Panasonic Lumix® DMC-FX3 Digital Camera

Design

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX3 is a classic looking camera with rounded edges and the choice of black or silver. On the front there is a nice silver lens that dominates the front and a small narrow flash. There is also a silver rubber grip that assists the middle finger on your right hand when holding it. On the reverse there is a 2.5in LCD screen and next to it on the right there is a d-panel with a menu button in the middle. We think this is the best d-panel we have seen as the buttons are very spread out rather than being too close together and forcing you to press the wrong function. Also much better for those with larger thumbs. There are two buttons below this panel for instant deleting and playback and there is a function dial at the top. On the top there is the power button, shutter release and anti-shake option. The battery and media card compartment are on the underside of the camera behind a little swing door. The DMC-FX3 is a nice size to hold with dimensions of 94.1mm (w) x 51.1mm (h) x 24.2mm (d) and a weight of 153g fully loaded.

Features

This lovely little piece of work has a 6 megapixel CCD with a Leica-branded 3x optical zoom lens. It has an outstanding feature of the Optical Image Stabilisation, which as Panasonic have introduced it, it is immaculate and so easy to use. It intelligently counterbalances camera shake by shifting the CCD in the opposite direction. If you haven’t used it before, you will be seriously impressed with the results. There is a high sensitivity of up to 1600 ISO so great shots can be achieved in low lighting conditions although the images will be in captured in reduced resolution. We particularly like the ‘Baby’ mode in the cameras Scene Modes, where you can program in the babies date of birth and then it will automatically label images of the child with their age at the time the photo is taken.

Performance

The Lumix DMC-FX3 is not just a ultra compact and stylish camera but a special model having a the great combination of O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilisation) which conquers the blur due to hand-shake and High Sensitivity which suppresses the other major cause of blurred image resulting from the subject’s movement, ensuring you to take clear, beautiful and blur-free pictures. The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX3 fires up in around 1.9secs, which is quite average. There are numerous continuous shooting modes, one of which is a high speed mode that takes a burst of up to six frames in couple of seconds, and an unlimited mode that can shoot at just over one frame a second until the memory card is full. After using this camera for a few weeks, we managed to get around 300 images onto a 1GB memory card and the battery was good as we didn’t need to charge it all to take these shots.

I hope this has helped you!

This camera is the best I have ever had..I have just had a baby and it is brilliant for capturing special moments..the camera is so easy to use and has settings for just about every occasion/situation, including fireworks, snow scenes, parties etc...
Within 10 minutes of receiving it in the post I was taking photos without having even read the handbook!! One of its best features is the fact that it is almost impossible to take a blurred shot as the camera adjusts itself.
I would definitly recommend this camera to anyone thinking fo buying their first digital camera.

As a total beginner/virgin in the world of digital photography, I decided that I wanted a good quality compact digital camera. After some research I decided to buy the Panasonic Lumix because it seemed easy to use and would give me good quality photos. It also had the best ratings in well known consumer magazines. I had been told to buy a digital camera with a viewfinder because it can be difficult to see the screen in very bright sunlight. However, there doesn't seem to be many of them around, at least not when I was looking. The Panasonic Lumix does not have a viewfinder but I can honestly say that I had no difficulty using the camera in very bright sunlight during it's first outing on the Costa del Sol where I live for some of the year. It's very compact and easily fits into my handbag, so that now it comes everywhere with me, just in case! All in all, an excellent purchase and exceptional value for money.

Bought this a few months ago. Soooo easy to use and upload pics to PC. Am very happy with it. Recommend it.

Excellent camera, this is the third Lumix that I am buying. This one for my young sister's 18th birthday and she absolutly loved it, could take pics of London that she never visited before and especially of her first niece!!!
This camera is dead simple to use and very efficent, gives an excellent result with simple setting, ideal for someone who is not too confident with setting a camera for a specific purpose. In the other hand you have got a pretty small camera which offers so many options in a very compact boxe.
The lumix is also a well achieved design and so always makes sensation.
The last and major point to me is the quality of the lents, essential : Thank you Leica!

The cameral was deliver on time and in a very good condition. it works brilliantly and the pictures are perfect.

I can only concur with the othere reviewers that this is a brilliant camera overall and fortunately, it has performed well in the two and a half months since I bought it...which is fortunate because although it was refurbished and offered with a 3 month warranty by a UK eBayer, when the camera arrived I discovered that the warranty only applied in the USA. The seller also made it clear in the terms and conditions that if anything went wrong, the buyer could only make use of the manufacturer's (non-existent) warranty if they wanted anything to be done about a breakdown.

A brilliant camera, but you need to think hard about where you buy it from.

A good product can be gauged by how much you have to refer to the manual before you can access the main functions - the best need no manual. The Panasonic Lumix is in this high quality group. No doubt when I do unpack the manual, I shall find that it can do things I hadn't imagined, but all of the things listed in the sales description are accessible intuitively.

Furthermore, it is light, it is shirt-pocketable, and a viewing screen that could not be bigger without making the camera itself larger. It has a Leica lens, which coupled with a 6 Megapixel sensor, will produce pixel-free images up to at least A3 size (I've not personally tested larger).

This is a "first impressions" review. It is intended that a longer term review will follow.

I bought this camera for my DIL as a Christmas present. I also have a panasonic camera and I loaned it to her during the summer. She loved the large clear screen, even in bright sunlight. This has been used to take photos of a recent addition to the family and the picture are excellent. The battery life is incredible. There are lots of modes to choose from to give you the optimum picture quality. The anti shake means that you get good shots even when things are moving. I would recomend this camera to anyone, it is a superb little camera and unbelievable quality for the price.
Anni

I luv this camera it's so easy 2 use and the extremely large lcd monitor is fab for seein exactly wot pics ur takin. The camera is small and light enough 2 carry in either ur pocket or hand. All in all i would defo recomend this camera.

bought the camera for my brother .it seemed a reasonable price for a good quality make. my brother seems happy with itand says it does exactly what he wants it to do

This is a lovely camera, easy to use and great results. BUT as with lots of modern digital cameras with lots of megapixels there is a lot of digital noise. My old Canon had only two megapixels but the quality was way better when you looked closely. Smooth transitions of colours even in quite low light. The Panasonic has occasional dark pixels even when the light is good. For most purposes you won't notice and it won't matter but for some of us it may be an issue.

Don't get me wrong, I like this camera a lot - the battery lasts for ever, it's adequately quick and it looks good. The videos are great, audio notes useful, and it tucks into a shirt pocket. My mate, who has the Leica version of the more expensive Panasonic does not have the noise problems but then his wallet is significantly lighter than mine now.

This is an excellent digital camera, small enough to keep in your pocket and gives superb quality photographs. I chose this camera for the Leica lens and the Image stabliser feature. All in all a remarkable digital camera.

Received the item within a week. Item was described as factory refurbished and like new, comes in a box like new. However, camera was covered in figer prints and had a large dent on the corner. All the leads were put in an old bag and sellotaped shut. Box it came in was nothing like an original box. It was just a plain brown cardboard box. Looks like no effort was made to present it like it should have been. Sent it back and refund given

I bought my camera because my old one didn't have an optical zoom.
I am totally in love with my Lumix DMC-FX3 and havn't found a fault with it yet!!

Panasonic a top quality manufacture making a top quality compact camera at avery affordable price, Very easy instructions to follow from a first rate manual even for a beginner like me

The size of the camera is small enough to fit comfortably in a pocket or handbag, although it isn't a lightweight, it isn't heavy either. It is easy to use, the battery life is long, the playback pictures are good, the printed pictures are extremely good. I bought the camera by mistake as I got muddled with all the different model numbers, but it was a good mistake to make as it is a very good value for money camera. For a camera under £100 it is as good as those I've seen for around £350.

Great compact camera, which has a amazing quality picture with the LCD funtion activated, and has a massive internal memory.
Unfortunately, it doesn't have the printer mode on it like the DMC-FX12 but do believe that the picture quality is better and more than makes up for the lack of one function.
I bought this to use at my brothers wedding and gained some outstanding photos of the happy couples special day.
Overall I am delighted with this camera and would buy one again.

I love the size - this is a real shirt pocket camera. I also love the build quality; it has the feel of a nice piece of machinery, not a plastic box like so many digital compacts. The battery life is fine but I carry a spare just in case. I'd prefer a wider wideangle but at the price I can't complain too much! Panasonics have been criticised for image quality and initially I found it less than perfect. I've done some testing, though, and found the thing which screws up sharpness most is the anti-shake system! I can't work out why but I've turned it off and the sharpness is much improved. Overall, for a decent quality pocket-sized compact it's a winner and backs up the old saying that the camera which takes the best pictures is the one you've got with you!

What was i looking for when choosing a camera
compact size: I hate to carry around bulky items as I know i would end up leaving it at home (this is very very compact)
battery life: no point in having a camera that runs out of juice in no time. this camera has excellent battery life
quality of the picture (read lots of reviews on this camera), and yes they are fantastic pictures
simple to use: It's idiot proof (i'm using it)
it has some lovely features (my daughters age are stamped onto the photos when you take a certain modes, brilliant)
a small dislike: Red eye mode does not work that well... ok you can edit later but it would be nice not to. (I haven't seen any camera that really deals well with Red-eye... maybe its just me.
I would have no hesitation in recommending this camera.

This camera is so compact and great for days out as it's easy to get in and out of your pocket.

There are so many features that you have to sit down and read the manual unlike just playing with it and working it out. But that doesn't mean you can't just turn it on and start using it because you can so easier.

The great features I enjoy is the Baby setting. You can set your childs D.O.B in this setting and then you get your childs age stamped on the pictures.

I am having problems with finding the timer shutter setting, I'm not sure if the camera even has it but it has to with all these other features.

I bought this camera because it has the Leica Lens which gives such good quality.

A very versatile and easy to use camera. Small enough to fit into your pocket. Has a large screen and takes a 4gb SD card.
I purchased A Lumix after having seen the results of friends who have Lumix Cameras.

i purchased this camera for my wife for xmas, i alraedy own the same camera which i bought from argos, this was a lot cheaper, must have missed advert were it said comes with a foreign plug and adapter, probobly would not of bought it if i would of known but we don't seem to have a problem with it, fingers crossed.