Megazoom cameras cater mainly to users who want a shooter with a long zoom lens minus the hassle of changing optics for different shooting situations. Most of these snappers have a range of more than 20x, with Fujifilm, Olympus and Canon leading the pack with lenses that extend 30x or more. So, when Panasonic unveiled the Lumix DMC-FZ100, we were a tad surprised that it didn't keep up with the competition since it has only a 24x zoom lens. But it has other functions that make up for the shortfall. The FZ100 has full-HD video recording (with stereo audio) and even a jack for video enthusiasts to attach an external microphone to the camera. The Lumix also embraces all the company's latest imaging technologies, which work in tandem to deliver a fantastic shooting experience.
Design
The FZ100 is shaped like and handles similar to a dSLR with its chunky handgrip. The controls on the shooter seem to be borrowed from the firm's Micro Four Thirds line since the mode and clickable jog dials are reminiscent of the Lumix G2. The articulated LCD can be folded into the back of the camera, which serves to protects the screen. All in, you'll probably feel like you're using a dSLR or mirrorless system camera when you are operating the FZ100.
The front of the Lumix is largely taken up by the lens. It's great that Panasonic has included a detachable lens hood to help users reduce lens flare, but note that the whole package can be quite bulky for a small bag.
On top of the Lumix are the usual assortment of controls you'd get on an advanced megazoom. There's a mode dial, shutter button with a zoom ring surrounding it, and hotshoe. What's unique about the FZ100 is the stereo audio microphone located on the popup flash.
Turn the FZ100 around and you'll see buttons for controlling the camera. The keys are well-labeled, though most are indicated by only icons, so beginners may not understand what the exposure compensation symbol stands for, or what the difference is between the Fn and Q.menu. But if you've used a Lumix compact before, it's not hard to figure your way around the megazoom.
There's also the 3-inch articulated LCD, which can be flipped outwards and tilted to accommodate various shooting angles. Above the display is the electronic viewfinder (EVF).
On the right of the Lumix are two rubber flaps. One covers the mini-HDMI and A/V-out ports, the other hides the 2.5mm microphone jack. There are controls on the lens barrel, too. You can switch between auto and manual focus, and the Focus button adjusts the autofocus box's position and size.
Features
The 14-megapixel FZ100 is one of the most feature-rich megazooms you can find on the market. The 24x optical zoom lens extends from 25mm to 600mm, covering both wide-angle and super telephoto.
Other than capturing full-HD video, the Lumix is also capable of recording high-speed 220fps clips. However, the video resolution in this mode is capped at 320 x 240 pixels, so there are limited uses for it.
In terms of zoom range, the FZ100 is at a disadvantage if you pit it against the Fujifilm FinePix HS10 and the upcoming Canon PowerShot SX30IS. But if you look at features, the Lumix comes out tops. Here's a comparison table between the three megazoom cameras.
Specifications/model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100 Fujifilm FinePix HS10 Canon PowerShot SX30IS
Image resolution 14 megapixels 10 megapixels 14 megapixels
Zoom range 24x optical (25-600mm) 30x (24-720mm) 35x (24-840mm)
LCD size 3-inch, articulated display 3-inch, tilting LCD 2.7-inch, articulated display
Max video resolution/audio 1,920 x 1,080 pixels/stereo microphone with external jack 1,920 x 1,080 pixels/mono 1,280 x 720 pixels/stereo microphone
Max continuous shooting speed (full resolution) 11fps 10fps 1.3fps
RAW image capture Yes Yes No
Shooting modes Program, shutter/aperture priority, manual, auto, scene modes Program, shutter/aperture priority, manual, auto, scene modes Program, shutter/aperture priority, manual, auto, scene modes
Dimension/weight 124.3 x 81.2 x 95.2mm/ 496g 130.6 x 90.7 x 126mm/ 636g 123 x 92 x 108mm/ 601g
Related links Review � � First take
It's interesting to note that the FZ100 can record video as long as 1 hour. Most dSLRs with video capture limit the recording time to under 20 minutes. With the Lumix, you can also zoom while filming. You may want to note that while the zoom mechanism is relatively quiet, it can still be picked up by the microphone if you are recording in a quiet environment.
The FZ100 seems geared toward video enthusiasts as the camera offers plenty of controls in this mode. You can adjust the exposure manually or use any of the semi-automatic or program modes. We managed to get decent depth-of-field effects when filming with manual focus. Check out our clip below.
As with the latest Lumix compacts, the Panasonic megazoom comes with an array of picture effects such as Pinhole and Film Grain in the My Colors mode. But when you use this option, you can shoot only in JPEG format and not RAW + JPEG, which is a little disappointing. Also, we couldn't use any of these filters when recording video, though we could change the color tones via the Film mode.
The EVF is a little small for proper viewing, but it'll suffice if you need to use it to take a quick shot.
Performance
The FZ100 is quite a speedy camera. It has a maximum continuous shooting rate of 11fps at full 14-megapixel resolution, which slightly top the 10fps offered by the HS10. However, as with most other compacts sporting a high burst mode, the focus is locked on the first frame. So if your subject is moving around too much, the end result might turn out blurry.
The Lumix took approximately 1.5 seconds to start up, with time-to-first-shot clocking about 2 seconds. This is pretty commendable considering the camera needs to activate the large lens before it can start shooting. This probably has got to do with the improved Venus Engine processor, which delivers a quick startup time and focusing in Panasonic's new line of compacts.
Speaking of focusing, the FZ100 is zippy in this aspect. If you turn on continuous AF (C-AF), the shooter will constantly adjust the lens to keep the scene in focus, and this speeds up the focusing process when you half-press the shutter button. The C-AF function works when recording video, too, so you can be sure of sharp footages even if the subject moves.
Image Quality
The FZ100 has an ISO sensitivity range of 100 to 1,600, and is expandable to ISO 6,400 at a reduced resolution of 3 megapixels. On its own, the megazoom camera performed as expected--pictures taken at ISO 400 and below were best, and image quality started to deteriorate at ISO 800 and above. If you consider that the Lumix employs the efficient Power O.I.S., users can deploy a low ISO setting and use a slower shutter speed, which should theoretically churn out better photos. But this is dependent on how you use the snapper. We were able to shoot handheld at 1/8 second using ISO 200 in the evening, netting some pretty sharp images.
A sample photo taken with the FZ100 with no post-processing.
In terms of colors, the Lumix captured accurate tones, which look sufficiently saturated. But if you have to use high ISO sensitivity such as ISO 800, do note that there might be slight discoloration of your shots as we experienced.
Video is another strong point of the FZ100. Our 30fps full-HD clips looked smooth and were gloriously detailed. A non-discerning user probably won't be able to distinguish footage from the Lumix with one from a dSLR. That said, the movie file sizes from the Panasonic camera are huge. An 15-second clip took up about 30MB of space even when we recorded in AVCHD compression. So keep plenty of memory cards (SD/SDHC/SDXC) handy if you want to record more videos.
Conclusion
The FZ100 is one of the better megazoom cameras we have tested. Admittedly, picture quality is nothing to shout about, but we were impressed with the video that the camera delivered. Also, the effective image stabilizer coupled with useful exposure controls made this shooter more intuitive to operate. But if you want more zoom range, you have to look to other brands such as Canon, Fujifilm and Olympus. If you want a feature-packed megazoom, then this Lumix takes the cake.
The front of the Lumix is largely taken up by the lens. It's great that Panasonic has included a detachable lens hood to help users reduce lens flare, but note that the whole package can be quite bulky for a small bag.
On top of the Lumix are the usual assortment of controls you'd get on an advanced megazoom. There's a mode dial, shutter button with a zoom ring surrounding it, and hotshoe. What's unique about the FZ100 is the stereo audio microphone located on the popup flash.
Turn the FZ100 around and you'll see buttons for controlling the camera. The keys are well-labeled, though most are indicated by only icons, so beginners may not understand what the exposure compensation symbol stands for, or what the difference is between the Fn and Q.menu. But if you've used a Lumix compact before, it's not hard to figure your way around the megazoom.
There's also the 3-inch articulated LCD, which can be flipped outwards and tilted to accommodate various shooting angles. Above the display is the electronic viewfinder (EVF).
On the right of the Lumix are two rubber flaps. One covers the mini-HDMI and A/V-out ports, the other hides the 2.5mm microphone jack. There are controls on the lens barrel, too. You can switch between auto and manual focus, and the Focus button adjusts the autofocus box's position and size.
Features
The 14-megapixel FZ100 is one of the most feature-rich megazooms you can find on the market. The 24x optical zoom lens extends from 25mm to 600mm, covering both wide-angle and super telephoto.
Other than capturing full-HD video, the Lumix is also capable of recording high-speed 220fps clips. However, the video resolution in this mode is capped at 320 x 240 pixels, so there are limited uses for it.
In terms of zoom range, the FZ100 is at a disadvantage if you pit it against the Fujifilm FinePix HS10 and the upcoming Canon PowerShot SX30IS. But if you look at features, the Lumix comes out tops. Here's a comparison table between the three megazoom cameras.
Specifications/model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100 Fujifilm FinePix HS10 Canon PowerShot SX30IS
Image resolution 14 megapixels 10 megapixels 14 megapixels
Zoom range 24x optical (25-600mm) 30x (24-720mm) 35x (24-840mm)
LCD size 3-inch, articulated display 3-inch, tilting LCD 2.7-inch, articulated display
Max video resolution/audio 1,920 x 1,080 pixels/stereo microphone with external jack 1,920 x 1,080 pixels/mono 1,280 x 720 pixels/stereo microphone
Max continuous shooting speed (full resolution) 11fps 10fps 1.3fps
RAW image capture Yes Yes No
Shooting modes Program, shutter/aperture priority, manual, auto, scene modes Program, shutter/aperture priority, manual, auto, scene modes Program, shutter/aperture priority, manual, auto, scene modes
Dimension/weight 124.3 x 81.2 x 95.2mm/ 496g 130.6 x 90.7 x 126mm/ 636g 123 x 92 x 108mm/ 601g
Related links Review � � First take
It's interesting to note that the FZ100 can record video as long as 1 hour. Most dSLRs with video capture limit the recording time to under 20 minutes. With the Lumix, you can also zoom while filming. You may want to note that while the zoom mechanism is relatively quiet, it can still be picked up by the microphone if you are recording in a quiet environment.
The FZ100 seems geared toward video enthusiasts as the camera offers plenty of controls in this mode. You can adjust the exposure manually or use any of the semi-automatic or program modes. We managed to get decent depth-of-field effects when filming with manual focus. Check out our clip below.
As with the latest Lumix compacts, the Panasonic megazoom comes with an array of picture effects such as Pinhole and Film Grain in the My Colors mode. But when you use this option, you can shoot only in JPEG format and not RAW + JPEG, which is a little disappointing. Also, we couldn't use any of these filters when recording video, though we could change the color tones via the Film mode.
The EVF is a little small for proper viewing, but it'll suffice if you need to use it to take a quick shot.
Performance
The FZ100 is quite a speedy camera. It has a maximum continuous shooting rate of 11fps at full 14-megapixel resolution, which slightly top the 10fps offered by the HS10. However, as with most other compacts sporting a high burst mode, the focus is locked on the first frame. So if your subject is moving around too much, the end result might turn out blurry.
The Lumix took approximately 1.5 seconds to start up, with time-to-first-shot clocking about 2 seconds. This is pretty commendable considering the camera needs to activate the large lens before it can start shooting. This probably has got to do with the improved Venus Engine processor, which delivers a quick startup time and focusing in Panasonic's new line of compacts.
Speaking of focusing, the FZ100 is zippy in this aspect. If you turn on continuous AF (C-AF), the shooter will constantly adjust the lens to keep the scene in focus, and this speeds up the focusing process when you half-press the shutter button. The C-AF function works when recording video, too, so you can be sure of sharp footages even if the subject moves.
Image Quality
The FZ100 has an ISO sensitivity range of 100 to 1,600, and is expandable to ISO 6,400 at a reduced resolution of 3 megapixels. On its own, the megazoom camera performed as expected--pictures taken at ISO 400 and below were best, and image quality started to deteriorate at ISO 800 and above. If you consider that the Lumix employs the efficient Power O.I.S., users can deploy a low ISO setting and use a slower shutter speed, which should theoretically churn out better photos. But this is dependent on how you use the snapper. We were able to shoot handheld at 1/8 second using ISO 200 in the evening, netting some pretty sharp images.
A sample photo taken with the FZ100 with no post-processing.
In terms of colors, the Lumix captured accurate tones, which look sufficiently saturated. But if you have to use high ISO sensitivity such as ISO 800, do note that there might be slight discoloration of your shots as we experienced.
Video is another strong point of the FZ100. Our 30fps full-HD clips looked smooth and were gloriously detailed. A non-discerning user probably won't be able to distinguish footage from the Lumix with one from a dSLR. That said, the movie file sizes from the Panasonic camera are huge. An 15-second clip took up about 30MB of space even when we recorded in AVCHD compression. So keep plenty of memory cards (SD/SDHC/SDXC) handy if you want to record more videos.
Conclusion
The FZ100 is one of the better megazoom cameras we have tested. Admittedly, picture quality is nothing to shout about, but we were impressed with the video that the camera delivered. Also, the effective image stabilizer coupled with useful exposure controls made this shooter more intuitive to operate. But if you want more zoom range, you have to look to other brands such as Canon, Fujifilm and Olympus. If you want a feature-packed megazoom, then this Lumix takes the cake.
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