Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ30 K and S
Digital Camera Review
Oct 21, 2005
- By Patrick Singleton
1.9
The Panasonic DMC-FZ30 is an SLR-shaped compact camera utilizing a 1/1.8-inch CCD sensor and 12x optical zoom lens to create images up to 8 megapixels. Users can easily compose and view recorded images on the camera’s swiveling, 235,000 pixel 2-inch LCD screen. With a list price of less than $700, the FZ30 is a camera that promises versatility and large images for a lot less money than an SLR. The FZ30 includes Panasonic's very effective “MEGA Optical Image Stabilization” to combat blur due to camera shake, a vital feature in a camera with a 420mm (equivalent) telephoto range. Panasonic has an excellent reputation for image stabilized compact cameras, compelling those photographers looking for a strong SLR alternative with high resolution to take a hard look at the FZ30.
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Picture Quality / Size Options (9.0)
The Panasonic DMC-FZ30 offers three aspect ratios, which are framing sizes that describe the shape of the image – whether it's a long rectangle, or closer to a square. The ratios are 16:9, which is long, 3:2, and 4:3, which is closer to square. In each ratio, the camera can record images at four quality settings. They are TIFF, RAW, Fine JPEG, and Normal JPEG. TIFFs are uncompressed files in a standard format. They are very high quality, but huge. RAW files aren't compressed either, but they require dedicated software on your computer. JPEGs are compressed, which decreases quality, but also makes the image files much smaller and easier to store. At 16:9, the FZ30 can take either 5.5 or 2 megapixel images. At 3:2, it can take 7, 4.5, or 2.5 megapixel images. At 4:3 it can take 8, 5, 3, 2, or 1 megapixel images. Each quality setting is available at each size.
