Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ7 Digital Camera Review

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ7

First Impressions Review

The 7.2-megapixel Lumix DMC-LZ7 is one of Panasonic’s latest entries into the point-and-shoot market. Retailing for $199.00, the LZ7 features a 6x optical zoom lens and an Easy Zoom button that quickly brings the lens to the 6x point. An additional press of the button expands the zoom to 9x but reduces the image size to 3 megapixels. The LZ7 packs in a 2.5” LCD with a resolution of 115,000 pixels. As with all of the new cameras in Panasonic’s Lumix line, the LZ7 includes Intelligent Image Stabilization, a new feature that incorporates Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) and Intelligent ISO Control that adjusts ISO for subject movement in low light conditions. The new Lumix cameras also incorporate a Venus Engine III processor, which was formerly only available in their higher end cameras.
Advertisement
Latest Camera Reviews
DSLR Point & Shoot
Samsung
NX10
Panasonic
DMC-TS2
Olympus
E-P1
Casio
EX-G1
Nikon
D300S
Panasonic
Lumix DMC-FZ35
Pentax
K-X
Sony
Cyber-shot DSC-TX5
Nikon
D3000
Samsung
TL500
Recently Viewed Products
$140
$678
Top Point & Shoot Cameras
Max Price: $2100
$0 $525 $1050 $1575 $2100
Filters
All
Canon
Casio
Fuji
Kodak
Nikon
Olympus
Panasonic
Pentax
Samsung
Sony
All
Compact
High-End
Pocket
Ultra-Zoom
1.Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1
Ultra-Zoom
$420
2.Canon SX1 IS
Ultra-Zoom
$520
3.Panasonic DMC-ZS3
Compact
$280
4.Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ35
Ultra-Zoom
$400
5.Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX7
Compact
$350
Lumix DMC-LZ7 Prices
External Reviews


Manual Control Options
Aperture and shutter speed controls are not manually adjustable on the LZ7, but users can alter the white balance, ISO, exposure compensation, image quality and size, aspect ratio, and auto-focus points.

Focus
Five auto focus options are possible, 1-point, 1-point high speed, 3-point high speed, 5-point, and spot metering option. Focus is slow to respond at telephoto settings, but it does seem to be clear, even in low light conditions.

Exposure
Manual exposure settings are not possible with the LZ7. Exposure compensation settings range from +/-2 EV in 1/3-stop increments, a typical range for point-and-shoots.

Metering
Light metering options are automatic with this camera.

White Balance
Five white balance settings for the LZ7 include Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Shade, Halogen, and White Set, for setting white balance to a standard white under given light conditions. This function worked well, even under the mixed lighting of the Convention Center floor. The halogen setting reproduced colors as well as the Auto setting.

ISO
Auto ISO is the default setting, but there are also options for full stop increments from ISO 100 to 800 and a half-step to 1250. A High Sensitivity mode provides a 3200 ISO setting. The Intelligent ISO setting also provides an automatically adjustment setting to compensate for moving subjects under low light conditions. This setting will be fully and properly tested when we have a model in our testing labs.

Shutter Speed
The spec sheet lists a shutter speed range of 60 to 1/2000 seconds, although shutter speeds are not adjustable with the LZ7, except for the Starry Sky mode, in which users can select 15-, 30-, and 60-second options.

Aperture
The LZ7’s aperture ranges from f/2.8 to f/12.7, an impressive range for a point and shoot camera. Aperture settings, like shutter speeds, are not adjustable.
Modes Page 7 of 12 Image Parameters Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ7 First Impressions Review Navigation
Advertisement