Overview
The Panasonic Lumix DMC FP8 is a 12 megapixel, pocket camera. One of the big attractions for me is the speedy response of the Lumix DMC FP8. It is lightening fast to turn on and there is little delay between pressing the shutter button and the picture being taken. Key features include image stabilisation and High Definition movies. You can zoom in and out while shooting a movie too. There is a 4.6x, wide able lens. Zoom can be increased to 9.1x when shooting at lower resolutions.
Panasonic has come up with a different design for this camera. It has a flat body and the lens is positioned in the top left hand corner. The camera has an aluminium body to help keep weight down.
Why Buy The Panasonic DMC FP8
The Lumix DMC FP8 ticks most of the boxes I look for in this type of camera. It is easy to use and takes a good quality photo.
Main Features
Megapixels:
Zoom:
LCD Screen:
Dimensions:
Weight:
12
4.8x
2.7 inches
95.7 x 59.6 x 20.2 mm
131g
Macro:
HD Movies:
Manual Controls:
Batteries:
Memory Cards:
5cm
Yes
No
Lithium-ion Rechargeable
SD/SDHC
Image Quality - See Sample Images Below
Outdoor Scenic Shots in Good Light
Outdoor 1 (Medium Zoom):
The Lumix DMC FP8 makes a good job of this scene. It manages to show high levels of detail in the brightest areas of the boats, while retaining true colours. In light shade areas levels of noise are also controlled well. This also helps to ensure there are high levels of detail in the shot.
Outdoor 2 (No Zoom):
In this test the camera proves it is capable of producing strong colours. Taking into account the fact this is a wide angle lens the levels of sharpness in the shot are above average. There is a hint of darkness creeping into the very corners of the shot.
Outdoor 3 (Maximum Zoom):
Here the camera handles any contrast in the scene well. Sometimes I see a loss of detail on the boats in this test, but here the Lumix DMC FP8 copes well with this problem. Sharpness is very good throughout the picture.
Outdoor 4 (Building):
This is another example of how well the camera is able to focus. There is minimal fall off in sharpness as you move out towards the edges. Colours are well balanced too.
Portraits
Outdoor Portrait:
All three of my portrait tests work well. In my outdoor shot the Lumix DMC FP8 creates a warm feel to the picture. Once again the photo is sharp. You should have no problem with standard portrait snapshots.
Indoor Portrait with Flash:
This is one of the more natural photos I have taken using flash. The camera does a very good job of deciding the amount of light to use.
Indoor Portrait without Flash:
With flash turned off the sharpness of the photo slides a little. In most situations where lighting levels start to dip you will need to resort to using flash quite quickly.
Macro, Colours and Noise
Macro:
If you are looking for a snapshot camera that can take a decent close up shot then this camera will do the job. In goes without saying that a small pocket camera is unlikely to be the choice of someone who specialises in close up photography, but this camera should have little problem with the occasional close in shot.
Colours:
The Lumix DMC FP8 adds a bit of extra zing to the colours it produces when compared to other brands. The strength of the colours you like to see is a matter of personal taste. My view is that although the colours are stronger than many cameras manage they remain within reasonable boundaries.
Noise:
The Lumix DMC FP8 does well in controlling noise. There are some lightly shaded areas in my test shots that this camera manages to show in much greater detail than most other brands manage.
Summary
Aside from the darkness that gets right into the corner of the test when the lens is zoomed out I was happy with my test shots. The camera compares well against other digital cameras with a similar specification.
Style
The Lumix DMC FP8 looks different to previous Panasonic digital cameras. It has a flat body with an integral lens in the top left hand corner. It is available in red, black and silver.
Shutter Lag Times
Single Shot
Five Shots
Single Shot With Flash
Five Shots With Flash
Turn on Time
0.2 seconds
8.95 seconds
42 seconds
13.02 seconds
1.07 seconds
Ease of Use
The design Panasonic uses for their menu system places all the features in one place. It is then a case of scrolling through until you find what you are looking for.
Points I Like
Picture quality - ease of use - fast start up time - advanced movie mode - minimal shutter lag delay
Where it Could Improve
Nothing really stands out
Verdict
If you are looking for a pocket camera the Panasonic Lumix DMC FP8 is well worth considering. It offers a quick response and takes good quality photos in most situations. I found very little to put me off this camera and plenty of plus points.
Product Shots
Front View
Back View
Top View
Sample Menus
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Related Pages
Panasonic DMC FP8 Review Panasonic DMC FP8 Specification Panasonic DMC FP8 Sample Images Panasonic DMC FP8 Features
Review Date
October 2009
