Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ38 / FZ35 review and tutorial

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Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ38 / FZ35

Panasonic’s Lumix DMC-FZ38 (or FZ35 as it’s accepted in America and Australasia) is a 12.1 Megapixel super-zoom camera with DSLR-styling and an 18x optical range. Announced in July 2009, one year afterwards its predecessor, it continues Panasonic’s awfully accepted FZ band of super-zoom cameras.

The fresh FZ38 / FZ35 inherits a cardinal of key appearance from its predecessor, the FZ28, including the aforementioned 18x optical ambit that’s agnate to 27-486mm in 35mm terms. It additionally shares about the anatomy and controls, forth with the aforementioned 2.7in / 230k anchored awning at the rear. Absolutely the alone ‘headline’ blueprint that’s afflicted is the assured admission in resolution from 10.1 to 12.1 Megapixels.

Under the awning about the fresh FZ38 / FZ35 appearance a cardinal of smaller, but aces enhancements, several of which we’ve already apparent on added 2009 Lumix models including the consistently accepted TZ7 / ZS3.

As such the best affection cine approach may abide 720p (1280×720 pixels), but you now accept the best of encoding it in the added able AVCHD architecture or the older, but easier to adapt Motion JPEG format. Panasonic has additionally adapted a red almanac button on the rear of the camera, acceptance you to alpha recording footage, behindhand of the approach you’re in. That said, like the higher-end Lumix GH1, there’s additionally a fresh Creative Cine approach on the capital punch which allows you to manually acclimatize the breach and bang for video recording.

The already able Intelligent Auto approach has additionally been bigger with Face Recognition, additionally apparent on the TZ7 / ZS3, which can absolutely bethink specific faces and accord them antecedence in a accumulation shot. A High Dynamic approach has been added to the Scene Presets and lower ability apparatus in the camera accept additionally accustomed an addendum in arrangement life.

The zoom ambit may abide the aforementioned as before, but the MEGA OIS optical angel stabilisation has now been abolished by POWER OIS, which Panasonic claims is about alert as able at eliminating camera shake. A higher-speed actuator additionally brings a acceptable advance to autofocusing speed, and startup time has additionally been reduced.

And aloof afore you anticipate all the improvements are internal, Panasonic has additionally able the FZ38 / FZ35 with a mini HDMI anchorage for agenda affiliation to a HDTV – accordant Panasonic sets can alike ascendancy the camera’s playback over HDMI application their remotes. Finally topping the FZ38 / FZ35’s popup beam arch are stereo microphones, both convalescent the affection of the cine mode’s audio forth with carrying two channels of sound.

So Panasonic may accept resisted the allurement to attempt for the appellation of World’s longest super-zoom, and kept the awning durably anchored in position, but it’s added a ample cardinal of advantageous enhancements which should hopefully accomplish what was already a abundant super-zoom camera that abundant better. The catechism of advance is has it succeeded?

In our Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ38 / FZ35 abounding analysis we’ll booty a abundant attending at all the fresh appearance and put them through its paces. Evaluating a camera in abreast is of bound use, so as consistently we activated the fresh Panasonic adjoin its better rival: Canon’s PowerShot SX20 IS. So if you’re in the bazaar for a super-zoom agenda camera, apprehend on to acquisition out if your money should be spent on Panasonic’s latest.

Testing notes:

We activated a final assembly Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ38 / FZ35 active firmware adaptation 1.0. Following our assemblage of testing cameras application their branch absence settings unless contrarily stated, the FZ38 / FZ35 was set to 12M Fine JPEG approach with Auto White Balance, Multiple Metering, and the absence aught positions for Picture Adjustments. Angel Stabilisation was enabled for all handheld shots and disabled for tripod-based tests.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ38 / FZ35 architecture and controls

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ38 / FZ35 shares the aforementioned ambit and administration as its predecessor, and like best super-zoom cameras is advised to attending like a miniature DSLR with a appropriate grip, aloft viewfinder head, and bulging lens barrel. The aloft aberration of advance is the optical ambit with the FZ38 / FZ35 apartment a ample 18x zoom compared to the archetypal 3x ranges of best DSLR kits. We’ve pictured it beneath alongside its aloft rival, Canon’s PowerShot SX20 IS, which sports an alike best 20x zoom range.

Measuring 118x75x89mm, the FZ38 / FZ35 is absolutely the aforementioned admeasurement as its predecessor, which makes it 6mm narrower and a ample 13mm beneath than the PowerShot SX20 IS, although the Panasonic is 2mm thicker. While the photos aloft and beneath allegorize how the Panasonic is a little abate than the Canon, they don’t acknowledge their hasty aberration in weight. The FZ38 / FZ35 weighs 414g with its Lithium Ion arrangement backpack compared to the 680g of the SX20 IS aback adapted with four archetypal AA batteries. Absolutely the PowerShot SX20 IS’s operational weight is alone 20g lighter than Canon’s own EOS 1000D / XS DSLR complete with its arrangement and kit lens – although acutely this kit lens alone has a 3x range.

It’s hasty how abundant lighter the FZ38 / FZ35 feels compared to the SX20 IS. Pick up both models adapted with their batteries and the FZ38 / FZ35 feels about abandoned as if some allotment were missing, but ability it up and you’ll realise this absolutely is its operational weight. In adverse the SX20 IS feels absolutely heavy, and added affiliated to administration a account DSLR. Some may adopt the ablaze weight of the FZ38 / FZ35, and absolutely it could be an advantage if you’re hiking or travelling. Others may adopt the about backpack of the SX20 IS and the aplomb this weight instils. It’s absolutely personal, so we acerb acclaim acrimonious up both – with their batteries adapted – to see which feels best to you.

The Canon may be calmly heavier, but the body affection of the two models is almost the same. Both allotment agnate artificial exteriors with acceptable joins and no acrid or coil to anguish about. So the SX20 IS may be denser than the FZ38 / FZ35, but it’s not absolutely accomplished the battleship body of Canon’s flagship PowerShot G11.

Viewed from above, it’s bright both cameras are able with ample grips. Canon’s is hardly larger, and absolutely almost the aforementioned admeasurement as one of its entry-level DSLRs, but Panasonic adds a blow of chic with the elastic blanket about the FZ38 / FZ35’s grip. Again it’s a claimed choice, but both models are adequate to authority and use.

Like its predecessor, the aggregate of the FZ38 / FZ35’s controls are on its high appropriate apparent and to the appropriate of its awning on the rear. The high controls are about identical to the FZ28, with the aforementioned bang release, zoom rocker, ability about-face and buttons for AF / MF and Macro. The approach punch is now atramentous instead of silver, but attending a little afterpiece and you’ll atom a brace of accessory changes.

As before, there’s PASM, Intelligent Auto and a SCN position to admission an continued arrangement of presets (20 on the FZ38 / FZ35). Like its predecessor, the FZ38 / FZ35 offers abounding chiral ascendancy over both the breach and shutter, and we accept abounding capacity below. The accompanying CUSTOM positions of the FZ28 accept now been swapped aback to a distinct option, authoritative allowance for the fresh My Color Approach which provides quick adjustments to the colour, accuracy and saturation.

The cine approach can still be set from the approach dial, but is now labelled with an M. This puts the FZ38 / FZ35 into its Creative Cine mode, acceptance you to accept amid Program, Breach or Bang Priority, or abounding Chiral modes – aloof like the Lumix GH1. These in about-face acquiesce you to manually accept the breach or bang aback filming a movie, and we accept added capacity in the Cine approach area of our Appearance page.

Moving assimilate the rear surface, you’ll acquisition a fresh committed almanac button area the old EVF / LCD button was found. Sensibly demography a blade from antecedent Canon super-zooms, this allows you to alpha recording video from any cutting mode, ensuring you never absence an opportunity.

Like Canon’s models, this seems to cede the cine approach position on the punch bombastic at aboriginal glance, but there are affidavit why you may adopt a advised about-face of the punch instead. Doing so on the FZ38 / FZ35 will acclimatize the anatomy to the filming aspect ratio, such as 16:9, alike if the still cutting approach was 4:3. And clashing Canon’s super-zooms, the Cine approach position on the FZ38 / FZ35′s punch is area you’ll admission the Creative acknowledgment options. So Panasonic’s now got it all covered: the red button for ad-lib automated video at any time, and a about-face of the approach punch for added advised cutting with adjustable acknowledgment control.

The fresh almanac button has affected the EVF / LCD button to backpack North-west of the cantankerous keys, but contrarily the blueprint and functions are the aforementioned as before. This includes the tiny joystick acclimated to acclimatize all address of settings including the aperture, bang and chiral focus, or pushed-in to fire-up a superimposed menu, and we accept added capacity advancing up in a moment.

Below the joystick is a Display button. Occupying the lower appropriate bend are the acceptable cantankerous keys with a Card / Set button in the middle. As afore blame left, up and appropriate sets the self-timer, acknowledgment advantage and beam options respectively, while the bottomward button is a accessible programmable Function key.

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