Compared to... Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ5

Below you will find a studio comparison between the Panasonic DMC-FZ7 and the camera it replaces, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ5 (5MP, 12x zoom). We have included samples for the lowest and highest standard ISO settings for each camera (P850: ISO 50 & 400, FZ7: ISO 80 and 400).

See later in the review for the FZ7's special 'high sensitivity' ISO 800 and 1600 modes.

Studio scene comparison (@ ISO 80)

  • Panasonic DMC-FZ7: Aperture Priority mode, ISO 80, Default Image Parameters,
    Manual white balance, +0.7 EV compensation
  • Panasonic DMC-FZ5: Aperture Priority mode, ISO 80, Default Image Parameters,
    Manual white balance, +1.0 EV compensation
  • Lighting: Daylight simulation, >98% CRI
Panasonic DMC-FZ7
Panasonic DMC-FZ5
ISO 80, 1/60 sec, F5.0
ISO 80, 1/50 sec, F5.0
1,817 KB JPEG
2,069 KB JPEG

As these comparisons show, the new sensor (both cameras have the same lens) isn't making a huge amount of difference - there's a small amount of extra detail, but there's also more noise in the blue areas (though neither would be visible in a print). The FZ5 was rightly praised for producing superb image quality at a very competitive price, and to expect the FZ7 to represent a huge leap forward was perhaps a little optimistic. The best we can say about the results, if we're honest - is that they're no worse.