The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX30 is a beautiful
and elegant ultra compact digital camera with
some of the best features on a point-and-shoot
digital camera. It is only 22mm (0.87 in.) thin
("world's slimmest digital camera with a
28mm wide-angle lens") and easily slips into
a jeans pocket, shirt pocket or small fashion
purse.
It has fast performance with approx. 1 sec. startup
and no practical shutter lag. Auto focus is fast
and precise. It is equipped with a 3.6x 28-100mm
wide-angle optical zoom that is perfect for wide
landscapes and group shots. The 100mm tele coverage
is ideal for portraits.
A large 2.5-in. LCD monitor with a high 207,000
pixels resolution makes composition and viewing
very comfortable. You can display a live histogram
and a framing guide of horizontal and vertical
lines. Construction and build is very good.
Image quality is very good at ISO 100, with low
noise and good image detail. Image quality is
good at ISO 200 but at higher ISOs suffer from
noise and loss of detail.
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX30 comes in
4 different colours, each with its distinctive
texture, and will appeal to point-and-shoot photographers
desiring an easy-to-use ultra slim and stylish
digital camera with a wide-angle lens and image
stabilization.
What I like about the Panasonic FX30:
Wide-angle 28mm is great for wide landscapes
and group shots.
Very good image quality at ISO 100.
Effective Image Stabilization, plus Intelligent
ISO to tackle both camera shake and subject
movement.
Fast performance, no practical shutter lag,
fast and precise AF.
Availability of Manual WB and WB Adjust.
CA negligible.
Availability of Live Histogram.
Availability of Framing Guide (2 patterns).
Stylish, ultra slim, flush design.
Very good build and construction; a beautiful
camera.
19 Zoom steps for precise focal length positioning.
Accepts large capacity SDHC card.
Very good Menu Structure and intuitive Controls.
Availability of 15, 30 and 60 sec. in Starry
Sky scene mode.
Hinged door for easy access to terminals.
Improvements wishlist:
Less aggressive noise reduction. High ISOs
pictures limited to small prints and for Web
display (due to high noise and loss of image
detail).
A finger grip that is not slippery.
As you can see, there's lots to like about the
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX30. If you intend
to take pictures mostly for 4x6 in. prints (or
large prints at ISO 100) or for Web display, the
Panasonic FX30 has more than the standard point-and-shoot
model. The effective image stabilization, wide-angle
zoom, 19 Zoom steps and fast performance will
be the deciding factors for many beginner photographers.
More advanced photographers will appreciate the
availability of manual WB, live histogram and
framing guide.
See if you fit the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX30
User Profile below:
Panasonic
FX30
User Profile
•
Desire a quality 7.2 MP
resolution compact digital camera (at
ISO 100).
•
Want a wide-angle lens
coverage with effective optical image
stabilization.
•
Want fast response times
with no practical shutter lag.
•
Want an ultra compact,
JeansPocket™ Certified digital
camera (small fashion purse, jeans pocket).
•
Have no problem with small
buttons and dial as long as they are
precise and responsive.
•
Able to hold a small camera
steady and gentle with shutter release.
