Overview
The Panasonic Lumix DMC FS30 is a compact digital camera offering some extra zoom compared to most models. When it comes to zoom there is plenty of flexibility on offer. Panasonic has equipped the Lumix DMC FS30 with an 8x wide angle lens. The camera has 14 megapixels. You can opt to reduce the number of megapixels you shoot at in return for extra zoom. A maximum 16.9x zoom is available at 3 megapixels.
There is a good balance between ease of use and features. The Lumix DMC FS30 gives you access to image stabilisation and High Definition movies. There is a 2.7 inch LCD screen and a macro mode that allows you to focus from 5cm. Shutter lag times are a shade faster than standard.
Compared with other small digital cameras in this price range the Lumix DMC FS30 takes great snapshots. On the whole this camera appears to offer very good value for money and compares favourably against its closest rivals.
Main Features
Megapixels:
Zoom:
LCD Screen:
Dimensions:
Weight:
14
8x
2.7 inches
100.0 x 56.5 x 27.8 mm
138g
Macro:
HD Movies:
Manual Controls:
Batteries:
Memory Cards:
5cm
Yes
No
Lithium-ion Rechargeable
SD / SDHC / SDXC
Image Quality - See Sample Images Below
Outdoor Scenic Shots in Good Light
I struggled to find anything wrong with the Lumix DMC FS30 when it comes to shooting outdoors in good light. For a relatively small camera offering this much zoom the Lumix DMC FS30 produced a set of crisp images showing plenty of detail.
It is the sharpness of the photos that impressed me the most. Sharpness is well above average for a smaller digital camera with a lens that offers both wide angle capabilities and 8x zoom. There is flexibility within the focusing options too. This can help you produce shots that remain sharp as you move out to the edges of the photos.
Many cameras with wide angle lenses struggle with sharpness when the lens is zoomed right out. The Lumix DMC FS30 copes very well with this. Likewise when the lens is fully zoomed in the shots remain sharp.
My outdoor shots produced vivid colours and handled contrast in scenes well. I was also impressed at the level of detail showing in areas of light shade.
Portraits
Panasonic is my favourite brand for typical outdoor portraits. As you will see in this example the camera is able to add an extra touch of warmth and colour to the picture when compared with other brands.
Moving indoors and turning on flash I found my test shot to be a little dark. This suggests you will need to ensure you are quite close in to produce bright photos with flash as it looks like the flash range falls away quite quickly.
Without flash turned on the Lumix DMC FS30 does well. Noise is minimal and this helps to increase the level of detail showing in the shot.
Macro, Colours and Noise
The Lumix DMC FS30 produces good quality close up shots. The clarity compares well with rival models in this category.
To my eye the colours produced by this camera are a touch stronger than most other brands seem to manage. Colour strength is a matter of personal taste, but the extra punch delivered works well for me.
I didn't detect any particular problems with noise. As you would expect noise will creep in when light gets low, but aside from this noise is kept under control.
Summary
I like the picture quality offered by Panasonic digital cameras in general. The pictures have a vibrant look to them and sharpness is impressive. All in all this camera is hard to beat in its class.
Style
The Lumix DMC FS30 has a standard rectangular shape with rounded ends. The lens unit protrudes from the body. It is available in black, blue, silver and purple.
Shutter Lag Times
Single Shot
Five Shots
Single Shot With Flash
Five Shots With Flash
0.29 seconds
10.5 seconds
0.56 seconds
14.78 seconds
Ease of Use
This is a fairly typical digital camera. The menu system is easy to work through and there is not a lot to catch you out.
Points I Like
Ease of use - picture quality - High Definition movies
Where it Could Improve
There are no areas that stand out
Product Shots
Front View
Back View
Top View
Sample Menus
Top Rated Cameras in this Category
Panasonic DMC FS30 Rating 85/100
I really like this camera. It offers some extra zoom and takes excellent snaps. I found it easy to use and struggled to find anything I did not like about it. If you are looking for a smaller compact camera with some extra zoom then this one is a good choice.
Read Review: Panasonic DMC FS30 Review
Pentax Optio i-10 Rating 79/100
The Optio i-10 looks radically different to other digital cameras. It has a design based on vintage SLRs. In my tests I found more distant shots lacked sharpness. Aside from the design the features included in this camera are fairly standard.
Read Review: Pentax Optio i-10 Review
Related Pages
Panasonic DMC FS30 Review Panasonic DMC FS30 Specification Panasonic DMC FS30 Sample Images Panasonic DMC FS30 Features
Review Date
June 2010
