Panasonic Lumix DMC - FZ70 Review And Specification

Panasonic appears to have just lapped everyone in the superzoom camera race -- at least in terms of zoom range -- by offering a whopping 60x optical zoom with an equivalent range of 20 to 1,200mm in the just announced Panasonic FZ70. While that's not a longer telephoto reach than, say, the Canon SX50, which also can zoom out to 1,200mm, the FZ70's zoom range starts from a 20mm wide angle and provides a 12% wider field of view than does the Canon SX50's 24mm wide angle. Add in a lens that also starts out at max aperture of f/2.8, brighter compared to the SX50's f/3.4, and the Panasonic FZ70 has our full attention. At least on paper, this FZ70 boasts stats that beat our favorite of all the superzooms we've tested (yes, the Canon SX50), and looks like a serious option for photographers wanting a ton of shooting flexibility.

What stands out most in addition to the FZ70's 60x zoom is the camera's completely new 16.1-megapixel, 1/2.3-inch type High Sensitivity CMOS sensor that's supported by Panasonic's Venus Engine processor. The company claims the new sensor cuts the FZ70's noise levels by 10-15% compared to those of its predecessor, while also "dramatically" improving high-sensitivity image quality. The new superzoom is also capable of high-speed burst shooting at nine full resolution frames per second, albeit with only a maximum of three images per burst. And perhaps most important for serious photographers, the FZ70 camera can capture RAW files, just like other superzooms in its class (and unlike the FZ60).

DESIGN:

While the FZ70 maintains the familiar shape of the FZ60 -- and, really, of most superzoom cameras -- the new model is considerably larger and heavier, which is not a surprise considering it now packs a 60x zoom lens. It measures 5.1 x 3.8 x 4.7 inches (130 x 97 x 118 mm) with the lens fully retracted, compared to the FZ60's 4.7 x 3.2 x 3.6 inch (120 x 81 x 92 mm ) dimensions. The FZ70 weighs 21.4 ounces (606 g) including battery, 4.0 ounces (113 g) more than the FZ60. However, it's about a third larger than the 50x zoom Canon SX50, which is a better comparison, but weighs about the same.

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ70 boasts a 60x zoom lens with a 35-mm format focal length equivalent of around 20-1,200-mm

Panasonic Lumix DMC - FZ70 is larger and heavier, measures 5.1 x 3.8 x 4.7 inches (130 x 97 x 118 mm) with the lens fully retracted, weighs 21.4 ounces (606 g) including battery

The Panasonic FZ70 features a sizable, nicely textured handgrip that should give most photographers plenty of purchase. And except for the controls that sit atop the grip, the rest of the front of the camera is completely clean with no buttons or controls marring the sleek, functional design.

OPTICS:

The Panasonic FZ70's LUMIX DC Vario lens delivers a maximum aperture of f/2.8-5.9 across its 60x zoom range, which is fairly bright compared to the competition. The Canon SX50, for example, sees maximum aperture fall from f/3.4 to f/6.5 across its shorter zoom range.

The Panasonic FZ70's LUMIX DC Vario lens delivers a maximum aperture of f/2.8-5.9 across its 60x zoom range

The lens features 14 elements in 12 groups, including three dual-sided aspherical lenses, and three regular aspherical lenses. That's a total of nine aspherical surfaces!. There are also three ED (Extra-low Dispersion) lenses. Panasonic says that combining all these elements helps suppress wide-angle distortion and telephoto color bleeding. It's important to note that Panasonic manufactures its own lenses in its Yamagata factory, which gives the company an advantage over others in terms of access and cost.Aiding the FZ70's image capturing capabilities is the company's POWER O.I.S image stabilization technology, which minimizes blur due to camera movement and vibration. Panasonic officials told that the image stabilization on the FZ70 offers twice the shake correction at 60x zoom than does the FZ60 at 24x.

BATTERY AND STORAGE:

The FZ70 operates on an included rechargeable Li-ion battery pack (7.2V, 895mAh, 6.5 Wh) that is CIPA-rated for 400 images per charge (50% taken with flash on). There's also an optional AC adapter available as an additional purchase.

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ70 features a built-in flash

The FZ70 records stills in RAW, RAW+JPEG and JPEG formats onto SD, SDHC, or SDXC memory cards. It also has 200MB of internal storage to help you capture a few shots when you've forgotten your card.

ACCESSORIES:

Is the 60x zoom not enough? The 1.7x DMW-LT55 Tele Conversion Lens can be used with the FZ70, via the DMW-LA8 Lens Adapter, giving you mind-boggling reach. The camera is also compatible with the DMW-LC55 Close-up 3x Filter, several external flashes (DMW-FL220, DMW-FL360L, DMW-FL500), and neutral density (DMW-LNDH55) and polarizing filters.

Panasonic Lumix DMC - FZ 70 : Specification

Resolution : 16.10 Megapixels
Sensor size : 1/2.3"
Lens : 60.00x zoom
Viewfinder : EVF / LCD
ISO : 100-3200
Shutter : 60-1/2000
Max Aperture : 2.8
Dimensions : 5.1 x 3.8 x 4.7 in. (130 x 97 x 118 mm)
Weight : 21.4 oz (606 g)
MSRP : US$400

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Panasonic Lumix DMC - FZ70 Review And Specification