Home > Consumer Reviews > Panasonic DMC-FZ7 6MP Digital Camera with 12x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Black)
Panasonic DMC-FZ7 6MP Digital Camera with 12x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Black)
See it at Amazon.com for $319.00Average Customer Rating
(4.5 out of 5)
Amazon Customer Reviews
Most Helpful First | Newest First | + Share8 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
Disappointing results
(2 out of 5) by Watchung Hills on Dec 17, 2006 (New Jersey)I bought this camera because of image stabilization and 12X zoom because we are going on a trip to costa rica and I wanted to be able to get good shots of animals.
I've been trying the camera out and am really disappointed. I may leave it at home and use my Nikon. it doesn't have image stabilization and only has a 4X zoom, but the pictures are far superior. I'm finding that the colors are coming out very dark, and the contrast is poor. I also find that despite the image stabilization, the pictures aren't as clear as what I have gotten with my Nikon.
I'll be checking other websites to look for tips but would appreciate any helpful hints readers can give me.
I've been trying the camera out and am really disappointed. I may leave it at home and use my Nikon. it doesn't have image stabilization and only has a 4X zoom, but the pictures are far superior. I'm finding that the colors are coming out very dark, and the contrast is poor. I also find that despite the image stabilization, the pictures aren't as clear as what I have gotten with my Nikon.
I'll be checking other websites to look for tips but would appreciate any helpful hints readers can give me.
0 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
Excelente Opcion.
(4 out of 5) by Dan on May 15, 2007 (Managua)Muy buena camara, Buen zoom y excelente para captar objetos en movimientos. claro esta que no es la mejor camara, pero tienes muy buenas caracteristicas por el precio que pagas, es un buen ejemplo de bueno y economico.
23 of 52 people found the following review helpful:
Disappointing
(3 out of 5) by K. G. Schneider on Jun 14, 2006 (Tallahassee, FL)I had high expectations for this camera, which I shopped for very carefully once my first digital camera (a 4mp EasyShare) began acting up. More megapixels, more zoom, image stabilization... it all sounded good.
But after taking a number of sample pictures, I'm disappointed, and the camera is going back. I even read the manual... yes... I went that far... and reduced the image size, but I took a pile of pictures under various lighting conditions (in Easy mode), and the pictures just didn't seem that significantly better than that of my Kodak. (I took pictures side by side of the same things.) I will use advanced features from time to time, but honestly, if it's supposed to function well in Easy mode and it doesn't, that's a lost sale for me.
Yes, the LCD is huge, but the small LCD on my Kodak is much crisper and brighter. The display on the FZ7 is so grainy that it's hard to see what I'm photographing. I also don't like that I have to push a switch to toggle between viewfinder and LCD, instead of having both available simultaneously.
I also told myself that I really wouldn't mind moving from Easyshare, but you know what? After fiddling with this camera for a day, I miss simply docking the camera to recharge it or transfer pictures. Kodak got that right, at least for this customer. I also agree that not being able to use regular batteries in a pinch is a drawback. The first point is not so much Panasonic's problem, it's a preference; the second point is more universal.
On the other hand, the camera seems well-made, it's attractive, it has a nice grip, the buttons and toggles are all well placed, the lens cap is intelligently designed (you won't lose it unless you're trying to), and overall this camera seems to offer a number of features that are nice for this price range. I feel bad giving the DMC-FZ7 this review, because I had a Panasonic film camera for 17 years (it didn't break, I lost it in 2004) and it took many, many wonderful pictures. I was hoping to resume being a Panasonic camera fan. Darn. Back to the drawing board.
But after taking a number of sample pictures, I'm disappointed, and the camera is going back. I even read the manual... yes... I went that far... and reduced the image size, but I took a pile of pictures under various lighting conditions (in Easy mode), and the pictures just didn't seem that significantly better than that of my Kodak. (I took pictures side by side of the same things.) I will use advanced features from time to time, but honestly, if it's supposed to function well in Easy mode and it doesn't, that's a lost sale for me.
Yes, the LCD is huge, but the small LCD on my Kodak is much crisper and brighter. The display on the FZ7 is so grainy that it's hard to see what I'm photographing. I also don't like that I have to push a switch to toggle between viewfinder and LCD, instead of having both available simultaneously.
I also told myself that I really wouldn't mind moving from Easyshare, but you know what? After fiddling with this camera for a day, I miss simply docking the camera to recharge it or transfer pictures. Kodak got that right, at least for this customer. I also agree that not being able to use regular batteries in a pinch is a drawback. The first point is not so much Panasonic's problem, it's a preference; the second point is more universal.
On the other hand, the camera seems well-made, it's attractive, it has a nice grip, the buttons and toggles are all well placed, the lens cap is intelligently designed (you won't lose it unless you're trying to), and overall this camera seems to offer a number of features that are nice for this price range. I feel bad giving the DMC-FZ7 this review, because I had a Panasonic film camera for 17 years (it didn't break, I lost it in 2004) and it took many, many wonderful pictures. I was hoping to resume being a Panasonic camera fan. Darn. Back to the drawing board.
11 of 29 people found the following review helpful:
Not hot out of the box
(3 out of 5) by Sean Sembrowich on Nov 10, 2006Overall, upfront my rating is a "GOOD". The pictures are excellent quality. You do need to read the manual, unless your looking for an advanced digital camera and you have the know-how there should be no problems. If you don't have much experience with an SLR, and do not undersatnd the concepts of exposure, shutter speed, ect. you'll need to spend some time reading. The manufacturer, I think, tryed to compensate with a simple mode, but it is not all that simple for someone who is looking to start shooting right out of the box. This is my humble opinion.....take it or leave it.
3 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
Not Happy at All
(1 out of 5) by M. Marchione on Apr 10, 2007 (Virginia Beach, VA United States)I bought this camera after my Sony Mavica died, and am now wishing I had bought the Cybershot instead. I have tried is several different modes to take a good picture, most are quite blurry. The image stabilization seems to make them more so! The camera will only take 12x zoom in 6 MP mode, and you better know your way around a camera to read the manual. I am going to try to resell and buy myself a Cybershot, I don't want to be a professional to get a decent shot.