The Panasonic DMC FX33 is an 8 megapixel digital camera with a 3.6x wide angle lens. The main attractions of the DMC FX33 are the fact it will fit into a pocket and that it is easy to use. It also has a stylish design and is available in different colours.
When it comes to features this is a point and shoot camera, but there are a couple of useful additions such as image stabilisation and a widescreen movie mode.
Image Quality Panasonic DMC FX33 test shots
Outdoor 1 (Medium Zoom)
One thing the DMC FX33 has managed to do better than more or less every digital camera I have tested recently is handle the glare from the sun. Very little detail is lost in the photo when compared to others I have taken during the last month or so when the sun is lower in the sky.
It is not all good news though as the sharpness of the photo is no better than average. My test points for sharpness are the brickwork and roof of the building, plus the writing on the boats and the edges of the scene. Although the camera is o.k., I was expecting to see a sharper image. There is also more noise showing up in the sky than I have noticed with other models.
Outdoor 2 (No Zoom)
At a wide angle the camera is again under pressure when it comes to sharpness. This is less of a surprise as it is a demanding photo with elements of the scene somewhat distant. The problem with wide angle lenses is that they do tend to lose some of the sharpness from a photo when the lens is fully zoomed out.
Outdoor 3 (Maximum Zoom)
This is the best out of the three scenic shots in my view. Sharpness is still not perfect, although I would not expect it to be as the other tests have indicated this is an area where the camera could improve. The DMC FX33 also shows further evidence of noise in the sky.
Outdoor Portrait
I like the outdoor portrait. The photo is sharp and the colours suit my own tastes. They are vivid without being too strong. As I took this photo in the shade a white balance setting of shady was used to bring out some extra colour in the shot.
Indoor Portrait with Flash
Using flash produces a bright photo, but the focusing is not as sharp as it should be. In terms of red eye the camera does a good job of keeping this under control.
Indoor Portrait without Flash
My test photo proved to be very dark. I have no idea why it is so dark and even rerunning the test failed to produce a better shot. This leaves me disappointed with my indoor test shots.
Colours
As with other Panasonic digital cameras the DMC FX33 is capable of producing very strong colours, especially blues. As you can see in some of the scenic shots this leads to very powerful skies and water. Some people like this while others prefer a more natural feel to the colours.
Macro
The macro shot is sharp and clear. Although I would not go as far as to recommend the DMC FX33 to someone whose primary interest in photography is close up shots, you should be able to take a decent macro shot when you want to.
ISO 400
When you step up the ISO setting to 400, further noise kicks in. Despite this the DMC FX33 is no worse than most of its rivals at this setting.
ISO 1600
At high ISO levels the DMC FX33 performs better than a lot of other digital cameras. One thing it manages to do is retain colour fairly well. Even so I would not look to use this setting too often.
Overall
I'm left a bit disappointed by the DMC FX33 when it comes to picture quality. Part of the reason for this is that I have a high opinion of Panasonic digital cameras in general. This one falls short in my view.
Shutter Lag
I was able to take a single shot in 0.32 seconds and five in 7.34 seconds. These are average times. With the flash on times really slow down and it takes 1.68 seconds for a single shot and 13.88 for five.
You can compare this camera to other models by taking a look at the Shutter Lag Comparison Table.
Style: A neat any tidy digital camera. Although there is no single point that stands out about the camera when it comes to looks the overall impression is of a very attractive camera.
Dimensions: 94.9 x 51.9 x 22.0 mm
Weight: 132g
Batteries: Lithium ion. Panasonic estimates you should be able to take around 280 shots between charges. A battery and charger are supplied with the camera.
Memory cards: 27mb of storage have been built into the camera. It is compatible with SD and SDHC cards. I was able to take 6 shots before the internal memory was full.
Click here to save money on SD cards.
Ease of use rating: Very Good.
Points I like:
Settings for 6 x 4 prints and panoramic shots - image stabilisation - LCD screen display - ease of use
Where it could improve:
Struggled with lower light shots - images could be a shade sharper - noise creeps in
Alternatives
There is certainly plenty of choice when it comes to pocket sized digital cameras. A couple of my current favourites are the Canon IXUS 75 and the Sony DSC T200.
Verdict:
Although I like the look and set up the camera has, I am a bit disappointed with my test shots. I am a big fan of really sharp photos and although most cameras can always improve in this area I expected more from the Panasonic DMC FX33.
Front View
Back View
Top View
Sample Menus
| Panasonic DMC FX33 Summary |
| Description: | 8 megapixels and a 3.6x optical zoom lens |
| Ease of Use: | 9 |
| Features: | 8 |
| Colour: | 8 |
| Macro: | 8 |
| Indoors: | 6 |
| Value for Money: | 8 |
| Style: | 9 |
| Movie Mode: | 8 |
| Image Quality: | 7 |
| Build Quality: | 8 |
| Total: | 79 |
| Verdict: | "Easy to use, looks good fits into a pocket. That all sounds good, but I was a bit disappointed by the picture quality I managed to achieve with this camera. Usually I like Panasonic cameras, but I struggled with this one." |
| Review Date: | November 2007 |
| Click for: | Specification Sample Images Features |
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