Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX7 Review

December 2004 | Simon Joinson

Review based on a production Panasonic DMC-FX7

Announced at the end of July (alongside the lower-spec FX2), the DMC-FX7 is an ultra-compact replacement for the well-respected FX5. As well as being smaller than the FX5, the FX7 boasts the Venus II engine for improved responsiveness and the new two-mode MEGA O.I.S image stabilization used to great acclaim in the FZ3/FZ15/FZ20 models. Panasonic has also managed to squeeze a huge 2.5-inch LCD screen onto the back of the FX7, though it did so at the expense of an optical viewfinder. Here's a quick rundown of the headline features to whet your appetite:

5 Megapixel CCD
35-105mm equiv. (3x) Leica DC Vario-Elmarit Optical Zoom
4x Digital Zoom
Advanced Mega Optical Image Stabilizer
Mega Burst Mode
2.5-inch LCD
9 scene modes
Venus II Engine

Panasonic DMC-FX7 Key specifications

Street price	• US: $440 • UK: £300
Body Material	Metal
Sensor	• 1/2.5" CCD, 5.4 million total pixels • 5.0 million effective pixels
Image sizes	• 2560 x 1920 • 2048 x 1536 • 1600 x 1200 • 1280 x 960 • 640 x 480 • 1920 x 1080 (HDTV 16:9)
Movie clips	• 320 x 240 (10 / 30 fps) • With audio • Limited only by storage
Lens	• 35 - 105 mm equiv. (3x zoom) • F2.8 - F5.0 • MEGA OIS (Mode 1 / Mode 2) • Leica DC Vario-Elmarit
Focus	• Normal: 0.5 m - Infinity • Macro: 5 cm • 9-area focusing • 3-area focusing • 1-area focusing • Spot
Shooting mode	• Portrait • Sports • Landscape • Night Landscape • Night Portrait • Fireworks • Party • Snow • Self-portrait • Normal Picture • Simple • Macro • Moving Image • Playback • Exposure bracketing 0.3 to 1 EV steps • AE Compensation +/- 2.0 EV in 0.3 EV steps
Sensitivity	• Auto • ISO 80,100,200,400
White Balance	• Auto • Cloudy, daylight, incandescent, manual (custom) • White balance fine tune
Image parameters	Color (Natural, Standard, Vivid)
Continuous	• 3 fps high speed, 2 fps low speed • 7 frames (standard), 4 frames (fine)
Flash	• Built-in flash • Auto, on/off, red-eye reduction: on/off, slow sync with red eye reduction • Range (ISO auto): W 0.3m - 4.0m (0.98 - 13.1 ft)
Storage	• SD/MMC • 16MB supplied
Viewfinder	None
LCD monitor	• 2.5" TFT LCD • 114,000 pixels
Connectivity	• USB 2.0 Full speed • A/V out • DC-IN
Power	• Lithium-Ion rechargeable battery • Charger included
In the box*	• DMC-FX7 camera • Battery Charger • Battery Pack • Battery carrying case, • SD Memory Card (16 MB), • AC Cable, • AV Cable, • USB Connection Cable, • Strap, • CD-ROM (SD Viewer for DSC, ArcSoft PhotoBase, ArcSoft PhotoImpression,ArcSoft Panorama Maker, USB Driver)
Other features	• PictBridge • Mega Optical Image Stabilisation • AF illuminator • Record and playback histogram • Venus II engine
Weight (inc batt)	153 g (5.4 oz)
Dimensions	94 x 50 x 24 mm (3.7 x 2.0 x 1.0 in)

* Supplied accessories may differ in each country or area

If you're new to digital photography you may wish to read the Digital Photography Glossary before diving into this article (it may help you understand some of the terms used).

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