Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100

Camera as much as possible to pack – which seems the goal of Pansonic at the new ultra-zoom camera Lumix DMC FZ100 to have been a case with fixed verbautem lens. And in fact, the total camera with a fullness of equipment can shine that outstrips many mid-range DSLR. In addition a lens covering the gigantic focal length range of 25 to 600 millimeters. The 15-megapixel image sensor, however, could come from a handy compact camera. Our detailed test report clarifies how to beat the Lumix FZ100 photographic everyday, as well as in the test lab.

Ergonomics and processing even the exterior reveals: the Lumix FZ100 wants to be a snapshot camera. The camera looks like a rather small geratene DSLR, the massive lens and strongly protruding handle even further this impression. Once in the hand is immediately clear: the Lumix FZ100 is a true Ultra Zoom camera. She readily presses just 540 grams on the scales. No DSLR, certainly not with a 600 mm zoom is easy. However, Panasonic achieved this flyweight by the consistent use of a bit cheap plastic. Only the tripod is made of solid metal, but it is unfortunately not the optical axis. The keys for the various ports include solid, water protected or even “waterproof” they do not close however. On the housing form, there is however nothing to problem, on the contrary: the Lumix FZ100 lies perfectly in the hand, are the most important controls with one hand without trouble. So also the lush sized mode dial, on which Panasonic has placed no less than 14 setting positions. Add a round dozen come again so quickly configure without the trip to the menu buttons and switches that can be Lumix FZ100. Pity that Panasonic of camera in addition to the somewhat smooth thumb wheel has powered won’t have a front command dial. After all: The thumb wheel changes its function under pressure and adjusted the aperture then in the A (aperture priority) mode no longer, but is used for the exposure compensation. Clever also: Important settings for which there is no place was more for dedicated buttons, can call on a quick menu. So to change the Flash mode or the Belichtungsmessmethode at lightning speed, to name only two examples. Is necessary but a trip to the configuration menu, even the savvy author quickly lose the overview. Although the long lists are subdivided into up to seven register, you must however completely through it to invoke the desired menu item. Directly select the single register not can be.

Panasonic has hardly an effort made with the screen of the Lumix FZ100. It is mounted on the camera body with a clever rotating and folding hinge on the left, so in virtually any position pan is – even if the camera on a tripod is mounted. So, for example, overhead shots or photographs to the ground are easily possible. The monitor is lush with three-inch diagonal (7.6 cm), the resolution is only 460,000 subpixel. That’s enough just to display a proper resolution view, the quality of current VGA displays not provides that the Lumix FZ100 however. As an alternative to the image control via display, the camera offers a video viewfinder (EVF). But very small, it is advised, is also the exit pupil far ahead of the actual display. People who wear glasses can overlook so the tiny viewfinder image hard to entirely, the view in the video viewfinder is similar to that in a too small that tunnel. With about 200,000 pixels, the electronic viewfinder resolves to gross, the focus is limited to assess him. It is also a pity that the Lumix FZ100 not automatically switches from the display on the EVF, if the eye approaches the viewfinder. That was the Minolta DiMAGE series years ago, with the Lumix FZ100 you must, however, cumbersome switch by hand between LCD and EVF.

Facilities Panasonic Lumix FZ100 has given a virtually rich functionality. Here, both less experienced and comfortable photographers as discriminating Fotoamateure find a number of features specifically tailored to their needs. Over 20 scene modes to easily make it example the beginners, quickly and safely on the current shooting situation set the camera – for photos in the snow or pictures of babies. Subroutines for certain scene modes are added. So you can choose not only the “portrait” program, but also “portrait in”, “portrait outside”, “portrait of beautiful skin” and more. Of course, the Lumix FZ100 offers also a face detection. Whether really helps this abundance of possibilities or not much more unnecessarily increases the spoilt for choice, be even then. Who wants to take the trouble to not be left to the choice of appropriate design program with the iAuto program also equal to the camera – in case of doubt, so the image you want in any case is faster in the box. But beware! The Flash does not automatically switches the Lumix FZ100 even in the dark Kohlenkeller, the Flash must be extended by hand. With guide number 11, the small on-board Flash is quite strong, the Lumix FZ100 also has a hot shoe for an external flash unit connection.

The Lumix FZ100 provides photographers with ambitions of diverse ways to set the camera according to taste. So she can be automatically operated (as time or aperture-type circuit breaker) and completely manually control. This applies also to the auto-focus, he can also be disabled. It is convenient that the Lumix FZ100 in manual focus automatically increases the viewfinder image. Panasonic also facilitates the manual focus with another feature: the thumb wheel is used for the broad choice of sharpness, with the arrow keys move focus to the point can be just fine adjust – cleverly made! The camera also when choosing the ISO settings is very versatile. In addition to the usual ISO automatic with selectable ceiling knows the Lumix FZ100 still the “intelligent ISO setting”: it works much like the ISO Auto, but detects moving subjects. If necessary, sets the ISO number then high, to obtain shortest shutter speeds. The Panasonic Lumix FZ100 engineers have powered also an AE/AF-lock button. In the AF memory offers a very special way: the focus distance to the object is first saved, regulates the focus, the Lumix FZ100 whenever the subject from the chosen focus level also passes – a smart function. Who does not trust the automatic exposure control, can take with the Lumix FZ100 exposures – up to three light values (EV) difference between the individual pictures can be set. Even white balance-series allows the camera, and these are certainly rarely necessary: the Lumix FZ100 white balance can be adjusted in such detail, that he “is in most cases”. However, perhaps the most important feature for advanced photographer is: the Lumix FZ100 records also in RAW format and offers a lot of potential for subsequent processing

For the creative photographer, the Lumix FZ100 also offers a wide field of activity. Color, saturation, sharpness, contrast, and much more can be adjusted according to taste. And so that the experimental photographer must laboriously again reconstruct any favorite setting, it allows the camera to save image styles and get with a few keystrokes from the quick menu. Also up to three custom menu settings in user programs can store and then quickly select the mode dial. Who can not wait to edit his pictures until he has transferred it to the PC, is at least basic editing capabilities in the Lumix FZ100: crop, just align, with titles, or other information – all this is possible. Also video maker provides the Lumix FZ100 lush functions: you records on in the modern AVHCD (1080i) format with the built-in stereo microphone provides a spatial sound impression. Aperture and shutter speed can be set during video recording, or manually set. Also, the auto focus works during the video recording and also the zoom.

While the camera during filming between the frames with an electronic shutter, it offers a traditional mechanical lock to the photograph. This is to due to its very low noise, the Lumix FZ100 raises almost silently. In a quiet environment, such as the wildlife photography or at events the camera remains so acoustic in the background. The Lumix FZ100 can take but also pictures with electronic lock and then comes to the breathtaking frame rate of up to 60 frames per second. However the resolution to around 3.5 megapixels reduces this and the story ends at the latest after one second exposure time. Full resolution the camera shoots rapid 11.8 shots per second, then ends the recording series also after a good second or 15 photos. And: the camera calls for ideal lighting conditions for the rapid series of pictures. Already on a dull autumn day the series screen speed on half of the promised value collapsed, however, did not help increasing the ISO sensitivity.

Objectively, one of the highlights of the Lumix FZ100 is certainly their lens. It covers a gigantic focal length range of 25 to 600 millimeters and is at least on the short end up with a start aperture of F2, 8 quite lichtstark. However, the light intensity with increasing focal length decreases rapidly, is only F5 tele, 2. Panasonic has also equipped the camera with a very effective optical image stabilizer. Only thus, the long maximum focal length can be at all meaningful use, which is called stabilization system ensures o.i.s. namely, that the viewfinder as spiked is – and not wobbles of course also the recording. The macro capabilities of the lens are impressive: in wide angle position the close focus distance is only ten inches, the shortest focusing distance is only one meter at 600 mm focal length. In connection with the small sensor, which already provides much depth of field at large aperture, the Lumix FZ100 could become quite the insider’s tip for Marko enthusiasts on a tight budget.

Well, Panasonic has solved the handling of the large zoom range. The very sensitively responsive, circular zoom head stops the focal length adjustment to any position. In addition the drives by Zoom faster if the ring is pushed through to the hilt and slower, if you only gently move it. So, there is little effort to set the desired image to the point. You should bring some patience when zooming however: the camera takes to 2.5 seconds to pass the entire focal range. The wide angle and macro capabilities of the lens not enough who can appropriate auxiliary lenses from the Panasonic accessories program “anflanschen”. So, the minimum focal length to 17.5 mm can be reduced with the wide angle lens DMW-LW55 (about 230 euros). However, the lens does not a classic filter thread, but a bayonet lock, accessories can be attached only via a special adapter ring.While the camera during filming between the frames with an electronic shutter, it offers a traditional mechanical lock to the photograph. This is to due to its very low noise, the Lumix FZ100 raises almost silently. In a quiet environment, such as the wildlife photography or at events the camera remains so acoustic in the background. The Lumix FZ100 can take but also pictures with electronic lock and then comes to the breathtaking frame rate of up to 60 frames per second. However the resolution to around 3.5 megapixels reduces this and the story ends at the latest after one second exposure time. Full resolution the camera shoots rapid 11.8 shots per second, then ends the recording series also after a good second or 15 photos. And: the camera calls for ideal lighting conditions for the rapid series of pictures. Already on a dull autumn day the series screen speed on half of the promised value collapsed, however, did not help increasing the ISO sensitivity.

Objectively, one of the highlights of the Lumix FZ100 is certainly their lens. It covers a gigantic focal length range of 25 to 600 millimeters and is at least on the short end up with a start aperture of F2, 8 quite lichtstark. However, the light intensity with increasing focal length decreases rapidly, is only F5 tele, 2. Panasonic has also equipped the camera with a very effective optical image stabilizer. Only thus, the long maximum focal length can be at all meaningful use, which is called stabilization system ensures o.i.s. namely, that the viewfinder as spiked is – and not wobbles of course also the recording. The macro capabilities of the lens are impressive: in wide angle position the close focus distance is only ten inches, the shortest focusing distance is only one meter at 600 mm focal length. In connection with the small sensor, which already provides much depth of field at large aperture, the Lumix FZ100 could become quite the insider’s tip for Marko enthusiasts on a tight budget.

Well, Panasonic has solved the handling of the large zoom range. The very sensitively responsive, circular zoom head stops the focal length adjustment to any position. In addition the drives by Zoom faster if the ring is pushed through to the hilt and slower, if you only gently move it. So, there is little effort to set the desired image to the point. You should bring some patience when zooming however: the camera takes to 2.5 seconds to pass the entire focal range. The wide angle and macro capabilities of the lens not enough who can appropriate auxiliary lenses from the Panasonic accessories program “anflanschen”. So, the minimum focal length to 17.5 mm can be reduced with the wide angle lens DMW-LW55 (about 230 euros). However, the lens does not a classic filter thread, but a bayonet lock, accessories can be attached only via a special adapter ring.