Panasonic Lumix FS22 Review – Features

Panasonic’s FS range is positioned between the company’s most basic offerings and the more advanced delights of its FX series, and the FS22 is the latest member. It arrives with a 16.1MP CCD sensor twinned with a 28-112mm optic, plus MEGA O.I.S (Optical Image Stabilisation) technology to help keep images sharp. 720p HD movie recording at 24fps also features, as does Sonic Speed AF technology which claims to lock onto subjects promptly.

Elsewhere the camera boasts a range of automated technology, such as the Intelligent Scene Selector which is part of the camera’s Intelligent Auto (iA) shooting function. This, Panasonic claims, selects the most appropriate scene mode for the scene being shot, while Intelligent Resolution technology is said to process outlines, detail texture areas and soften gradation areas separately. No control is provided over metering patterns, though, and there’s no HDMI port in addition to the standard mini USB type for transferring media either.

Panasonic Lumix FS22 Review – Design

Around the back there’s a 3in LCD screen with touchscreen functionality built in, which allows for images to be focused and captured simply by pressing on the subject. With the only physical controls being a power switch, zoom collar and shutter release button, practically all operation happens through the screen itself, which has both its merits and its foibles; on the plus side all controls are visible in low light, but on the other hand their role is only explained by a small icon unless they are specifically selected, which is particularly annoying when in the somewhat cryptic setup menu.