Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS3 review

Discover what this small, sleek camera has under the bonnet

The Panasonic Lumix FS3 cannot be denied a compliment for its good looks. In fact, as far as the entry-level compact market goes, the camera oozes class and sophistication from every pore. The all-metal body comes in brushed silver, as well as a muted green and blue – each equally tasteful and understated. The slimline body is not card-thin, but elegantly streamlined enough to slip into a shirt pocket or clutch bag without any sign of a squeeze. From the front, the flash is a mere sliver, matching the elongated width of the body. The lens features a chrome-looking surround, and there is a matching vertical chrome panel on the left to act as a grip.

To be honest, the grip is pretty minimal so this isn’t the camera for you if you like something to grab hold off. Expect slick and boxy, as opposed to curved appeal. Around the back sit your controls. They are nicely spaced, if a little on the small side, but easy to operate all the same. To the left sits the 2.5-inch LCD, which is slightly raised from the camera body. This is a decent performer in all lights, although the actual plastic coating is rife for scuffs and scratches. A camera case would certainly be a wise investment if you plan to leave this camera loose in a handbag for much of the time.

The Lumix FS3 has a very adequate set of specifications, which would keep any occasional user or amateur amused and satisfied. The 8.1 megapixel sensor means large prints of A4 plus are well within reach, and a 3x optical zoom is ideal for zooming into faces or objects. It may not get you very far when it comes to bringing distant objects closer, so think of it more as a compositional tool than a magnification gadget.

Some will find the operation of this camera a little clunky. The power button is operated by sliding it to the right so it clicks into place. This method also applies for the Playback/Record mode button. Both buttons are solid and well made, but the action feels a little lengthy. Thankfully the startup times are pretty rapid, so you’re not left hanging to take your shot. The menus, although bright and easy to read, are also a little strange. Functions designed to give the user more control are actually a little confusing. For instance, the Scene modes are split in two to enable you to prioritise favourites to one menu and relegate the rest to the second menu. It’s a decent enough idea, but it would be far more beneficial to have a dedicated Scene mode button on the camera body itself.

The Optical Image Stabilisation feature is set to default when shooting in Intelligent Auto mode. It’s split rather confusingly into two modes: Mode 1 and Mode 2. The ambiguous names hardly lend themselves towards a user-friendly feel, something that Panasonic do tend to fall down on time and time again.

In actual fact, Mode 1 relates to continuous shooting and Mode Two relates to single capture.

Labelling issues aside, this camera does give the novice a very decent performance at this price range. The dynamic range is okay, and this can be ramped up using the colour modes (Vivid, Natural, Standard), should you so wish.

Generally, the standard mode colours are fine, but the Vivid mode does add a nice kick, and does suit some shooting situations well. The thing to be aware of is that images with little contrast will falter. Midtone details do tend to merge and a little definition certainly wouldn’t go amiss.

The autofocus is reasonable, managing to lock on to the subject in pretty decent time. The zoom is a tad sluggish, but, thankfully, the FS3 includes the E.Zoom button on the top panel, which transports you from wide-angle to telephoto with one touch.

The biggest bugbear of this camera is the soft lens. Images do show a degree of softness in the corners, which is a shame. The centre softness is much more controlled, but there is certainly room for improvement here. We also noticed that, in Macro mode, there is some overzealous depth-of-field action taking place, with the blurred backgound looking a little too overdone in some instances.

It must be said, these drawbacks are unlikely to even seem apparent to the novice or occasional user – they are simply things that the more seasoned photographer may be wary of. The ISO sensitivity tests revealed the camera can hold its own up until ISO 800, where noise begins to get distracting. Detail remains up to this point, which is excellent.

This camera is a perfectly adequate purchase for the casual novice photographer. It captures group shots and portraits well and has a fantastic Video mode, which users will enjoy. For the more experienced photographer looking to pursue their hobby more frequently, then this may not meet all your expectations.

This is essentially a budget camera, and, with that in mind, it offers a commendable performance.