Location:Home :: TV :: Point & Shoot Digital Cameras :: Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX500K 10.1MP Digital Camera with 5x Wide Angle MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Black)
Color:Black Media:Electronics Autographed:No Memorabilia:No Optical Zoom:5 Display Size:3 Maximum Focal Length:125 Minimum Focal Length:25 Maximum Resolution:10.1 Has Red Eye Reduction:Yes Shipping Weight (lbs):0.7 Dimensions (in):2.1 x 1 x 3.8
Excellent Camera with minor issuesJuly 7, 2008 4 out of 4 found this review helpful
I have always had canon or sony cameras and this is my first interaction with panasonic. I was very skeptical to start with as I had no exposure to panasonic cameras, but I am pleased I made a move. I was tired by looking at over saturated colors of Sony (can someone show them the real "red"?) while I had no complaints for canon products, when I compared same images of canon vs panasonic at major review sites, I liked FX35/FX500 or TZ5 much better - in terms of color and clarity. Also there are a no. of useful features (you can find more details in other reviews) that are not available in canon cameras in the same prize range. Finally I decided to go for FX500. We just returned from Disney vacation over independence day weekend and I have some great images in addition to few cool HD videos !!!
True - the noise levels in low light condition is visible but this one beats all other in day light by miles, and for 2 yr old son who goes to bed at 9 pm this is perfect.
BTW - I decided to go for FX500 and not FX35 because of 2 reasons - looks (the black model is awesome) and combination of touchscreen and joy stick and not a 4 - way dial (that looks really old). But looking at the results I can now say for sure you can not go wrong with any of Lumix range - mainly FX35, TZ5 or FX500.
Go ahead and get it, you will not regrest it unless night photography is your major use (in which case I doubt any compact digicam would really work for you)
Compared to FX-35 it pros, it has cons...July 6, 2008 30 out of 31 found this review helpful
Just upgraded from the FX-35 and did quite a few tests yesterday. Overall, the FX-500 is an excellent camera but dollar for dollar you get a little more with the FX-35. That being said, I am selling my FX-35 and keeping the FX-500 (see eBay!) because some small specific differences weigh in favor of the FX-500 for me as a photographer, but not necessarily because the camera is better. There were a few primary issues I want to mention between the two cameras though.
First, the FX-500 is noticeably larger than the FX-35. I know specs are specs, but just the weight and feel make it larger and it is less comfortable in a shirt pocket. The bonus is that for those of us with larger hands it is more comfortable to use without always hitting buttons with your thumb. Second, the lens is not quite as wide as the FX-35. This could be a number of factors, but since we know the chip processes not only noise but some optical distortions (try comparing the RAW and JPEG versions of a few Lumix camera images!) this could be post processing by the chip. I would guess the FX-500 is about a 25.5mm or 26mm wide angle compared to the FX-35. That, or the FX-35 is a 24.5mm :)
The most disappointing aspect of the FX-500 is that the images are not quite as good as the FX-35. Look close, mainly in low light. I notice significantly more noise artifact in the FX-500 images compared to the FX-35 in all ISO's. This make sense since the FX-500 has a much larger screen sitting right behind the chip and more electronics. I am sure the FX-500 generates more electronics noise from this fact alone and that has to be processed out. Luckily, the FX-500 has many more manual controls and you can adjust contrast, sharpness and noise reduction and little. Still, making as many adjustments as I could I could not get the same quality out of the FX-500 that I could get out of the FX-35. Let me stress that this image difference is small and only available to Pixel Peepers when you zoom in 100%, but it is noticeable. So, if you shoot wide and hope you can later crop in to get the image you want you will do better with the FX-500 to frame tight to reduce the amount of cropping.
Those were the largest issues I saw, but let me say the build quality is excellent as it always is with Lumix cameras. The menus are intuitive and the touch screen works wonderfully (even with a screen protector on the LCD). I think the actual number of items the touch screen is useful for is smaller than the number of things you can actually do with it, but for those things it is nice. The focus control is sweet, changing modes and scenes is quicker and easier and things like the playback control for movies now offer you real buttons on the screen which is very intuitive.
When you compare the fact that the FX-500 has more manual controls, a larger LCD, fancy gadget points for the touch screen and a slightly longer lens at 125mm, I decided to stick with it. This is also because I got one on eBay for about $350. If you are not really going to play with the gadgets on this camera that much and want a pocketable point and shoot with excellent, amazing optics, pick the FX-35. If you want a little more manual control, some sweet gadget novelty with the touch screen and perhaps a slightly longer lens and don't mind spending $100 more, get the FX-500. I decided on the FX-500 but really I am just waiting for a new and improved upgrade for my FZ-18! (I want a 10M chip and fancier processor, other than that I love the FZ-18!)
Two last notes: the rubberized case feel of the FX-35 is more secure in your hand in some ways and I really miss that on the FX-500. Also, the FX-500 seems to eat batteries a little faster. (makes sense though, expected...)
Pros: 1. longer zoom range nice 2. larger, heavier body easier to hold for large hands 3. intuitive touch screen, fast & easy
Cons: 1. more chip noise than FX-35, but manageable 2. larger heavier body less pocketable 3. costs $100 more than FX-35 for minor upgrades 4. battery life a little shorter than FX-35
Panasonic Lumix DCM-FX500KJune 25, 2008 1 out of 6 found this review helpful
This camera operates as advertised. It is a fine point and shoot camera with enough options to keep one learning and improving for a long time.
Those that sent it back should have had it replcedJune 19, 2008 8 out of 10 found this review helpful
I have shot 200 or so pics with his great little camera, and if you leave to it's own devices you will be very satisfied. I have a 17" plasma monitor on my computer and I have to tell you the detail is beyond my expectations after reading some reviews that complained that thier pictures were not clear, they must have had a defective camera or they must have had some settings wrong. I would definatly reccomend this camera to a friend. My only gripe is that the Hi Def cable should be included as the suplied A/V cable degrades the picture on my 60" flat screen. Buy it, try it, you'll keep it!
Big disappointemtn if Quality of Picture is Important!June 8, 2008 23 out of 26 found this review helpful
I've been a Photo enthusiast for 50 years and go way back with many film and at least 10 digital cameras from near SLR-size to pocket compacts and was so thrilled when I ordered the FX500 (because of the Leica lens and the wide angle shooting capability) I could barely sleep until it arrived... Sad to say the camera construction & layout itself, the interface is wonderful but the quality of pictures (its "reason for being" in the first place, right?)is borderline horrible (in comparison say to the Canon SD850IS which is an almost perfect comparison in size & specs...to the FX500 side-by-sde, picture-for-picture using the exact same settings, light and subject...). Urg! I am so disappointed. The photos are so grainy and un-sharp... fuzzy by comparison... My bad! as my son would say, I did not wait for the DP Review to come out, but bought it the first week it was available... Well, it makes a fine paperweight on my desk and for shooting those "unimportant" fun shots of the dog playing onthe rug beside my desk... Don't buy this just for the pazazz unless you are using it only for email-sized postcard shots. Sorry Panasonic! this is the unvarnished truth about your otherwise wonderfully designed camera.
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