Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ8 Digital Camera Review - Panasonic Point and Shoot and Non-DSLR

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Connectivity
Software (2.5)
The Panasonic Lumix LZ8 comes with a CD-ROM that dumps a number of programs onto your desktop. All install easily and run well. The PHOTOfunSTUDIO picture viewer is simple, allowing users to import and categorize their photos. Images can then be retouched, resized, renamed, etc, as well as viewed and sorted in a number of different ways. The PHOTOfunSTUDIO also displays EXIF data, such as shutter speed, ISO, and focal length when in the “focus” view format, which is useful. Images can be made into a slide show, e-mailed, printed, made into desktop wallpaper, burned to a CD, or transferred to a memory card via the tabs on the right side of the main screen.

ArcSoft Media Impressions is also included with the LZ8, and functions almost entirely the same as PHOTOfunSTUDIO. Why two pieces of software with such similar feature sets are provided is beyond us. Media Impressions allows users to set up their YouTube accounts for easy uploading to the online sharing website. Users can tag their photos for easy sorting, batch photos, or view them in a slide show.

Editing options in Media Impressions aren’t extensive, but they’ll help novice users adjust their photos to their liking. Images can be auto enhanced, cropped, straightened, color balanced, or adjusted to remove red-eye. And “Easy Fix” option automatically adjusts the image for the user who doesn’t want to mess around with editing. Users can also add text to their photos or a number of cheesy clip art icons, like text bubbles, butterflies, and soccer balls. Soccer moms will love this. Easy Print, Easy Archive, and Easy E-mail round up the final tabs at the bottom of the Media Impressions main page.

Separate software, Panorama Maker 4, is also included. This stitches together any photos taken in the Panorama Scene mode - the images aren’t automatically stitched together in camera.

Overall, the software isn’t extensive – if you want more in-depth editing options you’re better off with more advanced editing software, like Photoshop. However, it’s effective for this entry-level camera.

Jacks, ports, plugs (2.0)
The jacks and ports on the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ8 are on the left, right, and bottom sides of the camera. The AV-out port is found under a sturdy flip-out cover on the left side of the camera. The cover flips entirely out of the way and should stand up well to frequent use.

On the right side of the camera, a cover slides out and away to reveal the SD/MMC memory card slot. This is a good spot for the memory card – if placed on the bottom, it would be difficult to access when the camera is mounted on a tripod.

The battery slot is on the bottom of the camera, accessed by pushing downward on a dark gray tab and then sliding the door to the right. The hard plastic cover swings on a hinge to reveal the AA batteries – be careful, though, because the batteries aren’t held in by anything other than the plastic door. If you open this slot when tilting the camera outward, the AA batteries are likely to tumble to the floor.

Direct Print Options (4.0)
The Lumix DMC-LZ8 can directly print with PictBridge-compatible printers using the included USB cable, which connects to the printer and a port on the left side of the camera. In the Playback mode menu, users can select one or multiple photos to print using the left and right arrows, and multiple copies of an image can be printed at once. Users can also select whether or not to print the date on the image.

Battery (8.0)
The LZ8 comes with two AA alkaline batteries, and is also compatible with oxyride (Panasonic's longer-life disposable battery line) and rechargeable Ni-MH. The life of AA batteries is severely limited compared to rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, but AA batteries are still commonly found on entry-level point-and-shoots like the LZ8. Still, some users may find them convenient on vacations because they can be found in almost every corner store. If you want more life out of your batteries, invest in rechargeable batteries and a charging dock.

Memory (4.0)
The Panasonic Lumix LZ8 comes with 27 MB of internal memory. An SD/MMC/SDHC memory card slot sits on the right side of the camera, allowing for more photos to be captured at once. Users will definitely want to purchase a memory card, as the 27 MB only allows storage of a few low-resolution images. The primary image storage location is the memory card slot, which supports both SD and the newer SDHC cards. These are available in capacities of up to 32GB, so that should mean no shortage of storage space on all but the longest trips.

Other features (5.25)
Mega O.I.S. – Optical image stabilization makes this budget-level model stand out from the pack. Optical image stabilization, which shifts part of the lens to compensate for camera shake, is the most effective way to reduce blur in images due to a moving camera. The stabilization system can be turned on and off in the recording menu and Q.Menu. Options include Mode 1, which enables the stabilization at all times, Mode 2, which only enables stabilization when the shutter is pressed, and Off. Mode 2 has greater stabilization, so Panasonic recommends users enable this mode when camera shake is heavy.

Intelligent ISO Mode – Intelligent ISO mode can be found in the Recording menus of the PASM modes. It allows users to choose between ISO Max 400, 800, or 1600. After a user selects one of the options, the camera automatically adjusts the ISO within those parameters based on the scene lighting.

Live Histogram – Another interesting feature on a point-and-shoot at this price point is the live histogram, which adjusts as users compose the image. Tonal information is shown on the histogram, and users can use it to help properly expose their images.

Easy Zoom – A button on the top right side of the camera allows users to zoom from 1x to 5x without having to hold the zoom toggle. Press the button again and the zoom will extend to 8x, and then to a whopping 31.9x digital zoom if pressed again. Be warned, though – resolution drops with the extended zoom settings. Yet another press returns the zoom to 1x. This feature seems a bit unnecessary – it doesn’t save much time, and will most likely go unused.

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