Cons: Lower LCD resolution than older models, chromatic noise
The Bottom Line: I like the Panasonic FX3, even though it seems to be worse than the FX01. For my money, I like it better than the Canon SD700. If you do not...
dkozin's Full Review: Panasonic Lumix® DMC-FX3 Digital Camera
Unfortunately, this Panasonic FX3 represents one step forward and two steps back in comparison to the Panasonic FX01. I have used both the Canon SD700 IS, and the Panasonic DMC-FX01 (used the FX01 on a trip to Germany and Prague). Both the FX01 and the FX3 are similar to the Canon SD700: they have compact design, large LCD and optical image stabilization. The Canon SD700 is slightly more compact; the Panasonic FX3 and FX01 sell for much less.
What Is Panasonic DMC-FX01?
The Panasonic DMC-FX3 is a 6-Megapixel compact stylish digital camera with 3x optical zoom (35-105 mm equivalent), large 2.5-inch LCD screen, high-speed auto focus, powered by a compact rechargeable battery. The camera can also record videos at up to 640x480 or 848x480 resolution.
The camera stores pictures and videos on SD (Secure Digital) or MultiMedia memory cards (13.5MB of internal memory is provided as well) and features fast USB 2.0 Hi-Speed connection to PC and Mac computers. The strap, cables, software and rechargeable battery with charger are included.
One Step Forward, Two Steps Back
Unfortunately some reasons I liked the FX01 do not necessarily apply to the FX3.
1. The FX01 had wide angle optics that started at 28mm equivalent focal length. The FX3 starts at 35mm, which is just average. Wide angle optics, which is very useful for taking pictures of building without having to move away from them, which is not even always possible (streets and squares in Europe are narrow). Most consumer-level digital cameras have lenses that start at 35mm (equivalent focal length), which is not enough.
2. The LCD screen is still 2.5-inch in size, but its resolution is just average at 115,000 pixels (the FX01 had almost twice higher resolution).
Still, the camera has the following great features:
1. Optical image stabilization allows shooting handheld in dim conditions with no blur. I was able to get sharp pictures inside dimly lit cathedrals and at full zoom in the evening, sometimes at the lowest ISO setting using the FX01. This is impossible with a camera that has no image stabilization. This still applies to FX3.
2. Long battery life. Using the FX3, I was able to shoot more than 350 pictures (plus some time to review them) and the battery still had usable charge left.
Getting Started
After the camera arrived, I noticed that the camera is very similar in shape, weight and control location to the FX01 and somewhat larger and heavier than that of the Canon SD700. I inserted the battery into the supplied charger and charged it for two hours.
The camera has a retractable lens that extends and has a lens cover that opens when the camera is powered on. When the camera is powered off, the lens retracts and the lens cover closes.
Similar to many other Panasonic cameras, the FX01 has a mechanical on/off switch on the top deck. It has a zoom rocker and a large shutter release button a-la Canon on the top deck as well. There is also a mode wheel, a part of which is visible and accessible through an indentation in the top/rear of the camera.
The bottom of the camera has a metal threaded tripod mount and a battery and SD card compartment lid.
The rear panel has a large 2.5-inch LCD screen, control buttons and menu controls with a select button in the middle of it. Very similar to the FX01.
Usage
The camera is very easy to use. There is an easy usage mode (looks like a rear heart icon on the mode wheel), where you just point and shoot. I mostly used the normal shooting mode where you get more control (you can adjust ISO, disable/change mode of the flash, etc.
The menus and icons are highly descriptive and will be a no-brainer weather you used Panasonic cameras before or not. I have not read the manual (I have not even opened it), but was able to use the camera and all its features in no time. The camera can be used by any member of the family and by photographers of all levels of expertise from novices to advanced ones (albeit it will not give you much control over the shutter speed or aperture).
The camera is very fast and responsive. You press the shutter release button halfway to make camera focus and then take the picture by pressing the shutter release button all the way. In dim conditions, the camera uses its focus-assist light, which is effective in focusing upclose.
In addition to fast ISO selection, the camera gives you instant access to the flash mode selection (flash off, red-eye reduction, night portrait, auto flash), macro mode as well as drive mode at a push of a button.
As I always do with cameras that have optical image stabilization, the first thing I adjusted was switching from Image Stabilization Mode 1 to Mode 2. This stabilizes the image only when the picture is taken, improving the image stabilization efficiency and saving batter power. With Mode 2 enabled, I was able to take more than 350 pictures and still had some battery life left.
Performance
The camera is fast in operation with the exception of zooming, which is rather precise. I find the 3x optical zoom the camera has sufficient for most situations and the image stabilization makes its telephoto end more usable in less than perfect light. But the 28mm wide angle of the FX01 is lost and the zooming now starts at 35mm. This is average for cameras of this category. I missed the extraordinary wide angle of the FX01 on a few occasions.
In single-frame mode, the camera could snap pictures as fast as I could push the shutter release button. The focusing takes less than a second, even in dim lighting, at wide angle. But at telephoto the focusing can take a little more than a second and the camera sometimes fails to focus at all. The shutter lag, when pre-focused, is almost unnoticeable.
Battery Life
Using the fully-charged battery, I took more than 350 pictures and spent a good half hour reviewing them on top of that and the battery indicator still showed that there was some battery life left. All of this with LCD on (obviously) but with flash usage of only about ten percent. The battery is larger in size than that of the Canon SD line of cameras. I am very impressed with the battery life of the FX3.
LCD and Viewfinder
The camera has a 2.5-inch non-articulated (fixed) LCD screen and no viewfinder. The LCD is large, bright, gains-up in the dark (increases brightness) and is fluid in good light. You can increase its brightness at a push of a button temporarily, but I found this feature too cumbersome to use to bother with it.
The resolution of the screen is average (the FX01 was better). The LCD coverage as about 100% - you can see exactly what will be recorded. The icons/menus are highly legible.
Computer Connectivity
The camera uses USB 2.0 Hi-Speed connection to transfer pictures to a computer. You can also remove the SD memory card and use a memory card reader (if you have one), or use the camera with the USB cable supplied. I did the former.
Flash
The camera's flash is quite bright for its size. It has a red-eye reduction mode and is sufficient at up to 10-12 feet away. The red-eye problems in dimly-lit indoors were much less than that of the Canon SD line, but still present.
White Balance
The camera's automatic white balance is usually quite accurate with the exception of the incandescent lighting, where you are better off either selecting Incandescent white balance setting or using the available manual white balance. Overall, the white balance on Panasonic cameras seem to favor warm hues.
Image Quality
I usually take photos that contain all primary colors at different focal lengths, apertures and compression ratios. Some photos are taken outdoors, some indoors with and without flash.
Oftentimes, I take a bunch of photos from my balcony. Those photos features all colors: blue sky, green foliage, red curbs, yellow fire hydrant and cars of different colors.
Taking photos at different focal lengths and apertures reveals the camera's optical quality: corner sharpness, chromatic aberrations, overall sharpness.
Taking photos at different ISO settings shows how well a given camera can keep noise levels low in dim light. I mostly evaluate the image quality using my computer monitor, but I also print some photos at different sizes using either my printer or online services like Shutterfly, Snapfish and Sam's Club's online photo center.
Generally, I could take pictures using the FX3 at longer exposures (slower shutter speeds) than possible without image stabilization. For example, at wide angle indoors at ISO 80, I could take pictures at 1/8s handheld and some they were usable, most even sharp at full resolution. I was able to take pictures of interiors of dimly-lit castles and cathedrals easily with no flash.
The camera has very good image stabilization, which helps it take handheld photos indoors without flash or at high zoom levels in situations that would result in blurry or even unusable photos with other compact cameras.
The camera produces good photos overall: well-exposed, contrasty and richly-colored images. I used the FX3’s 3:2 aspect ratio, which produces pictures that print without cropping at 6x4 format. Using of this aspect ratio also allows you avoid dealing with possible corner softness (not that the FX3 has much of it).
The optics of the FX3 has lost the wide angle of the FX01, but it seems to be slightly sharper, especially in corners at wide angle. Still, there is some (small amount) chromatic aberration in the areas of high contrast, particularly in corners at wide angle.
There is also noise, even at the lowest ISO. The chromatic noise is visible at full resolution at the lowest ISO and increases with sensitivity. If you are printing 6x4 or 5x7 pictures, the noise should not be visible up to ISO 400. At ISO up to 100, you can print your photos at up to 11x14 inches with good detail and ISO 200 should be good up to 10x8. It all depends on your noise tolerance. But in any case, Canon SD cameras have slightly lower noise levels.
Overall, for its size, the camera produces good pictures, especially considering the fact that you can shoot handheld in situations where similarly-priced cameras without image stabilization would not let you take usable pictures (aside from Fuji SuperCCD cameras that allow you to use higher ISO settings with less noise).
Movie Mode
I tried the 640x480 movie mode. The video was fluid and sharp, although not a replacement for a camcorder, especially since you cannot zoom while shooting. The camera also has a 320x240 mode as well as 848x480 widescreen mode.
FX3 Versus Canon SD700
In some areas, the FX01 is better than the SD700: it displays shooting parameters (shutter speed and aperture), has longer battery life, $100 lower price, gives you choice of colors, has less of red-eye problem. But it has slightly higher noise and does not look as good as SD700, zooms slower, has lower LCD resolution.
Also Check Out
Also, check out the Panasonic FX07. Same features and performance with higher resolution of both the CCD and LCD and wide angle zoom for just a little more money. And the FX01 is still available.
Bottom Line
I like the Panasonic FX3, even though it seems to be worse than the FX01. For my money, I like it better than the Canon SD700. If you do not need wide angle zoom and do not care if the LCD screen has only average resolution, the FX3 is an excellent choice with its optical image stabilization, great battery life and low price. If you want wide angle optics and higher LCD resolution, the Panasonic FX01 sells for very similar price.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 210 This Camera is a Good Choice if You Want Something... Easy Enough for Anyone to Use
6.0-megapixel CCD captures enough detail for photo-quality 14 x 19-inch prints 3x image-stabilized optical zoom; 2.5-inch LCD display High Sensitivity...More at Amazon Marketplace
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