Value (7.5)
For a retail price of $399 or street price of about $330, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ3 is a decent bargain for its long lens and image stabilization feature. It has some advanced features, like Kelvin temperature white balance and a wide adjustable aperture range, but seems to be missing a few basics, like video clips with sound and manual focus.
Comparisons
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ15 – This camera is a step up in the Lumix line and retails for a hundred bucks more than the FZ3 at $499 (USD). The FZ15 comes with a larger 1/2.5-inch 4 megapixel CCD and a few nice cosmetic touches. While the FZ3 has a plastic body, the FZ15 camera has a durable metal frame. The cameras share the same lens and image stabilization feature, but the FZ15 is about three-quarters of an inch bigger in every dimension. It is also heavier at 19.6 ounces, perhaps from the metal used on the frame. The FZ15 has a solid black finish and a larger 2-inch LCD screen. The cameras have the same movie mode, which does not record audio. They share similar automatic and manual functions, though the FZ15 has manual focus.
Canon PowerShot S1 IS – These cameras share similar megapixel counts, price tags, and features. The Canon S1 has 3.2 megapixels on a 1/2.7-inch CCD, a $399 retail price tag, and an optical image stabilization system on its 10x optical zoom lens. The Canon model does have some attractive features: video with audio that records 30 frames a second at 640 x 480 resolution and a 1.5-inch LCD screen that flips out in a camcorder-like fashion. The S1 has extremely accurate color reproduction, but lacks some of the finer adjustments that can be made on the Lumix FZ3. The S1 does not have Kelvin temperature adjustments in its white balance function, as the FZ3 does.
Olympus Camedia C-765 – The C-765 is more compact than the FZ3, but lacks the aesthetic appeal. The Olympus C-765 weighs 9.9 ounces and boasts 4 megapixels. The camera has a 10x optical zoom lens that equals 38-380mm in 35mm format. With its $399.99 retail price, the C-765 can shoot TIFF and JPEG files to its xD-Picture Card. The cameras have similar features, such as the electronic viewfinder and pop-up flash. With 11 shooting modes and a 1.8-in LCD screen with 118,000 pixels, the C-765 is a strong contender for consumers searching for a more compact high-zoom digital camera.
Fuji FinePix S5000 – The FinePix S5000 uses a Super CCD that has six megapixels total. The CCD uses interpolated pixels to take advantage of about 3.1 effective megapixels. Yet despite the intricate CCD, the S5000 does not produce accurate color. The camera retails for $499 and captures JPEG and RAW files on its xD-Picture Card. This FinePix has a 10x optical zoom lens with the same aperture range as the FZ3. It has a 320 x 240 movie mode with sound and a 1.5-inch LCD with 110,000 pixels. The S5000 has lots of preset white balance options, but lacks the Kelvin color temperature adjustments and the manual color setting that the FZ3 includes. The SLR-shaped S5000 weighs 11.9 ounces without the batteries and card.
Who It’s For
Point-and-Shooters - This camera will definitely work for the point-and-shoot user. The buttons are easy to use and the Simple Mode lives up to its name, though there is the possibility of tripping over some of the camera’s more elaborate manual controls.
Budget Consumers - For about $330, consumers can buy the Lumix DMC-FZ3 online. This is a good deal for its long lens and image stabilization system, as well as its excellent automatic and manual functions.
Gadget Freaks - Some features on the FZ3 would be appreciated by the gadget-inclined. The image stabilization system means that consumers can shake to their hearts’ content and still produce clear images. They can also impress viewers with the Flip Animation mode that plays 5 or 10 frames per second for up to 20 seconds.
Manual Control Freaks - The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ3 can satisfy even the freakiest of manual control junkies. From the basics of aperture and shutter speed control to Kelvin temperature adjustments on the white balance, this camera delivers.
Pros/Serious Hobbyists - The FZ3 would make a reliable and attractive backup camera for a professional and perhaps even a primary camera for a serious hobbyist. It has lots of manual functions and a few gadgets.
