Performance and Image Quality

Panasonic Lumix FX77 review – Performance

The FX77’s screen resolution is disappointing, although it does displays a clear, balanced and stable feed (something we’re used to seeing across the Lumix product line). It’s as responsive as expected, only being slightly trickier to use upon image playback, and it supports the Touch shooting function well: you simply press the screen where the subject is positioned and the camera will either track the subject or focus and release the shutter, depending on what you’ve set it to do.

There’s little shutter lag as this happens and the image is displayed promptly, which is also the case when the camera is operated in the more orthodox manner. Focusing speeds are good, and the lens moves swiftly and quietly, although it’s not quite the speediest performance we’ve seen at this level.

Panasonic Lumix FX77 review – Image Quality

Thankfully, an overall good performance is matched by equally pleasing image quality. The camera’s metering system is (by and large) spot on, and although highlights do occasionally blow out this appears to be more to do with the limitations of the sensors inside all such cameras rather than through metering error. Images’ colours are also pleasing, although now and again the camera’s Auto White Balance system does have a tendency to produce warm casts. Image noise, meanwhile, only becomes an issue from about ISO 800 onwards, although the effects of noise reduction can be seen in images shot on all sensitivities.

There is a little distortion at the 25mm setting, but chromatic aberrations are kept to a minimum. Despite a little corner softness at the widest apertures, the camera does well to keep things sharp when the lens is stopped down (although the user has no control over this), and even at the telephoto end of the zoom images appear with good detail and sharpness, apart from on the handful of occasions when the image stabilisation systems visibly struggle. The overall level of detail in images, however, is a little lower than expected, although this only becomes apparent when viewing images at actual size (100%).

Finally, the camera’s video quality generally impresses, producing clean, steady footage and a good level of visible detail. The zoom moves quite slowly during recording, although this appears to be intentional so that focus may be continuously maintained. Changes in scene brightness record smoothly, while audio quality is reasonable but can sound a little tinny.