Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ7 Digital Camera Review

Value (8.0)
At a manufacturer's list price of $349.95, the FZ7 looks like a better value than comparable cameras. Its limitations, such as image noise in particular, won't break the deal for some users. We did find the fit and finish disappointing. The plastic parts that make up the shell of the camera are thick and sturdy, but they don't meet perfectly, so there are gaps and ridges where the camera was designed to be smooth. While some cameras at least aspire to look like jewelry, the FZ7 has a low-end aesthetic.

Its range of manual controls and their ease of use should be particularly appealing to users who want to begin experimenting with controls. Newbie photographers who are content with the image quality could learn a lot by experimenting with the FZ7.

Comparisons
Panasonic Lumix FZ5 - The 5 megapixel FZ5 debuted at just under $500, while the FZ7,a 6 megapixel camera, hits the market at $400. The two cameras share the same lens and general size and shape, but other than that, nearly everything about the FZ7 tops the FZ5 – the FZ7 has a 2.5-inch LCD, not a 1.8-inch; the FZ7 has a joystick, which the FZ5 lacks; the FZ7 has a reasonable manual focus option, while the FZ5 has none at all. The FZ5 allows the user to set a Kelvin white balance, and the FZ7 does not – apparently, Panasonic felt the 2 custom white balance settings on the FZ7 would be more useful.

Canon PowerShot S2 IS - The Canon PowerShot S2 IS lists for nearly $500 and is a 5 megapixel camera, so it delivers less resolution that the FZ7 for more money. Given their similar lenses (both are pretty fast 12x zooms, even at the telephoto end) it's hard to figure where the Canon's advantage lies. The S2 has more white balance presets, but it lacks the FZ7's fine-tuning option, and the S2 has only one preset, while the FZ7 has two. The S2's LCD is smaller, at 1.8 inches, but it does pivot out from the camera. The S2 also records sound in stereo and zooms in movie mode, but the stereo mic catches the zoom motor noise very faithfully, limiting the zoom's usefulness. The S2's quality control allows the user to save files in three levels of JPEG compression, but it has no uncompressed format like the FZ7's TIFF. We can see how the S2's advantages add up to a more expensive camera, but they seem only marginally useful. It's also worth noting that the S2 relies on AA batteries, which don't last as long as custom lithium-ion cells used in the FZ7.

Sony Cyber-shot H1 - The Sony Cyber-shot H1 is about a year old, so it might be fairer to compare it with the FZ5. It's also a 5 megapixel, 12x zoom that was introduced at about $500. Still, the H1 scored better for color accuracy and image noise than the competing Panasonic and Canon cameras. We liked its ease of use, speed and image quality. In video mode, we liked its sound quality, but oddly, it requires the more expensive "Pro" style of memory stick to record video at a full 30 frames per second. Like the FZ7, it does not allow zooming during video clips.


Nikon Coolpix S4 - The Nikon Coolpix S4 is a 6 megapixel 10x zoom that was recently introduced at just under $400. Unlike the FZ7, the S4 has a stripped-down feel – it has less manual control
than the competition, no image stabilization, a poor LCD and noisy images. Its advantages are its quick, accurate autofocus, its solid construction and (maybe for some) its quirky design. The S4 has a face detection mode and onscreen guides to aid in composition, two features most useful to absolute beginners. Unlike the FZ7, the S4 is definitely designed for beginners, and clearly not for users who need manual controls.