Fuji Finepix F80EXR vs Panasonic Lumix DMC TZ10 Comparison
Fuji Finepix F80EXR
Panasonic Lumix DMC TZ10
The Fuji Finepix F80EXR and the Panasonic Lumix DMC TZ10 are both top quality digital cameras. At the time of writing this comparison they are the best two cameras in their category when it comes to picture quality.
There is a fairly substantial difference in price. At the time of writing this comparison the Finepix F80EXR is around £85 cheaper. That is a big difference. As much as I like the Panasonic Lumix DMC TZ10 I think the Fuji Finepix F80EXR offers better value for money.
Both the Finepix F80EXR and the Lumix DMC TZ10 have a variety of features, but there are some subtle differences between the two cameras in this area.
Basic Specification
Fuji Finepix F80EXR
12 megapixels
10x Optical Zoom
3 inch LCD screen
Macro Focus: 5cm
Wide Angle Lens
High Definition Movies
Dimensions: 99.3 x 58.9 x 28.4mm
Weight: 183g
Panasonic Lumix DMC TZ10
12 megapixels
12x optical zoom
3 inch LCD screen
Macro Focus 3cm
Ultra Wide Angle Lens
High Definition Movies
Dimensions: 103.3 x 59.6 x 32.6 mm
Weight: 218g
Features
Based on the features listed above I would say the Panasonic Lumix DMC TZ10 has the edge in a number of areas. To start with the flexibility of the lens is greater with more zoom on offer and also the ability to squeeze in wider scenes. On top of this if you opt to lower the number of megapixels you shoot at more zoom becomes available. The amount of zoom increases to a maximum of 23.4x when shooting at 3 megapixels.
Other differences include a macro mode where you can get in closer. You can also record sound in stereo when using the Panasonic Lumix DMC TZ10 to shoot movies. It also has an advantage when it comes to manual exposure controls. It offers a shutter priority mode that is missing from the Fuji Finepix F80EXR.
To help you recall when and where a photograph was taken there is also a GPS setting. This stamps an image with the location of where you took the picture.
The Fuji Finepix F80EXR hits back with features to reduce noise and to increase the dynamic range available when shooting a scene. There is also a special pro focus mode. This pro focus mode blurs the background to help the subject stand out more. The benefits of the dynamic range setting are that you should be able to see greater detail in lighter and darker areas of a scene. In my tests this worked especially well in the lighter areas, but I could not detect a great deal of difference in the darkest areas of a scene compared to the Panasonic Lumix DMC TZ10. When using the increased dynamic range setting the number of pixels recorded is reduced. This has an impact on the size of the prints you can make.
Design
The two cameras look quite different, although both are relatively small for a camera offering this much zoom. The Fuji Finepix F80EXR has a gloss finish while the Panasonic Lumix DMC TZ10 is matt. The Finepix F80EXR looks more like a typical small compact digital camera while the Lumix TZ10 has a more traditional look. It is a bit chunkier and also has a grip area on the front to help you hold the camera steady when taking a shot.
Start Up and Shutter Lag
In this area the Finepix F80EXR has a slight advantage in both turn on times and also the time taken to take photos. This is an area where the Fuji Finepix F80EXR performs well.
Power Supply
Both cameras run on lithium ion batteries. Batteries and chargers are supplied by Fuji and Panasonic as standard.
Picture Quality
There is very little to choose between the two cameras when it comes to picture quality. There are one or two areas where the Fuji Finepix F80EXR excels. For example when switching the cameras into EXR mode, it does exceptionally well in bringing out detail in the lightest areas of a scene. I also like the depth of the colours the camera produces.
The Panasonic Lumix DMC TZ10 is not that far behind in terms of picture quality. In my view it is certainly not the case that I would be put off buying this camera because of the difference in picture quality.
Ease of Use
Both of these cameras require a bit of time spent with the manual and experimenting with them if you are to get the most out of them.
Verdict
Based on the cameras I have reviewed so far in 2010 these are the top two when it comes to cameras with extra zoom power in a relatively compact body size. There are differences in features and you may also prefer the design of one camera over the other. As I suggested at the top the price differential swings the decision for me personally in favour of the Fuji Finepix F80EXR.
Where to Buy - Fuji Finepix F80EXR
Product Shots
Front View
Fuji Finepix F80EXR
Panasonic Lumix DMC TZ10
Back View
Fuji Finepix F80EXR
Panasonic Lumix DMC TZ10
Top View
Fuji Finepix F80EXR
Panasonic Lumix DMC TZ10
