Overview
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.
Main Features
Megapixels:
Zoom:
LCD Screen:
Dimensions:
Weight:
8
3.6x
2.5 inches
94.9 x 51.9 x 22.0mm
132g
Macro:
HD Movies:
Manual Controls:
Batteries:
Memory Cards:
5cm
No
No
Lithium-ion Rechargeable
SD/SDHC
Image Quality - See Sample Images Below
Outdoor Scenic Shots in Good Light
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.
Portraits
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.
Macro, Colours and Noise
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.
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.
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.
Summary
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.
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.
Shutter Lag Times
Single Shot
Five Shots
Single Shot With Flash
Five Shots With Flash
0.32 seconds
7.34 seconds
1.68 seconds
13.88 seconds
Ease of Use
Simple, straightforward and easy to use.
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
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.
Product Shots
Front View
Back View
Top View
Sample Menus
Top Rated Cameras in this Category
Canon IXUS 310 HS Rating 86/100
The Canon IXUS 310 HS is one of the best touch controlled digital cameras. It has 12 megapixels and a 4.4x wide angle lens. The screen is very responsive to touch. This is due partly to the larger screen size than many touch controlled digital cameras offer. Picture quality is excellent and the build quality is top quality. If you are looking for a touch controlled digital camera the IXUS 310 HS is worth a very close look.
Read Review: Canon IXUS 310 HS Review
Canon IXUS 220 HS Rating 86/100
The Canon IXUS 220 HS is a pocket sized digital camera. It looks good, is well made and can take an impressive snapshot in most situations. It may not have every in vogue feature, but it has an extra touch of all round quality about it
Read Review: Canon IXUS 220 HS Review
Canon IXUS 115 HS Rating 86/100
The Canon IXUS 115 HS is a classy looking, pocket digital camera. It can shoot Full HD movies and has a high quality 3 inch LCD screen. When it comes to picture quality the IXUS 115 HS outclasses many of its direct competitors.
Read Review: Canon IXUS 115 HS Review
Related Pages
Panasonic DMC FX33 Review Panasonic DMC FX33 Specification Panasonic DMC FX33 Sample Images Panasonic DMC FX33 Features
Review Date
November 2007
