Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX75 Pro Reviews

A smart-looking camera that does most of the thinking for you. The touch screen is large and clear, although the menu layout design could be improved.

For around $300, I have problems recommending the Panasonic DMC-FX75. If it were $100 less, I'd say buy it for the wide-angle lens, solid image stabilization and AVCHD Lite videos--but just be prepared for best results when Mr. Sunshine is in the neighborhood. The touch-screen is a decent effort but falls short of the competition. Add in way too many issues with digital noise at relatively low ISO settings and the very soft corners from this Leica lens, and we have a camera that's fine for enlargements under 8x10, but doesn't have enough else for an enthusiastic recommendation.

After several days of shooting, we came to see the Lumix FX75 as a capable camera that without a doubt could be a full-time camera in the form of a sharp, well-exposed image or video clip for the average user. Again, it won't be a professional camera that earns an income, but it's good enough that virtually every casual user will produce good results. Even some hobbyists will like the camera for its macro-friendly lens and usefulness for more than just the well-lit outdoors.

Unfortunately, although touchscreen-controlled cameras may be on the rise, Panasonic hasn't implemented this feature effectively in the DMC-FX75. The touch-to-focus is cool, but it doesn't make up for the fact that every function on this camera is a song-and-dance of touchscreen tapping and button pressing. The need for a stylus to get some touchscreen functions to work correctly seems downright archaic. Video quality, image sharpness, and autofocus speeds are significant bright spots, but you should try to get some hands-on time with the FX75 before buying it to see if its touchscreen-and-button interface suits you.

Unfortunately, although touchscreen-controlled cameras may be on the rise, Panasonic hasn't implemented this feature effectively in the DMC-FX75. The touch-to-focus is cool, but it doesn't make up for the fact that every function on this camera is a song-and-dance of touchscreen tapping and button pressing. The need for a stylus to get some touchscreen functions to work correctly seems downright archaic. Video quality, image sharpness, and autofocus speeds are significant bright spots, but you should try to get some hands-on time with the FX75 before buying it to see if its touchscreen-and-button interface suits you. The Lumix DMC-FX75 shoots very good video and sharp photos--but its touchscreen-and-physical-button combo isn't always efficient, and its overpowering flash affects overall image quality.

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX70 marries an effective touchscreen interface with a fast, wide-angle 5x zoom lens and the tried and tested FX series styling, resulting in a classy point-and-shoot that delivers satisfying picture quality. Having to operate almost everything by interacting with the LCD does inevitably slow things down though, so it's best to try before you buy if possible.

So should this be the camera you pocket for that short city break? If you're looking for a competent, well-featured performer at the right price, and are happy to occasionally squint at a touchscreen in the sun - then the FX70 could be the one. In terms of picture quality, though there's a tendency to lose detail in the highlights, results are as sharp as we've previously experienced from the Lumix snapper range. So that means also plenty of warm, vibrant colours - with the option to boost this further via a "vivid" colour mode setting if you drill down into the touchscreen menus. With little if any adjustment needing to be made to JPEGs straight out of the camera, you can be confident that the FX70, while admittedly not up there on a par with a Micro Four Thirds hybrid nor DSLR for twice the price, will nevertheless do justice to that holiday or special occasion.

The FX75 is a capable digital camera with a fast wide angle zoom, good shutter and AF performance and good image quality. It features a touch screen for the bulk of camera operations and, as advertised, this system proved to be "fluid and smooth." The zoom range lends itself to capturing wide vistas or large subjects up close; bringing distant subjects close is not this camera's forte. Lack of manual controls will send some folks away unhappy, but the FX75 is clearly targeting users who seek minimal involvement with the image capture process.

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX70 is an attractively designed and well made luxury compact that will appeal to the style-conscious. The touch-screen interface works well, and the camera is easy to use and pleasant to handle. It's a bit light on features, but the HD video quality is excellent and the fast lens and wide zoom range are a bonus. Image quality and performance could be better though. It all depends on how expensive it is when the price is finalised.