Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)This is one fantastic camera, and I look forward to using it a lot.
This is my third Panasonic (FX-01 and FZ-30), and before that I had Nikon digitals, preceded by Nikon film cameras; I had my own darkroom and did my own developing and printing of b&w for many years. I have to admit that when I took the FX-580 out of the box, I was a bit disappointed. I had ordered it to replace my FX-01, which I loved but which did not perform well in low light. The FX-01 is a beautiful, nice-to-hold camera that is covered with a black rubbery coating, and the 580 appeared by comparison to be plastic and unfriendly.
But this is a case where first impressions should be set aside. I have now seen some of what the 580 can do (its English-language instructions run to 143 pages). I am already a believer!
I was worried that the touch-screen control of many functions might be just a gimmick. It isn't, and I am especially impressed at what the AFAE (Auto-Focus Auto-Exposure) function does: When you activate it, it tells you to touch whatever you want the AFAE to work on. The thing or person doesn't have to be in the center of the screen. It's like magic, as you watch the change in focus and the correction of the spot-metered exposure happen. It blows me away.
The 12 megapixel images are fantastic. I took some macro (no flash) shots of some flowers, both outside and indoors, and I enlarged them to my heart's content. You have to get to the point that you can't tell what you're looking at before edges begin to bleed pixels.
Another feature that I know I will use (because I travel a lot and have tried to take lots of panoramas) is the "panorama assist mode." When it is activated, the edge of the previous image appears on the screen so that you can match it up with the next part of the panorama. This may not be a new feature with this model, but it is very impressive.
Being a diehard Photoshop user, I have not installed the software yet, but when I get to my home computer, I will check it out and report back as warranted.
Unless you feel you must lug around an SLR, I think most serious amateurs will be very pleased with this camera. Lugging lenses etc. isn't necessary with this camera; I'd rather carry a pocket-sized tripod with the 580. In choosing the 580, I also considered the Leica D-Lux 3 and its Panasonic clone, which would have cost $200-300 more. In the end, I could not buy a camera, no matter how wonderful, that had only a 60mm equivalent at its long end; I knew that would a source of constant frustration in many travel situations. The 580s 25mm wide-angle is just short of the Leica's 24mm, and the Leica's lack of a handgrip really worried me - I am not interested in dropping a $700 camera.
The only downside so far is the cost of the extra battery: $49.90 including shipping from Amazon. It may never even be necessary -- the battery seems to last forever.
Click Here to see more reviews about: Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX580 12MP Digital Camera with 5x MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3 inch LCD (Black)
12.1 Megapixel Digital CameraIntelligent Auto Mode Helps prevent shooting errors Touch Screen Manual Operation 3 Intelligent LCD w/ auto brightness LEICA DC Vario-Elmar Lens 25mm wide angle Black
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