Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ38 review
Review Date : Fri, 4 Sep 2009
Author : Mike Lowe
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The Panasonic Lumix FZ38 – or FZ35K as it’s known in the US – is the newest model in the FZ line. Updating the previous FZ28 model, does the FZ38 offer enough additions to make you part with your cash? The What Digital Camera Panasonic Lumix FZ38 (FZ35K) review…
| Pros: | Fully manual controls, POWER O.I.S, 720p movie (AVCHD Lite), lens quality and 18x 27-486mm optical zoom range, among the best current superzoom compacts on the market |
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| Cons: | High ISO and low light performance, relatively minor upgrades from previous FZ28 model |
The Panasonic Lumix FZ38 – or FZ35K as it’s known stateside – is the most up to date superzoom compact from Panasonic, with an 18x optical zoom (27-486mm equiv.) and POWER O.I.S – an upgrade from the previous FZ28’s MEGA O.I.S image stabilisation. But what else does the FZ38 have to offer to tempt you to part with your hard earned cash? The What Digital Camera Panasonic Lumix FZ38 review…
Panasonic Lumix FZ38 review - Features
The Panasonic FZ38, with its 18x optical zoom, offers from the fairly wide-angle of 27mm through to 486mm telephoto range. At such an extended zoom, it’s a tough call to keep images sharp when shooting handheld – enter the newest version of Panasonic’s image stabilisation, POWER O.I.S., to help you avoid image blur – an upgrade said to be twice as good as the previous MEGA O.I.S.
The FZ38’s 12.1 megapixel sensor is another improvement over the FZ28, though the changes are relatively minimal thereafter. The lens is very much the same, albeit with improved, faster focusing, as is the 201,600-pixel electronic viewfinder, whilst the body itself is highly similar bar a few button rejigs and inclusion of AVCHD Lite movie recording (using H.264 encoding – widely regarded as the current best available in stills cameras) with stereo microphone. Whereas both the UK and US enjoyed the previous FZ28 model, our American counterparts haven’t gone the whole hog and jumped the namesake to its next ‘full’ conclusion – the FZ38 as it’s known in the UK instead adopts the FZ35K title, perhaps prompting that it’s more of a subtle update than major upgrade.
However, scrawl down the FZ38’s specs on paper and it offers a top of the line camera at a sensible price point. There’s a plethora of options, with intelligent Auto (iA) to capture the action without the need to fiddle with options for the more entry-level user, complimented by an array of more advanced manual options: PSAM means full control, there’s even an AF/AE lock and quick-access AF/macro/manual focus button. If you’re not in the market for a DSLR, but want to achieve a huge range of shots from close-up macro, through to distant telephoto, then the FZ38 more than ticks all the boxes – it can even shoot RAW + JPEG files simultaneously.
Panasonic Lumix FZ38 review - Design
The FZ38 has a conventional design – a large lens to the front, with the 2.7in LCD to the left on the rear. On top of the camera is the thumbwheel, zoom trigger with shutter and a two quick-access buttons for AF/macro/MF and focus. The main set of controls can be found on the rear to the right, with the usual d-pad configuration, though with some additional quick-access buttons: the new one-touch movie button jumps straight into recording, whilst the q-menu saves the bother of digging through extensive menus to find the key controls. As the q-menu is trigger-like in design it can be used like a miniscule joystick to thumb in any direction through menus.
Although many of the functions are advanced like a DSLR, the lack of the mirror box means an absence of optical viewfinder. Instead Panasonic has included an electronic viewfinder with an impressive 201.6K pixels to maintain detail to the eye. Whilst electronic viewfinders may not be everyone’s cup of tea, the FZ38’s EVF is up there with the best on the market. The screen itself is a 230K-dot offering, which is becoming an ever more common standard in compacts.
In the hand the Panasonic FZ38 feels good, and there’s enough of a grip to the right side to maintain stability, with the rubberised finish offering even more grip-support. The lens glides super-smoothly between focal lengths without your hands getting in the way and everything feels well made. In general, it’s top marks all round. A slight qualm is that when using the electronic viewfinder the images cannot be quick previewed on the LCD screen, instead only appearing in the EVF itself.
More info:
Panasonic Lumix FZ38 - Performance, Image Quality & Value for Money
Panasonic Lumix FZ38 - Specifications / specs
Panasonic Lumix FZ38 - Verdict
Verdict
The Panasonic Lumix FZ38 is a top-performing superzoom compact at an affordable price point. In fact, for the money, you’d be stretched to find any better. The lens is great, as are the controls, and the overall feature set – including a wide-ranging 27-486mm zoom – successfully caters for the beginner right through to more advanced photographer. AVCHD Lite 720p movie recording, advanced manual controls, POWER O.I.S image stabilisation, exposure and focus lock, even manual focusing all feature, as do ‘pick up and go’ easy-to-use functions such as intelligent Auto (iA) and scene modes. All in all, the FZ38 doesn’t pose many bad points at all, though as a ‘step up’ from the previous FZ28 model the advances are subtle rather than groundbreaking. The biggest moan would have to be high ISO sensitivity, which causes fairly destructive image noise – not ideal for handheld shooting in low light, though image stabilisation does go some way to provide a half-mast counter to this. For first time buyers looking for a superzoom-type compact the FZ38 propositions an excellent buy. Thoroughly recommended.
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Latest comments
September 07 08:30
AJ
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars First impressions of the DMC-FZ35, September 2, 2009 By Michael A. Duvernois (Minneapolis, MN United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME) This is the first of the Panasonic Lumix superzooms that I've had an opportunity to use extensively. I regularly use both small point and shoot digital cameras (Canon SD550 and a waterproofed Canon S100) and digital SLRs (Canon 5D and Rebel XTi), but this is definitely a different sort of beast. It's nearly the size and weight of a DSLR with a lens that is noticeably long in use. It's sold as straddling the line between the two categories and it initially seems that way. But the more that I think about it, the more I think this camera really fills a different niche. If you're a serious photographer, a DSLR is really the way to go. You get full control over the images, a large sensor size, a selection of lenses, and filter options. If you're that person, this is hardly a replacement, and for the compact point and shooter this is a massive camera. Where this camera wins out is for a very simple kit covering wide angle (27mm equivalent for a 35mm camera) and the stunning 18x zoom. You'll be able to do most everything passably with this camera and with no additional lenses. Maybe this is the camera to put in the glovebox of your car? It'll always be there, and you can get most any shot with it. No preparation needed. Okay, enough thinking about who wants the camera, how does it work? Well, it works pretty darned well. The image stabilizer seems to work extremely well, especially at moderate zoom (say 50-150mm equivalent), the battery lasted about 300 shots with some flash use in there, and image quality (subjective, not measured scientifically) was quite good. The camera was a bit slow to react at times though and the face detection works only occasionally. Still, that leaves this a solid camera for what I think is a quite good price. If you're not going to take advantage of the DSLR capabilities, this is a good functional camera for you. Or an excellent second camera for simplicity. Pros: 18x zoom with a genuine wide angle, solid construction, good battery life, image stabilization that works, one size might well fit many
October 05 09:02
Peter Biddlecombe
Delighted with the camera on the whole, though there are some user interface aspects that could be improved. One minor correction to your review: You say that "when using the electronic viewfinder the images cannot be quick previewed on the LCD screen, instead only appearing in the EVF itself." In facts, the setup menu's "Play on LCD" option can be used to ensure that images are displayd on the LCD even when the EVF is in use. But this should probably be the default setting.
March 07 09:38
Andy Clad
As a trusted panasonic user for many years. Im finally going to upgrade to an FZ38 from my FZ18. The main reason being the HD video capture. I own a separate HD camcorder, but this hasn't any optical stabilization. Without this the playback in HD further amplifies the shaky results and is really unpleasant to watch. Ive owned a Pentax dslr for some time and work with 5Omm prime lenses and AF lenses. But the results on my old FZ18 can be so crisp that it in most day today situations it beats the dslr. The only thing I miss is the lack of narrow depth of field (blurring of the background in portraits, the high ISO quality. So all the good bits from the FZ18 and more along with a power O.I.S HD video sounds mighty fine to me.
November 06 22:59
luca
how do I take a shot with focus point and blurred background? Please help. step by step. thanks.