Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ5By: Dave EtchellsPanasonic updates its 12x optically stabilized Leica lens digicam to five megapixels. <<User's Report :(Previous) | (Next): Viewfinder>> Page 4:DesignReview First Posted: 05/09/2005 |
Design
With the confident looks of a traditional 35mm SLR, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ5 offers both style and substance, with an impressive Leica 12x optical zoom lens that lends a professional air. Measuring 4.3 x 2.7 x 3.3 inches (108 x 68 x 85 millimeters), the Panasonic Lumix FZ5 weighs approximately 11.4 ounces (324 grams) with the battery and storage card installed. The DMC-FZ5's all-plastic, matte-black body helps keep the camera's weight down, somewhat compensating for the heft of the rather large lens, but does tend to give the initial reaction that it feels somewhat "cheap". This is rather a difficult thing to explain, since there's no real creak or flex to any of the body panels, but was definitely a common thread from several people who had occasion to handle the camera during the review process. While it definitely won't fit into your shirt pocket, an accompanying neck strap makes it easy to tote, but I'd also recommend picking up at least a small camera bag to protect that Leica lens.
The front of the camera includes a telescoping 12x Leica zoom lens, optical viewfinder window, and a bright orange LED light emitter that serves double duty as the autofocus assist and the self-timer countdown indicator. There are also two small holes next to the light emitter that serve as a grille for the built-in microphone. The built-in, pop-up flash is just above the large lens, and is mechanically released by a button on the rear panel. A modest-sized handgrip on the right side is covered by a redesigned rubbery, textured wrap that clings to fingers. With my rather large hands, the handgrip felt a little small, but my middle finger tended to wrap around the provided indent on the grip and then run vertically down the inside edge of the grip, providing a fairly secure hold.
The right side of the camera (as viewed from the back) features only an eyelet for one end of the neck strap. The rubber textured wrap from the front of the camera follows around to this side of the camera, and extends much farther back than it did on the FZ3.
The opposite side of the camera features the other neck strap eyelet, as well as the diopter adjustment dial on the side of the optical viewfinder. Also on this side of the camera, beneath a hinged, plastic door, is the connector compartment, which houses the Video/Digital Out and DC In connector terminals. The compartment door opens from the rear panel, and features a pressure hinge that snaps it securely in place when opened or closed.
The Panasonic FZ5's top panel features a Mode dial on the right, along with the Shutter button, Zoom lever, Optical Image Stabilizer button, and Burst Mode button. The Shutter button and Zoom lever have been moved closer to the front of the camera, and are much easier to reach. Also on the top panel is the pop-up flash (mechanically released by a button on the rear panel).
The majority of the exposure controls are located on the camera's rear panel, along with the electronic optical viewfinder (EVF) and LCD monitor. Lining the top of the panel are the EVF / LCD, Display, Exposure, and Power controls, with the Flash Open button just above them. The Menu and Focus/Delete buttons line up with the top and bottom right corners of the LCD monitor respectively, with a Four-Way Multicontroller at center. True to its name, the Multicontroller accesses a variety of camera settings and features four arrows for navigating through camera menus and reviewing images. A small speaker rests in the lower right corner of the rear panel, and a textured thumb grip reinforces the modest handgrip on the camera's right side. The only really significant changes from the FZ3 on this panel are the larger LCD display, and a small ridge on the Exposure button that helps differentiate it from the other buttons without your having to remove your eye from the electronic viewfinder.
The DMC-FZ5's bottom panel is reasonably flat, with a sliding door to access the combined SD/MMC and battery compartment, and a threaded metal tripod mount on its right. The metal tripod mount is positioned off-center from the lens, and is too close to the compartment for quick battery and memory card changes (something I'm probably more sensitive to than most users, given the amount of on-tripod shooting I do).
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