New
additions to the Panasonic Lumix line, the Panasonic DMC-LC33 and DMC-L43
are cameras which have similarities that are more than skin-deep, and
these similarities far out number their differences.
Therefore, although both cameras have been reviewed, major portions of
each of the reviews are identical.
This
section, Ergonomics, parts of the Characteristics section,
and of the Interface and Software section are the same for both
cameras. The Image Quality and Test Photo sections relate
exclusively to each model.
Leica. The design includes an optical
viewfinder, with marks for both AF point and parallax, but does not offer
a diopter adjustment.
With these cameras, Panasonic re-used much of the design for the controls
from some of their other cameras, albeit while simplifying some of the
options.
The top right of the camera provides a shutter release with a zoom
control around it, a Mode Dial, and a button that controls
the selection of Single, or Burst Mode shooting.
The shutter release is a 2-stage system, providing auto focus exposure
lock when pressed to the halfway point. The zoom control moves the lens
to the wide angle setting when pushed towards the W side and telephoto
when pulled to the T side, springing back to the centre position. In addition,
the zoom control also serves to magnify a photo displayed on the screen
in Playback, up to 16X in 2X increments.
The
Burst Mode button
provides 2 separate Burst recording modes, Low and High.
Note that the figures below assume the use of an SD memory card, and not
a MultiMedia card, which is slower.
Burst
L captures 2 frames per second at the highest resolution
and least compression for up to 5 frames; while when using stronger
compression, the burst can capture 8 frames.
Burst
H captures 4 frames per second at the highest resolution
and least compression for up to 5 frames; while when using stronger
compression, the burst can capture 8 frames.
A total of 7 image capture modes are available with the DMC-LC33. Although
some additional photographic settings and controls are possible through
the camera's menu (see the Characteristics section of the review),
the Lumix LC33 is a fully automatic camera and there are no modes that
allow the user to set either the aperture or the shutter speed.
Normal
Mode: is the primary shooting mode. This mode also provides
the greatest number of photographic options and settings to the
user.
Simple
Mode:
is as its name implies, an extremely simple point and shoot mode.
Macro
Mode: allows the camera to come as close as 10 cm (3.9 inch)
from a subject when the lens is set to wide angle, and 50 cm when
the lens is set to the maximum telephoto.
Portrait
Mode: uses a wide aperture to soften the background while having
the subject in focus.
Landscape
Mode: meant for use in daylight and with the scene at least
10 metres distant. The mode uses a small aperture to capture foreground
to background clearly.
Night
Portrait Mode:
combines the use of a slow shutter speed and the flash to fill in
the foreground. Only 2 flash modes are available in this mode, either
Slow Sync with Red-eye Reduction, or Off.
Motion
Images Mode:
captures a video clip at a 320 x 240 frame size with sound. Focus,
zoom, white balance, and aperture are locked at the first frame.
Recordings last as long as there is free space on the memory card.
Playback:
to play back both stills and movies (with sound when connected to
a TV).
Besides
the On/Off slider switch located on the upper part of the LC33's
back, 4 other controls are positioned to the right of the 1.5 inch
(114,000 pixels) LCD monitor.
Directly under the power switch, the DISPLAY button controls the
use of the LCD screen. In the capture modes, pressing it repeatedly cycles
between the LCD monitor showing the image coming from the lens with a
simple information overlay, to the image by itself, followed by turning
the display Off.
Next
down is the MENU button, which places the menu options on the screen
according to the mode in use.
The round 4-direction Controller below also provides control for
some camera settings and confirmation of these changes, in addition to
serving as the means to navigate the menus.
The
up arrow of the control is for Exposure
Compensation and Auto
Bracketing. Exposure Compensation is possible over ±2EV
in 1/3 EV increments, and is presented as a scale on the LCD screen
at the first press of the up arrow. Adjusting the exposure is then
done using the right and left arrows.
Bracketing is reached by pressing the up arrow twice. Bracketing
increments are in 1/3 EV, and for a maximum of ± 1EV; capturing
one exposure with the set amount of under exposure, one with the
metered reading, and one over-exposed by the set amount.
The
Self Timer, turned on with the left arrow, provides a delay
time before the shutter is released. Either 2 seconds, or 10 seconds
are possible.
Flash
modes are set using the right arrow. The modes available are
Auto, Auto with Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync with Red-eye
Reduction and Forced Off. The indication for the mode is at the
top left of the screen, next to the icon indicating the camera mode.
The
REVIEW mode is selected with the down arrow. It immediately
presents the last captured image without having to change the Mode
Dial to the Playback position. Moreover, an image under review can
be magnified for a closer look. Using the Zoom control, the image
can be magnified in 2 steps of 4X magnification, for a total of
8X. Should the image be unacceptable, it can be deleted, or all
images can be deleted. If no action is taken after the Review button
has been pressed, the camera returns to the normal shooting mode
after 5 seconds.
The
down arrow of the controller has one additional use, SET,
which confirms selections made in the menus, or an Exposure compensation
or bracketing increment.
The lowest
button on the back of the LC33 is the Delete button:
Images
can be deleted in the Review mode, or in Playback. The Delete function
is not available however when a just captured image is briefly shown
on the screen.
Although
the design of the
Lumix DMC-LC33/LC43 is compact, and the camera can easily fit flat in
an open hand, they are not the type that one can just slip into a pocket,
and a small carrying pouch is a necessity.
In use, the LC33/43 easily become familiar, and the external controls
are positioned so that they accessible, without getting in the way of
the user.
provides 2 separate Burst recording modes, Low and High.
Note that the figures below assume the use of an SD memory card, and not
a MultiMedia card, which is slower.
