Panasonic DMC-LZ2

Reviewed May 2005

Characteristics

Unlike many recent Lumix cameras, the DMC-LZ2 is not equipped with a Leica lens but uses a new Lumix DC Vario lens. This 6X zoom covers a focal length range of 6.1 to 36.6 mm, which is equivalent in the 35mm film format to a 37 to 222 mm, and includes a Mega OIS image stabilizer, a feature that is quickly becoming a hallmark of Panasonic digital cameras.

The 6X zoom has apertures that start at f2.8 at the wide angle, becoming f4.5 at the maximum telephoto setting.

The DMC-LZ2 is also equipped with a 4X digital zoom which crops the central portion of the image and interpolates it to the current image size, with an equivalent loss of image quality.

A shutter speed range of 1/2000 second to 8 seconds is available to the DMC-LZ2, but the longest exposure time of 8 seconds is only available when the camera is set to the Night Scenery mode. In other capture modes — with the exception of the Fireworks mode which is fixed at 1/4 second — the maximum shutter speed is determined in the Recording menu, and can be set to 1/8, 1/4, 1/2 or 1 second. Moreover, the camera is equipped with a noise reduction mode which is automatically applied to all long exposures.

The Lumix DMC-LZ2 provides 6 image sizes, each of which can be saved at either one of two JPEG compression levels: Fine, the least compressed format with the highest image quality, or Standard, a stronger compression:

• 2560 x 1920 pixels,
• 2048 x 1536 pixels,
• 1600 x 1200 pixels,
• 1280 x 960 pixels,
• 640 x 480 pixels and
• a format called HDTV because it has the 16:9 aspect ratio of High Definition Television and an image size of 1920 x 1080 pixels.

Since the LZ2 has few external controls, most of the settings are made within its menu. Set to the Simple () mode however, the available settings are limited:

• Pict. Mode: serves to select the image size and quality (there is no specific image quality setting):
  • Enlarge: captures a 2560 x 1920 pixel image, needed if large prints are going to be made.
  • 4" x 6" (10 x 15cm): captures a 1600 x 1200 pixel image designed for standard prints.
  • E-mail: records a 640 x 480 pixel image to be used as an e-mail attachment.

• Battery Type: serves to select the type of battery currently in use in the camera so as to improve the accuracy of the camera's indicator for the battery state. Two options are provided Alkaline/Ni-MH or Oxyride, a type of non-rechargeable battery developed by Panasonic which is included with the camera.
• Beep: sets the volume of the beep sound made by the camera (Off, Low, High).
• Clock Set: serves to set the time and date on the DMC-LZ2.

• White Balance provides settings for: Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Halogen (incandescent), User Set (to use a preset white balance), and White Set (to set the white balance under ambient conditions).

• Sensitivity: Auto (80 to 200 ISO) or 80, 100, 200, 400 ISO.
• Picture Size: to select one of the 6 image sizes mentioned above.
• Quality: to select the compression level, either Fine or Standard.
• Audio Rec.: On or Off. Makes it possible to capture a 5-second sound bite immediately after the capture of an image.

• AF Mode:
  • 5-area focusing: the camera automatically chooses the focus from one or more of 5 focus points clustered in a cross pattern around the middle of the frame.
  • 3-area focusing: the camera automatically selects one or more focus points from 3 points positioned horizontally in the frame.
  • 1-area focusing: the camera automatically focuses on a subject using the centre focus point.
  • Spot-focusing: the camera focuses on a small area at the exact centre of the frame.

• Slow Shutter: allows setting the slowest shutter speed available to the camera (1/8, 1/4, 1/2 or 1 second) in all modes with the exception of the Night Scenery mode and the Fireworks mode.
• Digital Zoom: On or Off. Controls the 4X digital zoom. Worth noting, the use of the digital zoom can lessen the effectiveness of the image stabilizer.

• Colour Effect. offers 4 settings: Cool (accentuates blue tones), Warm (accentuates red tones), Black and White (records a grey scale image), or Sepia.
• Picture Adjustment: allows modifying the image sharpness. Choices are Natural (softer), Standard (default) and Vivid (increased sharpness).

• Rotate Display: On or Off. When On photos captured vertically are automatically presented the right way up in playback.
• Rotate: allows rotating images in 90° increments.
• Protect: allows selecting images and protecting them against an accidental deletion.

• DPOF Print: serves to select photos for printing using DPOF (Digital Print Order Format). The number of prints to make of each image can be set, as well as whether or not the capture date will be superimposed on the image. In addition, the LZ2 is compatible with PictBridge and can be connected to any similarly compliant printer to print images directly, by-passing the need for a computer.

• Slide Show: allows reviewing all images, or only those selected with DPOF. The display time for the photos can be set (1, 2, 3 or 5 seconds) and if a sound is associated with the image it can be silenced.

• Audio Dub.: makes it possible to add a 10 second sound bite to a pre-recorded photo.
• Resize: allows making a smaller size copy of an image, or overwriting the original with a smaller size copy. Photos captured with sound, or in HDTV format, or at 640 x 480 cannot be re-sized.
• Trimming: allows cropping an image and re-saving the cropped image either as a new image or overwriting the original. The same restrictions apply to trimming images as apply to resizing.

• Copy: allows copying one or more images or video clips to the internal memory of the camera (14 MB) to a memory card or vice versa.
• Format: serves to format either the memory card or the internal memory of the camera.

The chart below lists image capacities using the 14MB internal memory and an optional 1 GB SD card:

There are two external connections on the left side of the camera, both protected by a flexible plastic cover that is tethered to the camera.

At the top is a gold-coloured port which has a dual function depending on the cable used:

• USB (2.0 Full Speed) port or
• Audio/Video Out with the output signal selected in the Setup options (see the Interface and Software section of the review).

Both cables, AV and USB, are supplied with the camera.

The lower connection is for the optional AC/DC adapter (DMW-AC1) which can power the camera during extended uses.