Panasonic's 14.7-megapixel compact commander is ready to tango. Will it sweep us off our feet, or does this highly portable camera step on our toes? Read the full Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX150 review here.
Review summary of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX150:
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 Our romp with the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX150 was bittersweet, rendering us perplexed and intermittently satisfied throughout the course of our tests. At times, the Lumix DMC-FX150 would snag an image wrought with stunning detail, but most of our battles were waged against blown-out whites and poor low light sensitivity. The camera just couldn't make up its mind, so much that we had to dive into Manual mode to achieve most of our intended results. Beginners will struggle with this camera as a result of its stubborn nature, but the Lumix DMC-FX150 packs in enough Scene modes and extra features to entice the most frightened camera-phobes from here to Timbuktu. We dig the Lumix DMC-FX150's compact design and sexy architecture, but the lack of a spinning Control dial and smaller 2.7" LCD screen knock it back a few rungs compared to the Canon PowerShot SD990 IS and Nikon Coolpix S710. We suggest going with the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 if you're a Manual control maverick. All other shooters should investigate Canon and Nikon for a top of the line 14-megapixel compact. Release: September 2008. Price: $300.
Pros: Great Manual Controls. Capable of stunning detail. Compact and sexy design.
Cons: Poor low light and dynamic range, leading to a highly inconsistent performance. Small LCD screen. No Spinning Control dial.
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Full Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX150 Review:
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Design - Good
The Lumix DMC-FX150 is Panasonic's top compact model, packing 14-megapixels into a highly portable and rugged plastic shell. The camera is an architectural feast with its knurled Power switch and covert Mode dial, tucked surreptitiously within the frame of its body. We preferred the Lumix DMC-FX150's shutter button zoom toggle over the Nikon Coolpix S710's vexing zoom panel. However, the Lumix DMC-FX150 is devoid of a spinning Control dial while both the Canon PowerShot SD990 IS and Nikon Coolpix S710 feature one. We like the Control dial for its rapid navigation, but Panasonic's chrome directional pad configuration is the next best option.
Panasonic could have bumped the Lumix DMC-FX150's 2.7" LCD screen up to an even 3-inches, but it does the job and provides a crisp display. Shooting with the camera was an ergonomic joyride, thanks to the camera's rounded edges and lightweight. The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX150 will easily slide into a pocket or small purse, and we found that this camera has a tendency to attract members of the opposite sex when you unsheathe it in public.
Interface - Good
Though we would rather tackle menus and image adjustments with a spinning Control dial, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX150's 4-way directional pad treated us well, thanks to the swift nature of the menus. This is a camera that enabled us to fly through menu options like Speedy Gonzales, and the quick adjust buttons help minimize our quests through the camera's extensive options. Regardless, these are some of the best menus we've dabbled with across the board. They are visually alluring, well-organized and easy to access.
We could have used a little more LCD screen though, and a 3" display would have done the trick. Still, the screen resolution is sharper than most compacts in this price range. Image playback was a little clunky when we attempted to zoom in and out. The zoom is slow and we had to continuously shift the zoom toggle for each subsequent magnification, which got old quickly. It was an interesting choice to hide the Mode dial on this camera, but we don't think it panned out. We like a dial that's out in the open, showing everyone what it's got. All in all, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX150's interface does not have enough gusto to match the interface designs on the Canon SD990 IS and Nikon Coolpix S710.
Features - Good
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX150 stocks a variety of unconventional features, some of which border on the silly side. Take the Transform Scene mode, for example. This feature stretches or slims down the image to simulate the effects of a funhouse mirror, making subjects appear skinnier or fatter than they actually appear. However, the entire image is warped, and this is something that can be done easily in Photoshop. The Lumix DMC-FX150 is also equipped with the Pin Hole Scene mode, a feature we had great success with on the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3. A Film Grain filter is also available on the Lumix DMC-FX150, but we had mixed results with that Scene mode.
Panasonic has also responded to the tilted image conundrum, offering Image Leveling, which is an in-camera rotation feature geared to correct an image that leans too far to the left or right. When we tried Image Leveling, we noticed that the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX150 is only capable of rotating the image 2 degrees to the right or left and image resolution is sacrificed as the rotation is greater. Again, this is another Photoshop wanna-be that's not worth it.
A full tool belt of manual controls is available on the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX150, including a Shutter Speed with an impressive range from 1/2000 second to 60 seconds, and an Aperture that closes down to f/9.0. The Lumix DMC-FX150 also adopted the DMC-LX3's White Balance Kelvin meter, allowing shooters to adjust color temperature on a precise scale. We had great success with the Kelvin meter, though it adjusts at a snail's pace from the cool end to the warm end of the spectrum. The Lumix DMC-FX150 contains a horde of Auto Focus settings, including Multi-Focus and Face Detection, though we didn't notice a huge difference between most modes.
Hardware - Good
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX150 is equipped with a larger 1/1.72-inch, 14.7-megapixel imaging sensor, slightly edging out the Canon PowerShot SD990 IS and Nikon Coolpix S710 in the resolution wars. The Lumix DMC-FX150 has a 28mm wide-angle lens, which provided us more room to fit landscapes and families into our shots. The 3.6x optical zoom was less than impressive, but it's right in line with the Lumix DMC-FX150's competition.
The time it took to power on the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX150 to the first shot was approximately 4 seconds, which is beyond sloth-like when we wanted to catch fast action. Don't expect this camera to leap into action when you need it in a clutch moment. The camera has Mega Optical Image Stabilization, which is what we prefer over Digital or Electronic Image Stabilization. The Lumix DMC-FX150 captures images and standard definition video to SD and SDHC cards, which are widely popular forms of media.
Image Quality - Good
Despite the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX150's new Venus Engine IV image processing, we experienced a few significantly rocky patches in the trails of our photographic adventures. We tested the Lumix DMC-FX150 side-by-side against the Nikon Coolpix S710 and the difference in exposure was uncanny. The Coolpix S710 could easily handle low light in Programmed Auto mode at an ISO of 100, while the Lumix DMC-FX150 needed the aid of high ISO sensitivity and it still couldn't ante up to the Coolpix S710's detail and low noise levels.
In bright light, we experienced the opposite. Images were overexposed and blown-out, suggesting a poor dynamic range across the board. This is a high-maintenance camera compared to the Nikon Coolpix S710, so be prepared to hit up Manual mode, as we were forced to. Detail is stellar with the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX150 and colors are rich and beautiful. However, shooters of a more amateur skill range will not fare well with this camera due to its inherently stubborn nature.
Scene Test – Flying Mountain View
Here's the first example of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX150's need to overexpose dynamic scenery such as this beautiful view of Southwest Harbor. Exposure within the trees is decent, but the sky is clipping the 255 levels and the entire image appears to have a slight haze engulfing the vicinity. At full resolution, the noise issue becomes apparent. Colors look good, but the image lacks focus and cannot compare to our results with the Nikon Coolpix S710.
Detail Test – Ms. Lucy
It's a different story under more conducive lighting and we can see the intricate detail within Lucy's wig and her wolfish eyes. Lucy's head was in mid-turn, so she's slightly out of focus, but the detail is still spot on, especially in her arctic coat.
Macro Test - Ornament
Again, the lighting appeases the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX150 and we get this marvelous macro image. Detail is wonderful, the colors look natural and rich and noise is almost nonexistent. We were also able to bury the lens almost into the "Fine Sugar," so this is a camera that will let you get up close and personal.
Portrait Test – An Aussie and a Jersey Girl
Here's an almost absurd example of blown-out color, as we can clearly see that the sky has eaten this Aussie's head. The stocking cap is indiscernible from the sky, which is tap-dancing all over the 255 levels. The subjects look great, but the rest of the image is preposterous. This was taken in Portrait mode, which prioritizes the faces of subjects, and we see stunning detail in that respect. But this image as a whole is nowhere near passable as a serious image, due to the terrible dynamic range.
Color Test – Mom's Vegetables
Now we're back to exceptional detail as the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX150 handles these vegetables swimmingly. We had to boost the ISO to 200 in order to achieve this exposure, but the clarity is still excellent. Colors are fantastic, and that's one of the major successes we experienced with the Lumix DMC-FX150. We capture this same image at 100 ISO, which lowered the exposure significantly, but gave us one of the most detailed images we've seen to date.
Contrast Test – Southwest Harbor Stuffed Animals
This is the ultimate dynamic range test and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX150 just doesn't know what to do with that foreboding background light. Animals are radioactive in the and half the image is wrought with blow-outs. The Nikon Coolpix S710 exhibited about 60% less blowing out, though the image was darker. We preferred the Coolpix S710's image because we were able to reduce the shutter speed to attain a brighter image. Detail is great within the focused portion of this image, but the contrast issues are seemingly insurmountable for this camera.
Water Test – Flying Mountain Stream
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX150 handles running water with great aplomb, as we see in this image. Noise is minimal, the scene is life-like and colors look very natural. We could have used a better focus, though.
Indoor Light Test – Fireplace
Here's another example of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX150's inherent exposure tribulations. The Lumix DMC-FX150 insisted on underexposing this shot, though the indoor lighting was beyond adequate. The room was much brighter than the image divulges, though noise is low and the fire is rendered beautifully. We could never get the exposure just right with this camera.
Low Light Test – LED Lights
After many attempts to capture these LED lights in Program AE mode at 100 ISO, we had to give in and bump the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX150's ISO level up to 400. And we'll be damned, the Lumix DMC-FX150's image was still darker than the Nikon Coolpix S710's we captured at 100 ISO. This is a Manual control machine, ladies and gentleman, a muscle car of the compact world.
Price and availability
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX150 will start selling for $300 () in September 2008.
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