The 4-megapixel Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ10 offers a host of professional features at an affordable price. It includes a 12x optical zoom with image stabilization, full manual controls (with a manual focus ring), a hot shoe accessory connector, and movie mode with audio. This Lumix model (the DMC-FZ10K) has a black body; the DMC-FZ10S has a silver body.
Optics and Resolution
With its 4-megapixel CCD sensor, you can capture up to a 2304 x 1728 pixel image for prints up to 11 x 17 inches. It also has 1600 x 1200, 1280 x 960, and 640 x 480 pixel resolution settings (and 1920 x 1080 for display on HDTV wide screen TVs with a 16:9 aspect ratio).
 |
| No Zoom | 3x Zoom | 6x Zoom | 9x Zoom | 12x Zoom |
The Leica DC Vario-Elmarit lens features an F2.8 brightness throughout the entire 12x zoom range, which is equivalent to a 35-420mm zoom lens on a conventional 35mm film camera. (The DMC-FZ10 also has a 3x digital zoom.) Its precision lens, extraordinary telephoto features and no-lag processing speed enable this camera to capture every detail of distant or quick-moving subjects with superb brightness and clarity. The Lumix DMC-FZ10 image stabilization system uses gyroscopes within the camera to sense camera shake and shift the lens elements to compensate for the movement--thus enabling you to shoot at a slower shutter speed.
| About Panasonic's MEGA Optical Image Stabilizer |
 |
Handheld telephoto shots, or shoot-
ing in low-light conditions, often magnifies unintentional hand move-
ments into blurry images (above, top). This optical technology (bottom) provides precise compen-
sation for these movements without any degradation of image quality. |
Movie Mode In addition to taking still photos, the DMC-FZ10 can also record 320 x 240 movie clips at either 30 or 10 frames per second (fps) with audio. Your video length is limited only by the size of your memory card. The included 16 MB card can hold 25 seconds of 30 fps video.
More Features
In addition to the variety of convenient automatic controls, the DMC-FZ10 has full manual controls for exposure, focusing, and white balance. Manual exposure capability gives you complete freedom for capturing images according to your preferences, including intentional overexposure or underexposure. The manual focus ring provided on the lens barrel, like traditional camera lenses, allows you to focus on the particular part of your subject according to your preference. Advanced histogram functions on the DMC-FZ10, like a digital light meter, provide a graphic representation of the luminance level of the pixels composing an image for more precise exposure control for quality photos.
Incredibly responsive, the DMC-FZ10 captures consecutive shots nearly as quickly as a motor-driven film camera. As soon as the camera's CCD captures the image signal, Panasonic's multi-tasking Venus Engine LSI simultaneously displays images on the LCD while writing data to the memory card, significantly reducing lag time between shots. To capture sudden events as they unfold, Panasonic's exclusive Mega Burst recording feature enables consecutive rapid-fire shooting, capturing 4 frames per second with undiminished quality from frame to frame.
Other features include:
- 2-inch LCD display with 130,000-pixel resolution
- Flash modes: Auto, Red-Eye Auto, On, Red-Eye On, Red-Eye Slow Sync
- Focus modes: Auto Focus System, Manual Focus, Normal/Macro (Dial), Spot AF On/Off (Spot Mode), Continuous AF On/Off
- Audio recording with images up to 5 seconds
As an added bonus, Panasonic includes a lens hood, which comes in handy when you're shooting outdoors. The lens hood is threaded for 72 mm filters, as well.
 |
| Designed for action shots, Panasonic's Mega Burst imaging captures up to eight full-resolution shots in two seconds. |
Storage and Transfer Images are stored on either Secure Digital (SD) or MultiMediaCard (MMC) memory cards. A 16 MB SD card is included with the DMC-FZ10. At the 2304 x 1728 pixel setting, the 16 MB card can hold 8 images at Fine Quality mode or 16 at Standard Quality mode.
Images can be downloaded to either a Mac or PC via USB 1.1 connectivity, which means the camera can be connected to any USB-based Windows Me/2000/XP and Mac OS 8.6 or later computer without installing any software.
Power and Size
The camera is powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery (included). It measures 3.4 x 5.5 x 4.2 inches and weighs 19.4 ounces (550 grams).
What's In The Box
This package includes the Lumix DMC-FZ10K (black) digital camera, 16 MB Secure Digital memory card, rechargeable lithium-ion battery (CGA-S002A), AC adapter/battery charger, lens hood, lens cap, neck strap, USB and A/V cables, and 139-page printed manual. It also includes the following software:
- ArcSoft PhotoBase--Transfer images from an SD Memory Card to a PC that "footnotes" and display them in a list
- ArcSoft PhotoImpression--Adjust colors and process images to create calendars, cards, etc.
- ArcSoft Panorama Maker--Merge separate photos to create a single image
- ArcSoft PhotoPrinter Pro--Select numerous photos to print together as one group
- SD Viewer for DSC--Makes it easy to check image data on an SD Memory Card. Use it to create slide shows and save them on an SD Memory Card (For Windows)
1 great lens and camera with some slight flaws
I bought this camera in June '04 and haven't had a single problem with it. If the rating system had half stars, I would give it a 4.5 out of 5. It's that good, really.
I have an extra battery; it comes in very handy because recharging takes some serious time. I bought a 512 MB smart media - a wise investment when yhou're on trips.
Of all the things it does well, the lens is the best feature. 12x zoom brings the subject in close with sharp edges and great color and contrast. The image stabilizer works very well, as several other reviewers have noted. However, it can give you a false sense of security at long focal ranges; for really sharp images at the upper reaches of the lens, you need a tripod or a really steady grip on the camera. The manual focus works well and macro mode brings you stunning close-ups. The flash is OK for small groups but has limited range; I prefer to set the ASA fairly high and skip the flash to avoid the inevitable differences in exposure based on distance from the camera.
The camera is surprisingly large, due in large part to the lens; it's too large to slip into your pocket. But it's durable. Over the past 10 months it has knocked into chairs, tables, doors and whatever, and even survived a drop on a hardwood floor, with no apparent damage.
The LCD is big and bright but washes out in strong sunlight as do most others. Switching to the viewfinder takes care of this problem. The diopter adjustment on the viewfinder helps people like me (with glasses) see the screen easily.
This is the first camera I have had with PictBridge, the ability to print straight from the camera. I hook up the USB cable to my printer and set the printer for 4x6 and have a print in less than a minute. I chose the Canon i960 printer, which has worked well with this camera - easy to set up, easy to print and really sharp prints with great color and contrast. It would be nice if Panasonic would allow you to pick several pictures to print at one time, instead of one at a time, but this is a minor inconvenience.
Overall, I am very pleased with this camera and have taken a lot of great pictures with it.
2 Great camera when it works but 13 months later it does'nt
My wife got this camera for me when they were relased in 12/03 for my Christmas presant. I was very sick at the time with a Galbladder infection and lose of patassium. It was March before I felt like useing the camera. It worked great and was everything I was wanting in a camera. The first big usage of this was on vacation. All otoaled I have taken 1300 pixs with this unit. I got up on the 21st of this Feb to us it to post a knife on eBay I turned on the camera and hear a strange grinding sound, as I tried to focus I could not get it to in manual or auto and it has nt worrked since. My wife paid almost $600 for this unit. When I call the Panasonic help line they tell me that unfortuinately it will have to be sent in for repair and is no longer covered under warrnety. spend a little extra and buy a cannon!!!!!!!!!!!!!
3 Awesome
There was no other camera that could compete with this when it came out, and now only its sucessors from Panasonic can do so (well them and a $900 Nikon, but I'd rather save my money). This camera is that good. Is it perfect? No, not at all. I could write a lengthy listing of gripes, but they pale in comparisons to the positives:
A high performance Leica designed (Panasonic manufactured) lens
Opitical image stabilizer
Fast burst mode
12x zoom
Solid Japanese built body
All in all, you will have fun taking great shots at birthday parties, zoos, fireworks, parks, concerts, and many other places--I did. Why? The lens, it allows for blur free images thanks to its wide aperture and image stabilizer, and it also allows you to get close to the action with a tremendous zoom. Other camers may offer 10x zooms, but the lack the image stabilizer so everything is big AND BLURRY. Buy this or the newer FZ-15 or FZ-20 from Panasonic--you won't regret it.
4 In A Word - SUPERB
I have a web site in which I compared identical pictures of Minolta A1, Nikon 5200, Canon S60 and Sony W1. Althought the latter two (Canon and Sony) were also excellent, the Panasonic FZ10 was the best of the cameras in terms of picture quality and flexibility. The S60 is certainly a close contender in quality. But the Leica Zoom 35-420mm on such a light camera, re-defines the meaning of travel camera.
In the old days a travel SLR camera was at best a 28 to 90mm SLR. The thought of taking along a 300 or 400mm zoom was absurd because those lenses weighed too much or were too big. But the Panasonic FZ10 changes all that. While it is technically not an SLR, it certainly serves the same function about 98% of the time. I took the camera on a recent cruise to Scandinavia, and got great pictures from 35mm to 420mm.
The anti-shake feature is very handy for those long focal length pictures, and works very well.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
5 I love this camera!
I bought this camera in August of this year so I've had time to play with it for a while. I'm very pleased with it's performance. It is very easy to use, at least for basic usage--I'm still learning all of it's bells and whistles. The pictures look great, so far I have only enlarged to 8x10 but they are beautiful. The only drawbacks are, as with all of my digital cameras it is not a great performer in low light conditions. In fact, sometimes you are shooting blind. Also, if I don't have the flash up my pictures have a blue tint to them. I'm sure that I just need to read the manual because I know you can adjust the color some.
6 The best digicam for the money right now!
The best cam for the money and has every potential to become the next 2100UZ as far as legacy is concerned. The lens and IS are 1st rate and you can get beautiful crisp photos in almost no light although focus lock in those conditions can be tricky. The zoom and the digital zoom are all very usable and I have gotten nice photos at full digital zoom. Overall Panasonic did their homework for the most part albeit some minor annoyances I listed below. But there are no perfect digital cameras out there. But couple this cam with the 12x Leica/IS combo and beautiful 4MP picture quality, many user available settings and you have a photographer's dream here.
Minor gripes I have-
Handgrip needs to be bigger.
No eyecup, although a workaround is available as the Nikon 2939 cup.
Proprietary battery. Wish this could have taken AA NIMH's.
Lowlight focus can be tricky at times. Other than that once you get used to the possibilities of this cam you won't regret getting it.
7 Buy it for the lens
This was my first post-film camera, and it turned out to be a relatively easy transition. It's about the same size as the SLR film cameras I was accustomed to, albeit half the weight. It provides full manual controls once you decypher the menu protocol.
If you're into nature photography, as I am, the FZ10 is just about unbeatable. You can reach out with a 420mm equivalent for shots of birds or other wildlife and in macro you can take a portrait of a bug on a flower. Unbelievable!
The image-stabilization gyroscope combined with the Leica optics means you can take hand-held shots in daylight at full zoom that are super-sharp -- if you know how to squeeze a trigger.
Shutter lag is not a problem -- about 1 second betwen shots and the burst mode gives you 4 frames a second.
Downsides:
1. Poor low-light performance, common with digitals, is perhaps even more problematical with the FZ10, since it has no focus-assist light. (The internal flash is fairly good, and there's a hot shoe for something with more punch.)
2. It's not an SLR, so no interchangable lenses. (But if you need more than 420mm, use your feet!)
3. The proprietary battery is expensive, about $50, but they can last for a whole day of fairly heavy shooting.
4. Forget the lens cap (it's unattached so you're gonna lose it anyway) and get a 72mm skylight filter to protect that great Leica glass.
8 Superb Digital Camera
I,ll make this short and to the point, this is a superb digital camera, nuff said.
9 Great in-betweener camera, very minor drawbacks
I've never owned a digital camera, but I've had a Canon AE-1 for about 20 years. My wife and I wanted to get a digital camera that we could share (manual for me, point and shoot for her) and the Panasonic DMC-FZ10 seems to be the perfect compromise. The picture quality and color fidelity are truly amazing. I'm happy with the ability to adjust almost all of the settings, and the gun-and-run style pictures are great too! Two minor annoyances with this camera:
- The lens cap isn't attached. We're going to lose it sooner rather than later;
- Low light settings: The camera sometimes struggles to autofocus in low-light conditions sans flash. This won't affect you if you're using your own settings, but be aware that low light point-and-click isn't perfect; also in auto mode, the LCD is almost impossible to read in the dark.
Other than that, we're thrilled with the camera. If you truly need an SLR with swappable lenses and full control, spend more for the Canon Digital Rebel. If you just want point and click, spend less and get an A70. But for the in-betweener, this camera really hits the sweet spot.
10 Good camera - terrible manual
I was attracted to this camera for sports and wildlife photography by the combination of a Leica lens and image stabilization. IMO image stabilization an essential at 12X. Unless you're dead, you'll shake.
Controls are adequate and, except for the shutter being flat on the top instead of angled, well placed. The plastic body can be overlooked, it seems sturdy.
I was annoyed with the SD card being next to the battery until I figured out that it was not meant to be removed for downloading.
Card readers don't work = at least mine doesn't. One must download to your PC directly from the camera by using USB.
And this is where the manual fails. That fact is never explained and finding out how to download required a lot of patient search.
The manual is filled with halfway explanations, assumptions and cross referencing by page number. The quick start gets you through the taking of a photo, but you're on your own from there. They tell you to read the whole thing before you shoot. Like your going to remember everything. Sheeesh.
I'm NOT a newcomer to digital photography - I own and use an Oly E-20. I've shot film for fifty years so the terminolgy isn't foreign and I've had a Mac on my desk since 1985. I edit on PE2 and sell prints through small galleries and gift shops.
I think English may be a second language for the tech writers who wrote the manual and worse yet, they are probably engineers.
Be patient and find yourself rewarded. Panasonic would do well to have the manual edited, but it won't happen so...
11 Great camera, zoom, for a great price
I bought this camera just before Christmas for a higher price (before Amazon had it) did great in full-light situations, but can be fuzzy if you forget to use the pop-up flash in dim-light situations.
Just got back from the zoo (our favorite spot to test camera's) and have superb quality pic's from that. Detail and clarity is amazing.
12 Exceeds Expectations
Having just lost an Olympus Camedia camera to a bad lens motor, I was not thrilled with the prospect of spending another $500 on a digital camera. I researched cameras thoroughly and ultimately chose the Panasonic Lumix, wondering why it was not ranked higher on the Amazon sales list. The Lumix is astounding. The feel, weight, fit and finish exceed any other camera that I tested. Picture quality fell right in line too with photos that could not possibly be improved. You will love this camera. If you were an Olymus fan like me, you will soon be a convert. This one will win some awards before the year is out (and I expect it to move to the top of the Amazon list soon enough).
13 This is an exceptional camera
I am extremely impressed with this camera. The batteries are expensive but they last for a loooong time. The menu system can be a little intimidating but after using it for a while things become easier. The lens cap is not attached to anything and I have almost lost it twice. The lens is not threaded for filters, however the provided hood has a 72mm thread. The camera is big...
And then there is that wonderful lens. Oh my. It makes up for a lot of sins. It is absolutely perfect at 50 iso, very good at 100 and quite good at 200-400 if you're looking for real fast stuff... But who needs it when you get the 2.8f aperture from one end of the zoom range all the way to the other. It goes from 6-72mm which translated to 35mm terms means 35-420mm!!! When was the last time you saw a 420mm lens with f2.8 with the body for under $600???
The colors are just fabulous. The lens is stabilized which lets you move it around all the way up to 8x. To go more than that you need a tripod or something real stable to lean on. This means some excellent, sharp, clear, vibrant shots from quite far. I am running out of words. This lens is a Ferrari. Way to go Leica and Panasonic!
14 Great specs, just that ...
This is a top of the line point'n shoot camera. Without any doubt the 12x optical zoom with image stabilizing and fast 2.8f aperture along the whole zoom range of 35-420 mm (35mm equiv.) are the icing on the cake. Nevertheless I'm slightly dissapointed about this camera because the specs read like my dream camera and the engineers from Panasonic just couldn't keep it together. Why? - I will cover this later.
I was so anxious about getting my set together that I bought a bag first going by the size of the FZ1 - big mistake. The FZ10 is about double the size. Definitly no camera to slip in your pocket.
Battery are pretty expensive, about 50$ a piece. A good replacement, not from Panasonic but way cheaper and even higher in the mAh rating is AC-CGAS002 (the barn were you get 'em from is great). Charge and running time equal almost 1hr.
The Tripod adapter blocks access to the battery and memory compartment.
In dcresource the macro is described to work only in the automatic macro mode. So you couldn`t go by your own settings (manual). Good news - not true-. What is also not described in the manual, the camera does the same macro in manual mode. Literally up to the lense, almost touching it, with super sharp images.
Personally, I do prefer the manual mode for several reasons and this is where my dissapointment starts. In a dim light situation, still enough to take a decent picture, the LCD is pitch black. It is not broken, that's just the way it is. The techs from Panasonic told me something about achery techniques and how to shoot over the body. I call it a "Misconception". Also the brightness of the flash is not displayed, saying the LCD should get brighter when flash is activated. Still you get nice pictures - with dim light focusing slightly advanced to some other digital pointers- just you don't see the composition and focusing. I consider this the major drawback of this camera. Surprisingly enough though, if you switch to Automatic mode the LCD display in the very same dim light situation with exactly the same setting, is fine. Aperture- or Shutter priority are also good in this respect. I say it again, this applies only to dim light situations in manual mode. In standard light situations you won't notice.
Talking about low light situations, the flash is quite impressiv. Gives you also the option to compensate (-2/+2). This is very helpful if you don't wanna compensate the flash by shutter/aperture.
Lense cap has no string to hold it to the body - risk of losing it.
I am an avid Photoshop user. So I like the auto braket function to take 3 consecutive shots with different esposures for different layers in the software. Still after every shot you have to kick the bracket in again. There is no button to enable this function permanently like cameras for only a fraction of the price do. I wouldn't mind that if it were not so long winded to get to that function. Between changing the shutter/aperture in Manual mode, engaging the bracket to -1/+1 and back again, it is necessary to push 9 buttons. (Wanna count? exposure/dial up/3x dial right/3xdial up/exposure.) And this after every shot, huhhh.
Most people won't mind, but it takes only jpeg format. No non-compression formats available. This camera lets me take considerably more pictures (about 165) with 256mb than my Dimage s414 (about 125), which also happens to be a 4 MP camera - each camera in the best jpeg settings. With best settings this camera takes file sizes wich average about 1,5MB (Dimage S414 about 2MB). OK not every manufacture uses compression to the same extend, and in this setting Panasonic has surely found a nice compromise between quality and compression. Still I would be happier if Panasonic had tweaked its compession less aggressively, in order to achieve higher quality (but lager file size). Expecially since non-compression is missing and this camera is supposingly more oriented towards the prosumer section.
Nevertheless the picture quality is superb across the whole zoom range (the lense seems to make up for it).
I read reviews were people complained about noise. I figure they chose the wrong ISO (Auto ISO?). Try to use 100, 50 if possible. Everything from ISO 200 on gets indeed noisy, so is it with other cameras. And the fast lense 2.8f over the whole zoom range together with the Image Stabilizer give you quite some options here.
The image stabilizer works great. I think this feature should become as much of an standard as it is for camcorders. This from Panasonic should be a wake up call for the other manufactures to install it in there ultrazooms.
Very positive is the overall speed of the camera. SD memory might help it. Run-up, Burst mode and time between shots is very fast. High Burst gets you 4-5 shots in 2sec. After that you are ready again after about 4 sec. I consider this to be very fast. The only issue in the Burst mode is that it freezes the picture in the LCD screen. Burst makes sense for moving objects. And that is were you find it almost impossible to keep your object in focus when you just see a series of taken pictures with a delay of about 0.5 seconds.
The purple fringing, which often comes along with extreme zoom lenses seems to be moderate. I haven't seen any so far with taken lots of pictures in situations where this is supposed to be most present, like against the sun with darker objects in front. Still it is mentioned in some of the reviews.
Verdict:
Even thought I wrote critically this shouldn`t distract from the fact that this is a state of the art point'n shoot camera with a great Leica lense and a stabilazation system you won't find in any other model of this category.
So giving away some of my high expectations this is still an excellent camera which will epeal to the advanced photographer with a need for an extreme zoom.
