Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ30By: Dave EtchellsPanasonic's latest in the Lumix lineup, with an eight-megapixel sensor and high quality long-zoom Leica optics. <<Shutter Lag & Cycle Time Tests :(Previous) | (Next): Camera Modes & Menus>> Page 9:Operation & User InterfaceReview First Posted: 01/18/2006 |
Operation and User Interface
The Panasonic FZ30's user interface is straightforward and should present a short learning curve if you read through the included manual. (Although there are a lot of features here, so I'd imagine that novice users could spend a couple of hours learning them. Experienced digicam users should be able to come up to speed on the major functions in under an hour though.) I generally prefer to see external access to as many exposure controls as possible, and the DMC-FZ30 does provide a fair amount of control without resorting to the LCD menu system. The camera's Four-Way Arrow pad controls a wide variety of functions independently of the LCD menu, though the menu itself is straightforward. As noted earlier, I also found the FZ30's menu system unusually fast to navigate.
Front Control Dial: At the top of the right hand grip on the front of the camera, this ridged dial adjusts the aperture setting in Manual and Aperture Priority modes. In Playback mode, turning the dial to the left enables the nine, 16, and 25-image index display modes, while turning it to the right enables playback zoom, up to 8x.
Shutter Button: Located on the right side of the camera's top panel, the Shutter button sets focus and exposure when halfway pressed, and when fully depressed, it trips the shutter release. In Self-Timer mode, fully depressing the Shutter button triggers a two- or 10-second countdown before the shutter is released.
Image Stabilization Button: Behind the Shutter button on the top panel, this button displays the Image Stabilization menu, which lets you shut the function off entirely, or choose between two operating modes.
Burst Mode Button: Directly behind the Image Stabilization button, this button accesses the three Burst modes (High, Low, or Infinity), or returns to the single-shot mode.
Power Switch: Behind the Burst Mode button, this sliding switch turns the camera on and off.
Mode Dial: Sitting just right of the Panasonic FZ30's hot shoe on the top panel with a notched dial, this control selects the camera's shooting modes as follows:
- Auto (A): Puts the camera in control of all exposure decisions, leaving the user in charge of zoom, resolution, and flash.
- Program AE (P): Places the camera in control of shutter speed and lens aperture, while you maintain control over everything else (i.e., white balance, ISO, metering, exposure compensation, flash, etc.).
- Aperture Priority (A): Allows you to set the lens aperture from f/2.8 to f/8.0 (depending on the zoom setting), while the camera controls the shutter speed. In this mode, you maintain control over all other exposure variables.
- Shutter Speed Priority (S): Allows you to control the shutter speed settings from 1/2,000 to eight seconds, while the camera controls the aperture. All other exposure settings are available.
- Manual (M): Provides complete control over all exposure settings, including shutter speed and lens aperture.
- Movie: Records moving images with sound, at either 30 or 10 frames per second. Recording times are limited by memory card capacity and frame rate.
- SCN1: Accesses one of 14 preset scene modes.
- SCN2: Same as above, accesses one of 14 preset scene modes. (Through the Setup menu, you can opt for a specific scene setting to automatically enable for both modes.)
- Playback: Lets you review captured images and movie files.
Flash Release Switch: Located on the left side of the pop-up flash compartment, this sliding switch releases the pop-up flash from its closed position.
Diopter Adjustment Dial: Hidden away on the left side of the optical viewfinder eyepiece, this dial corrects the viewfinder optics for eyeglass wearers, with a range from +4 to -4.
Focus Switch: Tucked on the left side of the lens barrel (when viewing the camera from the rear), this switch selects between Auto, Macro, and Manual focus modes.
MF Focus Button (see image above): Directly below the Focus switch, this button lets you quickly set the autofocus in manual focus mode, so that you can fine tune it with the focus ring.
AE Lock Button: Topping a series of buttons that lines the right side of the LCD monitor, this button locks the exposure independently of the focus when pressed.
EVF/LCD Button: Below the AE Lock button, this button switches the viewfinder display between the EVF and LCD monitors.
Display Button: Just below the EVF/LCD button, this button controls the image and information displays in Record and Playback modes. In Record mode, pressing the button cycles between the display modes, which include the image with information, image with information and histogram, "Out of Frame" display, alignment grid, and image with no information.
In Playback mode, pressing the button cycles between the image with information, expanded information and histogram, and no information displays.
Menu Button: Next in line below the Display button, this button calls up the settings menus on the LCD display in all camera modes. A second press of the Menu button cancels the menu display.
Erase Button: The final button in the series lining the LCD monitor, this button pulls up the Erase menu in Playback mode.
Rear Control Dial: At the top of the thumb grip on the camera's rear panel, this notched dial adjusts the shutter speed setting in Manual and Shutter Priority exposure modes. In Playback mode, turning this dial left and right scrolls through captured images.
Four-Way Arrow Pad: Located in the lower right portion of the Panasonic FZ30's rear panel, these four arrow keys are arranged in a circle, with each arrow facing either up, down, left, or right. The arrow keys navigate through menu options and adjust camera settings. In most record modes, the up arrow accesses the Exposure Compensation, Auto Exposure Bracketing, Flash Exposure Compensation, and White Balance Adjustment tools. The right arrow cycles through the available flash modes, while the left arrow cycles through the Self-Timer modes. The down arrow activates a quick review of the most recently captured image.
In Playback mode, the right and left arrow keys navigate through captured images and movie files. When an image has been digitally enlarged, the four arrow keys pan around within the image.
Zoom Ring: The first ridged ring encircling the outer edge of the lens, this ring controls the optical and digital zoom.
Focus Ring: Just behind the Zoom ring on the outer edge of the lens, this ridged ring twists left and right so you can manually adjust focus.
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