Viewfinder (3.0)
The viewfinder on the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX5 is an real image optical viewfinder, which means that menu selections and other options available on the LCD screen will not be accessible or discernible when engaging the viewfinder. The size of this viewfinder makes utilization a near Olympic event and will transform the user's attempt into a "Happening" piece of performance art that would make Yoko Ono proud.
LCD screen (6.0)
The LCD screen for the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX5 measures 1.5 inches diagonally and has 114,000 pixels. The brightness is adjustable within the menu settings on the LCD screen by moving from REC settings to SETUP. Once in setup, the user scrolls down to Monitor and can adjust brightness from light to dark by pressing the left/right buttons on the four-way controller. It is also possible to control the display through the display button located to the right of the LCD screen on the back of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX5. By pressing the button once in regular mode, the user will switch the screen to a nine-square grid; pressing the button again will turn the monitor off, and a third time will restart the monitor, with settings displayed on the screen.
Flash (6.5)
To adjust the built-in flash on the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX5, press the flash/right portion of the four-way keypad. The user can choose among Auto, Off, Auto/Red Eye, and Slow Sync/Red Eye. To switch the setting, the user must press the flash/right button on the four-way controller. Each time the button is pressed, the choice is switched on the LCD screen in the upper left corner. It is essential that users familiarize themselves with the symbols commonly used for flash settings; otherwise, this setting will most likely be overlooked. The flash is effective from 1.31 to 10.63 feet.
Zoom Lens (8.0)
The FX5 comes equipped with a Leica DC Vario-Elmarit lens, which has 7 elements in 6 groups. Of those, there are 3 aspherical lenses and 3 aspherical surfaces. The 3x optical lens zooms from 5.8-17.4mm, the 35mm equivalent of 35-105mm. In the normal mode, the lens focuses from 1.64 feet to infinity. In macro and simple mode, it focuses from 0.33 feet to infinity. To adjust the zoom of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX5, the user slides the zoom lever located on the top of the camera body to the left or the right, depending on the desired crop. For this group of Panasonic Lumix imagers, the Leica lens applied to the end is by far its strongest element and with the FX5, this continues to be true. The sharpness and definition in its images is largely due to the quality and precision of its lens craftsmanship.
