Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX9 Review

August 2005 | Simon Joinson

Review based on a production Panasonic DMC-FX9

The original FX7 was announced in July 2004 and went on to be one of the best-selling cameras of last year thanks to its winning combination of cool styling, compact dimensions, big screen and image-stabilized Leica lens. After a fairly disappointing upgrade earlier this year in the form of the FX8 (which basically did little but address the appalling battery life of the original) we didn't have to wait long for the next generation, which - as well as incorporating the improvements seen in the FX8, increases the pixel count, improves the screen and adds a couple of new scene modes.

6.4 megapixel CCD
35-105mm equiv. (3x) Leica DC Vario-Elmarit optical zoom
4x digital zoom
Advanced Mega Optical Image Stabilizer
VGA (640 x 480 pixel) 30fps movie mode
2.5-inch, 207,000 pixel LCD
14 scene modes
Venus Engine PLUS
Color options:
US: Silver and Black
Europe: Silver, Black and Red
Rest of World: Silver, Black, Red and Gray

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX9 vs FX8 vs FX7 (main differences)

	Panasonic FX9	Panasonic FX8	Panasonic FX7
Announced	July 05	May 05	July 04
Sensor total pixels	6.4 million	5.4 million	5.4 million
Maximum resolution	2816 x 2112	2560 x 1920	2560 x 1920
Image ratio options	4:3, 3:2, 16:9	4:3, 16:9	4:3, 16:9
Movie mode	640 x 480, 320 x 240, 30/10 fps	640 x 480, 320 x 240, 30/10 fps	320 x 240, 30 fps, with audio, unlimited
Screen	• 2.5-inch • 207,000 pixels	• 2.5-inch • 114,000 pixels	• 2.5-inch • 114,000 pixels
Battery life (CIPA)	300 shots	300 shots	120 shots
Processor	Venus Engine PLUS	Venus Engine PLUS	Venus Engine II
Scene modes	• Portrait • Sports • Food • Night Scenery • Night Portrait • Baby • Soft skin • Candlelight • Fireworks • Party • Snow • Scenery • Starry sky • Self portrait	• Portrait • Sports • Food • Scenery • Night Scenery • Night Portrait • Baby • Fireworks • Party • Snow • Self-portrait • Soft Skin	• Portrait • Sports • Landscape • Night Landscape • Night Portrait • Fireworks • Party • Snow • Self-portrait

Whereas the FX8 was a minor update to the original FX7 (adding a bigger battery, a couple of scene modes and a slight performance boost thanks to the new Venus Plus engine), the changes brought in with the FX9 are more significant (though still fairly limited). As well as the extra million or so pixels, the new model has a better screen (much higher resolution) - and a couple of new scene modes.

Panasonic DMC-FX9 Key specifications

Street price	• US: $410 • UK: £300
Body Material	Metal
Sensor	• 1/2.5" CCD, 6.4 million total pixels • 6.0 million effective pixels
Image sizes	• 2816 x 2112 • 2048 x 1536 • 1600 x 1200 • 1280 x 960 • 640 x 480 • 2816 x 1880 (3:2) • 2048 x 1360 (3:2) • 2816 x 1584 (HDTV 16:9) • 1920 x 1080 (HDTV 16:9)
Movie clips	• 640 x 480 (10 / 30 fps) • 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 wide / 30 cm tele • 5-area focusing • 3-area focusing • 1-area focusing/1-area focusing (high speed) • Spot
Shooting mode	• Portrait • Sports • Food • Night Scenery • Night Portrait • Baby • Soft skin • Candlelight • Fireworks • Party • Snow • Scenery • Starry sky • Self portrait • Macro • Moving Image • Playback • Exposure bracketing +/-0.3 to 1 EV • AE Compensation +/- 2.0 EV in 0.3 EV steps
Shutter speeds	• Auto mode: 1 to 1/2000th sec • Scene mode: 8 to 1/2000th sec • Starry Sky Mode: 15, 30 or 60 seconds
Sensitivity	• Auto • ISO 80 • ISO 100 • ISO 200 • ISO 400
White Balance	• Auto • Cloudy, daylight, halogen, custom • White balance adjust
Image parameters	• Color (Natural, Standard, Vivid) • Color effect (Cool, warm, B&W, sepia)
Continuous	• 3 fps high speed, 2 fps low speed. 1.5 fps Unlimited • 8 frames (standard), 6 frames (fine)
Flash	• Built-in flash • Auto, on/off, red-eye reduction, slow sync with red eye reduction • Range (ISO auto): W 0.3m - 4.0m
Storage	• SD/MMC • 16MB supplied
Viewfinder	None
LCD monitor	• 2.5" TFT LCD • 207,000 pixels
Connectivity	• USB 2.0 Full speed • A/V out • DC-IN
Power	• Lithium-Ion rechargeable battery • Charger included
In the box*	• DMC-FX9 camera • Battery charger • Battery pack • Battery carrying case • SD memory card (16 MB) • AC cable • AV cable • USB connection cable • Strap • CD-ROM (LUMIX simple viewer, ArcSoft PhotoBase, ArcSoft PhotoImpression, ArcSoft Panorama Maker, USB Driver)
Other features	• PictBridge • Mega Optical Image Stabilization • AF illuminator • Record and playback histogram • Venus engine PLUS
Weight	• 127 g (4.5 oz) (without battery and card) • 155 g (5.5 oz) (with battery and card)
Dimensions	~94 x 51 x 24 mm (3.7 x 2.0 x 0.9 in)

* Supplied accessories may differ in each country or area

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