Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ30 Digital Camera Review

by Patrick Singleton
Published on October 21, 2005

Navigation
Intro	Testing / Performance
Physical Tour	Components
Design / Layout	Modes
Control Options	Image Parameters
Connectivity / Extras	Overall Impressions
Conclusion	Specs / Ratings

Front (8.0)
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ30 is all about the lens. The long, chunky Leica Vario-Elmarit lens dominates the FZ30, all over, especially from the front of the camera. The viewfinder/flash hump doesn't rise very far above the lens. It bears the “Lumix” designation in attractive metallic type, but it's so low that it's almost inconspicuous. The handgrip on the left is thick and nicely contoured. Because the camera is so short, it's not likely that all of the user's fingers will fit on the grip, but it's covered in a textured rubber that’s comfortable and easy to hold. The front control dial is built into the grip under the shutter release, in a natural spot for the index finger. Toward the top of the camera, between the grip and the lens, there is a very small window for the autofocus assist lamp and the self-timer indicator. Below that, there's a Panasonic nameplate, and the camera's model name. In the lower right corner of the front is a gold badge with a script “L.”

Back (7.5)
Panasonic did a great job simplifying the controls on the back of the Panasonic DMC-FZ30. It's an uncluttered interface, with room between the controls. Unfortunately, space came at the cost of a sizable LCD; the 2-inch device sits at the end of a joint that does tilt and swivel, but the screen is still small, and shows accurate color from a narrow angle of view. An electronic viewfinder is perched above it, looking very much like a DSLR's optical viewfinder, but its eyepiece is primarily plastic and lacks the lush padding of the larger eye cups on the cameras it imitates. There's a diopter adjustment dial on the left of the viewfinder. To the right of the viewfinder is an oblong exposure lock button. Below that is a column of round buttons. The top control switches the display between the viewfinder and the LCD. The next one, labeled “Display,” controls the information superimposed over the image on the LCD or in the viewfinder. Next is the “Menu” button, which calls up the menus or shuts them off. At the bottom is the “Trash” button, for deleting images from the SD card. The four-way controller is to the right of the trash button. It is made up of four separate buttons, each of which has a dedicated function in shooting mode. The top button calls up the exposure compensation control, the flash compensation control, and white balance compensation. The left button calls up the self-timer, the right button sets the flash sync, and the bottom button brings up the last image shot (or viewed) on the LCD or viewfinder. The microphone grill is above the four-way controller, in the low part of a comfortable and secure thumb rest. The back control dial is to the right of the thumb rest.

Left Side (8.0)
The left side of the Panasonic DMC-FZ30 features a port door protecting the USB / analog video terminal, the remote control port, and the external power supply socket. The door is rigid plastic and spring-loaded to snap shut. It doesn't latch, so it could be pulled open if is snagged on something, and it could break in the process. We prefer latched doors, or rubber ones because of the added durability.

 

A wide, sturdy, chrome shoulder strap lug sits at the top of the left side, and the switch to activate the flash is on the viewfinder hump. Out on the lens barrel, a small panel supports the autofocus mode switch and a button to temporarily activate autofocus in manual focus mode.

Right Side (7.0)
The right side of the DMC-FZ30 is generally smooth, which is appropriate for the side that the user's hand will nearly cover when holding the camera. Unfortunately, the shoulder strap lug on this side interrupts the smooth expanse and it's in a spot that can interfere with gripping the camera. The SD card slot is under a door on the right side. The door is relatively secure – the user must slide it back before it will swing open.

Top (8.0)
The top of the Panasonic DMC-FZ30 is laid out so that the controls are easy to access and hard to mix up. To the left of the viewfinder hump is a grill for the speaker. There is a hot shoe on top of the hump, which unfortunately does not support any dedicated features – no exposure data can be shared between the flash and the camera. The FZ30’s mode dial is to the right of the hump. It's a large dial, with nine well-marked settings. To the right of the dial is the main power control, which is a small sliding switch, a small power status light, the burst mode button, and the image stabilization control. The large shutter release button is at the end of the grip, isolated from the other controls.

Bottom (7.5)
The FZ30’s battery compartment is housed within the handgrip, and the access door is on the bottom of the camera. The door has a large, sturdy latch, which adds to its durability. The tripod bushing is in line with the lens, which is ideal for adjusting the camera on a tripod.