Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ5 Review

(Note: All screens and menus can be displayed on either the EVF or LCD.)

The playback screen with information display enabled. Icons across the top are show the image is protected, audio has been attached, image size is 2560x1920, image quality Fine, battery has 1/3 of a charged, folder name (100) and image number. The current image # / total # of images. By pressing "Down" on the 4- way controller will play the attached audio. Time and date of image capture is on the bottom status line.

Pressing the DISPLAY button will put the extended exposure information over the image and includes a histogram, the exposure mode, aperture, shutter speed, ISO speed and flash mode.

Toggling the zoom lever to the Wide angle position brings up the thumbnail index mode with nine images displayed per screen.

Toggling the zoom lever to Telephoto allows you to enlarge the current image up to 16X in four steps. At any point you can use the 4-way selector to scroll around inside of the enlarged image.

Playback Menu options:

Rotate Disp. - Automatically rotate portrait mode images
Rotate - Manually rotate captured images
Protect - Protect/Unprotect one or all images
DPOF Print - Select one or all images for later printing
Slide Show - Auto playback of all images or just those selected for DPOF printing
Audio Dub - Add up to a 10-second audio note to a still image
Resize - Make a smaller image
Trimming - Create a new smaller image from a zoom-cropped larger image.
Format - Format the memory card

The Resize option lets you "down size" larger images.

The Trim option lets you crop an image and save it as a smaller image.

Ten-second audio memos can be recorded and replayed.

Movies are played back fullscreen on the LCD, EVF or a television set if the audio/video cable is connected. The audio is heard on the built-in speaker if played in-camera.

As with still image playback, you can press the Display button to show extended exposure information for the movie clip.

Setup Menu (same in record or play mode):

Monitor - Adjust the LCD/EVF's brightness
Auto Review - Auto review after capture (off, 1s, 3s, Zoom)
Play on LCD - Show playback images on EVF or LCD
Power Save - Auto power off delay, 2m, 5m, 10m, Off
Beep - Camera beep sounds, Off, Soft, Loud
Shutter - Shutter release sound-effect volume, Off, Soft, Loud
Volume - Internal speaker volume control
Clock Set - Set the time and date
No. Reset - Reset file numbering counter
Reset - Reset all settings to factory default
USB Mode - PC Mass Storage / PictBridge
Highlight - Shows over-exposed areas by blinking black and white (On/Off)
Video Out - Video output signal format, NTSC or PAL
Scene Menu - Display scene menu Automatically when selected or never
Language - Menu language; English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Japanese, Chinese