Evolution Level 10 and all is well? With Supplement 7/2010

With the FZ 38 Panasonic has brought already the 10th stage of evolution of the small Lumix FZ series, mind you without FZ10 / 20/30/50 to the market. After the FZ50 is no longer offered, the FZ38 is now the top bridge camera of the Japanese. What's new, one wonders. If the bridge camera reinvented from Panasonic?
Has the already good even better? Or is it all just hot air and a gimmick? Not at all. But more on that later.

We unpack first. What a surprise, connoisseur of FZ series, the 38er is immediately familiar. Apart from the silver lens mount and the number 38, everything is standard front remained the same in the small dainty bridge camera. Flipped short. Hm, the same screen with 2.7 ". Haptic is also nothing happens and that's a good thing. Even the predecessors were so with the best of what you could buy at the Bridge cameras when it comes to processing, quality of materials used. But, the button layout has changed slightly. In addition, some controls are highlighted. Unfortunately Unfortunately, there is still no hot shoe for small FZ. For a Stereo Micro.

Now look at the inner values. But also because the Panasonic performs in distinguished restraint. The heart is the same sensor as in the predecessor. However, it takes the FZ38 now 12.1 instead of 10,7MP on. A first reason for skepticism. Remained the same is also built to Leicaart lens. With 27mm in wide angle and 486mm at the telephoto end, it has exactly the same focal range as its predecessor. The light intensity is also the same. The minimum focusing distance, one of the great strengths of the camera, remained untouched by 1cm. That's it. The menus and scene modes of the Panasonic I have to tell you anything more. The Lumix cameras are unrivaled in this field in my eyes. That's also when the FZ 38 that.

What is even more different? The camera processing of information has been improved according to the manufacturer. So Panasonic large sensor has yet to 12,1MP, with the same 1 / 2.33 "dared to venture. The processing of the image information, and of lens errors by distortion, etc., should also have been changed or improved.

That sounds promising. How then are the pictures? But wait! The FZ38 has significant gains in terms of speed compared to the FZ28 and now has a rapid shutter lag. It is no longer compared with the predecessors. Feels like it is now in addition to Sony, one of the fastest bridge cameras that I had been in their hands. Obviously, the new image processor is a step forward. The images are used to Panasonic. Excellent in quality, very warm in tone and does not fit (as usual) the white balance always. However, the small Lumix has this flaw is not exclusive. Even as DSLRs have their problems. Manual setting is first choice here. Distortion errors are barely perceptible to the very good lens. A property on the many bridge cameras otherwise have their problems. Well I also like the lens to the edge does not become dark, so no shades, as is the case with many bridge cameras. You can literally feel the quality. As anticipated above, the little noisy compared to the FZ28 really an eating more. But this is minimal. Resolution is not everything. Lt. Panasonic has been revised and the video mode. This is an issue that really does not interest me, but probably the FZ have actually risen a tooth by the improved image processor also here. This is evident also in the AF. Even this has become noticeably faster.

Short and sweet:

Positive:
+ Feel and processing
+ Quality of the optics
+ Hardly display errors
+ Equipment
RAW +
+ Image quality
+ For a bridge very good noise performance
+ Very fast, actually "snapshot Suitable"
+ Good Video mode
+ Panasonic typical, intuitive menu
+ Macro mode from 1cm

Negatives:
- Still weaknesses in AWB
- No hot shoe

My conclusion for Panasonic: Who makes up for the very practical because handy and versatile FZ38 decides nothing wrong. The great revolution is indeed failed. However, in cameras like the new GF 1, soon becomes clear where the journey goes for Panasonic. The Micro Four Thirds standard is one among the Japanese probably the future. The FZ38 has been improved only in the details to be current. That this does not have to be bad is the FZ38 significantly. Those who opt for it, gets a very good bridge camera, with no major weaknesses and no teething problems. A camera which a good can. Take good pictures.

Supplement 7/2010: The FZ makes you feel good. With its computed by Leica lens succeed very good shots. Genial I find the Macro mode, the FZ. Fun makes the video mode to make a spurned me to cameras type images. When it comes to speed, the Pana is now front runners and very fast for a bridge. Suitable snapshot is the magic word, which can not be behauptn of all bridge cameras. The Pana is reliable and has given me no problems. The Image Stabilizer I present only at level 1. In very bright light and when shooting (photo) in the zoom range up to approximately 100mm I let him out completely. The same applies to shots from the tripod. The AWB (Auto White Balance), I no longer use, but take the adjustment manually. Thus the FZ working on zuverläsigsten.