garri767's Full Review: Panasonic Lumix® DMC-LZ2 Digital Camera
I was very interested in how cameras work and in photography as a whole, so i decided to purchase one. I was very new to photography at the time, (i had only used throw-away cameras until then)and didn't have the largest budget out there. So after a little searching, I ended up with the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ2
The Quality
At Five Megapixels, this camera doesn't disappoint, but it doesn't really astound anyone for the price tag. Although if you can live with a little grain/noise, this camera is perfect for you. This camera can produce some shots with exceptional quality. ISO 400 makes the quality take a major dive and makes the subject(s) look distorted. and ISO 80 gives extremely sharp photos. Anything greater than ISO 100 really doesn't look normal, so be sure and set it to 80 unless the conditions are appropriate for another mode. (For the record, this camera offers ISO: 80,100,200,and 400)
The Zoom
For the price, this zoom really gets the job done. 6x optical can reach about any subject you are trying to view from a distance and is great for close - up shots. If that isn't enough for you, it also has an optional 4x Digital zoom which will make your zoom power end up at 24x and will capture anything really you need to photograph. Beware as like all other cameras, the more zoom you use, the worse the quality becomes.
Ease of Use
Out of ten, (with 1 being the hardest to operate and 10 being the easiest) this camera probably gets around a 7. The camera took me around four months to understand each mode and tool completely. Once you get it down, this camera becomes really easy to use. It has Eight Shooting modes (i will get to these later) and you learn pretty quickly which ones are good for what photographing conditions. This camera becomes very easy to operate after a few months of practice and getting used to.
Battery life
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ2's Battery life is not really that consistant in different batteries. The Battery life is extremely short with alkaline batteries (such as Energizer Max, Duracell etc.)as you spend most of the juice Turning on/Turning off the camera. Specialized batteries such as NiMh batteries get exceptional life, You won't have to worry about leaving it on, going to do laundry and coming back to see the batteries dead. Battery life lasts for an extremely long time with NiMh batteries, but they can become expensive over time. Most brands of this battery sell at around 9$ for a pack of 2 and around 15$ for a pack of 4. If that doesn't intrigue your wallet much, pick up some Rechargeable batteries. They normally cost around Nine dollars for a pack of four (which normally includes a charger) and you can use them thousands of times and save money. Be sure and adjust the camera setting (through the menu) to whatever type of battery you are using.
Camera Modes
Simple mode
Just what the name says, it takes a photo for you, not much more then that. Simple mode Does Not operate with a flash. Simple mode has a separate menu that is different from the default menu the other modes use. Simple Mode will Not let you use digital zoom.
*Represented on the Mode wheel by a Heart symbol.
Economy Mode
Economy mode is the budget mode of the camera.It is an efficiancy mode which tries to not consume as much power by lowering the LCD brightness. It is fully Automatic and provides a decent photo.
*Represented on the Mode wheel by a Black circle with a white "E" in it.
Normal Mode
There isn't much to say about Normal mode. It should be the first mode you learn to use if you are not too familiar with the camera. It gives you all the menu options (unlike Simple mode) and is fully automatic as well.
*Represented on the Mode wheel by a Red camera.
Playback Mode
The Review mode of the camera. It lets you review your photos from each and every mode one by one in an album.
*Represented on the wheel as a rectangle with a Black arrow inside of it.
Macro Mode
This mode is the toughest mode to Master. It gives you access to all the menu options the camera offers. It Automatically decides if the camera is going to flash in certain weather conditions. Macro Mode has access to both Optical (6X) and Digital (4x) zoom, so it is great for both distance shots and close up shots.
*Represented on the Mode wheel by a Flower with a leave on each side of it.
Movie Mode
Self explanatory, it is the mode that can record movies. This becomes really useful as it also includes sound, so you aren't stuck looking back at the movies wondering what was going on noise-wise.
*Represented on the Mode wheel by a Film strip
Scene modes 1&2
Lets you pick the personal photography purpose (Sports,scenery etc. etc.) and the photography conditions (night, day, etc. etc.) and adapts these certain modes to those conditions. (so you have created your own little mode)
Scene mode 1&2 are essentially the same, minus the fact they have two different spots on the mode wheel.
*Represented on the Mode wheel by Bold Text stating either SCN1 or SCN2.
Tools and other Features
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ2 is full of many tools that you will be able to understand after you get familiar with them. To the Right of the LCD on the rear of the camera is a bundle of buttons. One of which Is a Photo timer, so you will never be left out of your own photos. There is also a shortcut to the Playback mode (The Button has the letters REV right above it so you can find it fast). Then there is the Display button. It is fairly self explanatory, and is easy to find as it is isolated from the other buttons and also is labeled "Display". The camera will display anything from a Leveling chart to help balance your photos, to a Battery icon that tells you when your battery is running out. I recommend keeping only a few of these features, as after a while they all got annoying to me besides the ones i used on practically every photo.
Durability
The durability of this camera definitely surprised me for the good part. I have dropped it many many times and freaked out on each time, only to find out it functions perfectly after the incident. There are plenty of Scratches, Scars, And dents on my Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ2, but it hasn't let me down.
Overall
I am very glad that i made the 240$ investment in the Panasonic DMC-LZ2. It provides the power and quality of some of the better cameras out there yet is compact and convenient.It is a Great beginners Camera and has everything a novice will require for some great photography experiences.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 240 This Camera is a Good Choice if You Want Something... Easy Enough for Anyone to Use
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