Worth quite their money

After bad experiences with the Lumix models FZ20, FZ50 and FZ18, which had the same growing problems with noise or aggressive compensation with increasing pixel count, had been close to my mind, this time to buy a camera, which especially in this area advantages over competition has. And since there are in the market for bridge cameras not very many alternatives. The parameter that decides here is mainly the available light-sensitive sensor area per pixel - that is, the largest possible sensor in as little megapixels. The EX-F1 has an unusually large sensor size of 1 / 1.8 inches to offer in today conditions archaic 6 MP - most bridge cameras it is only 1 / 2.5 inches tall. In fact, in my opinion, are 6 MP but perfectly adequate for most applications. In addition, find a CMOS sensor using, instead of the usual in bridge area CCD sensors. Thus was to be hoped that the EX-F1 can come up with a rather typical for DSLR cameras image quality.

My first endurance test was a live dance event on a simple stage, with bad light which was at times even dyed strong red. Without using Flash will color casts, longer exposure times and underexposure were to be expected. At the lowest sensitivity of ISO 100 the observable noise was extremely low compared to my Lumix cameras, and not make out noise compensation artifacts. One must bear in mind that with longer exposure times and low contrast image noise occurs for physical reasons always more disturbing than in good conditions this photo. The EX-F1 harmonises the way quite well with the program Noiseware of Imagenomic. When the preset program configuration can be any unwanted noise without noticeable loss of detail reliably remove, creating camera profiles is not necessary.

Highly efficient, the different white balance modes have proved. In "white" Schneinwerferlicht which is eingefährbt more yellow in reality, the auto mode was no longer viable and delivered strong yellow tinge. Here, however, was made by the mode "light bulb" flawless work. With massive red spotlight proved the "Manual White Balance" as the mode of choice. Set camera to a reasonably neutral color scene, press trigger - finished. Of course, you lose in the compensation of a strong color cast a lot of contrast, but that's still better than bright red heads in all the pictures that you can subsequently correct any more.

Very positive the camera's Anti Shake evaluate. Even at maximum 12x zoom out of hand, the yield of non-wobbled images was encouragingly high. Handling the S Mode (Shutter Speed ​​Priority), which in bad light most advisable is bedienungsfreunlich, and the setting also does not tend to adjust by mistake while working. Very encouraging is also the term of the - quite heavy and bulky - batteries. Three hours of continuous operation (without flash) did not alter the charge status. The Lumix FZ50 had already called for a replacement battery.

The video capabilities of the EX-F1, which I really do not need, have certainly also for normal Photography importance, namely in the form of various continuous shooting modes. Especially in sports photography, where the motives often are moving fast and you do not get many chances to put this well into the picture, it can be beneficial. For example, the mode "High Speed ​​CS" very useful. It can be configured freely within generous limits, usually I use a setting of 6 frames per second, so I a motive - for example, a cross-country skier in the rise - can track 10 seconds visually, while I have the live image on the display. The selection of successful images from such a series can be very easily done menu-driven. Also in sports situations where you are usually pressed for time, this job can be accomplished relatively hassle free.

Unfortunately, Casio is not all 100% successful. For example, it is difficult to understand why the EX-F1 ISO speeds to 1600 provides, though 200 the noise begins to interfere with ISO. From ISO 400 noise is then completely unbearable. It is actually better, crass underexposed pictures at ISO 100 to make and subsequently to adjust the brightness on the PC, to be correct - and massively noisy - expose. The noise-induced loss of quality läst retrospectively correct any more.

Light flaws I observed during AF. In low light and at long range he uses quite often next to it, which I do not know of the Lumix models so. Disturbing is the fact that under these conditions to wish the willingness of the camera leaves much - that is, it is so busy with the focus that they do not like so much trigger. This is very annoying especially with live scenes, because you thereby often times missed the right time.

It is very unpleasant that the EX-F1 too easily in the video recording mode is, as you the attached right up at the back like trigger operated unintentionally. You can tell this is usually because the camera appears to stop responding to the photo-trigger. In fact, she does this continue, but you get no more feedback. Until you realize it, then you have perhaps already wasted a lot of space on the memory card with an unusable video.

During my 3-hour test, it is me actually even managed to get the firmware to crash when switching back and forth. The camera controls responded to any more and could no longer turn, was the only way to remove the battery yourself. After restarting the camera had unfortunately forgotten their white balance setting. Something like this should not happen anyway.

Bottom line, I can say that the EX-F1 met my most important requirements of a camera - Excellent image quality and reliable performance under difficult light and working conditions. The various deficiencies lead unfortunately to the loss of a star rating, but four stars are still a lot more than I would give various competing products. The steep price is hard on the threshold of pain, but you get in the form of powerful video functions quite well as a lot of added value to what might justify the price.

Update 04/10/2009

After several long photo sessions (live music and sports) have the relatively frequent firmware crashes and focusing problems crystallized as major disadvantages the camera. Both will also criticized in other reviews on this site, so I'm obviously not an isolated case.

I have since upgraded to the firmware 2.00 but thus has not changed on the stability. The crashes happened about once an hour, usually during the operation, for example, while you zoom or can adjust the autofocus. This really is very troublesome, because then you only need to remove the battery, and reboot the camera after any particularly long does (but that can also be psychologically determined, because then you especially in stress). Anyway, one is for a long time - an eternity - first time out of action, which can be quite lethal in sports photography.

Focusing failed very often in low light conditions (live music) or moving subjects (Sports). In both cases, the autofocus examined only once a long time and are either on, or provides a badly focused picture. Eventually you get used to be, first time to focus on a better lit and idle object at the desired distance and then to pivot on the main subject, but not necessarily what makes it fun to shoot under pressure. In general, the EX-F1 is not a snapshot camera because they need far too long in any case for focusing. Even the pre-focusing button pressed halfway, often does not help, because it simply takes too long in live situations. Often it's the best, fully pull off the shutter simply trusting to luck. Amazingly, the autofocus is true then more often the right attitude.

Apart from the problems described the EX-F1 returns but quite high-quality photos, provided that the firmware will remain alive and you get baked focusing in real time. One should only take pictures with ISO 100, the image noise is marginal and edge sharpness quite well. In fact, the camera uses its 12x zoom a lot more "virtual Zoom" with a so-called super-zoom models with 18x, such as the LUMIX FZ-18 or FC-28th One can in the photos of the EX-F1, so they are well focused and not blurred, the PC is still relatively good to amplify the cutouts, which "thanks to" the aggressive denoising is no longer possible with the LUMIX cameras, because then immediately frayed contours sees.

I do not know if I would buy the EX-F1 again, but from the bridge cameras that I had been, it is clearly the best, and I will certainly be using for a while.