Panasonic DMC-FS20 Digital Camera Review

Panasonic DMC-FS20

Digital Camera Review

Feb 02, 2008 - By Karen M. Cheung
As the headliner for the new FS-series, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS20 makes a daring entrance into an already packed point-and-shoot market. Panasonic launched the Lumix FS20 to service a broad audience of novice beginners to advanced point-and-shooters. What does the FS20 have to offer in an already crowded shelf of competing cameras? The 10.1-megapixel Panasonic FS20 has a 4x optical zoom Leica lens and 3-inch LCD, along with optical image stabilization, face detection, and a sleek body. The FS debutante will retail for $299.95 when it ships in February 2008.
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Picture Quality / Size Options
The 10.7-megapixel (10.1 effective MP) sensor measures 1/2.33 inches and records in JPEG stills. Users can easily select Picture Size and Quality (Standard or Fine) through the menu. Unfortunately, the Panasonic FS20 does not spell out the resolution in pixels in the menu. For that information, users have to turn to the spec sheet. Resolution varies depending on shooting ratio. The picture sizes are as follows:
 
4:3
10 M
3648 x 2736
 
7 M
3072 x 2304
 
5 M
2560 x 1920
 
3 M
2048 x 1536
 
2 M
1600 x 1200
 
0.3 M
640 x 480
 
 
3:2
9 M
3648 x 2432
 
6 M
3072 x 2048
 
4.5
2560 x 1712
 
2.5 M
2048 x 1360
 
 
16:9
7.5 M
3648 x 2056
 
5.5 M
3072 x 1728
 
3.5 M
2560 x 1440
 
2 M
1920 x 1080
 
Picture Effects Mode
The Lumix DMC-FS20 has color modes that record in Standard, Vivid, Cool, Warm, Natural, Black-and-White, and Sepia. Each color effect has a live preview so users can view the frame before selecting it. The color mode is effective for creatively capturing a subject in a color besides faithful color rendering. There are, however, no post-capture color effects, so once the user records in say, black-and-white, the photo is stuck in black-and-white and cannot be reversed to color. This sort of feature should be approached with some caution; if you use an imsge editing program on a PC, you can go back to the origional if you don't like the effect. But doing it while shooting means you are stuck with it, like it or not.
 
Control Options Page 7 of 10 Connectivity / Extras
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