Review
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ10 (March
20, 2004)
Ease of Use |
|
(5/5.0) |
Value |
|
(5/5.0) |
Performance |
|
(4/5.0) |
Overall Rating |
|
(5/5.0) |
Reviewed By: Paula J. - Nye, MT
I've waited along time for a digital camera like this and now it's here! As an avid
outdoor photography enthusiast and user of two 35mm SLR cameras, a Canon and Minolta with many lenses, a
35mm Olympus Stylus and an Olympus D-40 4MP digital camera, I couldn't be happier with my new Panasonic.
When I got my Olympus digital two years ago, it was a great pocket-size camera for shooting family
and landscape photos and wildflower close-ups in the macro mode. The only thing that it lacked was a long
zoom of 300mm or more to capture quality wildlife photos.
I did a tremendous amount of research
before buying the Panasonic. When I first read about it last year, I decided to wait for its release and I'm
glad that I did. Here are the reasons why
1. For my work, a 4MP camera like the Panasonic is
sufficient to produce high quality images and 8x10 prints...no need to spend more money for more pixels if
it isn't necessary. I would have preferred a 5 Megapixel for those few times that I'd like to do a blow-up
but the vast number of features of the Panasonic more than compensate.
2. The superior Leica f2.8
lens produces sharp, high quality images throughout the entire focal length of the zoom. Indoor and outdoor
photos were excellent and actually seemed a bit sharper than my 4MP Olympus digital camera.
3.
Speaking of the zoom, WOW!! The 420mm zoom allows me to stay far enough from wildlife without scaring them
off...makes for more natural wildlife behavior photos. A conveniently placed lever on the top of the camera
also allows you to switch between telephoto and wide angle. That's a great benefit giving you more photo
options from a single postion.
4. The incredible Image Stabilization feature really is outstanding!
I've already taken photos of deer, eagles, geese and ducks on the move or in flight and the results are
great. If you're shooting over 200mm, a tripod is usually a must...not true, though, with Panasonic's
built-in Image Stabilization feature that even has 2 different modes.
5. Auto and manual focus are
also provided. In addition there is a neat feature called Program Shift that allows you to change the
exposure settings..aperture and shutter speed...while in automatic Program AE to make a background more
blurred or give more clarity to a subject in motion.
The camera also allows you to take pictures
with total aperture or shutter priority if desired. You set the aperture and the camera automatically sets
the appropriate shutter speed. Want to take a sharp picture of a fast goose in flight? Just set a higher
shutter speed and the camera automatically sets the corresponding aperture setting. All are great
features.
6. The Panasonic also has a little button that you can use quickly and easily to switch
between the electronic viewfinder and the LCD monitor. I've found that by using the EVF without the flash,
you'll get more shooting time on your battery.
7. The camera is very durable, lightweight for a long
zoom camera, extremely quiet in operation, easy to hold, and the menus are logical and easy to follow. The
manual is far better than any manual I've had so far.
8. Unlike some of the other cameras on
the market, the Panasonic includes a lens cap, lense hood, and battery charger and it charges in 90 minutes
or less. The 72mm lens allows you to add filters and, believe it or not, there is even an optional
teleconverter available for getting even more distance with your zoom.
9. There are 6 scene modes, on
a dial on top of the camera, that give you the flexibility to set the camera for just about any given photo
situation. There is a built-in flash and a hot shoe if you want to attach a separate flash device. I haven't
had an opportunity to test the camera in low light yet so I can't comment on the adequacy of the built-in
flash.
10. Although I use editing software to enhance saturation and contrast, the camera does have
a color adjustment feature that allows you to adjust these items. I haven't tried it yet, but it's a nice
feature for those that don't do their own editing work.
11. More serious photographers will
especially enjoy such features as exposure compensation, white balance adjustment, the displayed histogram,
color effects, auto bracketing, and burst mode.
I've had my camera for exactly one month now and
have been out almost daily putting it to the test and trying all of its features. Needless to say, I
couldn't be happier. I looked at other cameras like the Olympus C-750 with 4MP, 380mm zoom but no image
stabilization or lens cap, the Minolta Dimage A1 with 5 MP, an anti-shake feature but only 200mm zoom, the
Fuji FinePix S7000 with 6MP, no IS, only 210mm zoom, and the Nikon 5700 with 5MP, a 280mm zoom but no image
stabilization. Although all of these cameras are excellent cameras, the Panasonic offers ALL of the features
I need and wins out easily. If you want to be able to shoot great outdoor photography without lugging around
tons of camera gear and lenses, this is the perfect camera.
Vann's now carries a super high speed
battery charger that has a 12-volt adapter. I plan on buying this so I can always have a spare battery pack
charged and ready to go when I'm on the road. One suggestion You should really pick up a memory card with a
minimum of 128MB of memory. This camera is so much fun, and with the 420mm zoom, you'll probably be shooting
a ton of pictures. The 16MB memory card included with the camera, although standard with most cameras, is
not really sufficient.
Bottom Line This is a great camera! It's easy to operate for the rank beginner
yet carries advanced features that appeal to every serious photographer. I looked at a number of cameras and
the Panasonic by far is a real bargain for the money.