Panasonic DMC-FX12 Review

The seven megapixel Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX12 features a LEICA DC VARIO-ELMARIT 3x optical zoom lens with 35 - 105mm equivalent focal range, 2.5-inch 115,000 pixel LCD display, 27MB of built-in memory, SD / MMC card slot with SDHC card compatibility, and power from a proprietary Lithium Ion battery.

The Panasonic FX12 also incorporates the company's "Intelligent ISO Control" system (first seen on the FZ50), which detects whether or not the subject is moving and automatically raises the ISO setting, allowing the camera to shoot at a higher shutter speed when needed. This feature, together with Panasonic's MEGA O.I.S (Optical Image Stabilizer) should help keep blurry pictures due to subject or camera motion to a minimum.

Other FX12 features include ISO sensitivities from 100 to 1250 with the ability to extend this to ISO 3200 equivalent in High Sensitivity mode, shutter speeds from 1/2000 to 60 seconds, and a whopping 20 scene modes (Portrait, Soft Skin, Scenery, Sports, Night Portrait, Night Scenery, Self-Portrait, Food, Party, Candle, Fireworks, Starry Sky, Beach, Aerial photo, Snow, Baby1, Baby2, Underwater, Sunset and Pet). The DMC-FX12 also offers a wide aspect-ratio movie mode with a resolution of 848 x 480 pixels, as well as lower-resolution 640 x 480 and 320 x 240 pixel options, all at rates up to 30 frames-per-second and encoded in the QuickTime Motion JPEG format common on many digicams.

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX12 is priced at US$229.95, will ship February 2007 and be available in silver and black.