A Happy Snapper! (Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX7)

Member Name: Good_Guy

Product:	Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX7
Date:	16/10/09 (23 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Good performance in a compact package

Disadvantages: Only minor flaws

As is common with digital cameras in general, the Lumix was slow to rouse from its slumber, needing almost 5 seconds to wake up and get going. Once powered up, it happily reeled off photos every 2.4 seconds without flash and one every 4 seconds with the speed light switched on.

I found the big LCD viewfinder was easy to use under medium to bright light levels than it was in dim light; viewing of poorly lit subjects was difficult. It did, however, work well outdoors under all conditions except direct sunlight.

The built-in electronic flash fills the frame with anemic but even illumination out to about 13 feet at the wide-angle setting at ISO 400 and only 7.2 feet at telephoto. A useful function when combined with image stabilization, is the slow-sync flash option being particularly handy to brighten the background in flash pictures.

Most photographers will be very pleased with the images that the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX7 camera produces, even when making larger prints. Predictably the Leica lens produced sharp, detail-filled images, with a bit less distortion and fewer flaws than I've seen in some other cameras in this class. Image defects, such as they were, seemed to be attributable more to the sensor and processing system than to the lens. For example, while images were generally well exposed and full of detail in both shadows and highlights, a bit of noise was visible even at ISO 100 and became more obvious when I boosted sensitivity to ISO 400

Colours, I thought, were generally quite good, if a bit muted, the exception being some green shades that looked a bit unnaturally harsh. If I was being picky I could comment that flesh tones sometimes were a little yellow. The automatic white-balance controls did a good job indoors and out, but the camera's red-eye-reduction system didn't totally eliminate reddish pupils.

While not fully tested in use, the Li-ion battery, after a charge, was easily capable of 600 or more photos, 50% of which require me to use the flash. This seemed reasonable and, while I have not had much use of this particular camera, I think it is capable of more. All in all a decent little camera to satisfy the ardent amateur snapper.

It also looks the part and you get to choose a color you like. The FX7 has a sophisticated design in four vibrant colors, with four different textures and brilliant metal sides.

Summary: Looks the part and delivers performance

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