, Cool cools down colours, Warm increases the red/orange saturation, B/W records images as black and white, and Sepia records them in brown tones.
• Picture Adjust serves to adjust the way the image is processed in the camera for contrast, sharpness and saturation, as well as noise reduction, all of which can be adjusted to High or Low.
• Flip Animation: allows creating a 20-second video clip by associating up to 100 (max.) still images.
• Conversion: to let the camera know that there is a conversion lens attached to the lens.
• External Flash: when a DMW-FL500 or FL360 flash is used, the camera can be set to PRESET, which sets the aperture to f4 and sensitivity to 100 ISO, whatever the capture mode, or MANUAL, which leaves complete control over the camera settings.
• External Flash Burst: this option allows capturing a burst of flash photos at 2 fps or 1 fps for up to 3 images, depending on the selected Burst mode.
• Set Clock serves to set the date and time on the FZ50 (a similar option is also available in the Setup menu).

When set to the Motion Picture mode the menu is shorter, its options fitting over 3 screens. Sensitivity is controlled by the camera, and the options relating to the use of an external flash are not shown.

Set to the Playback mode, the menu has the same appearance as in the capture mode, but has a different colour to make it distinct. As with the REC. menu, it too features an access to the Setup menu through a second tab on the left side of the display. Playback options are spread over three screens:

• Slide Show: to review all images automatically, or only those that have been selected as Favorites []. The on-screen time of images can be selected (1, 2, 3 or 5 seconds) and if a sound is associated with an image it can be automatically played or not.
• Favorites: this option serves to tag images as Favorites, indicated by on the image. Once favorite images have been selected, all others can be deleted if desired.
• Rotate Display: serves to display images captured vertically the right way up.

• Rotate: allows changing the orientation of an image in 90° increments to the right or the left.
• DPOF Print: serves to assign DPOF settings to images so they can be printed by a DPOF compatible service, or when the FZ50 is connected directly to a PictBridge compatible printer.
• Protect: serves to tag images so they cannot be deleted accidentally.
• Audio Dub: allows adding a 10 second annotation to an already captured image. Not available when the image is captured in RAW format.

• Resize: allows resizing down an existing image using the same aspect ratio as the original, and re-saving it over the original or as a new image. Not available for RAW format images, or images which have an associated sound bite.
• Trimming: allows saving a new image of a magnified section at the nearest resolution to the size of the cropped section, and saving it as a new image. Once again, RAW images, or those with an associated sound cannot be trimmed.
• Aspect Conversion: makes it possible to change the aspect ratio of 16:9 and convert them to 3:2 or 4:3. Not possible with RAW images.
• Format: to format the memory card. Formatting erases all images, including those that were protected.

The DMC-FZ50 is compatible with SD (Secure Digital) memory cards, and SDHC (Secure Digital High Capacity) cards. The memory card is housed in the right side of the camera, behind a spring-loaded solid door, and is ejected by pressing it on its edge so it can be grasped.

A 32 MB memory card is included with the camera, but in view of the FZ50's resolution, the purchase of a greater capacity should be considered an absolute necessity when the camera is purchased.

The chart below provides approximate numbers using a 1 GB card:

The DMC-FZ50 is powered by a rechargeable Lithium-ion battery (CGR-S006A), which fits into the camera's grip. The battery compartment is covered by a solid door that locks. A battery charger (DE-993B) is included in the kit and takes approximately 2 hours to recharge a fully depleted battery.

First, at the top, is a connection for use with the optional remote control (DMW-RS1).

The next connection has a dual role, depending on the cable that is used. With the USB cable the connection serves to connect to a computer or a PictBridge compatible printer (USB 2.0 High Speed). And with the AV cable, it serves to connect the camera to a television (NTSC or PAL, as decided in the Setup menu).

At the bottom, a DC jack allows the FZ50 to be connected to standard household current using the optional AC Adapter (DMW-CAC1).