Video with the Panasonic Lumix FX37 or FX40
Written by Ingo in Technology , tags: digital camera , movies , Lumix FX37 , Video
For several days we have a new digital camera - the Lumix FX37 from Panasonic (The following information concerning the video functions are also valid for the successor FX40). This gave it a price of 198, - € at Saturn (which is the current Amazon price). The camera makes using 10 mega-pixel sensor photographs of outstanding quality. In today's article, however, it should go more to the option of the video filming with this camera.
The Lumix FX 37 is in fact able to record HD video, not full HD, but at least 1280 x 720 pixels (720p). This fact, the price and its compact size, it can appear as an interesting alternative to turn around videos for youtube.
Even when the camera is the excellent quality of the display, which reproduces every detail all the objects in front of the Leica lens. In video mode takes the Lumix movies in Apple Quicktime format (file extension *. MOV), which is quite common and therefore supported by most programs for video editing as well as youtube. However, he refused Quicktime (latest version) to play the videos (it appears only a ghostly image). VLC Media Player vollrichtete this task without problem, so I just avoided on these and have not further explore the causes.
But even on an appropriately large computer screen to see the videos from excellent. Significantly weaker, however, the sound quality: namely, the audio is recorded in mono only kHz with a sampling rate of only 16 (the famous CD-quality stereo at 44.1 kHz means). Here are some competing models much better.
On an SD card of 2GB at least match seven minutes of HD video. For longer recordings, you can the resolution but also reduce. I decided, therefore, for a 4 GB card, the cost (15, - € in superior quality) is not all fall into too much weight.
Weaknesses of the video function
While the image quality is very good even, one has to deal essentially with two restrictions: First, it is not possible to zoom while recording. The optical 5x zoom before recording must therefore be adjusted accordingly and will be maintained for the duration of the recording. So it is not possible to show a long shot at first and then gradually zoom in on a detail.
On the other governs the Lumix not by the Focus during video recording. If the image is sharp as a mid-shot and it pivots on such a detail in the foreground, this can be blurred. However, since the depth of field is quite large, that fact is in most situations any further. Example, it is easily a first down on me and then moving to passing skaters always keen to film.
I will certainly use the Lumix for my youtube videos, because I'm using the 4:3 format of my older camcorder no longer really am happy.
Finally, here is one of the first test with the Lumix recorded videos. As the quality has remained even after the upload to youtube very good (full resolution, no further treatment or conversion on my part), one can even give a good impression of the picture and sound quality. The video shows my guitar solo of the song Sultans of Swing by Dire Straits.
[...] Camcorder. After my videos on YouTube and long with a Sony DV camcorder, and finally with the digital camera had filmed Lumix FX 37, but was now more and more the desire for a "modern [...]