The first compacts of the year 2009 are now up for grabs. As it often happens, the entry level models are the first to be available. If we put aside Panasonic’s FS4 (devoid of optical stabilizer), the FS6 and FS7 are the real entry level products of the manufacturer.


Handling

Available in large variety of colours (granny apple green, blue...) but also more traditional ones (black, silver), the FS7 is an ultra compact with a good build and excellent finish.

The rear panel has a 2,7 inch LCD display with a 230,000-dot resolution. The quality is not much different from the previous models; the display has a highly reflective surface and poor viewing angles. Colours are rather accurate. In terms of interface, there are few changes. The control button e.zoom (for quick zoom) is still around and so is the Mode button (for recording mode).
Q.menu allows you to quickly change the main settings such as sensitivity, AF, white balance...The five-button D-pad has the traditional shortcuts to close up mode, flash … and the user can activate some of the convenient functions by pressing an independent iA button on the top of the camera, which is equipped for direct activation of modes.



Start up time is fine (1,50 seconds) and the camera focuses quickly and accurately (0,64 seconds in wide angle) and 0,72 seconds with the zoom. Low light performance requires more than a second and there is an AF assist lamp helping to focus in darkness.

Burst mode is interesting with almost 1,5 f/s on more than 10 pictures. The camera takes a little more than 2 seconds between 2 shoots, which is correct.


Image quality

The FS7 has the same image sensor (1/2,5") as the FS3 but with 2 millions extra pixels. Will these give better quality?
No surprise, white balance draws to warm colours under artificial light. Face detection and optical stabilization are good. A crisp picture of Barbie was taken at ISO 200, without it being necessary to go any higher.

Image noise is present at higher ISO settings (from ISO 800) despite the new Venus Engine IV processor. Beyond, there is loss of detail due to noise reduction. In auto mode the camera can reach ISO 6400.




We printed out an A4 format of a picture at the lowest sensitivity- ISO 80- and the result is better than average. Sure, colours are warm but the purple fringing and chromatic aberrations are not obvious.

Video playback is smooth and the definition is higher (848 x 480) than to what you normally get (640 x 480).
But you still cannot use the optical zoom when recording. Macro starts from as close as 5cm.