The super-slim Panasonic FX35 features an ultra-wide 25-100mm zoom lens, a 10.1-megapixel CCD sensor, and Panasonic's Intelligent Auto mode.
The Panasonic FX35's lens is the big story, as it's a very wide-angle Leica DC Vario-Elmarit-branded f/2.8 to f/5.6, 4x optical zoom lens. Images are framed and reviewed on a 2.5-inch LCD display with 230,000 pixel resolution, and stored on SD/SDHC/MMC cards or the camera's own 50MB built-in memory. Power comes from a proprietary Lithium-ion battery pack, rated for some 290 shots on a charge (CIPA standard testing with 50 percent flash usage at room temperature).
Panasonic's Advanced Intelligent Auto mode actually guesses what kind of scene you're looking at and selects the appropriate exposure mode to match. The Panasonic FX35 features the Venus Engine IV, designed to deliver higher-quality digital photos than its predecessor, with an advanced signal processing system that produces a quick response time.
A slide show feature on the Panasonic FX35 includes a selection of music, from mellow to more "urban" sounds. The Panasonic FX35's intelligent LCD can detect the lighting condition and raise or lower the brightness level in 11 steps. The FX35's High Angle mode brightens the screen to help when composing images with the camera held high to shoot over crowds.
The Panasonic FX35 can shoot 720p High Definition movies and 1,920 x 1,080 pixel High Definition-ready photos that perfectly fit a wide-screen (16:9) HDTV.
The Panasonic Lumix FX35 is available in silver, black and blue variants, with an MSRP of $350, though you'll find it a lot cheaper if you check the shopping links above right or below.
The Panasonic FX35 is a well-built digicam with an impressive piece of glass, the Leica DC-Vario Elmarit that starts at a very wide 25mm equivalent and extends 4x to 100mm. Unfortunately that was where the fun stopped. The Panasonic FX35's menu system is painful to use, and basic functions like digital zoom are awkward or simply not functional. The Panasonic FX35 packs some smart photo technology inside, and if that was all anyone ever needed, it might make the grade. But that's not all anyone needs, really. iA mode is a better Auto for many situations, but none in which you want to control the camera. Ultimately, it comes down to image quality, and the Panasonic FX35 compromises just a little too much, with soft corners in images, and odd demosaicing that produces a grainy appearance across the image. Printed results aren't bad, though, so long as you keep them under 11x14 inches. So while it's not a bad little camera by any means, the Panasonic FX35 just doesn't rise to the level of a Dave's Pick.
Read Mike Pasini's full review at imaging-resource.com
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