Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP3 review

Svelte snapshot with folded optics and touch screen

If you’re going to include a touch screen on a compact, you’d better make it a large one. Fortunately the 14.1MP FP3 features a three-inch screen to improve operability and avoid accusations of gimmickry. For those who find such screens fiddly and obtuse at times, it also includes dedicated function buttons. Otherwise the flat fascia of the camera, internally folded 4x optical zoom mechanism equivalent to a 35-140mm focal range, plus slide-open-and-shoot lens cover recall competing Cyber-shot pocket cameras from Sony. So if you’re in the market for a camera slim and lightweight enough for it to be transported in a pocket, the FP3 fits the bill.

Even with a depth of just 18.6mm, the camera feels sturdily built. It follows the trend by marketing itself in a now compulsory range of colours and includes high-def video recording, here at 1280 x 720 pixels and 30fps. Tap the Video icon on screen (one of a mere four options in Shooting mode) to switch from stills to movies and begin recording with a press of the Shutter Release button. 

Aside from taking normal photos, the other two virtual buttons provide access to the camera’s 25 pre-optimised scene modes, covering all bases from portraits to snow scenes, plus user-customisable My Scene mode. If users shoot sunsets in the main, a press of this latter button will instantly retrieve the Sunset setting without them having to wade through the alternatives. Otherwise, simply press the iA (Intelligent Auto) button located on the top plate. This whips the users out of whichever mode they were in and enables pure point-and-shoot operation, the camera reliably comparing the scene or subject before its lens with six on-board options and selecting whichever it considers most appropriate.

There will be those who will debate whether we actually need 14 megapixels from a snapshot model, and if fewer pixels would in fact yield a better result from the same sensor: a 1/2.3-inch CCD with a total of 14.5MP. Certainly here the pixel count feels more like a case of keeping up with the Joneses rather than delivering any real benefit to the consumer. Unsurprisingly then, manually selectable light sensitivity has been capped at a modest ISO 1600 at full resolution, and, while there’s the ability to boost this to a maximum ISO 6400 equivalent via the High Sensitivity scene mode, the trade off is that resolution is capped at a lowly three megapixels to limit noise.

Also prompting a resolution drop is use of what Panasonic terms its extra optical zoom, which utilises only the central portion of the sensor to provide the equivalent of an extended 8.3x reach. Since this is effectively a crop, again three megapixel images are delivered. Aside from the ability to tap on-screen icons to effect changes in Shooting and Review mode, there’s a further ‘Q. Menu’ button – for Quick Menu – to be found on the FP3’s backplate. Press this and a toolbar appears across the top of the screen, providing speedy access to key functions such as white balance, ISO and choice of AF points. If we’ve a minor grumble it’s that the icons are smaller than those presented in the main shooting and menu modes, so it’s easier to accidentally select a function adjacent to the one required.

In lower lighting grain intrudes upwards of ISO 400, providing reason for the cap at ISO 1600. For more general photography, however, the FP3 proves a reliable performer. It’s also excellent value when you consider that better deals than the already very fair £179 asking price are easily found