Panasonic DMC-FZ8

Reviewed April 2007

Characteristics

Equipped with a 1/2.5-inch CCD composed of 7.38 million pixels of which 7.2 million are effective, the DMC-FZ8 can capture images at a variety of image sizes and aspect ratios:

Images can be saved at either one of two JPEG compression levels, each identified by a graphic:

	The least compressed image quality, uses a compression that ranges from 6:1 to more than 8:1, depending on the subject.
	The most compressed image quality, using a compression that ranges from 12:1 to 18:1.

In addition, the FZ8 also offers a RAW image format that records the output of the CCD at the largest image size of all three aspect ratios. The image can then be processed later using the software supplied with the camera, or with other software. When the RAW format is used, the camera automatically records a JPEG image as well.

CCD sensitivity for the camera covers a range from 100 ISO up to 1250 ISO when the P, A, S or M modes are used. Additionally, an Auto ISO setting is offered, automatically adjusting the sensitivity between 100 and 200 ISO normally, and 100 and 400 ISO when the flash is used. Auto ISO is the only setting available when the camera is set to the Simple mode, the Scene modes, or the Movie mode. Worth noting, however, the High Sensitivity scene mode uses a sensitivity level inaccessible to all other modes: 3200 ISO, while the High Sensitivity mode allows setting a limit to the ISO gain of 400, 800 or 1250 ISO.

As it is with most Panasonic digital cameras, the DMC-FZ8 sports a Leica-badged zoom lens. A 12X optical zoom lens, the same lens as was used on the the FZ7, it offers a focal length that covers from 6 to 72 mm, equivalent to a 36 to 432 mm in the 35 mm format. Composed of 11 elements in 8 groups that include aspherical surfaces to correct curvilinear distortion, it is optically stabilized at the focal point to compensate for camera shake.

Set to the wide angle end, the lens offers a starting aperture of f2.8 closing down to f8 in 10 steps. While at the telephoto end apertures begin at f3.3 and close down to f8 in 9 steps.

The camera is supplied with an adapter and a lens hood, designed specifically to protect the lens from flare, irrespective of the focal length in use. The lens hood adapter screws into the lens trim and the hood slides on top of the adapter and is secured by a screw.

Beyond the optical zoom, the DMC-FZ8, like other Panasonic cameras, is equipped with a non-interpolating digital zoom. The digital zoom takes advantage of the full resolution of the CCD to offer cropped images when the image size is set to resolutions less than the maximum, that show a field of view that would be comparable to what a lens longer than the camera's maximum telephoto would capture. Image sizes that can use the digital zoom are indicated with the letters EZ (Extended Zoom), and the function is unavailable when the camera is set to capture RAW images.

The shutter speed range of the FZ8 is from 1/2000 second to 60 seconds, but that range represents the range of possibilities, and is not available in any one mode, nor it is available at all focal lengths.

In addition to the settings that can be made using the buttons on the camera, the DMC-FZ8 has a menu the complexity of which varies with the mode in use. With the camera set to the Simple mode, the menu is very short, only 4 options are presented:

• Picture Mode which decides the image size according to its use:
  • Enlarge: to make 8 x 10 inch prints (20 x 25 cm) using an image size of 3072 x 2304 pixels and a Fine compression setting.
  • 4 x 6 inch/10 x 15 cm: to record a 2048 x 1360 pixel image using a Standard compression setting.
  • E-mail: to capture photos at a 640 x 480 pixel size with a Standard compression, perfect for use as an attachment to e-mail.
• Auto Review decides whether or not the image is shown on the monitor immediately post-capture.
• Beep serves to adjust the volume of the sounds produced by the camera (Off, Low, High).
• Clock Set: allows setting the internal clock and calendar for the camera.

Set to one of the more advanced modes — P, S, A, or M — the menu that appears when the MENU button is pressed is more complex:

• White Balance provides the following settings: Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Flash, Halogen (incandescent), White set 1, White set 2, and White Set to set the white point manually and store it in either of the 2 memory locations.
• White Balance Adjust.: serves to fine-tune the white balance, making it possible to bias it towards orange, blue, green or red.
• Sensitivity: Auto, or 100, 200, 400, 800 or 1250 ISO. And, when the FZ8 is set to the High Sensitivity Scene mode: 3200 ISO.
• Aspect Ratio: 4:3 (standard TV format, 3:2 (format for 6x4 or 5x7 prints), or 16:9 (compatible with HDTV).
• Picture Size (still image modes only) serves to select one of the image sizes (see above).

• Quality (still image modes only) sets the image quality: 2 compression levels or RAW.
• Picture Mode (movie mode only): selects the frame size and frame rate (see the Ergonomics section of the review for more information on the Motion Picture mode).
• Audio Rec.: On or Off. This option allows recording a 5-second sound bite immediately after an image is captured. Audio recordings are not possible when the camera is set to Burst mode, Auto Bracketing, or with the Starry Night scene mode.

• Metering Mode: (P, S, A, M, Macro and Movie modes only)
  • Multiple meters numerous sections of the frame to decide the exposure parameters.
  • Centre-weighted meters the entire frame and the centre separately, giving the reading obtained at the centre — presumably the area where the subject is located — greater importance than the reading obtained for the rest of the frame.
  • Spot meters the precise focus point and bases the exposure on the reading obtained there exclusively.
  AF Mode serves to set the Auto focus method:
  • Multi-area AF: allows the camera to focus on an off-centre subject automatically.
  • 3-area AF High Speed: the camera uses 3 horizontal AF points from which to select the focus point automatically.
  • 1-area AF High Speed: allows the camera to focus quickly on the subject that is in the centre AF point, and allows moving the focus point to any one of 11 areas in the frame.
  • 1-area AF: the camera focuses on the subject located at the centre AF point, and allows moving the focus point to any one of 11 areas in the frame.
  • Spot Focusing: concentrates the AF point on a small area at the centre of the frame and allows moving the focus point to any one of 11 areas in the frame. Spot focusing can be linked to the spot meter.

• Continuous AF (C-AF): On or Off. When On, the time required to focus is reduced as the camera adjusts the focus continuously, but the battery is depleted faster.
• AF Assist Lamp: On or Off. Controls the AF assist lamp, which automatically illuminates the subject when the ambient light is too low to allow the AF to function reliably.
• Digital Zoom: controls whether or not the 4X digital zoom is available. The digital zoom takes over after the EZ zoom range, and can produce an effect similar to a 72X zoom. However, the image quality drops severely as soon as the image becomes interpolated.

• Colour Effect controls the colour tone of the image (P, A, S, M, Macro and Movie modes only):
  • Cool shifts the image towards blue tones,
  • Warm shifts the image towards red tones,
  • B&W records the image in black and white, and
  • Sepia captures a sepia coloured photo.
• Picture Adjustment (P, A, S, M, and Macro modes only) serves to modify:
  • Contrast: High, Low or Standard.
  • Sharpness: High, Low or Standard.
  • Saturation: High, Low or Standard.
  • Noise Reduction: High, Low or Standard.
• Flip Animation: allows creating a 20-second video clip by automatically assembling up to 100 images at either 5 or 10 frames per second.
• Conversion serves to let the camera know when a conversion lens is mounted onto the DMW-LA2 optional lens adaptor:
  • Wide angle (DMW-LW55) 0.7X.
  • Telephoto Conversion Lens (DMW-LT55) 1.7X.

• Clock Set: serves to set the time and date on the FZ8.

Set to the Playback mode, the FZ8's menu maintains the same general appearance, and also provides an access to the Setup menu (see the Interface and Software section of the review for the contents of the Setup menu):

• Slide Show: can be set to show all images on the card, or only those that have been set as Favourites [] (see the next option). The on-screen time of images can be selected (1, 2, 3, 5 seconds, or Manual) and one of 4 transition effects can be selected, or none. If Audio is set to On, a sound associated with an image will be played as well.
• Favourite: gives the option to mark some images as favourites, which adds the symbol [] to the images, and makes it possible to erase all images but favourites; or view only favourite images in a slide show.
• Rotate Disp.: (On or Off), makes it possible to automatically see pictures that have been shot vertically, or which have been rotated, with the correct orientation.

• Rotate: serves to rotate a photo 90° to the left or right.
• Date Stamp: serves to stamp images with the time and date, or the age and the travel date. Photos captured with audio or in RAW format cannot be date stamped. Date stamped images can be saved as new images, or can be written over the original.
• DPOF Print: serves to select images for printing on a DPOF compliant printer, a printing service, or when the FZ8 is connected directly to PictBridge compliant printer. Worth noting, when the FZ8 is connected directly to a PictBridge printer, the camera displays a menu from which the type of print to make can be selected.
• Protect: allows selecting images and tagging them to prevent an accidental erasure.

• Audio Dub.: makes it possible to add a voice annotation lasting up to 10 seconds to any image except those recorded in RAW format.
• Resize: serves to resize any image to a lower resolution so as to store more images on the card. Photos captured with sound, or using the RAW format cannot be resized.
• Trimming: allows re-framing an image and saving the cropped version either with the same file name, overwriting the original, or as a new image. Images with sound, captured in RAW format, or with a date stamp cannot be trimmed.
• Aspect Conversion: images taken in 16:9 format can be converted to 3:2 or 4:3 format for printing.
• Copy: serves to copy images or movies from the internal memory to a memory card or vice versa.
• Format: formats the memory card or the internal memory.

Power for the DMC-FZ8 comes from a Panasonic Lithium ion battery (CGR-S006A) that is housed in the grip, next to the memory card slot, and held in place by a clip that allows changing the card without having the battery slide out. Included in the camera kit as it is sold in North America, is a charger (Panasonic DE-A43) that plugs directly into an electrical outlet. The charger takes about 2 hours to fully recharge the battery.

The FZ8 has an internal memory of 27 MB, and in addition, is compatible with SD (Secure Digital), SDHC (Secure Digital High Capacity) and MMC (MultiMedia) memory cards. Worth noting, memory cards greater than 2 GB must be SDHC, and movies cannot be captured if an MMC card is used.

The chart below provides the approximate number of images that can be stored with the internal memory, and with optional 1GB card:

27 MB Internal Memory:

Ratio		4:3						16:9		3:2
Format	Size	7M	5M	3M	2M	1M	0.3M	5.5M	2M	6M	2.5M
RAW		1	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	2	N/A	1	N/A
JPEG		7	5	16	27	41	130	9	25	8	19
JPEG		14	21	33	53	78	210	19	48	16	37

1 GB SD Card:

Ratio		4:3						16:9		3:2
Format	Size	7M	5M	3M	2M	1M	0.3M	5.5M	2M	6M	2.5M
RAW		58	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	77	N/A	65	N/A
JPEG		270	390	600	970	1470	4640	360	910	300	680
JPEG		540	770	1180	1880	2740	7550	710	1720	600	1310

Movie Recording Time:

Two external connections are available on the DMC-FZ8, both of which are located on the lower left side of the camera.

The upper connection has a dual function, serving for both USB (2.0 Full Speed) and A/V Out (audio/video), either NTSC or PAL as determined in the Setup menu. Both cables, USB and A/V, are supplied with the camera.

The lower connection is for DC-IN, and is intended for use with the optional DMW-AC7PP AC adapter, making it possible to run the camera from household current.