Review on Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ35K

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ35K has been unveiled by Panasonic which has the best lens fixed camera and is used to capture both videos and still images. It is not a pocket camera but compared to other cameras with same features, it is moderately compact. If you can tolerate with a little grains and 1080p non video footage, then this gadget serves as both camcorder and camera. This camera is a versatile one with mega zoom. It proffers excellent manual controls, automatic settings, light video footage, veer imaging options and scene modes which are unique.

Lumix DMC-FZ35K is an improved version of FZ28 mega zoom by having AVCHID lite movie codec support, improved optical IS, AF which is faster and high resolution. The photo quality and performance of camera is better than its predecessor but still it doesn’t satisfy to a grave extent. Camera has good grip to hold on to it and shooting is all easy but feels like it’s too much of plastic like. Priority for aperture, shutter and also controls over manual exposure can be availed and the photographers love it. Some of the scenes which are basic are built-in with this camera like macro, landscape and portrait modes, etc. The camera has 12MP with 18x optical zoom which gives great optical Image Stabilization.

A cram of facilities are loaded into FZ35K viz., movie mode which is robust with included manual controls, can save the custom settings up to three numbers, with all these stuffs like preset scan program, PASM and brilliant auto settings are also present. There are also other features included in this camera such as tracking, face detection, 11 area mode which allows clumping of areas in a wide array of arrangements. There is a Fn button which pulls off all the programs and gives a quick review of white balance, ISO sensitivity, metering, intelligent exposure mode or AF mode.

With the 18x optical zoom, you can easily zoom in and zoom out even while you are recording a movie and this doesn’t affect the audio quality. On top of the pop up flash there are the stereo microphones and the sound quality is also good. Under normal shooting conditions the auto focus works a bit fast which affects while taking photos and while covering a video. Images get blur sometimes and ultimately the sharpness of the image is lost. There is a 2.7in LCD which doesn’t rotate or flip out, if this option was provided in this camera then it would have been a plus point while choosing.

This camera is modest and is a user friendly model. The Intelligent auto mode which is built-in with this camera is great and astonishing even with the dim light and when dark, as well as worse option which works for both videos and for taking snaps. While shooting a video, you need to go to the movie mode option at the top and choose intelligent auto mode and press the dedicated video recording button which is at the back of the camera. Overall video quality is not that much impressive. White balance is awesome but the shadow areas are quite foggy and lacks well definition. Images are less refined and have more grains.

There are many fantastic features in here other than intelligent auto mode like highly dynamic scene mode which requires a tripod and minimal lighting conditions to get excellent results. Full size images which are taken in high definition mode will be lacking sharpness and will be blur slightly. There is a mode called ‘panning’ which helps in taking a snap from a fast moving train or take a snap of a fast moving object with a blur backdrop. Face recognition as you all know is advantageous in registering particular faces. This camera is less instinctive to operate. There are lots of dials and buttons. On the top there is a dial which hosts 15 options, off/on button, manual focus / auto focus switch, zoom / shutter toggles and a button for focus-point selector.

Six buttons are arranged at the back with which you can operate video recording, navigate the menus, AF / AE lock switch, toggle between electronic view finder and LCD screens, delete images and display images. There is playback / shooting toggle button too at the back and also with four way pad for navigation of on-screen menus; if it is accessed with one touch then you can have many options like flash control, exposure compensation, custom functions and self timer. It feels good to have one touch access functions but foremost thing is that you should be familiar with the buttons’ functions.

There is HDMI out without a cable, AV out connector and DC in for delegating the files. Lens cap and its hood are inclusive with this camera. There is faux leather grip where in comfortably you can groove your middle finger. The ergonomics of this camera is great and helps single handed operations to carry out easily. Only problem that creates fuss is that no matter how much you are experienced, you need to read the manual first and later carry out the operations. Manual fails to give additional functions of this camera; you need to explore it by yourself very carefully. The lens provided is solid for mega zoom which gives moderate fringing and decent center sharpness.

Two major hitches about the photo quality are poor blue channel processing and JPEG compression artifacts at low ISO sensitivities which results in yellow blemishes all over the image. Minimal shutter speed is 1/30 sec and it can’t be changed further. It has got a Li-Ion battery which gives 470 shots for full charge. Lastly, the price of this camera is $399, for which I guess you can definitely afford!!! Thus Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ35 is a mega zoom, powerful, semi compact camera which provides wide range of controls for both video and stills.