Product Description

New from Panasonic, the DMC-FZ7 is the next step in their high-end, Leica lensed Lumix range. Major advances include the large 2.5 LCD screen and manual focus & zoom rings (not power zoom) so you can have total control if you wish. Not to forget the amazing Mega-Optical Image Stabiliser , a real boon if you are taking shots at the telephoto end of the zoom range.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #54842 in Consumer Electronics
• Brand: Panasonic
• Model: DMC-FZ7BB
• Released on: 2006-02-16

Manufacturer's Description
The Panasonic Leica DMC-FZ7S 6MP Digital Camera with 12x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom features a Leica DC Vario-Elmarit Lens with a remarkable 12x optical zoom, equivalent to a 35 to 430 millimeter lens on a 35mm film camera. While a film camera with an optical zoom this powerful would be so big and heavy you couldn't handle it with one hand, the digital Panasonic Leica DMC-FZ7K small, lightweight and easy to handle. It also has Panasonic's Extended Optical Zoom feature. While causing minimal deterioration by using the center part of the high-resolution CCD, this function magnifies the image to give you total zoom power of 17.5x -- roughly equivalent to a huge 1680 millimeter lens on a 35mm camera.

large 2.5-inch diagonal LCD

The camera also features Panasonic's advanced MEGA Optical Image Stabilizer, which helps eliminate blurry pictures. Jitter from shaky hands is one of the main reasons why cameras produce blurry images. The Panasonic Leica DMC-FZ7K has a built-in gyrosensor that detects any hand movement and relays a signal to a tiny microcomputer inside the camera, which instantly calculates the compensation needed. A linear motor then shifts the Optical Image Stabilizer lens as necessary to guide incoming light from the image straight to the CCD. You won't even notice it working; all you'll see are the outstanding results!

The Panasonic Leica DMC-FZ7K also features a large, 2.5-inch diagonal LCD and a Power LCD function. Simply touch the power LCD button, and the display becomes about 40 percent brighter for easier viewing on sunny days. The camera also has the world's first developed high-angle LCD feature, which makes it easier to check the LCD when you need to hold the camera high over a crowd to take a shot. The large LCD lets you check the focus, frame the shot, and use functions like 25-thumbnail display and calendar view in comfort, with no eye strain. In addition, Panasonic has aligned the electronic viewfinder and LCD along the same line of sight to minimize differences in the images you see when framing shots.

With mega-burst consecutive shooting, you can snap off up to 14 consecutive shots at a swift 3 frames per second in standard mode. The camera also has unlimited consecutive shooting, so you can keep on shooting until the SD memory card is full.

The joystick on the back of the camera gives you quick, easy and accurate manual focusing. You can also use the manual focus assist function, which helps you set a perfect focus by magnifying the center of the LCD image and displaying a bar graph of the focal distance and depth of field. The joystick also makes it easy to manually adjust the exposure and focus. You can set the aperture, shutter speed and focus with your thumb while framing the shot on the LCD monitor. Press and hold down the joystick, and you can also instantly change four key settings -- white balance, ISO sensitivity, image size, and image quality -- while viewing the subject on the monitor. There's no need to switch to the menu screen.

Box Contents

Customer Reviews

A mega camera
We bought two of these cameras for a forthcoming trip to Canada - one black and one silver. They are physically more compact and lighter than you would expect for a 12x zoom "bridge" (e.g. between a compact digital and SLR)camera - this does not imply any shortcoming in construction though. The picture quality is excellent and the mega stabiliser keeps pictures taken at high magnification rock steady - amazing! The lens is Leica and very sharp whilst the camera is a comfortable shape to hold reasonably steady.

The flash is powerful but red eye is thankfully not prominent and the camera controls both automatic and manual are easy to get to get to grips with. The LCD screen is large but not of the highest resolution I have seen. Battery life is long but the battery is camera specific e.g. you can't put in a set of AAs when it gets low. Most importantly picture quality is superlative except in very low light without flash.

This is a camera you can grow into and which should last ages. The only irritation is the poor availability of Panasonic accessories - they seem like hens teeth! But in any event buy a LowePro case rather than a Panasonic one.

Overall, I believe this camera is, taking account of size, cost etc. a best in class. Buy it with confidence you'll be delighted.

CRACKING CAMERA!
This really is a superb camera.the leica lens is really out of the top drawer.so having read many reviews on this type of camera i decided to go for the FZ7,and boy did i make the right choice.Just imagine the cost of lenses not to mention the sheer bulk that you would need for a DSLR to match the zoom on the Panasonic.With the 12x zoom it is considerabley bigger than my sony compact but tiny and light compared to the DSLR.all in all a superb camera with 12x zoom,anti-shake,a flash that fills the room and a nice big,clear screen.You will not be dissapointed with this camera.highly recommended.

Great camera with fantastic design and picture quality
I got my first digital camera, a Canon Ixus V2 a few years ago now and I still love it. However the 2mp chip is a bit limiting so I went for this Panasonic. Its a great camera, its intuitive to use, you can start taking shots at a basic level very quickly but it has so many features to try once you familiarise yourself with it. Design is superb with a compact body and clear buttons and switches and a large bright LCD screen. First impressions of the shots are very good, clarity and exposure looking spot on. The 12x optical zoom is one of the best features and combined with the image stabiliser means you can eliminate camera shake.

As another review stated, my only gripe is the lack of accessories available, I appreciate its a new camera, but a protective case would nice !