Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ50 Review
Announced bang on schedule exactly a year after the camera it replaces, the FZ50 is the new flagship in Panasonic's big-zoom Lumix range, upping the image size to a class-leading 10.2 megapixels and adding a couple of welcome new features. Unlike the FZ30, which represented a leap forward in design and features over the FZ20 (and closed the gap between fixed lens and SLR cameras further than ever before), the new camera is a fairly minor upgrade. Then again, the FZ30 was hardly crying out for a massive overhaul; despite a wealth of 'super zoom' competitors it really does sit in a class of its own, offering true SLR-like handling and operation and an amazingly versatile 35-420mm equivalent 12x optical zoom (with fluid-damped mechanical zoom mechanism). So let's find out if the FZ50 is a worthy successor, and if it can overcome the few complaints we had, starting as usual with the headline features:
- 10.1-megapixel high resolution CCD
- LEICA DC VARIO-ELMARIT 12x optical zoom (35-420mm equiv.)
- MEGA O.I.S.(Optical Image Stabilizer) system
- Venus Engine III processor
- Full photographic control
- 2.0-inch flip-out 207k high resolution LCD
- High resolution electronic viewfinder
- Fast startup and operation
- TTL Flash hot-shoe
FZ50 vs FZ30: Main differences
Where the FZ30 was a major upgrade of the FZ20 both internally and externally, the FZ50 is more evolutionary than revolutionary, and aside from the new sensor the changes are - for the most part - minor.
- Higher pixel count sensor (10.1 vs 8.3 MP)
- TIFF file format dropped (RAW remains)
- Venus Engine III (vs Venus Engine II)
- Full resolution ISO settings up to 1600 (vs 400)
- TTL Flash hot-shoe
- Lower resolution (207,000 pixel) screen
- Screen now flips down to 180°
- SDHC support (for capacities over 2.0GB)
- New 16:9 (848 x 480 pixel) movie mode
- New 16:9 and 3:2 aspect ratio options for stills
- Slower continuous shooting (from 3 to 2 fps, max images from 7 to 5 in standard)
- 'SilkyPix Developer Studio' for RAW conversion included
- Intelligent ISO feature
DMC-FZ50 specifications
| Street price | • US: $580 • UK: £399 |
|---|---|
| Body Material | Metal and plastic |
| Sensor * | • 1/1.8" Type CCD |
| Image ratios | • 4:3 (default, CCD native) |
Image sizes * |
• 3648 x 2736 |
| Image sizes * (3:2 ratio) |
• 3600 x 2400 |
| Image sizes * (16:9 ratio) |
• 3584 x 2016 |
| Movie clips | • 848 x 480 (16:9), 30 / 10 fps * |
| File formats * | • RAW • JPEG (EXIF 2.2): Fine / Standard • MOV (Movies, Motion JPEG codec) |
| Image processor | Venus Engine III |
| Lens | • 35 - 420 mm equiv. (12x zoom) |
| Image stabilization | • Optical, "MEGA OIS" • Modes: 1 (all the time), 2 (at shutter release only) |
| Conversion lenses | Yes (screw on front of lens; 55 mm thread) |
| Digital zoom | • 2x or 4x • "Extra optical zoom" for smaller sizes (13.4x 8m, 17.1x 5m, 21.4x 3m) * |
| Focus | • AF / AF Macro / Manual (switch on dial) • Continuous AF On/Off • Manual Focus (Ring) • One-shot AF |
| AF area modes | • 1 point • 1 point high-speed • 3 point • 3 point high-speed • 9 point • Spot |
| AF assist lamp | Yes |
| Focus distance | • Normal: 30 / 200 cm - Infinity • Macro: 5 / 200 cm - Infinity |
| Metering | • Intelligent Multiple • Center weighted • Spot |
| ISO sensitivity | • Auto • Intelligent Auto • ISO 80 • ISO 100 • ISO 200 • ISO 400 • ISO 800 * • ISO 1600 * • ISO 3200 (High sensitivity mode) * |
| Exposure compensation | • +/- 2.0 EV • 1/3 EV steps |
| Exposure bracketing | • 3 frames • 0.3 to 1 EV steps |
| Shutter speed | • Auto: 1/4 - 1/2000 sec * • Program AE: 1 - 1/2000 sec * • Aperture/Shutter priority: 8 - 1/2000 sec • Manual mode: 60 - 1/2000 sec * • Shutter speeds over 1/1000 sec not available with all apertures. |
| Aperture | • Wide: F2.8 - F11 • Tele: F3.7 - F11 |
| Modes | • Auto • Program (with shift) • Aperture Priority • Shutter Priority • Manual • Scene • Moving Image • Playback |
| Scene modes * | • Portrait • Soft Skin • Scenery • Sports • Night Portrait • Night Scenery • Panning • Food • Party • Candle • Fireworks • Snow • Starry Sky • Baby 1 • Baby 2 • High sensitivity |
| White balance | • Auto |
| White balance fine tune | Yes (except Auto) |
| Self timer | 2 or 10 sec |
| Continuous shooting | • Full resolution: 2 or 1 fps * • Full resolution: max 5 images (standard mode), 3 images (fine mode) * • Infinite consecutive (unlimited but slower shooting rate) |
| Image parameters | • Contrast (Low, Standard, High) • Sharpness (Low, Standard, High) • Saturation (Low, Standard, High) • Noise reduction (Low, Standard, High) |
| Color Effect | • Cool • Warm • Black & White • Sepia |
| Flash | • Built-in (manual pop-up) • Modes: Auto, Auto red-eye reduction, Slow sync, On/Off • Range: 0.3 - 7.0 m (W), 0.3 - 5.3 m (T) • External flash via hot-shoe • Flash exposure compensation (+/-2 EV in 0.3 EV steps) |
| Flash hot-shoe * | • New TTL hot-shoe • Compatible with: DMW-FL500 (GN50), DMW-FL360 (GN36) external flash |
| Orientation sensor | Yes |
| Viewfinder | • 0.44" EVF (electronic viewfinder) • 230,000 pixels |
| LCD monitor | • 2.0" TFT LCD • 207,000 pixels * • Flip down and twist |
| Record review | 1 sec / 3 sec / Zoom |
| Playback | • 2x / 4x / 8x / 16x magnification • 9 / 16 / 25 thumbnail index • Image rotation • Slideshow • Resizing • Trimming • Protection • DPOF setting |
| Connectivity | • USB 1.1 • A/V out • DC-IN |
| Print compliance | PictBridge |
| Storage | • Secure Digital card, SDHC card *, MMC card • 32 MB SD card supplied |
| Power | • 710 mAh, 7.2V Lithium-Ion rechargeable battery • Charger included |
| Weight (No batt) | 668 g (1.5 lb) * |
| Weight (with batt) | 734 g (1.6 lb) * |
| Dimensions | 141 x 86 x 142 mm (5.5 x 3.4 x 5.6 in) |
| Supplied software * | LUMIX Simple Viewer, PhotofunStudio -viewer-, SILKPIX DEVELOPER STUDIO, ArcSoft Camera Suite (ArcSoft PhotoImpression, ArcSoft PanoramaMaker), Adobe Reader, Quick Time, USB Driver |
* Updates or changes compared to the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ30
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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Conclusion / Recommendation / Ratings are based on the opinion of the reviewer, you should read the ENTIRE review before coming to your own conclusions. Images which can be viewed at a larger size have a small magnifying glass icon in the bottom right corner of the image, clicking on the image will display a larger (typically VGA) image in a new window. To navigate the review simply use the next / previous page buttons, to jump to a particular section either pick the section from the drop down or select it from the navigation bar at the top. DPReview calibrate their monitors using Color Vision OptiCal at the (fairly well accepted) PC normal gamma 2.2, this means that on our monitors we can make out the difference between all of the (computer generated) grayscale blocks below. We recommend to make the most of this review you should be able to see the difference (at least) between X,Y and Z and ideally A,B and C. |
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This article is Copyright 2006 Simon Joinson / dpreview.com and the review in part or in whole may NOT be reproduced in any electronic or printed medium without prior permission from the author. For information on reproducing any part of this review (or any images) please contact: Phil Askey
