Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP8
Introduction
If Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP8 resembles the NT1 accident, the company launched earlier this year, because both devices have much in common. Although FP8 not survive a dip in the drink or a fall on the floor as his brother brawnier, both use a single folding optic design that eliminates moving parts outside the camera. And priced at $ 300, stripped-down model ordered reserve is $ 80 cheaper. Does the design of a basic camera holds up when he is deprived of its shell as a coating? We’ve discovered.
Features and design
FP8 Panasonic offers 12.1 megapixel sensor, 4.6x zoom, a 2.7-inch LCD screen rated 230K pixels, Mega OIS optical image stabilization and a 28mm lens at wide angle.
Folding Optics
Unlike most shooters pocket you see today, FP8 Panasonic did not gigantic lens center comes out from his forehead, like a cannon when you turn it on. Instead, he captures through a square-off-looking Leica 28mm wide angle lens in the top right of the camera, where you can usually find an optical viewfinder. Optical internal folding allow FP8 to zoom all the way to 4.6x without extrusion of the camera. However, unlike similar devices such as Sony TX1, the FP8 has no sliding lens cover to protect the lens when not in use.
Start-Up Time
In TS1, the design of the camera provides extreme durability. In FP8, everything is about speed. Panasonic claims the camera goes wide at the ready to run in 0.95 seconds, since nothing is mechanically drawn from the body.
Dimensions, weight and size
The rest of the body adopts the same deck of cards-size like most other point-and-shoots: 2.35 inches high, 3.77 wide and 0.80 deep, with a reasonable weight of 0.29 books. It feels very comfortable in a pocket, but the lack of lens cover will definitely make you want a carrying pouch. Unsurprisingly, the lack of armor makes FP8 thinner, smaller and lighter than the bulk-up NT1.
Buttons Backlit LED
The FP8 monitoring closely resemble what you might find in any product of this class, but a number of things stood out. Panasonic has opted for LED lit controls on the back, resembling very sharp and make the device easier to use in the dark. However, only small linear illuminated buttons - icons for what they do has been printed on the body itself and is difficult to see in low light conditions. Until you’ve memorized the controls, lighting contributes more to the style of the ease of use.
Unintuitive Directional Controls
Since the four-way directional commands like line of sight, rather than a donut, Panasonic slashed the center button to select and reinstalled above the pad. This can initially be quite disconcerting and not very intuitive compared to design quasi-universal donut, but we adjusted.
Always ready
While Panasonic has announced version 0.95-second startup time rather blatant, it may be somewhat misleading: The screen will fire up in about a second, but it does not really break a shot to about 1 6 seconds from off to the captured image. But we forgive the technical details. It’s fast. In practical terms, if you flick FP8 as you pick it up, he is ready to take the picture by the time you can point in the right direction and ready to shoot a fraction of a second after his box. Snappy both autofocus and a very low shutter lag (the time between shutter press and image capture) this camera more aptitude for Spur-of-the-moment shots.
Image Quality
The picture quality is about equal to what you might expect from a camera in this price range. The outside with good lighting, FP8 captured sharp detail and accurate colors, in both normal mode and Intelligent Auto Mode Panasonic’s boat. Panasonic Optical Image Stabilizer Mega system also seems to work - distant street signs and license plates seemed always readable, even in shots, we just made up or hit the road.
Inside, the age-old problem of Panasonic as the noise became more pronounced. Unlike ZS3 Panasonic has recently reviewed, which dodged reputation somewhat noisy Panasonic own photos up to ISO 800, noise noticeable FP8 exposures at 400 ISO, which is frankly obvious at ISO 800. Although Intelligent Auto has done an excellent job of white balance management and other parameters, its propensity to shoot at ISO 400 and more inside noise visible in many shots.
Video Quality
The sound was also very pronounced in the videos inside where we opted out of less expensive cameras dedicated as Zi8 Kodak. The FP8 had some positive aspects, however. Unlike many point-and-shoot cameras that capture video, but only allow digital zoom after the camera starts rolling, the FP8 can use the optical zoom and autofocus on the fly, making it is feel like a real camcorder.
Conclusion
As a camera, the FP8 offers respectable, if not the best of his class picture quality. But perhaps that misses the point. The photographers will value the FP8 for the same reason cowboys of the West used to evaluate the Colt Peacemaker: It’s quick on the draw. With FP8 on our side, we felt ready to enter anything in an instant. Think: The difference between an image of milk shooting out the nose of your friend or your friend who hovers over a pool of milk. And the thin body and LEDs do not damage its image, either.
Strengths
• Quick start-up, autofocus and shutter lag low
• Attractive design
• Unique LED-backlit keys
• Excellent image quality in good lighting
Weaknesses
• No lens cover
• Initially unintuitive controls on the rear
• Noise at high ISO shooting barrier covered
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