Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100 review

Full HD 1080p video is increasingly common among stills cameras, but this is one of the best examples we’ve seen. The AVCHD format ensures wide compatibility with editing software, with files coming in at around 120MB per minute. The autofocus was quick to respond, details were crisp and automatic exposures were accurate, adjusting smoothly to changing light. There was a fair amount of video noise in the shadows when shooting in low light, but less than we’d expect from a similarly priced dedicated video camera.

The zoom control remained active while recording, but zoomed slowly to keep motor noise from the soundtrack. Sound quality was excellent, with a high-quality stereo microphone and an external microphone socket – just the thing in noisy environments for getting the mic close to the subject. The 2.5mm minijack size is non-standard but a cheap adapter will convert it into a 3.5mm socket. Manual exposure is available for videos, and it’s even possible to adjust the aperture or shutter speed while recording. The only downside is that videos are limited to 30 minutes – a result of daft EU duty rules.

The controls strike a sensible balance between dedicated buttons and menu-based control. There’s a button for selecting burst modes and another for recording video, while ISO speed, exposure compensation, self-timer and a customisable option adorn the navigation pad.

A Q MENU button reveals all the other usual suspects plus a few less common ones, such as aspect ratio and SLR-style customisable picture presets. Manual focus and exposure are well implemented, with accurate on-screen feedback to aid adjustment.

A clickable wheel replaces the mini joystick on previous FZ cameras, and is quicker for adjusting exposure settings. It’s the articulated screen that makes the biggest difference to ergonomics, though, particularly for video capture when it’s often impractical to hold the camera up to eye level.