Affordable entry-level camera
Accurate color performance
No distinguishing qualities
Cheap design
Introduction
Another year, another big batch of pocket-sized point-and-shoots. Panasonic’s FH series is perhaps best known for last year’s FH20, one of the first sub-$200 cameras with an 8x zoom range. That line is also home to a handful of less-interesting, short-zoom point-and-shoots, like the FH5, on review here.
It’s difficult for a camera like this to stand out among the dozens of nearly identical competitors with svelte designs, good-enough image quality, and light feature sets. We put the FH5 through our battery of tests to see if it has any tricks up its sleeve.
The FH5 is available at an MSRP of $169 in blue, red, black, and pink shades.
| This review is organized into 16 pages | ||
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Page 1
Product Tour
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Page 2
Color
Colors are accurate, as we’ve come to expect from Panasonic point-and-shoots. Read More... |
Page 3
Noise
Effective noise reduction and a low ISO ceiling add up to a strong noise score, even if the sensor output is just average. Read More... |
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Page 4
Resolution
Resolution is acceptable but not great, even for a cheap pocket cam. Read More... |
Page 5
Video
The tacked-on HD video mode is good enough to capture short clips for making memories, not movies. Read More... |
Page 6
Sample Photos
A gallery of photos taken with the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5 Read More... |
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Page 7
Playback
Playback mode is straightforward and logical, with few surprises or editing options. Read More... |
Page 8
Hardware
Solid construction and totally average components combine for an unremarkable design. Read More... |
Page 9
Controls
Built with casual users in mind, shooting with the FH5 is a mostly automatic affair. Read More... |
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Page 10
Design & Handling
Like any camera small enough for a pants pocket, the FH5 is too small for most human hands. Read More... |
Page 11
Sony W570 Comparison
 We compare the DMC-FH5 to the DSC-W570. Read More... |
Page 12
Samsung PL120 Comparison
 We compare the DMC-FH5 to the PL120. Read More... |
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Page 13
Canon ELPH 100 HS
 We compare the DMC-FH5 to the ELPH 100 HS. Read More... |
Page 14
Conclusion
Read our final conclusion of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5. Read More... |
Page 15
Photo Gallery
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Part 16
Comments
Read what people are saying about the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5. Add your comments... |
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Shop for the Panasonic DMC-FH5
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(add your own)