Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ30 K and S Digital Camera Review

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ30 K and S

Digital Camera Review

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.
Advertisement
Recently Viewed Products
$221
$234
$3,499
$350
Top Point & Shoot Cameras
Max Price: $1020
$0 $255 $510 $765 $1020
Filters
All
Canon
Casio
Fuji
Kodak
Nikon
Olympus
Panasonic
Pentax
Sony
All
Compact
High-End
Pocket
Ultra-Zoom
1.Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1
Ultra-Zoom
$400
2.Canon SX1 IS
Ultra-Zoom
$527
3.Panasonic DMC-ZS3
Compact
$318
4.Samsung HZ15W
Ultra-Zoom
$280
5.Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T900
Pocket
$325
Lumix DMC-FZ30 K and S Prices
Latest Camera Reviews
DSLR Point & Shoot
Panasonic
DMC-GF1
Samsung
TL225
Pentax
K10D
Canon
PowerShot S90
Olympus
E-P1
Canon
G11
Canon
EOS 5D
Panasonic
DMC-ZS3
Nikon
D3000
Canon
PowerShot A650 IS
External Reviews
Megapixel.net
Panasonic DMC-FZ30
Imaging Resource
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ30

Specs Table

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ30 K and S Specs
Type Compact (SLR-shaped)  
Price 0.00  
Length 5.50  
Width 5.40  
Height 3.80  
Weight 23.80  
Pixels 8.32 Megapixels 
Effective Pixels 8.00  
Sensor Type 1/1.8  
Image Size 3264 x 2448  
Aspect Ratio 4:3, 3:2, 16:9  
IR Cut Low Pass Filter No  
Image Format JPEG, TIFF, RAW (stills), QuickTime (video)  
Compression JPEG (stills), Motion JPEG (video)  
Lens Leica DC Vario-Elmarit Lens, 12x optical zoom (14 elements, 10 groups; 3 aspheric elements, 3 aspheris surfaces, 1 ED Lens)  
Lens Mount conversion lens compatible  
Compatible Lenses DMW-LW55, DMW-LT55  
Viewfinder electronic (230K pixels), 0.44  
LCD 2.0  
Auto Focus Type 9-point AF, 3-point high speed AF, 1-point AF, 1-point high speed AF, spot AF  
Focusing Modes AF, AF Macro, MF switchable, Continuous AF ON/OFF, Manual Focus (Ring), One-Shot AF  
Focusing Points 1, 3, or 9 points  
Detecting Range Standard Wide: 1 ft.-infinity; Standard Tele: 6.6 ft.-infinity; Close-up Wide 2 in.-infinity; Close-up Tele: 6.6 ft.-infinity  
AF Assist Illuminator yes  
Metering Modes multi-pattern, center-weighted, spot  
Shutter Speed 0.00  
Self Timer 2 or 10 sec  
Modes Auto, Program, Aperture priority, Shutter priority, Manual, Movie  
Speed Yes  
Burst Yes  
Automatic Modes Portrait, Sports, Scenery, Night Scenery, Night Portrait, Fireworks, Party, Snow, Self-Portrait, Food, Baby, Soft Skin, Candle, Starry Sky  
Exposure Compensation +/-2.0 EV in 1/3 steps  
Bracketing +/- 0.3 or +/- 1.0 EV  
Built in Flash Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced On/Off  
Flash Range 1 - 23 ft.  
Flash Meterig no  
Flash Exposure Compensation +/- 2.0 EV in 1/3 steps  
Resolution 3264 x 2448  
Settings RAW, TIFF, Standard, Fine  
ISO Sensitivity auto; manual: 80-400  
White Balance Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Halogen, Flash, White Set 1/2, White Balance Adjustment (150K step, -1500 - +1500 K) (except for auto WB)  
Playback Options 25/16/9-thumbnail display, zoomed playback, image rotation (except for RAW), slide show (adjustable duration, manually controllable, playback of favorite pictures, Resizing (selectable number of pixels), trimming, protection, DPOF print setting  
Direct Printing Yes  
Video Output Yes  
Software LUMIX Simple Viewer, ArcSoft PhotoBase, ArcSoft PhotoImpression, ArcSoft Panorama Maker  
Battery Power Source Li-ion Battery Pack (7.2V, 730mAh) (Included)  
AKA DMC-FZ30K (black), DMC-FZ30S (silver)  
Zoom Wide 35  
Zoom Tele 420  
Intro Date 2005-07-20  
fstop Max 2.80  
fstop Min 11.00  
Zoom Digi 4.00  
Movie Mode VGA 640 × 480 at 30 or 10 fps; QVGA 320 × 240 at 30 or 10 fps  
Storage Type 32MB SD card; SD / MMC card compatible  
LCD Pixels 230000  
Resolution Maximum 3264 x 2448  
Resolution Minimum 1280 x 960  
External Flash 0  
Ratings Raw Weight 
Color 7.36   2.5 
Resolution 4.60   2.5 
Noise Auto ISO 2.21   2.5 
Noise Manual ISO 3.30   2.5 
Low Light 0.00  
Dynamic Range 0.00   2.5 
Flash 0.00  
Model Design Appearance 7.50   1.25 
Size Portability 6.50   1.1 
Handling 7.50   1.5 
Control Button Positioning Size 7.00   0.85 
Front 8.00   0.6 
Back 7.50   0.6 
Left 8.00   0.5 
Right 7.00   0.5 
Top 8.00   0.6 
Bottom 0.00   0.5 
Menu 7.50   1.25 
Auto Mode 7.50   1.5 
Auto Focus 6.00   1.75 
Focus 5.00  
ISO 7.00   1.25 
White Balance 8.50   1.25 
Exposure 8.00  
Metering 7.50   1.15 
Shutter Speed 8.00   0.9 
Aperture 8.00   0.9 
Custom Image Presets 8.50   0.75 
Drive Mode 6.75   1.2 
Picture Quality Options 9.00   0.5 
Picture Effects Mode 8.50   0.5 
Playback Mode 7.00   0.9 
Movie Mode 3.50  
Viewfinder 3.50   0.55 
LCD Screen 6.50   1.5 
Flash 7.00   1.25 
Zoom Lens 9.00   1.65 
Memory 3.00   0.5 
Battery 8.16   1.25 
Startup 1st Shot 9.18  
Shot Shot 8.24  
Shutter Shot 6.00  
Software 7.00   0.5 
Jacks / Ports / Plugs 6.00   0.4 
Direct Print Options 6.00   0.65 
Ease of Use 6.00   1.2 
Other Features 9.00   0.55 
Value 6.00  
Total (weighted)   346.32
Advertisement