Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ8

Connectivity
Software (7.5)
The included CD-ROM is chock full of software programs somewhat related to the Lumix FZ8. When the CD is loaded, a window pops up with options to install all kinds of programs, one at a time: ArcSoft PhotoImpression, ArcSoft Panorama Maker, Lumix Simple Viewer, Photo Fun Studio, and Silkypix Developer Studio 2.0.

ArcSoft PhotoImpression 5 allows users to sort and find pictures, as well as view them in several ways: single photo, large or small thumbnails, details, or full screen. Slide shows can be played and pictures printed or emailed from the program. PhotoImpression took its time processing commands, slowing the viewing and editing process. Pictures can be rotated, flipped, and saved in the Enhance sub-menu. The Create sub-menu has a few easy controls that lighten and darken the exposure and it also has some more advanced features not normally found in software included with compact digital cameras. Cloning, smudging, blurring, and sharpening tools are available. Paint, frames, clip art, and text can be added to photos. About a dozen effects like fish-eye and softening can be found in the Create sub-menu too. From the Project sub-menu, users can create calendars or photo books from a host of templates.

AcrSoft’s Panorama Maker is a curious inclusion because the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ8 does not have a panorama assist mode. There is nothing on the camera to help users line photos up, so they’ll have to eyeball it and let the software do its best. The program can line up panoramas vertically, horizontally, or in a 360-degree view.

Lumix Simple Viewer is just about what it says it is: a very simple, basic viewer. From this program, pictures can be acquired from the connected camera, viewed, printed, and sent via email. This program only pops up when the FZ8 is initially connected to the computer.
Panasonic’s Photo Fun Studio has some of the same features as the ArcSoft PhotoImpression software. Both allow different methods of viewing, acquiring, sorting and editing. Users can categorize images and add comments to make them more searchable. This program doesn’t offer as much editing as PhotoImpression though. Photo Fun Studio has about the same level of photo editing that is in the camera itself. Pictures can be rotated, resized, the aspect ratio converted, dates inserted or changed, and batches of photos renamed.

More sophisticated editing can be done with the SilkyPix Developer Studio 2.0 software, which displays and edits RAW files. The possibilities are vast. The exposure can be changed to +/- 1 EV bias. The white balance can be selected from a huge list that covers much of the Kelvin temperature scale. Sharpness, saturation, contrast, color, and noise reduction can all be tweaked. There is plenty here for photographers to play with. This is perhaps more fun even than the not-so-fun Photo Fun Studio software.

Jacks, ports, plugs (6.0)
The left side of the camera has a plastic door that blends in with the rest of the camera body. The door has the tiniest finger grip possible, but when it’s moved it springs open almost violently to reveal the USB/AV-out and DC-in jacks. The AV-out function can be set to NTSC or PAL standards and outputs monaural audio. The USB and AV cables come with the camera, but the DC-in cable is not included. 

Direct Print Options (5.0)
The PictBridge-compatible Panasonic FZ8 can create print orders in nearly the same way that it deletes pictures. It can add pictures to the DPOF print order individually or in batches.. Users can also choose whether to display the date and the quantity of each photo to be printed. Most digital cameras allow up to 99 images per file to be added to the print order, but the Panasonic seems to be made for print-happy folks. It can print up to 999 copies of each image – or at least add that many to the print order. All of this is done from the playback menu, but the actual transfer of images is done when the FZ8’s mode dial is rotated to the print icon and the camera is connected to a PictBridge printer with the included USB cable. Some digital cameras have a designated print button, but the position on the mode dial is just as intuitive.

Battery (7.0)
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ8 runs on a lithium-ion battery pack that has 7.2V and runs 710 mAh. It is quite impressive, getting about 380 shots per charge. Included in the package is a wall-mount charger that is compact and easy to transport – good for vacations and outings.

Memory (3.0)
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ8 has 27MB of internal memory and accepts SD, SDHC, and MMC cards in its card slot by the battery compartment. SD and SDHC is the way to go with this model though. The internal memory can’t record VGA video; it maxes out at 320 x 240 pixels. And MMC cards slow down the burst mode and can’t record video at all. In the recording menu, users can choose whether to record to the internal memory or the card. In the playback menu, users can move pictures from the internal memory to the card and vice versa.

Other features (5.0)
Voice Memo – This feature can be turned on in the recording menu, where it is called Audio Recording. When activated, the camera automatically records 5 seconds of monaural audio after each still image.

Audio Dubbing – This feature is similar to the voice memo, but works in the playback menu instead of during recording. With it, users can record up to 10 seconds of audio and tag it with an image. This cannot be added to movies.

Flip Animation – This feature is found deep within the recording menu and allows users to snap up to 100 QVGA-sized still images and then transform them into a movie file that plays back at 5 or 10 fps. This won’t be good for the typical high school play video, but would be fun for creating funny claymation videos for YouTube.

Travel Date – In the setup menu, users can set or turn off a "travel date." Users must set their departure and return dates, then the camera will record the date and travel day (eg. "2nd Day") with the file information. When users take the FZ8 on a cruise, they should be able to tell where the pictures were taken judging from the date recorded. This is just one more feature that streamlines the photo organization process.