The original FX7 was announced in July 2004 and went on to be one of the best-selling cameras of last year thanks to its winning combination of cool styling, compact dimensions, big screen and image-stabilized Leica lens. After a fairly disappointing upgrade earlier this year in the form of the FX8 (which basically did little but address the appalling battery life of the original) we didn't have to wait long for the next generation, which - as well as incorporating the improvements seen in the FX8, increases the pixel count, improves the screen and adds a couple of new scene modes.
- 6.4 megapixel CCD
- 35-105mm equiv. (3x) Leica DC Vario-Elmarit optical zoom
- 4x digital zoom
- Advanced Mega Optical Image Stabilizer
- VGA (640 x 480 pixel) 30fps movie mode
- 2.5-inch, 207,000 pixel LCD
- 14 scene modes
- Venus Engine PLUS
- Color options:
US: Silver and Black
Europe: Silver, Black and Red
Rest of World: Silver, Black, Red and Gray
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX9 vs FX8 vs FX7 (main differences)
Panasonic FX9 |
Panasonic FX8 |
Panasonic FX7 |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Announced | July 05 | May 05 | July 04 |
| Sensor total pixels | 6.4 million | 5.4 million | 5.4 million |
| Maximum resolution | 2816 x 2112 | 2560 x 1920 | 2560 x 1920 |
| Image ratio options | 4:3, 3:2, 16:9 | 4:3, 16:9 | 4:3, 16:9 |
| Movie mode | 640 x 480, 320 x 240, 30/10 fps | 640 x 480, 320 x 240, 30/10 fps | 320 x 240, 30 fps, with audio, unlimited |
| Screen | • 2.5-inch • 207,000 pixels | • 2.5-inch • 114,000 pixels |
• 2.5-inch • 114,000 pixels |
| Battery life (CIPA) | 300 shots | 300 shots | 120 shots |
| Processor | Venus Engine PLUS | Venus Engine PLUS | Venus Engine II |
| Scene modes | • Portrait • Sports • Food • Night Scenery • Night Portrait • Baby • Soft skin • Candlelight • Fireworks • Party • Snow • Scenery • Starry sky • Self portrait | • Portrait • Sports • Food • Scenery • Night Scenery • Night Portrait • Baby • Fireworks • Party • Snow • Self-portrait • Soft Skin |
• Portrait • Sports • Landscape • Night Landscape • Night Portrait • Fireworks • Party • Snow • Self-portrait |
Whereas the FX8 was a minor update to the original FX7 (adding a bigger battery, a couple of scene modes and a slight performance boost thanks to the new Venus Plus engine), the changes brought in with the FX9 are more significant (though still fairly limited). As well as the extra million or so pixels, the new model has a better screen (much higher resolution) - and a couple of new scene modes.
Panasonic DMC-FX9 Key specifications
| Street price | • US: $410 • UK: £300 |
|---|---|
| Body Material | Metal |
| Sensor | • 1/2.5" CCD, 6.4 million total pixels • 6.0 million effective pixels |
| Image sizes | • 2816 x 2112 |
| Movie clips | • 640 x 480 (10 / 30 fps) • 320 x 240 (10 / 30 fps) • With audio • Limited only by storage |
| Lens | • 35 - 105 mm equiv. (3x zoom) |
| Focus | • Normal: 0.5 m - Infinity |
| Shooting mode | • Portrait |
| Shutter speeds | • Auto mode: 1 to 1/2000th sec • Scene mode: 8 to 1/2000th sec • Starry Sky Mode: 15, 30 or 60 seconds |
| Sensitivity | • Auto • ISO 80 • ISO 100 • ISO 200 • ISO 400 |
| White Balance | • Auto • Cloudy, daylight, halogen, custom • White balance adjust |
| Image parameters | • Color (Natural, Standard, Vivid) • Color effect (Cool, warm, B&W, sepia) |
| Continuous | • 3 fps high speed, 2 fps low speed. 1.5 fps Unlimited |
| Flash | • Built-in flash • Auto, on/off, red-eye reduction, slow sync with red eye reduction • Range (ISO auto): W 0.3m - 4.0m |
| Storage | • SD/MMC • 16MB supplied |
| Viewfinder | None |
| LCD monitor | • 2.5" TFT LCD • 207,000 pixels |
| Connectivity | • USB 2.0 Full speed • A/V out • DC-IN |
| Power | • Lithium-Ion rechargeable battery • Charger included |
| In the box* | • DMC-FX9 camera |
| Other features | • PictBridge |
| Weight | • 127 g (4.5 oz) (without battery and card) • 155 g (5.5 oz) (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | ~94 x 51 x 24 mm (3.7 x 2.0 x 0.9 in) |
* Supplied accessories may differ in each country or area
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