Panasonic FZ35 In Depth Review

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ35 In Depth Review

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ35 (outside the U.S. known as the FZ38) is the latest entry in a line of well regarded super-zooms from Panasonic. Offering 12.1 megapixels and an 18x zoom lens, the FZ35 promises detailed images from its versatile lens, while also providing consumers with plenty of creative options from a wealth of in-camera shooting modes and creative filters and adjustments, to the ability to shoot HD movies at 720p. Even better it does all of this in a fairly compact and light design that seems ideal for beginning photographers, or users just looking for a camera that can handle a multitude of different shooting situations.

Not disturbing the successful formula of the FZ28 too much, the FZ35 keeps the same 18x zoom (27-486mm), but does bump the resolution to 12 megapixels from 10. Other changes include a change from Mega O.I.S. to Power O.I.S. which other than a word change adds double the stopping power of the FZ28’s image stabilization, in addition to:

• Choice between AVCHD format or Motion JPEG format for HD recording.
• Stereo microphones.
• HDMI out.
• Dedicated record button.
• Faster quick AF mode.
• Face detection (as in recognizes particular faces).
• My Color Mode allows for live creative changes.
• High Dynamic mode for enhanced dynamic range with 3 optional settings.

So as you can see, not a lot of significant external changes, instead the FZ35 enhances the creative capabilities of the camera, while also adding some improvements to resolution, AF speed, image stabilization, and HD recording. Are the changes enough for the FZ35 to keep Panasonic at the top of the superzoom class? Keep reading our review of the Panasonic FZ35 to find out.

Availability

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ35 Get the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ35 and support this site at the same time, by making your purchase through the following links at B&H Photo. Your purchases there help us continue to provide you with more great content. Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ35 at B&H Photo: $309 and free shipping

Competition

The most likely competitor, or at least the most frequently mentioned one, is Canon’s SX20 IS, which offers a 20x zoom and 12 megapixels. The second most likely competitor would be Sony’s HX1 with its 9.1 megapixel sensor and 20x zoom lens. Recently a number of superzooms, or rather ultra-zooms have been released including the Nikon P100 and Olympus’ SP-800UZ, offering a 26x zoom and a whopping 30x zoom respectively. The point is, this a rapidly growing and evolving field with product cycles frequently lasting well under a year, so direct comparisons are frequently made unfair by mismatching new with just slight less new products. That said all of the previously mentioned products are based on tiny compact camera sensors that are pushed to their limits and beyond by the focal lengths that also happen to make the same products so appealing to consumers. In large part, overall image quality will be very close, so choosing boils down to particular feature sets and  cost considerations. Here’s how the FZ35 competes with the Sony Cybershot Hx1 and Canon PowerShot SX20 IS:

Camera	Panasonic Lumix FZ35	Canon PowerShot SX20 IS	Sony Cybershot HX1
Price	$309	$359	$449
Sensor	12.1 megapixels, 1/2.33" CCD	12.1 megapixels, 1/2.3" CCD	9.1 megapixels, 1/2.4" CMOS
Lens	18x (35mm film equivalent: 27-486mm)	20x (35mm film equivalent: 28-560mm)	20x (35mm film equivalent: 28-560mm)
Viewfinder	.2", 201.6k	0.44", 235k	.2" 201.6k
LCD	2.7", 230K	2.5", 235k	3", 230.4k
Movie	1280 x 720 @30fps	1280 x 720 @ 30 fps	1440x1080 @ 30fps, 1280x720 @ 30fps
ISO	ISO 80-6400	ISO: 80-3200	ISO 80-3200

Continue Reading This Review:

1. Introduction
2. Specifications
3. Build and Interface
4. Performance
5. Image Quality
6. Playback and Video
7. Verdict
8. Image Samples

Continue the Discussion

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1. 

   nate says:

   March 4, 2010 at 1:08 am

   Just got this a few weeks ago, and still getting used to it. I’m not sure if I should have sprung for a DSLR, but this is my first camera over $200, so I wasn’t sure.

   Great review here, wish you could talk a little bit about achieving better photos with this camera. Some settings produce awful pictures, and some produce good ones. But I still don’t know how to make adjustments (ISO, shutter speed, etc).

   Thanks for posting all this though

   reply
   • 

     Patrick says:

     March 4, 2010 at 6:02 pm

     nate,
     thanks for stopping by…as to using the camera, that’s probably too much to do for the comment system here, but 9 times out of 10, I’m in aperture priority, so I can control the type of depth of field I want (more things in focus, or less things). The camera takes care of the shutter speed for you assuming you have enough light to work with. If you don’t you’ll need to increase the size of your aperture (smaller number = bigger aperture) to let more light in, or adjust ISO speed high which makes the camera more sensitive to light (but increases noise in your images).

     of course with the FZ35, if you can’t be bothered there’s always intelligent auto.

     reply
2. 

   Abhishek says:

   April 2, 2010 at 1:50 pm

   Patrick

   I have looking for a new camera for myself. I am new to photography but I want to be seriosu in it. Two good cameras that have caught my eye from the reviews are Canon S90 and Panasonic FZ35. Which one do you think is better to get a good learning curve before I can move on to SLRs. I would be using the camera for General Photography including everything from nature, landscapes to Family Photographs.
   Also suggest if you have any other camera in mind for my needs.

   Thanks.

   reply
   • 

     Patrick says:

     April 3, 2010 at 12:00 am

     Abhishek,
     The Canon S90 takes better pictures for sure, though neither compares to a DSLR. Both cameras have program, aperture priority, shutter priority, and manual modes and if you use them instead of “auto” modes, you’ll gain good experience for your DSLR. Still I’d recommend just getting a very affordable DSLR now, there are several models under $500 which isn’t that much more than the S90 or FZ35. If money isn’t a problem maybe something like the Olympus E-PL1.

     If I had to stick to your two choices though, I’d probably say the FZ35, it’s more versatile for “general photography”, but the image quality doesn’t match the S90.

     reply
3. 

   ELgambino says:

   May 18, 2010 at 5:13 am

   Hey patrick,

   I really enjoyed your blog. As a real beginner, I found much of your posts really helpful. And so do the reviews.

   I’m currently owned a Nikon D50 to learn more about photography, but I also need an ‘éasy’ and light camera with zoom function that my wife can also use. And now I’m still confused between two cameras, Lumix FZ35 and Nikon P100. I’ve read both of your reviews on the two cameras, but I still can’t decide.

   I really liked Lumix (I also owned Lumix FX38), I think FZ35 has better built than P100 and although you said the buttons were confusing, I actually preferred it. And I think the FZ35 produced better image?

   However, the zoom level on P100 will be helpful, especially during holidays. And the LCD size and resolution which is better than FZ35, which is an advantage for us.

   What would you suggest, for me to get the Lumix or Nikon?

   reply
   • 

     Patrick says:

     May 24, 2010 at 3:01 pm

     ELgambino,
     Sorry for delay, but I’d say the FZ35, it’s cheaper, and a good camera too. I like the P100, but there’s really no big difference between the two for image quality, and you know you already like it!

     reply
4. 

   James says:

   May 30, 2010 at 12:33 pm

   Thanks for the review Patrick,

   currently I was owning a TZ7 and although I use to be a Canon hardcore fun TZ7 was blowing me away by its ultra warmth & pleasing colors! Unfortunately the camera had a lot of noise because of its small sensor!
   I’ve like the FZ35 designs very much but I wonder because this camera has the same sensor as TZ7 will it gives the same IQ?

   I’m considering GF1 or E-PL1 also, but long zoom is matters to me & I don’t like to carrying many lens with me!

   What’s your opinion?

   reply
   • 

     Patrick says:

     May 31, 2010 at 10:44 pm

     James,
     the Canon’s typically do have more warmth or punch as some would say, but overall I wouldn’t say either the Pannys or the Canon have a big edge in IQ. I’m always encouraging folks to move up to bigger sensored cameras, but I certainly get the appeal of the big lens. For me though the IQ on something with a megazom is never all that satisfying (when zoomed all the way out). I was out with the Fujifilm HS10 today, and at 30x zoom it’s very tricky to hold steady, so you have soft or blurry pictures, and even if they were held steady they’d still be slightly soft from diffraction issues. That’s just something you have to accept if you opt for the convenience of a megazoom.

     reply
     • 

       James says:

       June 1, 2010 at 6:14 pm

       Thanks for the answer Patrick!

       In my experience Pannys has by far warmest colors compared to Canon’s! I believe Canon’s are ultra clean & sharped but the colors are a bit muted!

       Anyway, you didn’t answer my question… You believe FZ35 will have the same IQ as TZ7 because of the same small sensor 1/2.3 that they are using?

       reply
       • 

         Patrick says:

         June 2, 2010 at 9:36 am

         James,
         Exactly – the IQ will be basically the same for all intents and purposes. It’s more about functionality, in the hands, etc, than IQ when the sensors are this small ( well mostly ).

         reply