-
Introduction
-
01.Testing / Performance
-
02.Physical Tour
-
03.Components
-
04.Design / Layout
-
05.Modes
-
06.Control Options
-
07.Image Parameters
-
08.Connectivity / Extras
-
09.Overall Impressions
-
10.Conclusion
-
11.Specs / Ratings
-
12.Comments
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ30 K and S
Previous: Page 5
ModesNext: Page 7
Image Parameters
Nine area The camera focuses with any of the zones, and highlights the zones in which focus is achieved. It’s for shooting situations where the subjects might be anywhere in the frame. This mode is slow, and tends to saw back and forth from far to near.
Manual Control Options
The Panasonic DMC-FZ30 offers complete manual control – aperture, shutter speed, white balance, focus, and ISO can all be set directly. The FZ30 also offers partially automated exposure modes – aperture priority, shutter priority, and program. These modes control only aperture and shutter speed, while the rest of the controls can be set manually. The camera's exposure compensation control can be set in any mode except the full auto mode, including scene modes.
Focus
Auto Focus (6.0)The Panasonic DMC-FZ30 autofocus system has nine focusing zones that cover most of the frame. The camera offers five configurations for the zones. In practice, the camera’s autofocus strongly differentiates it from a DSLR, and not in a good way. In full telephoto, the camera often got confused on the subject in the frame and would focus in and out. Also, for some reason the camera would often select a subject near the center of the composition that was not the closest subject. This could potentially pose a problem in many dense shooting situations; however, at that point users could always switch over to the included manual focus option.
Manual Focus (5.0)
The Panasonic DMC-FZ30 can be set so that the center of the frame enlarges while the focusing ring is turned. The feature helps achieve accurate focus, but it's not for action shooting, because it prevents the user from seeing how the shot is framed. Tapping the shutter release switches the display back to full-frame mode. The camera's macro mode is useful, but it works only in the wide angle to short telephoto zoom range. At the 420mm zoom setting, the minimum focus range is 6.5 feet to infinity, in both macro and regular mode.
Metering (7.5)
The Panasonic DMC-FZ30 has three metering patterns. Intelligent Multiple is Panasonic's take on evaluative metering, which compares several readings of various parts of the frame to set an exposure. The comparison process is designed to detect backlighting and other common lighting problems, and performs well in automated modes. The FZ30 also offers a center-weighted mode, which makes a single measurement that emphasizes the middle of the image, and a spot mode, which measures a very small area in the center of the frame. Center-weighted and Spot patterns are typically useful in manual shooting.
Exposure (8.0)
The Panasonic DMC-FZ30 offers exposure compensation settings for both available-light exposure and flash exposure. Both controls offer two stops of correction above and below the meter reading, in 1/3-stop steps. This range is both average and expected.
White Balance (8.5) The Panasonic DMC-FZ30 offers four white balance presets: Daylight, Cloudy, Halogen, and Flash, in addition to an Auto setting. Careful users will get better results with the manual white balance function. The FZ30 can store two manual settings, which many users will find convenient. The FZ30 also allows fine-tuning of white balance. Pressing the exposure compensation button a few times brings up a control to shift the white balance warmer or cooler. It's a feature similar to controls on DSLRs, and one that many photographers will surely appreciate.
ISO (7.0)
The Panasonic DMC-FZ30 offers ISO settings of 80, 100, 200, and 400, plus Auto. According to the manual, in Auto mode the ISO ranges from 80 to 200. Competing compact cameras at this price point offer higher ISO settings – 800 and 1600 are not uncommon. The FZ30 has a problem with noise in its images, particularly at higher ISOs, so it may be that the system simply couldn't produce acceptable results at 800 or higher.
Shutter Speed (8.5)
The Panasonic DMC-FZ30's shutter operates at speeds from 1/2000 to 60 seconds. In manual mode, all those values are available. In scene modes, the camera does not attempt exposures longer than 8 seconds, except in "Starry Sky," which offers 15, 30, and 60-second exposures.
Aperture (8.0)
The Panasonic DMC-FZ30's lens has a maximum aperture of f/2.8 at the widest setting, which decreases to f/ 3.7 at the telephoto setting. The lens's minimum aperture is f/11.
Shop for the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ30 K and S
Latest News
& Reviews
-
11-Feb-2012
Olympus TG-820 First Impressions Review
The Olympus TG-820 is a waterproof camera that both looks and feels like a tough-cam should. Read More...
-
10-Feb-2012
Sigma DP2 Merrill First Impressions Review
Sigma is back with a new high-end compact camera with a 46-megapixel Foveon X3 APS-C sensor. With image quality promised to be on the level of their $6000 SD1, can the new DP2 Merrill compete with the Fuji X100? Read More...
Top Rated Point & Shoots
-

$459.991Panasonic Lumix FZ150
Excellent image quality, speedy performance, and a great design add up to the best superzoom that has ever graced our labs. That distinction seems to change hands every week, but trust us when we say that the FZ150 is a truly great camera. Read full 16-part review
$459.99TypesAny Zoom3,5.13.1x to 5x Zoom5.1,105.1x to 9.9x Zoom10,10x & Larger ZoomAny Megapixels0,8< 8 Megapixels8,108 to 10 Megapixels10,> 10 Megapixels -

$378.992Canon PowerShot SX40 HS
Canon's SX30 got a CMOS makeover that resulted in the SX40 HS, an impressive ultrazoom that captures beautiful shots in almost any scenario. Read full 16-part review
$378.99TypesAny Zoom3,5.13.1x to 5x Zoom5.1,105.1x to 9.9x Zoom10,10x & Larger ZoomAny Megapixels0,8< 8 Megapixels8,108 to 10 Megapixels10,> 10 Megapixels -

$427.953Sony Cyber-shot HX100V
This professionally-geared ultrazoom offers some of the best color accuracy we've ever seen. It's a shame the other scores weren't quite so strong. Read full 16-part review
$427.95TypesUltra-ZoomAny Zoom3,5.13.1x to 5x Zoom5.1,105.1x to 9.9x Zoom10,10x & Larger ZoomAny Megapixels0,8< 8 Megapixels8,108 to 10 Megapixels10,> 10 Megapixels16.8 MP -

$314.954Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ47
Panasonic resists the urge to cram more megapixels and more focal length into their latest ultrazoom. The FZ47 instead focuses on image quality and features, resulting in an incredibly strong camera that we loved shooting with. Read full 16-part review
$314.95TypesAny Zoom3,5.13.1x to 5x Zoom5.1,105.1x to 9.9x Zoom10,10x & Larger ZoomAny Megapixels0,8< 8 Megapixels8,108 to 10 Megapixels10,> 10 Megapixels -

$417.005Canon PowerShot S100
Canon's PowerShot S100 improves on the popular S95 and takes its place at the top of the point-and-shoot food chain. Read full 16-part review
$417.00TypesAny Zoom3,5.13.1x to 5x Zoom5.1,105.1x to 9.9x Zoom10,10x & Larger ZoomAny Megapixels0,8< 8 Megapixels8,108 to 10 Megapixels10,> 10 Megapixels
Features
-
DigitalCameraInfo New Year's Giveaway
Check back every day for the rest of 2011 to see what we’re adding to the grand prize package. It all starts with the Sony NEX-5N and ends with over $4000 in prizes! Read More...
-
DigitalCameraInfo.com 2011 Select Awards
After a year of tireless testing and deliberation, we’ve made our selections for the very best cameras of 2011. Read More...
(add your own)