Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX12 Review

Review Date: March 4th 2007

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Conclusion

Ratings (out of 5)
Design	4
Features	3.5
Ease-of-Use	4.5
Image Quality	4.5
Value for Money	4

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX12 is a stylish, well made and ultra-compact camera that you can carry with you wherever you go. The FX12 takes some of the best elements from the rest of the FX series, whilst becoming more affordable by using a lens that starts at 35mm and dropping a few features, notably using a low-resolution LCD screen and offering a very slow continuous shooting mode. Image quality is improved since the last generation of Lumix models. Panasonic have improved noise performance, so that ISO 400 on the FX12 is about equal to ISO 200 on the old models, which increases the cameras low-light capabilities. ISO 100-400 still isn't particularly versatile, but the usual excellent optical image stabilisation system makes the FX12 a more adaptable camera than its predecessors, as you can take a photo at a faster ISO speed and therefore a slower shutter speed, and still get sharp results, without adversely affecting the battery life too much. The High Sensitivity mode provides a fastest ISO speed of 3200, but the image resolution is automatically reduced, resulting in smaller print sizes. The extension of the ISO range up to 1600 at full image resolution is even worse, in that you won't want to use the noisy ISO 800 and 1600 settings unless there is no other alternative. The inability to alter sharpness in the camera is also frustrating, as the images are soft by default. So overall, the new Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX12 is an easy-on-the-eye, intuitive, point-and-shoot digital camera with improved image quality and an attractive price-tag. Importantly Panasonic have improved the noise capabilities of this new Lumix model - let's hope that the rest of the range follows suit...

PhotographyBLOG is a member of the DIWA organisation. Our test results for the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX12 have been submitted to DIWA for comparison with test results for different samples of the same camera model supplied by other DIWA member sites.

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