I first got a digital Ixus when they came out and was 2.1 megapixel. After a few years I upgraded to the Ixus 430, it was a 4 megapixel camera. After discovering it doesn't bounce well on concrete after a fall, I needed a new camera. I decided to cap the budget at £150, after all, I thought that no matter what I had, it would be obsolete in 4 years time with a better model, better battery, resolution etc. The reviews on virtually all sites said the Panasonic range gave good results, and for a great price, got a 12 megapixel camera with a large screen, as opposed to the tiny one I was used to.
The Lumix FS15 is a fairly thin camera and lightweight to go. The LCD screen is large and has a 29mm wide angle lens and 5x optical zoom. It can take photos in various sizes 12, 8, 5, 3, 2 and 0.3 megapixel with 2 quality settings and 3 aspect ratios (4:3, 3:2 and 16:9). It can also record movies in different formats and resolutions.
When you switch it on, it is virtually ready to use and start taking photos. The zoom seems a little to responsive, zooming in at a fast rate, and it just takes a little time to get used to what level you want. I will need to check if it can be slowed down a little, as I sometimes tend to over zoom and need to zoom out to get the right frame shot. There seems very little lag, it could be a better sensor or just a natural progression of technology since my last purchase, but it is fast. The resulting image is a clear and detailed. I have taken shots in all sorts of lighting conditions. Outdoors on a sunny day will give you rich vibrant colours, indoors at night with limited lights on still produces a good picture, although slightly grainy. However, this is to be expected with too little light. Changing to one of the numerous settings for night time or even candle gives a much improved picture.
The FS15 does not have a viewfinder unlike my other 2 previous cameras, but then again in the 9 years owning them, I think I used in only twice, so will not miss not having one. I do not see this as a negative point. The 940 mah battery supplied lasts a quite a while on a full charge, however it may be worth investing in a spare battery. Cheap compatibles are easily obtained from the internet. I like the USB connector, it is behind a hinged door on the side, with a sturdy opening and closing lid, almost like a magnet holds it in place. I am used to the rubber plug that I was always afraid of losing, so again a big improvement.
The movie mode provides a good smooth movie. I have set mine to 16:9 format which provides WVGA 848 x 480 resolution at 30 fps. The maximum amount of time you can record a single movie event is 15 minutes. A countdown appears when recording to show you how long you have left. You can keep recording movies as long as you have memory available. The only drawback with the movies is that once recording has started, you cannot zoom in or out, you are stuck at the zoom level when you started recording. To change it, you must stop recording, alter the zoom and then start recording again. This may be the normal for recording movies on digital cameras, but it is annoying.
The FS15 comes with 50Mb internal memory, which should be OK for about 10 photos at the highest resolution, but is not enough for movies. I suggest that you also get at least a 4Gb SDHC card, which will provide plenty of storage for photos and movies. I got a 8Gb card and it says can take over 1,300 high resolution photos.
I have no idea what the photo software is like as it does not work on a MAC, but file transfer speed is fast thanks to USB2.
Overall, I am well impressed with this camera. Not only is it stylish, it is lightweight, has a large screen and feels right in the hand when using it. It is recommended for anyone who wants a digital camera that will give great looking shots with the minimum of fuss.
| Package dimensions | 18.8 x 14.2 x 8.2 centimetres |
|---|---|
| Package Weight | 1.41 Pounds |
| Item Weight | 116 Grams |
| Brand | Panasonic |
| Colour | Black |
| Max Focal Length | 145 Millimetres |
| Min Focal Length | 29 Millimetres |
| Part number | FS15 Black |
| Zoom Type | Optical Zoom |
| Effective still resolution | 12.1 MP |
