The Imaging Resource have posted their review of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ4. The DMC-FZ4 is a 4-megapixel digital camera with a high-quality Leica 12x optical zoom. The Leica DC Vario-Elmarit 12x zoom is equivalent to a 35 - 420mm zoom on a 35mm camera with a F2.8 to F3.3 maximum aperture. Panasonic’s advanced MEGA O.I.S. enhances the camera’s telephoto zoom capabilities, helping to deliver sharp, vivid images even when taking handheld telephoto shots or snapping in low light. This feature uses motion sensors, which detects even slight hand movement and integrally links the lens control to the motion of the camera to reduce jitter.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ4

From the review-

“After reviewing its five-megapixel “big brother” the Panasonic FZ5, the Panasonic FZ4 was a bit of a disappointment. It was a competent enough camera, but missed the mark slightly in a number of areas, particularly when compared with the solid performance of the FZ5. Image noise was higher than I’d like, resolution was a bit on the low side relative to other four-megapixel digital cameras we’ve tested, and I didn’t feel that its color rendition was quite as good as that of the FZ5. Those issues aside though, I was very surprised and pleased with how fast the FZ4 was: It has some of the fastest full-autofocus shutter lag numbers I’ve yet seen in a consumer digicam (quite a bit better than the already impressive figures from the FZ5), and the shot to shot cycle times were flat-out amazing. (Only just over a half second from shot to shot in large/fine single-shot mode.) Bottom line, for the $50 or so difference in “street” prices, I think the Panasonic FZ5 is a much better deal than the FZ4. That said though, if you want a really fast digital camera for snapping sports or other distant action, you just can’t do better than the FZ4: It combines a very long zoom lens with optical image stabilization, and some of the fastest shutter response and shot to shot times of any (non-SLR) camera I’ve tested.”

DMC-FZ4 Features:

* 4-megapixel effective CCD for images up to 2304 x 1728 pixels
* Leica DC-VARIO ELMARIT 12x zoom, equivalent to 35-420mm on a 35mm camera
* Optical image stabilization to help prevent camera shake and blurring
* Venus Engine II LSI for robust camera operations
* Mega Burst continuous capture @ 4 or 2fps up to 7 images (4 in Fine mode)
* Macro focus with autofocus down to 1.9 inches
* 1.5-inch TFT color monitor with 114,000 pixels
* Eye level color electronic viewfinder with dioptric adjustment
* Program AE, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority and Manual modes
* Macro, Portrait, Sports, Panning, Night Portrait picture modes
* High Speed and Low Speed Continuous and AE Bracketing modes
* 320 x 240 QuickTime movies, 30fps or 10fps w/audio
* Shutter speeds from 1/2000 to 8 seconds (Shutter priority and Manual modes)
* Built-in flash with auto, fill, slow synchro and red-eye reduction modes
* Intelligent Multiple and Spot exposure metering
* TTL Auto White Balance, 5 presets and custom set
* Secure Digital memory card slot, 16MB card included
* Plug-n-Play USB, Mass Storage compliant
* PictBridge Direct-Print compatible
* Li-ion rechargeable battery and rapid charger included