Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ7S 7.2MP Digital Camera with 6x Image Stabilized Zoom (Silver) by Panasonic
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Digital camera reviews of Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ7S 7.2MP Digital Camera with 6x Image Stabilized Zoom (Silver)
Digital camera Review: Lumix DMC-LZ7S
Summary: 4 Stars
Nice camera Kind of bulky Hard to see the LCD screen for outdoor shotsDigital camera Review: Nice compact camera but some drawbacks
Summary: 4 Stars
I bought this camera as a second camera to my Canon Digital Rebel. I needed a ultra portable camera for my backpacking vacations.
The Good:
This camera takes good pictures and fits into my shirt pocket. It has 6X optical zoom and optical image stabilization which works well at 6X zoom. The white balance selections are important as I found outdoor pictures had a blue-green cast. Using the outdoor white balance improved this to my satisfaction. The auto focus is good and you can customize the setting so that the camera auto focuses on the correct portion of the image frame. The LCD is bright and lager enough. The price I paid ($119) was a good deal for these features.
The Bad:
There is noticeable vignetting when shooting at 1X zoom. Vignetting is when the corners of the pictures are darker than the center. Most of my outdoors pictures need to be cropped to remove the darker edges. This is a common problem in point-and-shoot cameras and this one is no different. Also on bright images there is noticeable chromatic aberration but that is to be expected on any zoom lens less than $300. I would also like to have more custom settings so I can control shutter speed, ISO, and f/ratio. There are a couple of different settings but you don't have complete control like you would on a DSLR. The picture quality and ability to control depth of field, focal ratio etc are not nearly on par with my Canon DSLR. Also its a bit larger and heavier than some of the new ultra-slim point-and-shoot cameras.
Overall its a good camera and a great value for the price. It is unreasonable to expect it to have the full manual control features that a DSLR has. And most people don't want those features or understand how to use them anyway. It is a "point-and-shoot" after all. I think its a good purchase for someone who wants a very portable camera that takes good pictures without having to understand ISO, f stops, and exposure time. Not a good purchase for someone who is really interested in photography and image composition. This camera just doesn't allow enough control for that.
Digital camera Review: Panasonic Camera LZ7
Summary: 5 Stars
Very pleased with the camera. Easy to use, takes sharp pictures and is easy on batteries.Digital camera Review: Panasonic DMC-LZ7
Summary: 5 Stars
Many reviews comment about the bulkiness of this camera. That's what drew me to the LZ7,... it's size. I have large hands and cannot curl my fingers around something small like many of the cameras currently on the market. I also wanted something that was easy to use and had buttons large enough for my fingers to be able to use them without me stopping to look at the camera controls every time I wanted to take a picture.
My main use of a digital camera is to take pictures of items that I put up at internet auction sites. I didn't need something that would have such a high optical zoom that I could count the individual stitches on the picture of a sweater. But I did want something that gave me a little more clarity than my current Olympus 1.3 Megapixel without going into debt to get one. I did a lot of research and came to the conclusion this camera should suit my needs nicely for several years to come. I checked it out at a local big box retailer and was pleased with how it fit in my hand. Buttons were easy to reach and use. The shutter button is located in from the edge just over 3/4 of an inch which allows my index finger to extend out comfortably as I press down.
This is my first camera without a viewfinder and that is a little hard to get used to but it's the way of the future. The screen is not quite 2 ½" diagonally but it is generous enough. I like how the camera freezes the shot and shows it on the screen for a couple of seconds before it goes back to live mode.
My Olympus required the card to be in the camera before I could take a picture. This one does not. It has a bit of built in memory which can be a good and a bad thing. It's great if you happen to forget to put the card back in and snap an important once in a lifetime shot but it's bad in the fact that once you take the shot you have to dig out the USB cable and connect the camera to your computer to get the picture. I usually use a card reader but I'll be searching for a USB hub soon since the only free USB slots I have are in the back of my computer and I often forget to put the card back in.
The thing about this camera that has impressed me more than anything else is the clarity and colors, especially in a shot that was totally lacking of light. In testing, I went into an interior room that has no windows. The only light was a small amount under the doors but not enough for me to see anything. I set the camera on normal mode, pointed the camera toward the interior of the room and pressed the button. When I looked at the picture I was amazed at how brightly lit and clear the shot was. Colors like light lavender, turquoise, ekru and bright yellow were exact. I doubt if I will have a lot of need to take pictures in total darkness but sometimes I get into a situation where the light is not always the greatest. I know this camera will be able to handle it and give me a great picture the first time.
One review I read stated to be sure to read the manual. That gave me the impression this camera was complicated. I have not read the manual yet and have been able to take pictures with no problem. I am sure I will be reading the manual when I want to take a picture with a feature I haven't used or to delve deeper into the many different options this camera has. The pictures, all of mine have been JPG, are clear and the colors vivid. The colors weren't so vivid for me in ISO mode but that's just one of 4-5 picture modes so you have plenty of options. I haven't had the opportunity to use Scene mode yet but in playing around with it I found it very simple to select from the multitude of options and having the option name right there on the screen helps, and the animations on the option icons is an fun touch. I really like the "Heart" (simple) mode. It's great for taking my auction pictures but I have found that the other modes (Normal, ISO, Simple and Macro) are all pretty much `point and shoot' simple. I am sure they can be more complicated and I know, when I want to get into the more complicated side of this camera, it will be waiting for me. Meanwhile, it and I are quite content using the simplistic controls of this Panasonic LZ7 to get some really great shots.
If you are looking for a camera that is a little too big to stick in your shirt pocket or your cosmetic bag or your wallet but don't want something that requires a PhD to operate, consider the LZ7. I'm sure glad I did!
Digital camera Review: Shutter cover wont open
Summary: 2 Stars
Good camera, but the automatic shutter cover ceased to open after just three mnths of light use. Panasonic did stand behindtheir warranty although it needs to be sent off to Illinois for repair (I live on the east coast).