12.1-megapixel resolution captures enough detail for poster-size prints
5x MEGA image-stabilized optical zoom; 25mm ultra-wide-angle Leica DC lens
3.0-inch touch-screen LCD
Intelligent Auto (iA) mode; Face Recognition feature
Capture images to SD/SDHC memory cards (not included)
This review is from: Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX580 12MP Digital Camera with 5x MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3 inch LCD (Silver)This is one fantastic camera, and I look forward to using it a lot. This is my third Panasonic (FX-01 and FZ-30), and before that I had Nikon digitals, preceded by Nikon film cameras; I had my own darkroom and did my own developing and printing of b&w for many years. I have to admit that when I took the FX-580 out of the box, I was a bit disappointed. I had ordered it to replace my FX-01, which I loved but which did not perform well in low light. The FX-01 is a beautiful, nice-to-hold camera that is covered with a black rubbery coating, and the 580 appeared by comparison to be plastic and unfriendly. But this is a case where first impressions should be set aside. I have now seen some of what the 580 can do (its English-language instructions run to 143 pages). I am already a believer!I was worried that the touch-screen control of many functions might be just a gimmick. It isn't, and I am especially impressed at what the AFAE (Auto-Focus Auto-Exposure) function does: When you activate it, it tells you to touch whatever you want the AFAE to work on. The thing or person doesn't have to be in the center of the screen. It's like magic, as you watch the change in focus and the correction of the spot-metered exposure happen. It blows me away.The 12 megapixel images are fantastic. I took some macro (no flash) shots of some flowers, both outside and indoors, and I enlarged them to my heart's content. You have to get to the point that you can't tell what you're looking at before edges begin to bleed pixels. Another feature that I know I will use (because I travel a lot and have tried to take lots of panoramas) is the "panorama assist mode." When it is activated, the edge of the previous image appears on the screen so that you can match it up with the next part of the panorama. This may not be a new feature with this model, but it is very impressive.Being a diehard Photoshop user, I have not installed the software yet, but when I get to my home computer, I will check it out and report back as warranted. Unless you feel you must lug around an SLR, I think most serious amateurs will be very pleased with this camera. Lugging lenses etc. isn't necessary with this camera; I'd rather carry a pocket-sized tripod with the 580. In choosing the 580, I also considered the Leica D-Lux 3 and its Panasonic clone, which would have cost $200-300 more. In the end, I could not buy a camera, no matter how wonderful, that had only a 60mm equivalent at its long end; I knew that would a source of constant frustration in many travel situations. The 580s 25mm wide-angle is just short of the Leica's 24mm, and the Leica's lack of a handgrip really worried me - I am not interested in dropping a $700 camera. The only downside so far is the cost of the extra battery: $49.90 including shipping from Amazon. It may never even be necessary -- the battery seems to last forever.
This review is from: Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX580 12MP Digital Camera with 5x MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3 inch LCD (Silver)I have been a serious SLR photographer (mostly scientific photography but also landscape and personal photography when traveling on holiday) for over 40 years. In that time, since beginning with a 2.25" format Yashica twin-lens reflex camera (phenomenal) and then a Minolta SRT101 SLR several years later, I have been fortunate in my ready access to top-tier Leica film systems and Nikon digital camera systems, which I use heavily.The Panasonic Lumix became my choice for highly compact cameras because: a) their superlative Leica optics reproduce images with astounding fidelity, b) they are so compact, rugged, and lightweight, c) because they have simple (read fast) intuitive controls that include the iA computerized exposure system. The FX580 is now my third Lumix camera and the best to date.The FX580 incorporates an extremely fast and highly intuitive touch screen display that allows you to touch the subject (on the screen) that you want to track and adjusts the exposure + focus rapidly on that spot in a very cool sort of "moving spot meter" fashion and can even perform facial recognition if you desire. It also allows you to quickly and effortlessly select the following modes with a simple touch of highly visible "buttons" on you large and bright LCD display: iA (uncanny in its accuracy), Program, Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority, Manual (with touch-screen slier bars for shutter speed and f-stop), and high-resolution 30 fps digital video with mono-aural sound (very crisp high fidelity images)....
Detail Products
Detail Reviews
Click here for more information
»»»Visit Store NOW...
Best price click here
