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Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ150 review

Our Rating :
Price when reviewed : £369
inc VAT

Record-breaking performance, dependable image quality, superb controls and a fantastic video mode make this versatile camera worth the high price.

Specifications

1/2.33in 12.0-megapixel sensor, 24.0x zoom (25-600mm equivalent), 528g

http://www.morecomputers.com

Expert Reviews is proud to bring you this Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ150 review from Short Sharp Reviews – click through to YouTube for a 1080p HD version

We recently reviewed the FZ48, a capable ultra-zoom camera that marked a return to form for Panasonic. This time we’ve got its big brother is under the spotlight. The FZ150 was officially unveiled today, and while it’s too early to confirm UK pricing, we’ve reviewed it with the expectation that it’ll cost around £400.

Update 05/09/2011 – The FZ150 still isn’t on sale, though we’ve seen pre-orders for £369 online, which is a little cheaper than our initial estimate of £400

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ150 rear

Initial inspection reveals more similarities than differences, with the FZ48 and FZ150 cameras both packing a 12-megapixel sensor, 24x zoom Leica-branded lens, 3in LCD screen, electronic viewfinder, a generous collection of buttons and a command dial. Both record 1080p video and both use a special lens coating to minimise lens flares.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ150 articulated screen

There’s plenty to justify the FZ150’s higher price, though. Its 3in screen is articulated, there’s a hotshoe for an external flash or microphone, and photos can be captured in RAW mode for extensive tinkering on a PC. Panasonic tells us that autofocus speed has been improved, and it certainly seemed to be extremely quick. We measured a shot-to-shot time of 0.65 seconds, shaving a quarter of a second off the FZ48’s performance and making this the most responsive compact camera we’ve ever seen. It also managed just 0.9 seconds between shots in RAW mode, slowing to two seconds after 15 shots.

Continuous performance was at 12fps for 12 frames – up from 11fps on its predecessor, the FZ100 and much faster than the FZ48’s 3.7fps. It can also shoot at 5.5fps while updating autofocus between each shot – a crucial feature for following moving subjects. It can’t quite match a fast SLR, which is able to update its autofocus even more quickly and accurately, and also benefits from a largely uninterrupted view through its optical viewfinder. However, this is the best continuous mode we’ve seen from a compact camera.

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Basic Specifications

Rating *****
CCD effective megapixels 12.0 megapixels
CCD size 1/2.33in
Viewfinder electronic (201,600 pixels)
Viewfinder magnification, coverage N/A
LCD screen size 3.0in
LCD screen resolution 460,000 pixels
Articulated screen Yes
Live view Yes
Optical zoom 24.0x
Zoom 35mm equivalent 25-600mm
Image stabilisation optical, lens based
Maximum image resolution 4,000×3,000
Maximum movie resolution 1920×1080
Movie frame rate at max quality 50fps
File formats JPEG, RAW; AVCHD, MPEG-4

Physical

Memory slot SDXC
Mermory supplied 70MB internal
Battery type Li-ion
Battery Life (tested) 410 shots
Connectivity USB, AV, mini HDMI, microphone
HDMI output resolution 1080i
Body material plastic
Lens mount N/A
Focal length multiplier N/A
Kit lens model name N/A
Accessories USB and AV cables
Weight 528g
Size 82x123x111mm

Buying Information

Warranty one-year RTB
Price £369
Supplier http://www.morecomputers.com
Details www.panasonic.co.uk

Camera Controls

Exposure modes program, shutter priority, aperture priority, manual
Shutter speed 15 to 1/2,000 seconds
Aperture range f/2.8-8 (wide), f/5.2-8 (tele)
ISO range (at full resolution) 100 to 3200
Exposure compensation +/-3 EV
White balance auto, 5 presets with fine tuning, manual, custom
Additional image controls contrast, saturation, sharpness, noise reduction, i.Dynamic
Manual focus Yes
Closest macro focus 1cm
Auto-focus modes multi, centre, face detect, tracking
Metering modes multi, centre-weighted, centre, face detect
Flash auto, forced, suppressed, slow synchro, rear curtain, red-eye reduction
Drive modes single, continuous, self-timer, AE bracket, WB bracket

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