Home > Consumer Reviews > Panasonic DMC-FX37A 10.1MP Digital Camera with 5x Wide Angle MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Blue)

The exemplary build quality gives this camera a luxury feel. The camera is dense, feels hefty for its size when picked up, unlike many similar cameras that feel like a piece of plastic. This is a fine example of Japanese craftsmanship. It is fast and very responsive in operation. The lens is fantastic, 25mm (effective) wide angle is rare among such cameras, significantly wider angle than the 28mm of the FX33. In wide angle lenses every mm counts. Thankfully, the max aperture is back to f/2.8 - the FX35 maxed at f/3.3. The lens is sharp edge to edge with very little, if any, in the way of distortion and chromatic aberration. Certainly, the lens is better than the sensor. The wide aperture (f/2.8) at the wide angle is great for low light [The lenses on the FX35, TZ3, TZ4 and TZ5 are not as fast].

The flash is weak [manufacturers under-power the flash in order to gain on the "shots per battery charge" scale.].

Hints: In low light, including indoor shots with flash, use the wide angle (zoom out) to make use of the f/2.8 aperture, and you'll get less dark underexposed pictures. Stick with ISO 100 and 200. Keep ISO 400 for emergencies, but never go beyond 400. In auto-ISO mode, you can limit the max ISO. You probably read a lot about image noise. Yes, it is there, but you will not see it in 4x6 or 8x10 prints. You won't see it on a typical 20" monitor (12"x16") when viewing the whole image on the screen. You will see it if you view part of the image 1:1, which amounts to close up inspection of a 57"x38" print (assuming the monitor is running at 1024x768). Those wanting 57"x38" prints will be using a medium-format digital back, not this camera anyway. Reduce the resolution to 3 or 5 mp and you'll see less noise (per pixel), and save hard disk space!

I recommend an extra battery and a 4 GB memory card (minimum).

Optical image stabilization is very effective indeed. Video (1280x720x30) is very good.

I took out one star for: 1) Lack of full manual controls, 2) sensor noise.
This camera needs a larger sensor.

The more expensive TZ3, TZ4 and TZ5 lack the f/2.8 aperture (they max at f/3.3).

If you like the size and build-quality of the FX37, but want a better picture-taking machine, look at the LX3. It has a larger sensor, manual controls, RAW, and an excellent 24-60mm (equiv) f/2-2.8 lens. The LX3 is destined to be a big hit.

When Panasonic announced their new cameras, I was interested in this model for its size, lens and image size. They have ceased the race for megapixel king and I was hoping image quality and not megapixels would become important.

Camera is 10MP, and has a 5x wide angle zoom. Plenty of MP for most uses and users.

The 5X zoom, while not the smoothest when zooming, the range is really appreciated. From a wide to a nice short tele! Very useful. On of my favorite things to do on vacation is to make "two-fers" self portraits of my wife and I. Not easy to do with most point and shoots, not wide enough to capture people and ambiance. This one fits the bill nicely!

First impressions: Camera is smaller than I had expected. This is a plus. It is the same size dimensionally as the Sony Cybershot T-5 it replaces.Also a plus. It is lighter than the Sony, and does not have that "solid" feeling. I consider this a neutral or slight minus.

Fast on the Draw, acceptable shutter lag from this class of camera (I use a D2X as well). Facial recognition focus seems to work too.

One of the most easy to navigate and use menus I have come across. It is distilled to a bare minimum.

Wish it captured RAW data.

I had been concerned, and started to have buyers remorse before I received the camera when I read some reviews of the predecessor about noise in poorly illuminated settings. This does not seem to be a problem. My abbreviated testing in low light has very acceptable results. (Your mileage may vary of course.)

For the price, this seems to be quite a nice camera for a carry everywhere camera.

I'm a professional photographer with 25 yrs experience. Came down to the FX 37.. Canon sd 990 or the
Sony dswc T-77.
Sent the Canon right back. Clever design, too bulky, and guaranteed to slip through your fingers.
Sony, nice and slim, but too many menus, plus the touch screen is awkward and will drive you insane.
The FX 37 is very small, very fast, push buttons, and a 25mm wide-angle lens. Plus it extends to a nice telephoto...125mm. All you will ever need and POCKETABLE. Have the camera with you. Never miss the shot.
Beautiful construction. Feels solid. Very easy to shoot. Focus tracking. Leica lens. HD video. Excellent prints.
It's a no brainer.

So I've always been a huge film snob, and for a while had a Nikon D40 as my digital camera until I decided it was too big to want to deal with. For a while I was using disposable 35mm cameras, but as I've been doing a lot of traveling lately, I thought I'd get a little digital camera. I did a ton of research, and was interested in the similar Canon and Sony offerings, but I couldn't be happier with the Fx37. I love the wide angle which is great for taking self portraits and such things when traveling alone, but also works great for interior shots.

Not only does it take incredible pictures with the leica optics, I actually become must more into shooting video on it as it shoots native 720p video. Its amazing! For some example of video I've done please click below, the quality is amazing and thats considering its compressed on Vimeo.

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Anyway, its very small, extremely fast, good in all conditions and the video is shoots is amazing! Why this isn't the best selling camera on the market is beyond me. But now you know, so go for it!

-DP

I bought this fx37 as a complement to my Canon 40D. First - it is small enougt to always bring it along. To get a good picture the first thing you must do is to bring a camera! Most of the time I bring my fx37 instead of my 40D. Second - the wide angle of 24¤ is great. It is easy to get photoes in a room and get most of the room in the picture. Third - the 5x optical zoom is large enough for most pictures you will need, special handheld with the anti-shake. The anti-shake is a great help to get clear pictures. There are many more things this camera can do - and it is so easy to handle. So, all in all, this p&s is quite a little camera and best of all - it takes GREAT pictures! I can recomend it as an all around camera and especially a camera to bring on regular vacation trips. My 40D will have to wait for the big African safari trips and similar special events.