Panasonic FZ30 First Impressions
I just got my new digital camera, the Panasonic FZ30. This is Panasonic’s latest “super zoom†camera, with a resolution of 8 megapixels and a 12X Leica zoom lens. After experimenting with the camera for a few days, I’m very pleased with the camera. I’m working on a detailed review, but in the meantime here are a few first impressions:
Size: This is a big camera. It’s about the same size as one of the smaller DSLRs (i.e. the Pentax *ist-D or the Nikon D70) with a lens attached. As far as I’m concerned, once a camera is big enough not to fit in my pocket, it might as well be nice and big—I have large hands, so it fits me perfectly.
Weight: At 1.6lbs this is also a heavy camera, at least compared to many consumer and prosumer models.
The Lens: The Leica lens is very nice and has a manual (mechanical) zoom ring, which allows you to very quickly switch from wide angle (35mm) to 12X zoom (420mm) and anywhere in between.
O.I.S. (Anti-shake): One of the main reasons I chose the FZ30 is its OIS (optical image stabilization) anti-shake system. This is a movable lens element that detects small movements of the camera and compensates for them. For most people, this means the ability to take pictures at lower shutter speeds than you normally could handheld, especially when zoomed in. For me, it’s essential—I have shaky hands, and the OIS system in the smaller Panasonic FX7 is able to compensate for that and give me sharp pictures. The FZ30’s OIS also works wonders, despite the 12X zoom—I’ve only had three or four motion-blurred pictures out of 200 shots taken.
Auto Focus: One of my biggest complaints about my previous camera (Nikon Coolpix 5700) was its slow autofocus system. The FZ30 has the fastest focus I’ve ever seen outside a DSLR—I notice a delay when focusing at 12X or in low light, but most of the time it’s virtually instantaneous.
Usability: One of my favorite things about the Panasonic FX7, my pocket camera, is its easy-to-use operating system. I can always find any feature in the menu and change its setting in seconds. The FZ30 has a nearly identical system, so I hardly had to learn anything. I do miss having a dedicated button to change picture sizes and ISO, but both are toward the top of the menu so it only takes a few button clicks to change them. The thumbwheel controls for changing shutter speed and aperture are very convenient. The shutter button is perfectly placed on the handgrip, and has a nice tactile “click†when you press it halfway or all the way.
Battery Life: I’ve taken 266 pictures on the included battery so far (most outdoors without flash) and the battery shows 2/3 full. I’m guessing I’ll get 350-400 shots maximum from a charge, but I’ll have a more thorough test in the full review.
LCD Display and EVF: The 2″ LCD display has a high resolution and updates very quickly—I’ve been able to follow moving subjects surprisingly well. It’s nice and bright and even usable in bright sunlight. There’s also an EVF (electronic viewfinder) that has the same resolution and works very well, although I generally prefer shooting with the LCD myself.
Last but not least, it takes great pictures. Some reviews have complained about noise, but the pictures have less noise than equivalent pictures taken with my Nikon 5700, and noise has never caused me any trouble. I’ve been surprised how many pictures come out looking good, especially considering I’m taking handheld shots at 12X zoom.
I’ll post some more notes about this camera soon, along with some sample pictures. Stay tuned for our detailed review in a couple of weeks, when I’ve had more experience with the FZ30.