Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100 Digital Camera

[Mastermind]

Panasonic has a great history and great experience in the market for these compact, sober in design and performance, play to stand up to her older sisters interchangeable lens. To round out this catalog, lacked only get a model to bring together in one body all the benefits that have emerged in recent times, and dress it all with a good dose of high-definition video. And, apparently, this Lumix DMC-FZ100 not lack anything. Already at the time put the glass on its video capabilities and the note was pretty good. Now is the time for a more thorough analysis of your photographic results to see if it is gold that glitters after his impressive optics and high-speed bursts.

Design

Its shape and design are strong within the normal scales in this category. Once in hand, the feeling is similar to the grip offered by some small SLR, such as the Pentax Kx or Nikon D3100 . For its part, the construction is made entirely of plastic, but still shows well finished and assembled, without any annoying crackle when working with it. The weight is at 540 grams with battery and memory card. With dimensions of 124 x 81 x 95 mm, is the most heavy and bulky current catalog of Panasonic in the segment, ahead of the popular Lumix DMC-FZ38 or the new FZ45 .

In the front we can find a large 24x zoom Leica signed by the focus assist light and on the side of the lens barrel, the switch to change the focusing system (normal, macro or manual) without having to go into the menu. At the top stands the shoe that lets you use external flash, the pair of stereo microphones on either side and, of course, integrated with a powerful flash at ISO 100 ranging from 30 centimeters to 1.8 meters, can regulate its power -2 to + 2 steps.

• In the rear, is the absolute queen
• articulated screen 3-inch 460,000 dots
• offering outstanding quality and contrast

Controls at the top are numerous. The mode dial is rotated 360 degrees, besides the usual PASM advanced settings, it also offers preset modes, scenes and video recording with manual settings, and more. Next door is the button that controls access to the speed of the blast, a dedicated button for video recording and a switch something small and hard to find in low light.

In the rear, the absolute queen is the articulated LCD screen 3-inch, 460,000-dot resolution, which offers outstanding quality and contrast, especially when compared with that used in the FZ38. The total mobility of this monitor is a detail really useful for recording video sequences and for framing shots with a little complex. Too bad Panasonic did not go a little further, taken the opportunity to also improve the viewfinder of the camera.

[Mastermind]

Zoom

The FZ100 also introduces the first target of 24 increases to be seen around the house. The optical design is signed, as is usual in the company, with the name Leica DC Vario-Elmarit and looks a structure of 14 elements arranged in 10 groups. Its equivalent focal universal step is 25 millimeters wide angle and 600 mm at the longest focal. Regarding the opening, this is from f2.8 to f5.2. Without doubt, very good figures. Although not reaching the 30 increases we've seen in a camera like the Fujifilm FinePix HS10 or the Olympus SP-800UZ (not to mention the latest 35x of the Canon PowerShot SX30 ), the truth is that the proposal Panasonic seems to us more than enough to cover any type of scene.

Its performance has left some bittersweet, although that is not no surprise when confronted with a zoom of this type.

• It is best
• not to close the diaphragm
• more than one or two steps
• respect to its maximum aperture

Maximum sharpness is only available in wide angle and maximum aperture. Since then the results will level down the stretch as you zoom. Unfortunately, closing the diaphragm will not improve the outcome, given the high density of pixels and diffraction effects. Therefore, as a rule, it is best not to close the diaphragm more than one or two steps regarding their open position, if the aim is to achieve the best possible image quality.

The geometric distortion is not one of the best arguments for this view, although it should not surprise us. A barrel 25 mm the effect is quite pronounced. Better news about the pincushion distortion at the end of travel of zoom, which shows much better resolved. The macro is simply amazing, allowing focus at a distance of 1 centimeter. Not very practical for insects, as they are, or rather run-the risk of being crushed by the optics, but for shots of flowers, for example.

Effective approach

The autofocus of this Lumix DMC-FZ100 shown right. In general, it is very fast both in startup speed as when setting the focus. His little hesitation, in fact, are among the most flexible we've tested in a compact camera of this type. In low light conditions into action the focus assist light, which gets resolved the ballot without major problems. With regard to stabilization, the latest generation of arrangements made by Panasonic in their cameras, the OIS-called Power already has a well-deserved reputation in this case remains impeccable. Or almost.

In angle shots, no problem. We could not shoot even 1 / 8 of a second without the jitter affecting the images. By extending the zoom, however, the 600 mm can be hard to handle on many occasions and give us more of an unpleasant surprise when reviewing the results.

Artificial intelligence

As in other recent models from Panasonic, the FZ100 incorporated new technology dubbed "intelligent decision." With it you can stretch the reach of the zoom-if we need more than 600 millimeters, of course, so that increases to 24 can become 32. The result is much better than it offers a digital zoom because, thanks to this technology and the processing applied, no appreciable loss in the final.

• When in doubt, leave this function
• Intelligent Resolution provided
• active it will not hurt

Another of the supposed advantages of this system, and that comes from the hand engine Venus Engine HD image is the ability to automatically process specific areas of the picture and optimize the level of detail and make smoother transitions. This mode is the default when working with the automatic "iA" or in some scene modes. Can also be activated through the camera's main menu. The practical result is quite subtle, really, although we might see some improvement if we review the most troubled areas of the image at 100%. When in doubt, always on leave so it will not hurt.

Following the news, we can not ignore the system "Deblur Motion Mode." It can be summarized as the ability of the camera to automatically avoid shooting subjects moving, and automatically adjust the ISO and shutter speed based on subject movement.

[Mastermind]

Unprecedented burst

With the permission of the video, continuous shooting is one of the most care in this model. And proof of this is that the camera has a dedicated button to adjust this function specifically. No wonder, because the new 14.1-megapixel CMOS is capable of shooting 11 frames per second at full resolution. Of course, with the focus on single. If you want to combine continuous shooting with continuous approach, the speed is reduced to 5 shots per second.

All this using the mechanical shutter, electronic shutter because the camera can go even further: 40 or 60 frames per second depending on the resolution chosen, but always with a maximum of 5 megapixels and auto focus working with simple. Given the high speeds and HD video recording, a detail to be considered will be made with a card of sufficient capacity and speed to optimize the performance of the camera in these two fields.

Thanks to the image processor and a fairly restrained energy consumption, the lithium ion battery of 895 mAh is able to withstand, according to official data, about 400 shots. Our tests result in a figure very close though, curiously, we have also discovered that the FZ45, located just a step below, boasts a greater autonomy.



Video

The video recording options offered by this model are well worth a separate chapter. In fact, we dedicate the first contact with the FZ100 and, in fact, the video became the unexpected star of the analysis. Nevertheless, it never hurts to do a quick summary and re-take a look at the sequences recorded with a Lumix DMC-FZ100 to refresh her memory. Several video clips recorded with the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100 and subjected to a compression process optimized. You can play full screen video and high definition.

The camera can record clips at 1920 x 1020 dots interlace (1080i) with a refresh of 50 frames per second and a rate of 17 Mbps AVCHD. It is also possible to lower the transfer rate to 13 Mbps in case you need a longer recording time due to limitations of the card, and even work with MJPEG format at 720p resolution. The zoom, of course, remains active for the recording of videos and also slows its movement to allow a smoother movement. We also have-and this is one of the highlights of this function, a full manual mode to control all parameters of the recording.



Jump without a net

As previously mentioned, the head of this avalanche of new features is the 14-megapixel CMOS camera incorporating. If input and we are quite reluctant to cram such a tiny sensor resolution, also in this case we must add the disappointing results, in general, have shown the type CMOS sensors of this size. It is not really that they are bad but they just have not proved to meet the expectations placed on them or contribute much to what has been seen in the CCD sensors used so far in the compact.

And the case for FZ100 is no exception. After a few weeks of living together and view the images, we can expect an improvement over previous models, even using the RAW format that does not fix things a lot. Working with lower sensitivities (100 and 200 ISO) the results are pretty good if put in the balance in its class. The images are sharp and exhibit excellent color fidelity and saturation. In other words, properly solve most of the situations and conquer the majority of users who come to this model.

But as expected, if we go a little further with the ISO scale resent results, with worse color reproduction and a level of detail increasingly loose. In short, moving from ISO 400 is not recommended unless you settle for small format prints. In this case reach the 800 ISO is not crazy. Catches were made with a Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100. Pictures taken in RAW and processed with Adobe Lightroom 3.2. Click on the image to download the original RAW file. We will also go carefully when properly exposed, given the ease with which when burned highlights and its limited dynamic range. Fortunately, it is relatively easy thanks to the exposure compensation dial on the camera back.

[Mastermind]

At the top of its segment

Panasonic has come a long way to reach it is without doubt one of the most long-zoom cameras round of the day. Nothing has been left out: recording video in high definition 1920 x 1080, manual controls, a spectacular bursts.

• Input, we are quite reluctant
• to embed such a decision
• in a tiny sensor

Keep the RAW format is another of the strengths that distinguish FZ100 some competitive models. One detail that more advanced users will appreciate though, to be honest, we must recognize that neither can squeeze more performance compared to what we already offer direct JPEG. In any case, by the chamber include the SILKYPIX Developer Studio 3.0 program for the developing of these files is a good way.

If the positive part of the balance are located very full benefits of the camera, Full HD video and gusts, the other side is to place the viewfinder, but a tall order, we would have liked this one similar to that used in the Lumix G-and image quality remains one of the weaknesses of these cameras.
Those who give priority to that point and know that the road passes through the interchangeable lens cameras, which simpler models, by the way, are priced quite similar to the FZ100. In return, yes, they have to give up the zoom, gusts and video services offered by this Lumix. It is, as always, the price to pay to change it all (everything) in the palm of the hand. Those willing to sign that check will find this the most complete choice model in its class.