I was wondering if anyone has any experience with the Panasonic DMC-FX35 25mm wide-angle camera, as I am trying one out. I'm looking at it primarily for it's wide-angle capability and latest technology features.
I was considering an updated version of the Kodak V705 wide-angle with dual lens but that model or later version is no longer available from the company.
So far, I have taken several types of shots and like the quality using mostly the default settings. There are a lot of setting options which I'm trying to learn about. Battery life seems very good and I have an 8GB SDHC memory card so I can take plenty of pictures even at 10MB or movies at HD720.
Click here for Panasonic's specs. (Overview)
For a good 3rd party review of the camera, click here.
While having wide angle capabilities makes it easier to take pictures of buildings and interior rooms, especially when in close quarters, it's not THAT much difference than using a camera with a standard angle lens -- just means I have to be further away to get in more of the picture. Of course, this is often a problem, especially for interior room shots as you are usually limited by roomsize. Now I can take in more of the room in a single shot.
BTW, the camera comes with software for transferring and managing images as well as a panorama utility that allows you to combine photos that were taken side-by-side into a single panorama image.
It has two mode settings for minimizing jittery pictures, one that is always active and is the only option for video recordings; the other mode is only activated when you press the shutter. I wasn't using the second option, and when taking shots at a distance I was getting blurring in some of the shots, not all. I need to try this feature some more and experiment between the two modes.
Let me know if you have any experience with this camera and what you like/dislike about it.
Copyright 2008 by Lawrence Yerkes. All Rights Reserved.
|
Home Website | NJ Property Search | Sell | Buy | Rent | Search | Relocate | Resources | Contact Me | Commercial |
Lawrence,
Both me and my wife have panasonic DMC-FX cameras and I have nothing bad to say about them. I have the DMC-FX30S(2years old) and my wife has the DMC-FX55(last year). I love the way they shoot and the wide angle is unbeatable. They record in a super high quality .MOV video format that can be recorded in 16:9 widescreen format which really adds a lot to a video tour.
The battery life on the cameras is also great. I am an appraiser and my wife is a real estate agent and I take pictures everyday of houses for appraisals and she seems to always be taking pictures of something and neither of us has ever had a problem with our cameras. I like them so much I recommend them to my technology students. If you would like to take a look at my blog to see more please go to www.RETechBlog.com. You can also see the difference between a 35mm picture and a 28mm panasonic pic. The review of the FX55 is near the top and the review of the FX30S is towards the bottom. Also, check www.NewEgg.com for prices.
Matt Rains
Matt, thank you for your comments. I am definitely sticking with a 28mm (or wider-angle) camera, regardless.
BTW, Panosonic has announced the DMC-FX500 which has a touchscreen and 5x zoom from 25mm to 125mm.
I have the old Kodak V570 and could not live without a wide angle lens. If it dies, I will probably look at the Panasonic next.
Randy,
Do you know if Kodak has any plans for wide-angles in the future?
I've been looking at all the reviews for the Panasonic DMC-FX35 and so far they have been favorable overall.
I looked at the specs for the newer DMC-FX500, it's basically the same engine with the touchscreen added and an upgraded zoom. If you look at pictures showing the touchscreen, it shows a person using some kind of plastic pointer with the screen. Since it's first generation, and the screen is relatively small (won't be able to get by with using my fingers in an emergency), I believe I will be satisfied with the FX35.
Here are more reviews...
http://www.cameralabs.com/reviews/Panasonic_Lumix_DMC-FX35_FX36/design.shtml
http://www.digitalreview.ca/content/Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-FX35-Digital-Camera.shtml
Here's another review, which is a little more critical about the camera:
ttp://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/FX35/FX35A.HTM