Viewfinder (0.0)
The LZ2 does not contain a viewfinder, forcing the user to rely on the LCD monitor as the sole means of composition and review. Fortunately, the LZ2 includes a strong viewing screen, measuring 2 inches diagonally and containing a 100 percent field of view, which far exceeds most optical viewfinders anyway.

LCD Screen (6.5)
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ2 has a 2-inch LCD screen with 85,000 pixels. The amorphous TFT display has a 100 percent field of view and doubles as the viewfinder, as there is no optical alternative. The screen can be easily viewed indoors or outdoors with the monitor’s brightness adjustment. This option can be found in the Setup menu and has a handy real-time display of the brightness. Although the brightness control is of great assistance in compromised lighting, the lack of resolution in the screen cannot be compensated for. 85,000 pixels of resolution is long since outdated and the displayed images contain a pixillated account that brings to mind the tainted brownish hue of an aged photograph – nostalgic, but not an illustration of modern advances.

Also in the Setup menu are the Auto Review and Power Save functions. The Auto Review option lets users instantly view photographs for a few seconds after they’ve been taken. The Power Save option turns the screen off after a selectable period of time to conserve battery power; users need only press a button – any button – on the camera to wake it up.

Flash (8.0)
This camera does come with a built-in flash, but it is incredibly small. It reaches a moderate range of 0.98 – 13.8 feet, but its location in the top right corner is primary real estate for the fingers to easily cover and impede the light. When fingers are not in the way of the flash, it works quite well, evenly lighting the entire scene. The Lumix LZ2 has the following flash modes: Auto, Auto with Red-Eye Reduction, On with Red-Eye Reduction, Slow Sync with Red-Eye Reduction, and Off. These modes can be accessed through the right side of the navigational dial.

Zoom Lens (7.5)
When viewing the powered camera from on top, the zoom lens looks like a triple layer cake on a platform. The nicely tiered lens is a Lumix DC Vario with 6x optical zoom. It extends from 6.1-36.6mm, which is equivalent to 37-222mm in 35mm format. The lens houses 8 elements in 7 groups and boasts a Mega Optical Image Stabilization system, which is quite rare on a sub-$300 model like this. Although this lens is not quite on par with the Leica glass users are accustomed to seeing on higher-end Panasonic models, it is a formidable replacement. The lens quietly zooms and focuses quickly and accurately. There is a 4x digital zoom that can be turned on or off.