Digital Camera News and Reviews

Photography Blog has tested a new micro Four Thirds camera from Panasonic. The camera is called Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 and is supposedly one of the best cameras out there that combine still images and video recording. Let us hear what the reviewer thinks about the GH2.

Some key features for the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2:
-16 megapixel multi-aspect Live MOS sensor
-Venus Engine FHD processor
-Full HD 1080p video capability
-3″ swivelling and tilting LCD screen
-Multi-aspect electronic viewfinder
-ISO sensitivity of 160-12800

Photography Blog ends up giving the GH2 an extremely good review with an “Essential” rating and an overall score of 5 out 5 possible stars. The camera gets a perfect score on features, ease of use and image quality while it scores a little lower on value for your money and design. If you want to shoot both high quality videos and still images, and want to be able to change lenses this is definitely your camera, according to Photography Blog. It seems like Panasonic has made another winner with the GH2!
Read the full review of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 micro Four Thirds camera here.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40/FZ45
About.com has reviewed a compact superzoom camera from Panasonic. The camera is called Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40 (known as Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ45 in Europe) and has a very impressive zoom range that starts at 25mm and ends at 600mm.

Some key features for the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40/FZ45:
-14.1 megapixel image sensor
-24x optical zoom (25-600mm)
-Optical image stabilization
-3″ LCD screen
-HD movies in AVCHD Lite format
-Intelligent Auto (iA) mode
-Uses SD and SDHC memory cards

About.com ends up giving the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40/FZ45 an overall rating of 4 out of 5 possible stars. There are several positive points to the Panasonic camera including good image quality, a good mix of manual and automatic controls, feels like a DSLR camera, good menu structure and it has a viewfinder. There are a few negative aspects like you need to use a tripod to get steady shots at the long end of the zoom range, large size, some focus problems and beginners might not understand the manual aspects of the camera. Overall the FZ40 seems like a good superzoom camera.
Read the full review of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40/FZ45 digital camera here.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2
Panasonic claims that their Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 is the smallest system camera with a built-in flash and the GF2 seems really small! According to specifications the GF2 is 19% smaller in size and 7% less in weight compared to the GF2. Photography Blog has just released a review of this interesting Micro Four Thirds camera.

Some key features for the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2:
-12.1 megapixel image sensor
-3″ touch-screen LCD
-Built-in flash
-Full HD video capability (1080i60)
-Compatible with the new Panasonic 3D lens

Photography Blog ends up giving the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 a “Highly Recommended” rating with an overall score of 4.5 stars out of 5 possible. The GF2 scores highest on design, features, ease of use and image quality while it scores a little lower on value for your hard earned money. The Panasonic GF2 seems to be aimed at a new generation of photographers as it relies heavy on the touchscreen LCD. While older photographers might want regular wheels and buttons to change settings I’m sure the touchscreen operations will appeal to many including myself that are accustomed to smart phones with touchscreens and similar electronic gadgets.
Read the full review of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 Micro Four Thirds camera here.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX700
Photography Blog has reviewed a new compact camera from Panasonic. The camera is called Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX700 and features a large 3″ LCD screen with touchscreen abilities. The camera should also have enough megapixels for most needs and a nice wide angle zoom lens that starts at 24mm.

Some key features for the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX700 :
-14.1 megapixel image sensor
-5x optical zoom lens (24-120mm)
-Optical image stabilization
-3″ LCD touchscreen
-1080p HD video in AVCHD format
-iA (Intelligent Auto) mode
-Uses SD and SDHC memory cards

Photography Blog ends up giving the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX700 a “Recommended” rating with an overall score of 4 out of 5 possible stars. The Panasonic camera gets a perfect score on features, a little lower on ease of use and design while it gets a lower score on image quality and value for your money. The biggest problem with the FX700 is the image quality as it has some noise at even low ISO sensitivities, but it is still a good digital camera with a very fast lens and it is nice to have such a wide lens even though Panasonic should have put a lower price tag on this Lumix camera.
Read the full review of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX700 digital camera here.