Panasonic Lumix FZ35 Field Report: Introduction, ISO and Image Samples

In addition to multiple other cameras, one of the cameras we’re getting familiar with recently is Panasonic’s Lumix DMC-FZ35. The successor to the very popular FZ28, the Fz35 bumps its predecessor’s resolution from 10 megapixels to 12 megapixels, as well as improving image stabilization, processing, and AF performance. It maintains the FZ28’s 18x zoom lens, and features 27mm on the wide end of things with a f/2.8 aperture.

Availability

The Panasonic FZ35 is one of the rare Panasonics that is actually well stocked. We of course recommend B&H Photo or Amazon. By shopping for your camera gear through our links, you not only get great service, price, and selection, but you also continue to support our site. Thanks for your continuing help.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ35 Price: $ 329.95 at B&H Photo and Free Shipping Also available at Amazon: $ 313

Some Notes

Build quality is fairly solid. The FZ35 has plenty of plastic going on, and not a whole of surface texture variation, but it does offer a pretty nice grip, which is wrapped in a nice grip material. In the hands, it’s pretty light, but the big rechargeable battery adds just the right amount of heft in your hand to give it balance. The overall design is straightforward enough, but you realize that when handling the FZ35, that the few contours the camera has are well sculpted for two handed use. Overall, I get the impression that the FZ35 will hold up fairly well over time, even if that mean being tossed in a backpack or the back of the car.

Picture taking is a simple affair, just put the FZ35 in “Intelligent Auto”, and the FZ35 handles basically everything as far as camera settings go. Start up times are pretty fast, about a second and a half, if you have the lens cap off, and the camera in picture taking mode. If you like to take control of things, PASM shooting modes are available, and the FZ35 hosts a whole bevy of shooting modes, with a good deal of creative options thrown in as well. The FZ35 has an EVF for composing pictures too. It works fine for taking pictures, but gets a little crowded when trying to change settings with the menu system. Speaking of which, the FZ35 has a somewhat confusing interface, in part because it has a lot of options, but you do get the sense that you may be missing something, so some time with the manual would be recommended. Unfortunately, the manual is of the “CD” variety, which makes folks less likely to refer to it.

It’s still early but image quality looks good considering the sensor size. Images are on the “cool” side at the default settings, but the FZ35 is more than capable of taking great pictures. Also, as we mentioned there’s a good deal of creative options too, like variable aspects for shooting, in-camera filters like black and white and “pin hole”, and of course the ability to shoot HD movies in 720p. ISO abilities are not spectacular, with serious flaws happening after ISO 400, but totally in line with what you’d expect from a small sensor compact.

All in all, it’s a fun little camera, that I think beginners, and photographers not interested in the headaches and costs of DSLR cameras would really appreciate. It is certainly a versatile little number, but we’ll give our full take once we’ve wrapped our review.

ISO Samples

Use the image below to orient yourself to the locations of the crops below. The pictures were taken in RAW, then opened and exported with the included Silkypix software. We’ve also included a comparison to the Canon S90, to give you a sense of the advantages (or not) of the S90’s slightly larger sensor. Just click the thumbnails for a full size 100% crop.

Crop 1

ISO 100	ISO 200
ISO 400	ISO 800
ISO 1600

Crop 2

ISO 100	ISO 200
ISO 400	ISO 800
ISO 1600

Comparison to Canon Powershot S90

ISO 100	ISO 200
ISO 400	ISO 800
ISO 1600

Image Samples

A couple of shots to give you a sense of what the FZ35 can do. The full size and unedited versions can be had here. Click each image for a larger view.

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