Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX55K - the cute compact that doesn’t quite get there
By Arnold Zafra
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX55K is an stylish compact digital camera designed for consumers who want an easy-to-use camera.
According to Panasonic, the Lumix DMC-FX55K “delivers perfect shots every time through an intelligent auto technology”. Unfortunately, reviews of this camera doesn’t support this claim, but I’ll get to that in a moment.
Priced at US$349 the DMC-FX55K is said to eliminate complicated settings and replace them with an intelligent auto technology that prevents blurring from hand-shaking or subject movement.
According to Panasonic, the Lumic DMC-FX55K can detect up to 15 faces and automatically select the focus, exposure and scene modes for best results.
Key features include:
- 8.1 Megapixels, 1/ 2.5” CCD
- Macro allows photography from 5 cm
- 22.7 maximum combined digital and optical zoom
- Focal length 4.6-16.4mm (35mm equivalent 28-100 mm)
- 100-1600 ISO (sensitivity)
- 3.0″ Diagonal Polycrystalline TFT LCD Display screen (230,000 pixels)
- 280 shots per battery charge
- Takes SD/SDHC/Multimedia card
- ultra-slim body
- 145 grams
- Dimensions of 57 mm x 95 mm x 23 mm (W x H x D)
- Mega-Optical Image Stabilization prevents blurring from hand-shake; Intelligent ISO Control helps prevent motion blur
What the manufacturer says:
With your Panasonic Lumix digital camera in Intelligent Auto Mode, the Intelligent Scene Selector will sense the ambient conditions and automatically select either the Scenery, Portrait, Macro, Night Portrait or Night Scenery mode accordingly. With the camera choosing the settings for you, you’ll get beautiful results every time you shoot, no matter what the scene or subject.
What reviewers and users are saying:
“The FX55’s photo quality was good, but not great. ”-Jeff Keller
“The Lumix DMC-FX55 compact camera has a superb 3-inch LCD, but the screen saps battery life, and images weren’t as sharp as those of the Panasonic FX100.”-Tracey Capen
“The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX55 is a cute compact camera that sports a nice wide-angle lens, but its so-so image quality keeps it from reaching its full potential.”-Cnet Reviews
Our comment:
Being at the mid-range of Panasonic’s Lumix digital camera product line, the not-so-good image quality it produces is understandble. Panasonic focused more on the extra-features rather than the main feature that should have been given top priority – image quality. If you are willing to shell out around $350 for an ultra slim camera that is packed with many features, the DMC-FX55K may be the right camera for you. But if you value photo quality, then you might want to check out other cameras which are in the same class as this one.
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