Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28 - Test Shots - Detail and Lens Performance

A range of general test shots are shown over the next two pages. In some cases, the full size image has been reduced for bandwidth purposes, and a crop taken from the original full resolution image has been placed below it to show the overall image quality. Some other pictures may be clicked to view the original full-size image.

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Here's the usual detail test shot of the West Window of Exeter Cathedral, for you to compare with other cameras. See below for a full res crop, or click to see the whole picture.

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Low file compression, an excellent lens and a good 10.1MP sensor add up to plenty of fine detail.

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The outstanding lens produces almost no wide-angle barrel distortion.

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Centre sharpness is excellent.

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Corner sharpness is almost perfect, with no blurring or chromatic aberration.

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Awards

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28 details

Build Quality: 9/10
Image Quality: 10/10
Value: 8/10
Overall: 10/10

Pros & Cons

Pros

Good range of manual controls
Fast start-up
Quality lens

Cons

Video output is only in 1080i
Clunky software included
Expensive

Price as reviewed

£290.00

Manufacturer

Panasonic

Comments

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142 comments

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Lumerist

12:22 PM on 22 August, 2008

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Tho' a pleased owner/user of an FZ18 (over 1500 pics so far), I feel the FZ28 not a big enough step ahead to upgrade. Larger sensor + better viewfinder might persuade me, however! Wait for the FZ60?

Score:

Doug Sinnott

6:22 PM on 22 August, 2008

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The only drawback with a bigger sensor means the camera would need to be bigger,and the lens as well,thereby defeating it's biggest advantage over a compact DSLR,i.e the Lumix's sheer portability.

I also have a Nikon two lens D40 kit,and while it can produce cracking enlargements,I am much more likely to take the FZ18 when I go on holiday,or even just out for a ramble,as the little Panasonic packs so much in into the well made body,and the weight is much more manageable on the shoulder(I am retired!).

And any 8x10 prints I produce are sharp and colourful,and perfectly acceptable,and I feel I can recognise a good print after 40 year experience of photography.

We all know that if you blow up a print to A3,or do a lot of cropping,the DSLR will outperform the vast majority of compacts,and in some situations,i.e sports photography,etc.,is much quicker to use,but for most photography,these Panasonics are really good,offering great flexibility.

How many people out there print bigger than A4 anyway? Not many I bet!

Both my son and daughter have digital cameras,but never print,or even get prints made,just viewing them on their computers.I suspect the're not alone either.

These Panasonics however really are technological marvels,and the new FZ28 does seem an improvement over the FZ18,seeming to manage high ISOs better,although that is not really important to me,as I seldom go out taking photographs which need high settings anyway.

Again,I suspect,apart from camera reviewers,nether do many other people!

They would just use the flash if required.

There are other general improvements in the new camera,but not enough to warrant me stumping up more money for the new model.

Where do you stop?

Some people are forever "upgrading",seemingly obsessed with having the latest kit,which ultimately is very costly,whereas if they just used what they already have,better, more productively,they might enjoy their photography better.

I still use a Fuji S7000,now nearly 5 years old,but the prints it can produce are really great,if only it had a bigger zoom,it would be even better

I don't really buy photo magazines anymore,as they encourage this obsessive behaviour in my view,being full of "battles" between the latest "must-have" bits of kit.

Be happy with your FZ18,it's a great little camera!!

Doug Sinnott

9:30 PM on 22 August, 2008

To Bugmenot: I was only replying to John Merchant's comment that the only improvement he could suggest to both the FZ18/FZ28 would be a bigger sensor/viewfinder.

In my view this would invariably lead to a bigger camera,hence my comments.

Kazzaz

10:35 PM on 22 August, 2008

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image quality 10 out of 10 ??? how come .. ?? please tell me how then the d700 nikon got 9 ??

http://www.trustedreviews.com/digital-cameras/review/2008/08/08/Nikon-D700/p1

why u didnt mention the bad EVF ??

sorry for my bad english

11:49 PM on 22 August, 2008

I agree a larger sensor would result in a larger camera, but the resultant images would also be improved. A DSLR will produce better images than a compact, mainly, but not entirely, due to the sensor size (?) I too have some experience over many years (my first camera was a Halina 35X at age 16!) but all snap shot pictures, though using several different types of camera including SLR, some of which I still have (Contarex Super; Minolta S1 APS). Still searching for a D700 with a 14-600 zoom (& 10/10 images) that I can carry in my pocket! The FZ8/18/28 is the nearest yet!

AndyfromVA

12:28 AM on 23 August, 2008

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Maybe it's just me but all the sample photos look overexposed.

I'm also having trouble seeing an image quality of 10 out of 10.

EmmanuelWalter

8:19 AM on 23 August, 2008

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Hi,

How does the FZ28 compare to a Canon G9 or coming G10. Which one has the better picture quality. The G9/G10 has very good manual controls.

piesforyou

4:33 PM on 23 August, 2008

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Kazzaz;

This is always the problem with review scores, they are subjective, not just in terms of the point of view of the reviewer, but also in terms of the price category of the product and the product class too, like superzoom or compact. In reality, only the very best top of the range cameras should get perfect 10 scores, and all other cameras should be marked against that score. But of course this would result in compacts inherently never getting higher than 3 or 4. Maybe the fz28 would get 5 or 6.

So in this review the fz28 gets a perfect 10 for image quality because (i guess) it is the best image quality you will get from a superzoom camera?

Review scores are always a bit rubbish in my opinion. A good example is the Trail magazine which will review 30 products briefly, then about 8 of them go through to a detailed review. The problem is that the score is only out of 5, so almost all the 8 final products will have the same score!! What's the point in that? At least trustedreviews uses scores out of 10.

bevo76

5:14 AM on 24 August, 2008

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Regarding the point about review scores subjective and being a bit rubbish, it's not untrue. However, it's also a quick and invaluable tool for us who don't have the opportunity to spend a reasonable amount of time trial testing the numerous options out there. That's why it is always prudent to look at reviews from different sources to minimise some of the individual reviewers' "bias". Also important to note that the timing of the reviews and product launches relative to the competition will also affect review scores to a certain degree. I usually take ratings not so much in absolute terms but as a range. So anything scoring 8-10 to me is considered a great score. Of course if a product gets a 10 in image quality while it's competitors score 6 and 7s (as the SP-570UZ, P80, S8100fd, DSC-H50 did), then I guess it must be a significant difference, and something to take note of and to verify for oneself. Then the reviews would have done their job!

Ama

7:48 PM on 24 August, 2008

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Life would be amazing if everything in life got 10's... It's a pleasure knowing there's a company out there producing quality products for the photographer, be it amateurs or professionals.

Married with 3 kids and as much as I would love to carry a DSLR around with me with the lenses to go with it. It's a pleasure to have a camera that I can take with me and that allows me to carry the kids in my ruck sack.

As for the marks... As bevo76 mentioned, take several reviews and judge a product and I'm sure all will make the right choice.

Trusted review is class... keep up the good work :)

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Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28 - Test Shots - Detail and Lens Performance

Awards