Panasonic DMC-FZ7 Review

Overall Rating

Image quality is very good below ISO 400, it has even surpassed that of some companions with D-SLRS.

This camera is also very easy to use, well-placed controls, great hand grip.

There is also a well-placed joystick for rapidly accessing frequently used functions such as White Balance, ISO sensitivity, image resolution and compression level.

The optical zoom provides a long reach for wildlife photography. There is no distortion at the telephoto end that I have noticed. At the wide end, there is a little distortion if the subject is close by. Images are also sharp and clear.

Auto focus is usually fast and silent, excellent for action pictures. Burst mode is also great.

There is also the option of fully manual controls and selecting different light metering modes.

Contrast, saturation, sharpness and noise reduction each can be adjusted three different levels.

Another very useful feature is the macro mode, it allows shooting close-ups up to 5 cm from the subject.

The few things that I complain about this Lumix are:

High picture noise upwards of ISO 400. With noise reduction on at full power, the pictures turn out soft-looking. I usually shoot at low ISO levels.

Accurate manual focus is very hard with this camera because of the low resolution screens, especially the viewfinder. When taking pictures with auto-focus, this low resolution usually isn't a problem.

The camera feels and is sturdy, but I wouldn't be rough with it because the camera body can be very easily scratched, especially on the flash cover.

My conclusion:

This is an excellent camera. I decided on it after considering several models from other manufacturers. After trying it out for a few weeks, I knew that I had< made a good choice in picking the FZ7.

The Lumix DMC-FZ7 is my first camera so far, and to this day I don't regret I chose it.

The pictures I take are mostly nature, especially birds and close-ups.

The DMC-FZ7 is not targeted, or intended for casual point-and-shooters.

I would recommend this camera, or the newer, improved FZ8, FZ18 or FZ28 for people who want the most possible features and versatility without resorting to a larger, heavier, more expensive D-SLR.
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Tip: Super-zoom digital cameras tend to suck dust INTO their lenses, so a clear filter to encase the entire lens barrel is essential.