Panasonic DMC-FZ7S (Silver)
6.0 Megapixel Lumix Ultra-Zoom Digital Camera, Silver
495399431
Functional And Fun
Panasonic has packed a lot of terrific features into the handy little DMCFZ7. The 6 megapixel camera features a super-powerful 12x optical zoom lens. It features outstanding high-speed response to help you capture beautiful shots instantly and efficiently. The DMCFZ7 boasts a large, easy-to-see LCD monitor with a High-Angle LCD feature that helps you see the screen when you're holding the camera above your head. A variety of Scene Mode settings optimize baby portraits, night scenes, and more. A Widescreen 16:9 modes lets you shoot in widescreen (16:9 aspect ratio), so that you can achieve bold, panoramic images that are perfect for dramatic, wide prints. Plus, you can view photos as full screen images on your widescreen TV. Advanced functions such as white balance fine adjustment, exposure compensation and High Speed AF for quicker, easier focusing give you more shooting flexibility and fun. There are also several manual operation features, many of which are easy to use thanks to the joystick control and flexible manual focus.
Powerful, High-Quality Zoom Lens
The DMCFZ7 features a LEICA DC VARIO-ELMARIT lens with a remarkable 12x optical zoom, equivalent to a 30 to 430mm lens on a 35mm camera. A film camera with an optical zoom this powerful would be so big and heavy, you couldn't handle it with one hand. The FZ7, on the other hand, is small, lightweight and easy to handle. It also has Panasonic's Extended Optical Zoom. While causing mimimal deterioration by using the center part of the high-resolution CCD, this function magnifies the image to give you total zoom power of 17.5x -- roughly equivalent to a huge 1680mm lens on a 35mm camera.
2.5" Diagonal LCD and High-Resolution EVF
The DMCFZ7 features a large, 2.5" diagonal LCD and the Power LCD funtion. Simply touch the Power LCD button and the display becomes about 40 percent brighter for easier viewing on sunny days. The FZ7 also has the world's first developed High-Angle LCD feature, which makes it easier to check the LCD when you're holding the camera high to shoot over a crowd. The large LCD lets you check the focus, frame the shot, and use functions like 25-thumbnail display and Calendar View in comfort, with no eye strain. Also, Panasonic aligned the electronic viewfinder and LCD along the same line of sight to minimize differences in the images you see when framing shots.
Easy Manual Operation
The joystick on the back of the DMCFZ7 gives you quick, easy and accurate manual focusing. You can also use the Manual Focus Assist function, which helps you set a perfect focus by magnifying the center of the LCD image and displaying a bar graph of the focal distance and depth of field. The joystick also makes it easy to manually adjust the exposure and focus. You can set the aperture, shutter speed and focus with your thumb while framing the shot on the LCD. Press and hold down the joystick, and you can also instantly change four key settings -- white balance, ISO sensitivity, image size, and image quality -- while viewing the subject on the monitor. There's no need to switch to the menu screen.
MEGA Optical Image Stabilizer
Jitter from shaky hands is one of the main reasons why cameras produce blurry images. You can't expect everyone to have hands of stone when taking pictures -- that's why the DMCFZ7 helps solve the problem of unsteady hands with advanced MEGA Optical Image Stabilizer technology. The camera has a built-in gyrosensor that detects any hand movement and relays a signal to a tiny microcomputer inside the camera, which instantly calculates the compensation needed. A linear motor then shifts the Optical Image Stabilizer lens as necessary to guide incoming light from the image straight to the CCD. You won't even notice it working -- all you see are the outstanding results.
High Sensitivity Mode
In most situations Mega Optical Image Stabilization is all you need for crisp, sharp shots. But sometimes, in a dark setting or when the subject is moving, shooting at a faster speed is required for truly great results. That's why the DMCFZ7 offers a High Sensitivity Mode. When combined with OIS, this remarkable shooting mode allows you to shoot at up to ISO 1600. And that means stop-action clarity in nearly any situation.
Consecutive Shooting
The DMCFZ7's consecutive shooting feature lets you take up to 13 images in Standard Mode at 3 or 2 frames per second and 7 images in Fine Mode with full resolution. In addition, the Unlimited Consecutive Shooting function lets you continue shooting until the memory card or built-in memory is full. All this is made possible by the Venus Engine Plus, which reduces power consumption by about 50 percent compared with the previous Venus Engine. The multi-task image processing in the Venus Engine Plus LSI has accelerated response speed, giving you more comfortable shooting with a release time lag of 0.008 second minimum.
Included With Purchase
Battery charger, battery pack, 16MB SD memory card, lens cap, lens hood and adapter, AV and USB cables, strap, ArcSoft PhotoImpressions, ArcSoft Panorama Maker, ArcSoft PhotoBase software, USB Driver, Lumix Simple Viewer, Photo Fun Studio software.
Review
dmc-fz7 (March 14, 2007)
| Ease of Use |
|
(5/5.0) |
|---|---|---|
| Value |
|
(5/5.0) |
| Performance |
|
(5/5.0) |
| Overall Rating |
|
(5/5.0) |
Reviewed By: Eric B. - Show low , az
I did a lot of research before I bought this camera it got some very good reviews with its weakest spot being noise in the images. But this is only a problem at ISOs greater than 200. With all the manual adjustments and with the Noise cancelling software built into the camera, it gives you the choice of STD, Low, and High settings I dont see it as being a problem.
The camera has an awesome zoom with image stabilization that works great!!
I have owned the DMC-FZ7 for a couple of weeks now and couldnt be happier with it. It is an awesome camera at a great price! The camera is packed with features and setting and manual adjustments for just about everything. I really like the manual adjustment on the flash and the white balance.
I do recommend reading the manual and playing with the different settings, which is one of the great things about a digital camera is it doesnt cost anything but time to take pictures then go back and delete them just to see how the different settings change the picture. Panasonic also has some short how-to videos on their web site that show the DMC-FZ7 in use and explains some of the features and settings on the camera. You can check them out at panisonics website.
Comparison Specifications
- 6.0 Megapixels (Effective)
- Recording Media: SD Memory Card, Multimedia Card (16MB SD Card Included)
- 12x Optical Zoom, 4x Digital Zoom
- Shoots 4:3, 3:2, 16:9 Aspect Ratios, Motion JPEG 4:3 and 16:9 Aspect Ratios
- Built-In Flash: Auto, Auto/Red-Eye Reduction, Slow Sync./Red-Eye Reduction, Forced On/Off
- Motion JPEG (4:3 Aspect): 640 x 480, 320 x 240 Pixels, (16:9 Aspect): 848 x 480
- 2.5" Diagonal Polycrystalline TFT LCD Display, Power LCD Mode, High Angle LCD Mode
- USB Connection, DC Input, Video Output (NTSC/PAL)
- Image Quality: TIFF/Fine/Standard
Additional Specifications
- Leica DC Vario-Elmarit Lens, Aperture: Wide: F2.8-F8, Tele: F3.3 - F8
- MEGA Optical Image Stabilizer with 2 Modes
- AF Metering: 1 Point, 1 Point High Speed, 3 Point High Speed, 9 Points, Spot
- Auto Focus/Manual Focus Switchable, Normal/Macro (Dial), Continuous AF On/Off
- Program Mode, Aperture Priority Mode, Shutter Priority Mode, Manual Mode, Macro
- ISO Sensitivity: Auto, 80, 100, 200, 400 (High Sensitivity Mode: 800, 1600)
- White Balance: Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Halogen, White Set 1/2, White Balance Adjustment
- Exposure Compensation: 1/3 EV Steps, +/- 2 EV
- Auto Bracketing (AE): +/- 3EV-1EV Step, 3 Frames
- Intelligent Multiple/Center-Weighted/Spot Light Metering
Manufacturer Specifications
- Mega Burst Shooting Mode, Unlimited Consecutive Shooting
- Still Image Recording with Audio (5 Seconds), Audio Dubbing (Maximum of 10 Seconds)
- Picture Adjustment: Contrast, Sharpness, Saturation, Noise Reduction
- Real-Time Histograms, Composition Guide Lines
- PictBridge Direct Print Compatible
- Image Sizes Ranging from 2816 x 2112 to 640 x 480
- Playback Modes: Thumbnail (3), Zoom, Rotation, Slide Show, Favorites, Resize, Trim, Calendar
- Lithium-Ion Battery Pack (7.2V, 710mAh) Included
- Scene Modes Include: Portrait, Sports, Night Scenery, Panning, Night Portrait, Fireworks, Snow
- Color Effect Modes: Cool, Warm, B&W, Sepia
Dimensional Specifications
- Dimensions: 4.43" W x 2.84" H x 3.11" D
- Weight: 0.68 lbs.
Panasonic DMC-FZ7S Warranty Details
One-Year Parts, 90 Days Labor
