Panasonic DMC-FZ30 review

9th November 2007

Written by Gordon Laing

Panasonic DMC-FZ30 purple fringing comparison

Panasonic DMC-FZ30 macro comparison

Outdoor / Resolution / Noise / Corner sharpness / Fringe and macro / Geometry / Vignetting

Panasonic DMC-FZ30

Fujfifilm FinePix S9500 Zoom

Canon EOS-350D

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-R1

7.4-88.8mm at 7.4mm f2.8

6.2-66.7mm at 6.2mm f2.8

18-55mm EF-S at 18mm f3.5

14.3-71.5mm at 14.3mm f2.8

7.4-88.8mm at 88.8mm f3.7

6.2-66.7mm at 66.7mm f4.9

18-55mm EF-S at 55mm f5.6

14.3-71.5mm at 71.5mm f4.8

To measure macro performance we photographed a custom chart using the bundled lenses at a distance and focal length which delivered the maximum possible reproduction. The dark lines are 10mm apart.

The image left was taken with the Panasonic FZ30 at 7.4mm f8 (equivalent to 35mm). At a distance of 6.3cm, the camera captured an area measuring 86x64mm which while better than the Sony R1, is below the kit lens of the Canon and way behind the impressive Fujifilm result.

Fujfifilm FinePix S9500 Zoom	Canon EOS-350D with 18-55mm EF-S	Sony Cyber-shot DSC-R1

6.2-66.7mm at 6.2mm f8 Max area of 50x38mm at 2.1cm	18-55mm EF-S at 55mm f8 Max area of 66x44mm at 13cm	14.3-71.5mm at 71.5mm f8 Max area of 102x68mm at 25cm