Testing / Performance

Color ***(7.36)*Some film purists claim digital images cannot parallel the color rendering of 35mm negatives. This adage holds true for many cheaper compact digital cameras, which produce terribly inaccurate colors; however, more advanced digital processors can give 35mm negatives tough competition. As one of the most expensive non-SLR digital models on the market, the Panasonic FZ30 should perform well; the preceding FZ5 produced very accurate colors. We test the color reproduction of digital cameras by shooting several exposures of a GretagMacbeth color chart and uploading the images into Imatest Imaging Software. Imatest compared the 24 original colors of the chart to the colors produced by the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ30. Below is the GretagMacbeth color chart modified by the software to illustrate the accuracy of the FZ30’s rendered tones. The inner vertical rectangle is the original color of the chart. The outer square is the color produced by the Panasonic FZ30. The inner square is the camera’s produced color, corrected for luminance.  

Those same 24 colors are shown on the spectral chart below. The ideal colors are represented by the squares; the circles represent the FZ30’s colors. It is easier to see just how accurate or inaccurate each color is with the line that connects them. The longer the line is, the more inaccurate that particular color.  

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ30 proves that the film buffs either still have grounds to avoid digital photography, or should bump up to a true digital SLR. The FZ30 achieved an overall color score of 7.36, which is decent but still not completely accurate. The overall color error was 6.36, while red #15 and green #14 were erroneous to the extreme. Part of the reason this model performed below par is because it was tested with the noise reduction mode on high. While the noise reduction mode is absolutely necessary on the FZ30, colors captured in NR high mode lost accuracy and saturation in the process. Still, the Lumix FZ30 over-saturated by only 6.2 percent. Overall, the 7.36 color score is a bit disappointing and does not offer the reproduction potential of closely priced DSLRs.   **Still Life Scene**Below is a shot of our Coleridge-esque still life scene captured with the Panasonic FZ30.

[

Click on the above image to view a full resolution version (CAUTION: the linked file is very large!)](https://reviewed.usatoday.com/cameras/viewer.php?picture=FZ30-StillLifeLG.jpg ) 

Resolution** / Sharpness ***(4.6)*While the FZ30’s lens is impressive in its range and the MEGA O.I.S. functions do a good job of providing sharp images when there is camera shake, the sharpness of the images themselves was not quite as impressive.  

[

Click on the above chart to view full res image](https://reviewed.usatoday.com/cameras/viewer.php?picture=FZ30-ResCH-LG.jpg)

We again used Imatest Imaging Software to provide another means of analyzing the FZ30’s images. Imatest reports sharpness as LW/PH as opposed to the more conventional lp/ph because the later is geared towards 35mm negatives which offer a standard size, unlike digital cameras with varying sensor dimensions. Since the FZ30 does not contain a full frame sensor, but rather a 1/1.8" CCD imaging chip, the scores are reported in LW/PH.   

Imatest detected 1607 horizontal LW/PH and 1600 vertical LW/PH.  This is decent for a compact camera, but for the highly regarded Leica-branded glass, it is a bit disappointing.    **Noise - Auto ISO *(2.21)*Panasonic’s digital cameras may have lots of strong attributes, but they are not known for their crisp images sans noise. Many of the Lumix models have the same problem with noise. Panasonic’s attempted remedy on the FZ30 was multiple noise reduction modes; however, even with the mode set on high, resulting images were still plagued by noise. The Panasonic FZ30 automatically selected a sensitivity setting equivalent to ISO 150 in our studio setup of 3000 lux. Noise was prevalent, giving this digital camera a disappointing overall automatic ISO noise score of 2.21. Noise - Manual ISO ***(3.3)*We tested the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ30 with noise reduction set to Standard and then High to determine how effective the setting functioned in practice. Below is a chart showing the ISO levels on the horizontal axis and the noise levels on the vertical axis. The blue line shows the noise levels with the noise reduction mode on standard, while the red line illustrates the camera’s performance with the mode on high.

When all of the noise levels from the manual ISO settings were compiled into a regression analysis, the overall manual ISO noise score came out to a rather unsatisfactory 3.3.  **Low Light Performance ***(4.0)*Because the sun is only up for so long and many photographers continue shooting at night, we test the low light performance of digital cameras. We do this by taking pictures of the color chart in progressively lower levels of light. 60 lux is equivalent to the amount of light emitted from two bulbs in a ceiling-mounted lamp. 30 lux is about the light from a single 40-watt bulb. We test the cameras at 15 and 5 lux as well to see how the camera will respond to longer exposures and handle minimal illumination.     The Panasonic DMC-FZ30 performed much better than any of its other Lumix relatives in terms of illumination. Despite the waning light, the FZ30 retains fairly consistent illumination. The big drawback of this model’s low light performance is the same drawback it has in other areas: noise. Even with the noise reduction on high, there are purple speckles throughout the color charts. The FZ30’s noise problem is not unique to low light; noise does get worse with increased exposure duration, but image clarity will be an issue whenever shooting with the FZ30.

The noise graph below indicates a sharp increase in noise when exposures span just over a half second, so beware of this when shooting at night or slowing the shutter down.

For some reason, we have received a good deal of feedback from readers compelled to compare the Panasonic FZ30 to the Canon EOS 20D. While this does not seem very reasonable to us with the jump in price and performance capabilities in the 20D, we have included some night crops for those interested readers. The images below illustrate the difference in image quality between the two models. For greater clarity, they are magnified 200%. All of the images were shot in Aperture Priority mode with the lens open to f/2.8 and Auto white balance. Test images recorded with the Canon EOS 20D were shot using the 18-55mm EF-S kit lens.   

Panasonic FZ30 - ISO 80

Canon 20D - ISO 100

Panasonic FZ30 - ISO 100

Canon 20D - ISO 200

Panasonic FZ30 - ISO 200

Canon 20D - ISO 400

Panasonic FZ30 - ISO 400

Canon 20D - ISO 1600

Speed / Timing*Start-up to First Shot (8.16)*

The Panasonic FZ30 improves greatly on its other Lumix line models in the start-up area. While other Panasonic models were taking about 4 seconds to start up, the FZ30 is taking a much improved and more competitive 1.84 seconds to start up and take its first shot.

Shot to Shot (9.18)

There are two burst modes on the FZ30. The high burst mode is just short of 3 frames per second with its 0.3975 average time between shots. The infinite burst mode is a little slower at 0.575 seconds, but bursts until the card is full.

Shutter to Shot (8.24)

There is some shutter lag in the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ30. It takes the digital camera 0.38 seconds to take the shot from the time the shutter release button is pressed.  

Physical Tour

 **
Front*** (8.0)*

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ30 is all about the lens. The long, chunky Leica Vario-Elmarit lens dominates the FZ30, all over, especially from the front of the camera. The viewfinder/flash hump doesn't rise very far above the lens. It bears the "Lumix" designation in attractive metallic type, but it's so low that it's almost inconspicuous. The handgrip on the left is thick and nicely contoured. Because the camera is so short, it's not likely that all of the user's fingers will fit on the grip, but it's covered in a textured rubber that’s comfortable and easy to hold. The front control dial is built into the grip under the shutter release, in a natural spot for the index finger. Toward the top of the camera, between the grip and the lens, there is a very small window for the autofocus assist lamp and the self-timer indicator. Below that, there's a Panasonic nameplate, and the camera's model name. In the lower right corner of the front is a gold badge with a script "L."**
Back*** (7.5)*

Panasonic did a great job simplifying the controls on the back of the Panasonic DMC-FZ30. It's an uncluttered interface, with room between the controls. Unfortunately, space came at the cost of a sizable LCD; the 2-inch device sits at the end of a joint that does tilt and swivel, but the screen is still small, and shows accurate color from a narrow angle of view. An electronic viewfinder is perched above it, looking very much like a DSLR's optical viewfinder, but its eyepiece is primarily plastic and lacks the lush padding of the larger eye cups on the cameras it imitates. There's a diopter adjustment dial on the left of the viewfinder. To the right of the viewfinder is an oblong exposure lock button. Below that is a column of round buttons. The top control switches the display between the viewfinder and the LCD. The next one, labeled "Display," controls the information superimposed over the image on the LCD or in the viewfinder. Next is the "Menu" button, which calls up the menus or shuts them off. At the bottom is the "Trash" button, for deleting images from the SD card. The four-way controller is to the right of the trash button. It is made up of four separate buttons, each of which has a dedicated function in shooting mode. The top button calls up the exposure compensation control, the flash compensation control, and white balance compensation. The left button calls up the self-timer, the right button sets the flash sync, and the bottom button brings up the last image shot (or viewed) on the LCD or viewfinder. The microphone grill is above the four-way controller, in the low part of a comfortable and secure thumb rest. The back control dial is to the right of the thumb rest.
**

Left Side* (8.0)*
**The left side of the Panasonic DMC-FZ30 features a port door protecting the USB / analog video terminal, the remote control port, and the external power supply socket. The door is rigid plastic and spring-loaded to snap shut. It doesn't latch, so it could be pulled open if is snagged on something, and it could break in the process. We prefer latched doors, or rubber ones because of the added durability. A wide, sturdy, chrome shoulder strap lug sits at the top of the left side, and the switch to activate the flash is on the viewfinder hump. Out on the lens barrel, a small panel supports the autofocus mode switch and a button to temporarily activate autofocus in manual focus mode.

Right Side* (7.0)*

The right side of the DMC-FZ30 is generally smooth, which is appropriate for the side that the user's hand will nearly cover when holding the camera. Unfortunately, the shoulder strap lug on this side interrupts the smooth expanse and it's in a spot that can interfere with gripping the camera. The SD card slot is under a door on the right side. The door is relatively secure – the user must slide it back before it will swing open.

Top* (8.0)*

The top of the Panasonic DMC-FZ30 is laid out so that the controls are easy to access and hard to mix up. To the left of the viewfinder hump is a grill for the speaker. There is a hot shoe on top of the hump, which unfortunately does not support any dedicated features – no exposure data can be shared between the flash and the camera. The FZ30’s mode dial is to the right of the hump. It's a large dial, with nine well-marked settings. To the right of the dial is the main power control, which is a small sliding switch, a small power status light, the burst mode button, and the image stabilization control. The large shutter release button is at the end of the grip, isolated from the other controls.

Bottom* (7.5)*

The FZ30’s battery compartment is housed within the handgrip, and the access door is on the bottom of the camera. The door has a large, sturdy latch, which adds to its durability. The tripod bushing is in line with the lens, which is ideal for adjusting the camera on a tripod.

Components

**

Viewfinder*** (3.5)*

Though it looks a bit like an SLR, the Panasonic DMC-FZ30 sports a fully plastic electronic viewfinder. The 235,000-pixel viewing screen has more contrast than the LCD, but not in a good way – its color reproduction is harsh and the view is compromised.

**

LCD Screen*** (6.5)*

The color LCD on the Panasonic DMC-FZ30 is a 2-inch, 235,000-pixel display, which is mounted to pivot 180 degrees and swing up and down. The result is that the user has the option of looking at the LCD flat against the FZ30's back; tilted down, for overhead shots; or tilted up, for ground-level shots. The display can also be folded against the back of the camera, to protect it for storage or travel. 2 inches is small for an LCD on a $700 camera. Though the pixel count is high, it does not offer a wide angle of view, a drawback that is not mitigated by its tilt-swivel mount.

Flash* (7.0)*

The Panasonic DMC-FZ30's pop-up flash is directly above the lens, which prevents unflattering shadows in flash photography. The flash reaches to 14.8 feet in wide angle mode, but not quite as far in telephoto. Shooting with a 420mm-equivalent at distances closer than 15 feet is pretty limiting – it's too close for anything but a very tight portrait – so an external flash is necessary for telephoto flash photography. The FZ30 has a hot shoe over the lens for just such a flash. Unfortunately, the single-pin shoe will provide only synchronization, not the exposure control and other options that dedicated flashes offer. Dedication can even control the width of the flash illumination – dedicated flashes can zoom with the camera lens, extending the light's range. On a camera with a 12x zoom, like the FZ30, that feature would have been very useful.  

The in-camera flash can be set to fire automatically, automatically with red-eye reduction, always flash, or slow synchronization with red-eye reduction. It can also be shut off.**

Lens*** (9.0)*

The Leica-branded 7.4-88.8mm zoom lens sports a maximum aperture that runs from f/2.8 at wide angle to f/3.7 at the telephoto end of the range. The best Leica lenses are among the best in photography. While it isn't realistic to hold the lens on the Panasonic DMC-FZ30 to the same standards as Leica's lenses for its own film cameras (lenses that run thousands of dollars each), the lens fixed to the FZ30 is sharp in its own right and delivers good contrast. A 12x zoom is a very long range for a digital still camera, though movie and video cameras have had such ranges for years. Such extreme zooms often show degraded performance at the ends of the range, but this one looks sharp at both ends (although distortion is certainly a problem).

The FZ30’s 12x zoom lens opens to 35mm at its widest angle (35mm equivalent focal length).  This is only mildly wide, but the lens displays substantial barrel distortion, where horizontal and vertical lines near the edges of the frame bow out in the middle.

MEGA Optical Image Stabilization, despite the superficial hype its name implies, is actually a significant contributor to the Panasonic DMC-FZ30's performance. Optical image stabilization means that components of the lens move to compensate for motion of the camera – if you jiggle the camera, the lens jiggles the opposite way to make up for it.  The FZ30 offers two image stabilization modes. Mode 1 operates continuously, which can make the viewfinder clearer while the photographer frames the shot, along with steadying final images. Mode 2, which activates the stabilizer only when the image is shot, doesn't help improve viewfinder clarity, but it does a better job of stabilizing the final image. It's also possible to turn off stabilization entirely. Mode 2 stabilization is remarkably effective. Shots taken handheld at "420" (the maximum telephoto setting) and 1/100th of a second look as though they were shot with a tripod, while the same shot without stabilization shows noticeable motion blur. Of course, your mileage may vary – OIS is less effective at slower shutter speeds, or when used by photographers who've drunk far too much coffee. ***MEGA OIS TEST***

Scene overview

OIS - 1

OIS - 2

OIS - Off

Design / Layout

**

Model Design / Appearance*** (7.5)*

The Panasonic DMC-FZ30 is a small yet appealing compact model.  While it’s shaped like an SLR – a grip for the right hand, a wide flat back, a viewfinder bumped up on top, and a big lens poking out on the front - the FZ30 exaggerates that look, because the lens is proportionally big in relation to the small body. The lens is relatively long, but it's also wide and heavy; the barrel assembly is metal, while the chassis of the camera is plastic. The fit and finish of the lens assembly is excellent. The controls are oversized for durability and ease of use, and they look simple and robust. The plastic assemblies on the camera are less appealing. The joints between the top and sides of the camera don't meet perfectly, and on our sample, their colors don't exactly match. The grill holes for the microphone and speaker pick up dirt – particularly the microphone holes, which are drilled into the thumb rest. The rubbery cushion around the eyepiece seems to attract and hold dust. The viewfinder hump is low, but to accommodate the pop-up flash, it juts far forward, much farther than the handgrip. Its rounded shape echoes the lens barrel's curve. The general effect is that of an impressive lens with a little camera stuck on it from behind, almost like an afterthought.**

Size / Portability*** (6.5)*

Like most SLR-shaped compacts, The Panasonic DMC-FZ30 is smaller than the typical DSLR. It's about 5 3/16" wide, 3 11/16" tall, and 5 3/8" deep, and weighs 11.5 ounces ready to shoot. It won't fit in any normal pocket, so it requires a small camera bag. Compared to a DSLR with the lenses needed to cover the FZ30’s 35 – 420mm equivalent focal length, the camera is tiny. With an accessory flash (and the FZ30 would benefit from one) and a few SD cards, the FZ30 amounts to a very portable kit but will require a camera bag.  **

Handling Ability*** (7.5)*

The Panasonic DMC-FZ30 is a generally comfortable camera. The lens barrel is a near-perfect size. It seems as though it could have been thinner without compromising the optics or electronics, but its size makes the barrel a great grip. The camera grip for the right side is also very comfortable, with an indentation for the middle finger and a well-placed ridge to form a thumb rest on the back of the camera. Unfortunately, the right shoulder strap lug interrupts the handgrip, and may get in the way of the user's hand. The pivoting LCD panel helps with high- and low-angle shots, though the LCD itself has a limited angle of view. It's easy to find the basic controls on the Panasonic DMC-FZ30, so users will probably find it easy to operate in short order.  

Control Button / Dial Positioning / Size* (7.0)*

Fortunately, the Panasonic DMC-FZ30 has two jog dials. One is for the thumb and one is for the forefinger of the right hand, but they're a little stiff, and the back one is misplaced. It pokes out of the back right corner of the camera, so the user will have to pull their thumb away from the thumb rest to get to it.  This will loosen the user’s grip on the camera and disrupt the shot. Worse, it’s susceptible to being bumped accidentally; instead of doing the sensible thing and moving it, Panasonic made the dial stiff and sunk it into the camera body so it is difficult to access. Both those steps make it harder to use than it should be.

The mode dial is large and clearly marked. With only nine settings, it's not overcrowded, and it clicks into place with confidence-inspiring certitude. It wobbles a little, so it may not be built for the long run. The buttons are spaced far enough apart such that it's easy to avoid tapping the wrong ones. The buttons actuate very easily – you don't have to press them very far. That may speed up operation, but it makes me wonder about their durability. Buttons on sturdy SLRs usually take more of a push than these, and they're built to last. However, the FZ30’s zoom ring and manual focus ring are both great. Their rubber grips are comfortable, and each has a distinctive texture, making it easy to tell them apart without looking. This is a thoughtful touch. The rings turn smoothly, without binding or wobbling, and with an appropriate amount of resistance.**

Menu ***(7.5)*The Panasonic DMC-FZ30 menus vary according to the operating mode. Manual modes offer more menu options than scene modes, and Playback offers its own set of menu options as well.

In auto mode, the menu items for shooting are: Aspect ratio, Picture Size, Quality, and Conversion lens. They are also available in manual mode, which includes many more options, which are listed in the table below. 

The mode dial has two settings for scene mode shooting. All the scene modes are available in each setting, and the modes are available via the menu. In scene modes, pressing the Menu button twice will bring up the regular shooting and Setup menus. The Set-up menu is available in any of the modes.

 The Playback mode has its own menu, which is accessible only when the camera is in that mode.  **

Ease of Use*** (6.0)*

There isn't anything tricky about the Panasonic DMC-FZ30. Its controls are typical of DSLRs and other elaborate compact models, so they'll be familiar to users switching from prosumer-oriented cameras. It's appealing that the FZ30 has dedicated controls for many basic functions – in manual shooting mode, for instance, it has one dial for aperture and another for shutter speed. Other cameras use a single dial for both, but the user has to press a button while turning the dial to access one of the settings. The FZ30's arrangement is faster and easier to learn. Panasonic's manual is both good and bad. The writing and organization of the material is great, but unfortunately, there are quite a few errors in the book. Here are some examples: the manual says the camera measures 4 1/4" x 2 11/16" x 3 11/16" "excluding the projection part." We measured it, and it's actually 5 3/16" wide, 3 11/16" tall and 5 3/8" deep. Maybe it had taken a really cold shower before Panasonic measured it – but we don't see how it could have lost an inch of width. Along the same lines, the manual says the FZ30's CCD is 1/3.2," but the Panasonic website reports it as 1/1.8."  If it were 1/3.2" that might explain the excessive noise levels.  The manual lists the pixel resolutions of both the EVF and the LCD incorrectly; they are actually both 235,000, but the manual lists them at a measly 114,000 and 130,000, respectively. Other sections apparently weren't finished. The tables showing how many images will fit on SD cards of various sizes are a case in point – according to the tables, zero RAW files will fit on SD cards with capacities of 16, 32, 64, 128, 256, 512 megabytes, or of 1 gigabyte. Whole sections of the tables show only zeroes, where there should be numbers ranging from 1 to 800.

Modes

**

Auto Mode*** (7.5)*

The Panasonic DMC-FZ30 offers a full auto mode via the mode dial. It sets the camera to auto exposure, auto white balance, and auto ISO. It sets the Autofocus mode to one-shot focusing using just the center AF sensor. The user is left to choose the picture size and quality, including the aspect ratio, and to set the camera to accept a conversion lens, if one is attached.  Exposure compensation is not available, leaving the user without any control over the shot. In auto mode, the FZ30 is solely a point-and-shoot camera.**

Movie Mode*** (7.5)*

The Panasonic DMC-FZ30 can record video at either 640 x 480 pixels or 320 x 240 pixels, and at either 30 or 10 frames per second. 640 x 480 and 30 fps will produce adequate video quality with fluid motion. 10 fps does not record motion smoothly, and 320 x 240 looks a bit pixelated. Panasonic warns that operating the zoom while making a video will result in a grinding noise in the video, and they're absolutely right. It's not possible to change the autofocus mode or aperture value while recording movies – though the camera focuses and adjusts exposure while recording. A 1GB SD card will hold 9 ½ minutes of video at maximum quality, and far more at minimum quality.  **

Drive / Burst Mode*** (6.75)*

The Panasonic DMC-FZ30 offers a burst mode of up to 3 frames per second for 5 frames in high-quality JPEG mode, or 9 frames in lower-quality JPEG mode. It also has a slower burst mode, which does 2 frames per second for the same number of frames, and a third mode, which will shoot until the SD card is full, but it starts at 2 fps and may slow down from there. None of the burst modes work with TIFF or RAW formats, and they will only take one frame if the flash is turned on. The FZ30 does not deliver a blistering performance here. Three frames per second is competitive among SLR-like cameras and entry level DSLRs, but it's not fast enough for the sorts of sequences many people expect in sports and action photography. A maximum of five shots is also very limiting, and nine isn't much better.**

Playback Mode*** (7.0)*

The Panasonic DMC-FZ30’s playback mode is activated by turning the mode dial, though it's possible to get a quick review of the last image displayed by hitting the review button, which is the bottom button on the four-way controller. Playback mode on the FZ30 will show up to 25 images at a time – or 16, 9, or 1 image at a time, and will zoom in 1x, 2x, 4x, 8x, or 16x on an individual image. (The specs claim that it can only zoom in 1x, 4x, and 8x, but the camera itself says otherwise.) The FZ30 includes a utility to designate images as "favorites." The FZ30 will run slide shows on its LCD screen or on a television, and the show can include either all the images on the memory card, or only the favorites. The images can be shown for 1, 2, 3, or 5 seconds, or manually advanced, and the slide show can be set to play sounds recorded with the images. If Rotate display is set, vertical images will show up vertically when they appear on the screen one at a time. They'll show sideways when they are magnified and when they're shown in 9, 16, or 25 images at a time. Playback mode also allows the user to crop or shrink images, and to switch images' aspect ratios from wide to narrower formats. It's also possible to add audio recordings to individual images. The FZ30 is DPOF compatible, which means that the user can print images directly to a compatible printer, or save a print order on a SD card for delivery to a photo lab.  

Custom Image Presets*(8.5)*The Panasonic DMC-FZ30 offers 14 custom image presets. The camera provides onscreen text describing each preset.

 

Control Options

**

Manual Control Options**

The Panasonic DMC-FZ30 offers complete manual control – aperture, shutter speed, white balance, focus, and ISO can all be set directly. The FZ30 also offers partially automated exposure modes – aperture priority, shutter priority, and program. These modes control only aperture and shutter speed, while the rest of the controls can be set manually. The camera's exposure compensation control can be set in any mode except the full auto mode, including scene modes.**

Focus**
Auto Focus *(6.0)
*The Panasonic DMC-FZ30 autofocus system has nine focusing zones that cover most of the frame. The camera offers five configurations for the zones. In practice, the camera’s autofocus strongly differentiates it from a DSLR, and not in a good way. In full telephoto, the camera often got confused on the subject in the frame and would focus in and out. Also, for some reason the camera would often select a subject near the center of the composition that was not the closest subject. This could potentially pose a problem in many dense shooting situations; however, at that point users could always switch over to the included manual focus option.

Manual Focus (5.0)*

The Panasonic DMC-FZ30 can be set so that the center of the frame enlarges while the focusing ring is turned. The feature helps achieve accurate focus, but it's not for action shooting, because it prevents the user from seeing how the shot is framed. Tapping the shutter release switches the display back to full-frame mode. The camera's macro mode is useful, but it works only in the wide angle to short telephoto zoom range. At the 420mm zoom setting, the minimum focus range is 6.5 feet to infinity, in both macro and regular mode.  **

Metering*** (7.5)*

The Panasonic DMC-FZ30 has three metering patterns. Intelligent Multiple is Panasonic's take on evaluative metering, which compares several readings of various parts of the frame to set an exposure. The comparison process is designed to detect backlighting and other common lighting problems, and performs well in automated modes. The FZ30 also offers a center-weighted mode, which makes a single measurement that emphasizes the middle of the image, and a spot mode, which measures a very small area in the center of the frame. Center-weighted and Spot patterns are typically useful in manual shooting.**

Exposure*** (8.0)*

The Panasonic DMC-FZ30 offers exposure compensation settings for both available-light exposure and flash exposure. Both controls offer two stops of correction above and below the meter reading, in 1/3-stop steps. This range is both average and expected.**
White Balance*** (8.5)*

The Panasonic DMC-FZ30 offers four white balance presets: Daylight, Cloudy, Halogen, and Flash, in addition to an Auto setting. Careful users will get better results with the manual white balance function. The FZ30 can store two manual settings, which many users will find convenient. The FZ30 also allows fine-tuning of white balance. Pressing the exposure compensation button a few times brings up a control to shift the white balance warmer or cooler. It's a feature similar to controls on DSLRs, and one that many photographers will surely appreciate.**

ISO*** (7.0)*

The Panasonic DMC-FZ30 offers ISO settings of 80, 100, 200, and 400, plus Auto. According to the manual, in Auto mode the ISO ranges from 80 to 200. Competing compact cameras at this price point offer higher ISO settings – 800 and 1600 are not uncommon. The FZ30 has a problem with noise in its images, particularly at higher ISOs, so it may be that the system simply couldn't produce acceptable results at 800 or higher.**

Shutter Speed*** (8.5)*

The Panasonic DMC-FZ30's shutter operates at speeds from 1/2000 to 60 seconds. In manual mode, all those values are available. In scene modes, the camera does not attempt exposures longer than 8 seconds, except in "Starry Sky," which offers 15, 30, and 60-second exposures.**

Aperture*** (8.0)*  

The Panasonic DMC-FZ30's lens has a maximum aperture of f/2.8 at the widest setting, which decreases to f/ 3.7 at the telephoto setting. The lens's minimum aperture is f/11.

Image Parameters

**

Picture Quality / Size Options*** (9.0)*

The Panasonic DMC-FZ30 offers three aspect ratios, which are framing sizes that describe the shape of the image – whether it's a long rectangle, or closer to a square. The ratios are 16:9, which is long, 3:2, and 4:3, which is closer to square. In each ratio, the camera can record images at four quality settings. They are TIFF, RAW, Fine JPEG, and Normal JPEG. TIFFs are uncompressed files in a standard format. They are very high quality, but huge. RAW files aren't compressed either, but they require dedicated software on your computer. JPEGs are compressed, which decreases quality, but also makes the image files much smaller and easier to store. At 16:9, the FZ30 can take either 5.5 or 2 megapixel images. At 3:2, it can take 7, 4.5, or 2.5 megapixel images. At 4:3 it can take 8, 5, 3, 2, or 1 megapixel images. Each quality setting is available at each size.**

Picture Effects Mode*** (8.5)*

The Panasonic DMC-FZ30 offers two sets of controls that might be called effects. The Color Effects menu item offers four settings: Cool makes pictures bluish, Warm makes them reddish, B/W makes them black and white, and Sepia makes them brown. Picture Adjustment offers three-step settings for Contrast, Sharpness, Saturation, and Noise Reduction.

Connectivity / Extras

**

Connectivity**
Software (6.0)

The Panasonic DMC-FZ30 comes with PHOTOfunSTUDIO, a Windows-compatible image viewer, and PhotoBase2.5 and PhotoImpression 5 for Macintosh. The programs allow browsing and sorting, printing, resizing for email, and limited editing. PhotoImpression builds albums, slide shows, and web pages as well. The programs have simple, clear interfaces, but as editors, they are vastly inferior to Adobe Photoshop. The FZ30 is not really an entry level camera, and is meant to appeal to photographers who want to improve their work. The software is not powerful enough to support that kind of development.

Jacks, Ports, Plugs (7.0)
The Panasonic DMC-FZ30 offers full-speed USB 2.0 for file transfers and printing, analog video out, and mono audio out. It also has jacks for a 3-volt external power supply and an electronic remote control. It has a hot shoe for an external flash.

Direct Print Options (6.0)*

The Panasonic DMC-FZ30 is DPOF and PictBridge compatible, which means that the user can select images to print and make specifications about the print order for either PictBridge compatible desktop printers, or DPOF compatible labs. The

user can choose to imprint the date on the images, set the paper size, the number of prints to make, and the layout of the print on the page. This is a full-featured implementation of DPOF/PictBridge printing.
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Battery (7.0)
The Panasonic DMC-FZ30 uses a custom lithium-ion battery pack which supplies 7.2 volts with a 730 mAh capacity. We find that lithium-ion powered cameras typically last longer between charges than nickel metal hydride-powered cameras. The tradeoff is that NiMH cameras can usually take AA cells, which are cheap and widely available. We still prefer the technology that Panasonic chose for the FZ30. 

Memory (3.0)*

The FZ30 does not have built-in memory, but according to the specs it ships with a 32MB SD card. We received a 16MB card with our sample. Both 16 and 32 MB are pathetically small for an 8 megapixel camera. The typical user needs at least a 256MB card.  

Other Features* (9.0)*
Flipbook mode - The FZ30 is equipped to make stop-motion animations. Turn on this mode, shoot a series of images, and they'll be saved as a 320 x 240-resolution animation.*

Self-Timer* - The FZ30's self-timer can be set to 2 or 10 seconds, via the left button on the four-way controller.*

Auto Bracket - *The FZ30 can take three images, one at the metered exposure and one above and below the reading. The bracket can be up to a full stop above or below, and can be set in 1/3-stop increments.

Live Histogram – This is one particular advantage of the FZ30 unmatched by DSLRs.  Because of the FZ30’s ability to provide a live preview, a live histogram can be incorporated into the interface, offering exposure information in real time. *

Extended Zoom* – With the expansive zoom range of the FZ30’s lens and its high resolution images, Panasonic has provided users with another means of control.  Users in need of some extended telephoto (beyond the camera’s provided 420mm) can drop the resolution down and get a boost to their zoom.  The smaller the recorded images, the more zoom users will have to work with. 

Overall Impressions

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Value*** (6.0)*

The Panasonic DMC-FZ30 is a well-built, broadly capable camera with an extremely versatile lens. A 12x zoom range covers all the telephoto capability many people would ever want, and gets into the wide angle range, though many users would prefer to have coverage down to a 28mm equivalent. With an 8 megapixel sensor, the FZ30 can deliver big files for cropping and enlarging prints. The value argument for compact super-zoom cameras often boils down to this: how much would you have to spend to get that file size, that zoom range, and that image stabilization from a DSLR? The answer is in the thousands of dollars. But every DSLR would yield better image quality. They all have lower noise, and most of them have much better color. And of course all of them serve as entries into much more capable and flexible systems. The bottom line is: the FZ30 can only be a good competitive value compared with DSLRs for users who are sure they won't want to build a system of interchangeable components – lenses, flashes, and bodies. And with its noise ratings, it's really only for users who shoot in bright daylight or who want to make small prints.**

Comparisons**
Fujifilm FinePix S9000 – Perhaps the closest direct competitor, the Fujifilm FinePix S9000 lists for the same $700 as the FZ30, and in the most general terms, they're comparable cameras – they're high megapixel non-SLRs with very long fixed zoom lenses. The lenses are very different, though. The Fuji's is wider, with a 28mm-equivalent wide angle vs. the FZ30's 35mm equivalent, while the Panasonic goes longer with 420 mm as opposed to 300 mm. The FZ30's Optical Image Stabilization is a big advantage over the Fuji S9000's non-optical, digital sharpening method. The S9000 has much lower noise ratings than the FZ30, even though it's a 9 megapixel camera, while the FZ30 is an 8.*
Canon PowerShot S2 IS* - The Canon PowerShot S2 IS offers a 36mm to 420mm-equivalent lens on a 5 megapixel camera, at a list price of $499 – about $200 less than the FZ30. Like the FZ30, the S2 offers very effective image stabilization, and also like the FZ30, the S2's noise scores are lousy. One typical reason to go for lower resolution is to get better noise scores. In this pairing, that's true only in principle – the 5 megapixel S2 has the better noise rating, but it's no paragon of low-noise performance. Still, the price difference should have shoppers thinking twice about the FZ30. *

Canon Rebel XT* - Some people just hate it that we compare compact cameras and DSLRs. They grumble about apples and oranges, and so on. We continue to compare them because many people with $700 to $1000 to spend on a camera are considering both technologies, and they should. The Rebel XT runs about $100 more than the FZ30, with a much less capable lens. The Rebel XT's kit lens is pitifully slow at the telephoto end, and not nearly as long a telephoto as the FZ30's built-in optics. The Rebel XT is bigger and heavier than the FZ30, too. The Rebel XT has three fundamental advantages over the FZ30: image quality, speed, and flexibility. The Rebel XT's ISO 400 images don't look as though they were taken in a sandstorm, while the FZ30's images are so noisy that they do. The Rebel XT lacks image stabilization, but its superior noise performance means that the user could shoot at higher ISOs – and therefore, motion-stopping shutter speeds – than the FZ30 would allow. The Rebel XT has much less shutter lag than the FZ30, making it far more useful for action photography. The Rebel XT accepts the same lenses as Canon's other DSLRs, and it could become a backup camera if a user decided to upgrade to a 20D or 5D.*
Konica Minolta DiMAGE A200* - The DiMAGE A200 is another 8 megapixel camera with a long zoom. Like the Fuji S9000, the A200's lens goes as wide as a 28mm on a 35mm camera, but the A200 comes up (relatively) short on the telephoto end – it reaches to only a 200mm equivalent. For bird watching and baseball, that's a significant difference, but many photographers would be able to live with that difference. The A200's ISO settings go up to 800, while the FZ30's top out at 400. On the other hand, the FZ30 offers a 16:9 format, which the A200 lacks. The A200 sells for about $100 more than the FZ30 – the wider lens may attract some A200 buyers who pass up the FZ30.  ** ****

Who It’s For
***Point-and-Shooters* - The FZ30 is easy enough for a point-and-shooter to use, and it offers every feature they demand. It adds a long zoom, which could be a big draw for a segment of this market.
Budget Consumers - For those who must have a long telephoto, the FZ30 is an economical alternative to a DSLR. People who could get by with a shorter zoom could buy more economically.
*

Gadget Freaks* - Gadget freaks may well enjoy the 12x zoom, if zoom appeals to them. The image stabilization technology in the FZ30 is not unique, but it's a good implementation. However, the correlative extended zoom relationship with image resolution might put a glimmer in the gadget junky’s hungry eye. 
Manual Control Freaks - The FZ30 offers complete manual controls, down to fine-tuning white balance. Still, most photographers who sweat over their settings want better image quality than the FZ30 provides. 
Pros / Serious Hobbyists - Though many people have no doubt taken fine pictures with the FZ30, and will do so again and again, it's not a pro camera. It casts too many obstacles in the photographer's way. Image quality is the first vital point, but the quality of the viewfinder is also a concern.

Conclusion

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Conclusion 
**The Panasonic DMC-FZ30 is an appealing camera, for users who can avoid the camera's poor noise performance. These are users who plan to make small prints where noise is less of an issue, and who do not need high ISO ratings. The camera is slow to operate – focusing time, shutter lag, and image writing cause enough delay to miss shots in hectic situations. At $700, the FZ30 is priced as close to entry level DSLRs as it is to compact cameras, thought it has much more in common with the compacts – it shoots video, it has an extensive range of scene modes, it has a live display with a live histogram; it is also slow and its small imaging sensor gives rise to noisy images. Its DSLR-like features are pretty limited: it has a wide range of focal lengths, and it has excellent manual controls. For the casual photographer who demands a long telephoto – and the image stabilization that makes it useful – switching up from a small compact to the FZ30 is going to feel like an impressive upgrade. For photographers who really want to grow into the medium with excellent image quality, action shooting capabilities, or with wide angle views, the FZ30 is going to be a constraining tool in short order. 

Specs / Ratings

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Specs Table**
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