UK Digital Cameras Blog

Digital camera users have been advised on a number of tips to make the most out of photographing fireworks.

In an article this week for Gear Log, Geoff Fox advises that it is not difficult for novice camera users to get the best shots on special occasions that require fireworks - as long as some key points are kept in mind.

Mr Fox advises finding a position where smoke can be avoided and states that shooting from a low angle with party participants in silhouette is a great way to impress with your shots.

Turning off autofocus and using a slow ISO “like 50, 100 or 200″ is recommended, as is setting the camera’s iris to mid-range and avoiding overexposure.

“If you’ve got an external shutter release cable, use it. If not, you might consider using your camera’s built-in self timer to take your shots,” he adds.

The Panasonic FZ50 is equipped with Venus Engine III technology that detects movement and adjusts ISO settings and shutter speed for best movement and lighting automatically.

Panasonic’s range of TZ models are one of the most popular ranges of digital cameras around and for good reason, a new review suggests.

According to Digital Camera Review, the manufacturer has offered a number of models in the series that have both impressed reviewers and been popular with buyers and adds the Panasonic Lumix TZ5 has cemented this reputation.

In an article considering the pros and cons of the Panasonic Lumix TZ250 the review states the range has helped to establish the firm as “king of the compact ultrazoom class”.

It also praises the TZ250, stating that one of its greatest attributes is its versatility and high level of performance.

“It’s hard to find fault with the TZ50 as a basic compact ultrazoom camera. The T50 offers all the performance and flexibility of the excellent TZ5, which is certainly why many consumers will find it so appealing,” the site concludes.

The Panasonic Lumix TZ5 is available in blue, black and silver and is a 9.1-megapixel model offering 10x optical zoom.

A new camera from Panasonic has ten-megapixels and a three-inch touchscreen display, according to a review in the Washington Post.

The Panasonic Lumix FX500 comes with a brushed metallic appearance and a slim flash, offering 21 preset scene modes and playback options.

Users can just touch any area of the screen and zoom in or drag the selection around the screen using arrows. The touchscreen is not so sensitive that a slight brush leads to accidental selections, according to the review.

The camera also has a four-way toggle switch to change settings and fully charged it is good for 240 shots.

Using the stylus is another option to operate the camera and there is Intelligent Auto mode which lets the user leave all the settings to the camera.

Video can be shot in widescreen or traditional 4:3 ratio and it is possible to extract individual frames as photos. The Panasonic Lumix FX500 gives a recording time of up to 2GB of continuous video footage.

The 8.1-megapixel Panasonic’s Lumix DMC-FZ18K offers a great range of features for a reasonable price, a new review has suggested.

In an article for the US PC World website, Andrew Mager states that the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18K is not only equipped with an 18x optical zoom and a number of user friendly modes, but is easy on the pocket.

The camera also features a 28mm wide-angle Leica lens and has a focal range that extends from 28mm to 504mm and is relatively simple to use.

An amateur photographer who hasn’t used many advanced point-and-shoots or digital SLRs can really learn more about the art of taking a great shot by playing with the [camera],” Mr Mager states.

However, he adds that there is still plenty on offer for those looking for the type of power that could “scare the grin off of a bug’s face”.

Another of the manufacturer’s 8.1-megapixel offerings is the Panasonic Lumix FS3, which is also available in a range of colours.

The Panasonic brand saw new models added to its lineup this week, according to the Arab Times.

Unveiled by Hitesh Ojha, product manager of the consumer electronics department at Dubai-based Panasonic Marketing Middle East FZE, the Lumix Still Camera and Camcorder collection includes ten new models.

These include digital still cameras in the TZ, FX, FS, LS and LZ series, which are said to offer the “latest” in this type of technology, the newspaper reported.

According to Mr Ojha, these cameras give more ease of use and incorporate a multi shooting-assist mode entitled Intelligent Auto (IA).

IA is comprised of features such as face detection, the Intelligent Scene Selector and Intelligent Exposure.

Meanwhile, there is a huge selection of Panasonic Lumix models available in the UK at present, including the Panasonic Lumix LS80 in silver or black and the Panasonic Lumix FS3 in silver or pink.

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX30 offers good quality images and has a 2.5-inch screen that makes it an “excellent choice” for buyers looking at compact digital cameras, one reviewer suggests.

According to digicamreview. com, the 7.2 megapixel model performs well in a number of light and locations and comes equipped with a wide-angle lens and, despite this, is still “noticeably cheaper than many of its rivals.

In an article for the site, the reviewer highlights the slim measurements of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX30 and states that the camera can also be purchased in silver or black.

“The stylish design and colour scheme and choices look very good,” it notes adding that the camera is also great for slipping “very easily into small pockets”.

“The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX30 is an excellent ultra compact digital camera - image quality is very good with great colour and detail.”

According to Panasonic the camera also features Venus Engine III technology - which allows greater sensitivity settings.

The Panasonic Lumix TZ5 has been given a full review by one website - in the
deserts surrounding Las Vegas.

According to digitalcamerareview .com, the opportunity to travel to Las Vegas presented the perfect opportunity toput the Panasonic Lumix TZ5 to the test and concludes it is “an extremely strong
contender in a crowded field”.

As the successor to the TZ3, the 9.1-megapixel model has a lot to live up to, the site suggests, adding that the inclusion of a “familiar 10x Leica wide-angle zoom” and compact
body is welcome.

The camera’s three-inch screen is also highlighted and boasts a 460,000-pixel resolution that the reviewer adds “makes everything … look crisp and bright on-screen”.

Available in silver, black and blue,the Panasonic Lumix TZ5 should have enough style to tempt many customers and the site concludes that “as a snapshot camera … I really enjoyed working with the TZ5.”

The Panasonic Lumix FS3 aims to bring together the “best of both worlds” by combining ultracompact styling with price more akin to the budget end of the compact market, it has been claimed.

Digitalcamerareviews. co. uk said the “diminutive” model could appeal to photographers looking for a “precise, well built” camera which offers gimmick-free technology that performs consistently.

The site adds that in terms of performance, the Panasonic Lumix FS3 lives up to its billing, offering an 8.1 megapixel resolution alongside a 3x optical zoom, ISO sensitivity up to 1600 and built-in image processing.

Image-wise, the camera produces “very good results”, with “impressive” performance at higher ISO levels. There is also good colour processing and “plenty of control”, the site notes.

With the looks, features and performance of a more expensive model, the Panasonic Lumix FS3 represents a good all-round camera, it concludes.

Other cameras in the Panasonic Lumix range include the Panasonic Lumix LZ8, the Panasonic Lumix LS80 and the Panasonic Lumix TZ5.

A review of the Panasonic Lumix TZ5 has commended the camera for building on many of the features of its “highly successful” predecessors in the TZ range, while also offering some new additions to its specifications.

In its appraisal of the model, Digital Camera Review said the camera retains much of the hardware of the Panasonic Lumix TZ3 and Panasonic Lumix TZ4, including an “excellent” 10x Leica wide-angle zoom lens.

However, it also comes with an increased resolution of 9.1-megapixels and a larger three-inch LCD monitor.

The camera also comes with five shooting setups, including the multi-purpose Intelligent Auto setting, 22 specific scene modes and a Clipboard application designed for quickly snapping maps or timetables instead of scribbling down notes.

Added to this is a high definition video mode, which is capable of shooting footage to “rival many camcorders”, the review notes.

Overall, the site rates the Panasonic Lumix TZ5 as a “relatively unique ” camera that will “get the job done with style and speed in most cases”.

The Panasonic Lumix TZ5 is available in the United Kingdom from around £299.99.

A review of the Panasonic Lumix LZ8 has praised the camera for being “packed” with features and declared it “bargain” compact.

Tech Radar said the camera comes with eight-megapixel resolution and a 5x optical zoom lens, which it describes as “beautifully sharp”.

It also features a “plethora” of scene modes for shooting, as well as a choice of settings including Panosonic’s iA intelligent auto mode, aperture priority, shutter priority and full manual control.

In addition, the Panasonic Lumix LZ8 has Mega OIS optical stabilisation to reduce image noise and blur - a feature the review says is “great to have on board”.

Another “nice little touch” highlighted by the site is the camera’s E-Zoom button, which automatically sets the zoom to its maximum length.

Image quality is “really rather good”, the review adds, with “vibrant and punchy” colours and a built-in flash that produces well-exposed shots.

These features, together with its “amazing” affordability make the Panasonic Lumix LZ8 a “wonderful little compact” for both enthusiasts and professionals.

The Panasonic Lumix LZ8 is available in the UK from around £99.99.