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 |
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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 |
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