Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ7 Digital Camera Review

Auto Mode (7.5)
The FZ7 offers a "Simple" mode that takes over just about everything: ISO, white balance, exposure, focus mode, metering and so on. The controls left to the user are picture size, whether the image pops up on the display for review, the beep noise and the date/time setting. Since the flash does not pop up automatically, the user has control of that, but otherwise in Simple mode it's point, zoom and shoot.

Movie Mode (7.0)
The FZ7 shoots movies in either standard 4:3 or 16:9 aspect ratios. In widescreen or normal, it can shoot 30 frames per second for smooth motion, or 10 frames per second for choppy, jerky motion. In 4:3, it shoots in 640 x 480 or 320 x 240 resolutions. The 640 x 480 resolution approximates standard video and looks pretty good; the 320 x 240, on the other hand, looks pretty rough. In 16:9 the FZ7 shoots only in 848 x 480 resolution (not High Definition) but comparable to regular television.

Sound quality is a common video limitation on still cameras, and the FZ7 has the typical associated problems. Our video had a fair amount of hiss, and the sounds we made as we panned the camera were pretty distracting. The FZ7 records mono sound and the lens cannot zoom while the camera is shooting video.

Drive / Burst Mode (7.0)
The FZ7 offers three multi-shot modes. They are High, Low and Continuous. High is rated to deliver 3 frames per second, for up to 7 frames at maximum resolution. Low should deliver 2 frames per second for 7 frames. Continuous should keep shooting until the memory card is full, and should come close to 2 frames per second as well. Check out our Speed Timing section to see how the FZ7 actually performed.

Seven-frame bursts are an advance over the 3-frame bursts that have been common in compact cameras – in spontaneous portrait shooting, a set of 7 images will offer a range of shots that many users will find more helpful.

Playback Mode (7.0)
The FZ7 offers a flexible interface for reviewing images on the LCD or viewfinder. It offers single-image views, or 9 or 25-image thumbnail displays. The zoom lever magnifies images up to 16x, but not with a smooth zoom; it jumps from 1x to 2x, 4x, 8x or 16x.

Custom Image Presets (8.0)
The FZ7 has 15 presets for specific types of shots. In general, they set the camera controls the way an experienced photographer would to get specific effects. Some of them are pretty minor variations on others – Portrait and Soft Skin aren't all that distinct, for instance. Others are for shots that casual users will rarely take: the Starry Night mode is for exposures up to a minute long, which really won't be useful anyplace where there is enough light to see the camera's controls.

Most users who need presets could probably get away with Portrait, Landscape, Sports, Snow and Candle Light. Fireworks, Panning and Panorama could be fun for those who give them a try, but on the whole, the FZ7's presets don't set the camera apart from its competition. The FZ7's menu promises information about each setting, but the text is vague, and not very helpful.