Panasonic-Lumix-FZ3Panasonic is producing some extremely good digital cameras right now, right from low-cost pocket-sized snapshot cameras to high-end enthusiasts models. Panasonic Lumix FZ3 shares the staggering 12x optical zooming range of the FZ10, but it’s a scaled down version with a smailer lens, body and sensor. Indeed, the 3.1-megapixel resolution is pretty tame by today’s standards, but it’s good enough for Canon with its PowerShot Pro SI. This is one of the Panasonic’s main rivals, so it’ll be interesting to see how they fare.

As with other Panasonics, it’s the lens that makes this model stand out. The 12x optical zooming range is just the start. It maintains the same f2.8 maximum aperture right across this range, unlike any of its rivals. It also incorporates an image stabiliser so those long-range shots. The image stabiliser will also help you get sharp shots in low ambient lighting. The long-range zoom makes the DMC FZ3 well-suited to sports and act ion photography, and this is backed up by high-performance continuous shooting and an innovative ‘pre-focusing’ system, which we’ll come onto shortly.

Panasonic DMC-FZ3 Handling

The FZ3’s body in particular is quite small, and the handgrip on the right is hardly a grip at all. Indeed, like the PowerShot ASS , this digital camera would probably be easier to grip without it. The camera has a plastic rather than metal finish but, in common with other Panasonic models, it still feels very well made for the money. You power up using a switch on the back, and the camera’s ready to start shooting in barely more than a second, which is very good. The AF speed is only average, taking around half a second to confirm focus at the short end of the focal range and around a second at the longer end.

But the Panasonic has a very simple yet clever alternative AF system. Instead of focusing when you half press the shutter release, it can be configured to focus via a button on the back instead. This means you do have to remember to focus before you take your shot, but there’s no AF lag when the time comes to press the shutter. This is ideal for sports shots, candid portraits and any ether kind of photography that needs instant responses. The 1.5-inch LCD on the back of the camera is good, but a bit small, and the electronic viewfinder is similarly adequate but unexceptional. EVFs are a necessary evil in cameras with long-range zooms and without the mirror/pentaprism system of an SLR – separate, coupled optical viewfinders simply can’t cover that kind of focal range.

Panasonic DMC-FZ3 Control layout

The FZ3 offers a good deal of manual control, and this is made all the more accessible by the chunky main mode dial, which has separate settings for each of its PASM exposure modes, it offers nine different scene modes, too, and these are accessed via a single SCN setting and the menus.

The menus themselves are nice and clear, and a big improvement on those of previous models. There are just two tabs – one for recording options and one for setup. You won’t need the menus that often, though, because most everyday controls are assigned to buttons on the camera or navipad functions.

Press up on the navipad to cycle through the EV compensation, bracketing and flash compensation settings. Once you’ve chosen and adjusted any of these, half-pressure on the shutter release closes the on-screen menu; press left to set the self-timer delay (ten seconds or two seconds); press down to quickly review file las! picture taken; and press right to cycle through the different flash modes (though only if you’ve manually popped up the flash beforehand).

Below and to the left of the navipad is the Focus button, which we’ve already mentioned, while on the top of the camera is the continuous shooting button. Panasonic DMC-FZ3 can maintain an unusually high shooting speed of 4fps for between 7 and 13 frames (depending on the quality setting), or 2fps indefinitely, right up to the capacity of the memory card. This continuous-shooting ability, clever pre-focusing system, image stabiliser and massive 12x optical zoom make the FX3 a very good sports/act ion/wildlife camera indeed. Yes, the 3.1MP resolution is a limitation, but the image quality is, nevertheless, good.

Just to round off our tour of the controls, you use the Exposure button on the back to change the shutter speed, aperture or both in the ASM modes, and the EVF/LCD button to switch between the two viewing systems.

Panasonic FZ3 Image quality

So what about the results? This is bound to be a concern, given this camera’s comparatively low resolution. The fact is, it provides the best image guaiity you’re likely to see from any 3MP camera. It’s so good that it’s snapping al the heels of 4MP models for detail rendition, and embarrassing a few in its control of colourfringing.

So is it better than the mighty PowerShot S1 IS? Yes it is, and in every respect. In particular, the Canon’s colour fringing problems become all too apparent when you compare its images with those from the Panasonic. Nevertheless, you might find Panasonic DMC-FZ3 is a little small, and those worried about the resolution might want to buy the 5-megapixel FZ20, which replaces the FZ10.

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