Video

Video can be captured in either AVCHD or, for easier editing, MP4. With AVCHD, you can record in full HD (1920 x 1080, including one option in AVCHD progressive) at 60fps, as well as AVCHD Lite at 1280 x 720 at 30fps. In MP4, choices are 1920 x 1080, 1280 x 720 or 640 x 480, all at 30fps.

The zoom lens and image stabilization are enabled during video capture. Unless you're recording in a very quiet place, in our experience the zooming mecahnism shouldn't be audible; a wind cut filter is available, as is the option to use an external stereo microphone. Face Detection, automatic dynamic range and other auto features are also enabled during recording and work well to produce solid videos.

Video recording is initiated using the now-standard 'red button' positioned just behind the shutter button on the FZ150's top plate. A stereo microphone is positioned above the FZ150's flash housing, but the camera also features a socket for an external microphone.

Video performance is very good - 60p full HD footage is nice and detailed, and although not up the quality of an external microphone the FZ150's inbuilt stereo mic does a decent job in day to day use. Watch out though - as you can see from the samples further down this page, at its maximum video quality setting, the FZ150's files are massive. Even clips of 30 seconds or less can easily end up occupying more than 100MB on your memory card.

Sample Video 1

This shot shows off the FZ150's smooth and virtually silent optical zoom, and highly detailed video capture. The FZ150's built-in stereo microphone is perfectly effective for spontaneous 'grab' footage but the separation between left and right microphones isn't wide enough to give sound much 'three-dimensionality'.

1920 x 1080 60p, 78.9MB, MTS, 22 sec. Click here to download original file

Sample Video 2

Locked on a tripod, this shot shows just how detailed the FZ150's video footage is at its highest quality setting. Interestingly though, you'll hear on the soundtrack an aircraft passing overhead. It actually moved from left to right as it flew over the camera position but there is almost no L-R separation in the recorded audio.

1920 x 1080 60p, 69.9MB, MTS, 19 sec. Click here to download original file

Sample Video 3

Please note that the following samples were originally published as part of our preview content, late last year.

Recent Videos

As you can hear in this clip,the sound isn't very well-focussed and a lot of background noise has made its way onto the soundtrack as well.

1920 x 1080 60p, 130.0MB, MTS, 38 sec. Click here to download original file

Sample Video 4

With a quieter background, the sound in this clip is more focussed, and in this video you can also see the abilities of the FZ150's zoom lens, which can still be operated during movie recording. The focus stays locked on our subject, image stabilization keeps the footage from wobbling at the long end of the zoom, and zooming does not result in an audible motor sound on the sound track.

1920 x 1080 60p, 60.8MB, MTS, 29 sec.. Click here to download original file