As a little sister of FZ100, the Lumix DMC-FZ45 make contradictory expectations. On the one hand, it has a much lush facilities such as the FZ100 and must offer something that quite, on the other hand, it is “only” the little sister and is thus not all requirements to meet. The fact is that the FZ45 would like to be a quite sophisticated camera and with their 24fachen zoom, which covers a focal length of 25 to 600 mm, promising conditions much comes with a CCD chip with 14.5 megapixels, HD video recording with stereo sound, and manual mode. The detailed digitalkamera.de test to show whether she can range the water to many entry-level SLR as a superbly equipped bridge camera.

Ergonomics and processing while the plastic housing of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ45 has partially something cheap, beautifully sums up to the camera and is comfortable to hold. This enables the one with non-slip plastic highlighted, prominent prominent handgrip and on the other hand, the low weight of over 500 grams. The grip also provides space for various switches and buttons, with which many features of the FZ45 are directly available. On the top a focus and a video button, with which you can start a movie directly without going through the mode dial located, for example, in addition to the mode dial, Zoom lever, trigger, and button to switch on or off. The mode dial itself is very comprehensive and includes the usual scene modes such as landscape, portrait and sports and the semi and full automatic and a manual mode.

In addition a setting called custom, which is freely configurable. In addition, Panasonic offers various color adjustments and effects such as pinhole camera and retro, under the symbol of a color palette. On the back of a command dial, which can be controlled by pressing and turning, an AF / AE lock button and the button to switch are in addition to the usual buttons for menu navigation, shortcuts, reproduction, display, etc. between LCD and electronic viewfinder. The image that the viewfinder delivers, cannot be compare with an optical viewfinder. Details are in the approx. 200,000 pixels very difficult to see resolution and fast pans the image fails to not fast enough. The diopter adjustment helps Brillenträgern limited. A further button on the back can be come the Flash. This active intervention of the photographer requires also setting to automatic Flash operation. A hot shoe for external flash units as the FZ100 is missing.

By the many buttons and the extensive mode dial, the FZ45 can be operated safely and quickly. But even if you must enter the actual configuration menu, it is thanks to the clear design well. Jumps over the Zoom lever from a tab to the other and can be so quickly work through the extensive settings. The three-inch display prominently occupies the rest of the back, which – unlike is not rotating and swivel as the FZ100-. A convenient overhead photography does not allow the FZ45 so. Panasonic has also saved at the resolution of the display: 230,000 dots enough just for home use. Automatic brightness adjustment works very well and the size of the screen is appropriate. But, one may expect a detailed image in all situations. The cover for the ports, including HDMI, is made of hard rubber and is a bit cheap. For this it is relatively stuck. The metal tripod is due to the very solid. It is however not to the optical axis and so close to the door for memory card and battery, that they cannot be opened in Tripod mode. Because the battery but long time lasts average 580 pictures according to CIPA, he must be removed as often as not to load like competitive models. The CIPA data confirm the way in practice. Among the FZ45 is still a hood, which consists of simple plastic and not always satisfactorily into place.

Facilities like the FZ100 is the FZ45 up under the roof fully facilities. An economy measures compared to the big sister is the reduction of the full HD resolution of 1280 x 720 p in AVCHD Lite format. That does however not detract from the video function. Thanks to stereo sound and well working wind reduction, the image quality with similarly high-quality sound is backed. The optical zoom is available at any time and can be wonderfully soft and pleasant eye controlled. Many settings are used when shooting, are also in the video mode. These include for example the choice of the metering, the backlight compensation, the determination of the number of ISO, white balance, etc. There is even a manual exposure mode and special video options such as the zoom microphone in the telephoto position especially removed sounds and in the wide-angle mode noise should clearly be included. The effect is quite noticeable.

For photography, one is open the whole range of intelligent automatic, diverse scene and creative programs and Halbautomatiken to manual mode. How extensive are the ways to the scene modes, which sit on the mode dial show already. There is not only sport, portrait or landscape, but also still under programmes such as nature recording, architecture and creative shots. These are the traditional scene programs such as baby, sunset, etc. For scenic views, a wizard available, Panorama supported horizontal and vertical, and with transparent overlays is out previous images will help. Configure one has the images but still on the computer. Panasonic offers many possibilities for fine adjustment. Take, for example, manual focus, he can be adjusted by turning the thumb wheel or using the cursor keys. Using the focus button at the top you can let the camera help out for a picture in the MF position. The MF magnifying glass, which can be activated on demand, increased the focus distance and helps improving the sharpness. Due to the low resolution, this is very useful, because the not particularly detailed display more difficult setting in diffuse light conditions. Positive note is that the manual focus in all programs including video can be used.

Also a manual white balance can be further optimized, and who not agree with the hue, can strengthen certain color directions with the cursor keys. Who not even expect that himself, can create Weißabgleichsreihen or adjust the colour temperature also directly. In most cases fits but also automatic reconciliation, so that tuning is not absolutely necessary. The FZ45 also for the exposure allows series recordings. For the AF setting, there is the face detection, you can personalize usual like for Panasonic. Also a tracking AF is on board, which is activated but not by half-pressed shutter button, but by the AF / AE lock button. Otherwise, you have the choice between 23-field AF and AF 1 field. Many of the features of the FZ45 are well thought out from start to finish and you can see that Panasonic to lose also the experienced photographer like to work. Be adjusted with the intelligent ISO setting, the ISO number and shutter speed in half-pressed shutter button as long on the subject until the inclusion in the box. Then offers several possibilities of image processing such as image rotate camera, change size, enter text that start slideshow etc.

Image quality A good handling and excellent facilities we have certified the FZ45 already. But how is the image quality? The laboratory has verified the FZ45 in all details. With regard to artifacts and the sharpening, the FZ45 gets high marks. Picture details displayed usually faithfully and the camera set to none by excessive image editing. The sharpness is pleasant and not excessive. The resolution of the FZ45 falls away from the Center to the edge of the image. In General, the resolution on shrinking apertures is lower. The blue channel in the eye, which departs at all focal lengths and apertures extremely stands immediately in the direction dependency of resolution. A problem, our laboratory had already encountered on other Panasonic models, which is detrimental to a homogeneous image results. The FZ45 will get the scale of 4. Also on the efficiency, there is room for improvement. More than 60 percent for Aperture 5.0 and 128 mm focal length not creates the Super zoomer.

The lens has Panasonic under control. You shall not exercise a Randabdunklung. There are the touch 1.0. Also in the cushion or barrel-shaped distortion, there are no problems. For a camera of this focal length coverage, this is very positive. It is different in the noise. Although the break at ISO 400 and ISO 1600 are not extreme in the waveforms. They are but still noticeable to the trained eye of an expert and to achieve the best picture results in lower ISO 100 and ISO 200. However there is nothing, however, at parties times without Flash with higher ISO values to photograph. The quality is still fine. The measured values to the noise ratio show differences to the FZ100. The curve is constant.

For this, the FZ45 achieved slightly better the dynamics of the input values. For the ISO values of 80, 100 and 800 8 f-stops are cracked. Which largely coincides with the distribution of noise and is partially too subdued shadows. Overall the FZ45 with regard to the dynamics of the input behaves rather average. Only from 8.5 f-stops, comparisons with the analogue photography are realistic. Muddy-looking shadows and some high-contrast centers is also the curve to the signal transmission and tone reproduction. The area of the shadow runs out approximately and far. A straight curve, is what creates the FZ45 not ideal. Panasonic offers different resolution settings two quality levels to and this. Two is usual, three would be desirable. The compression is generally good, the better quality level is partly something highly compressed. A maximum factor of 1: 6 is the goal, the FZ45 offers mostly 1: 7. will finally have the speed: the values are very good for a camera with this zoom range. The shutter lag is located at only 0.01-0.07 seconds. The camera must first focus, it values between 0.28 and 0.51 seconds creates. That’s more than appropriate.

Bottom line has the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ45 despite the position of a little sister high ambitions, which is clearly visible on the extensive facilities. Intelligent automatic functions, creative functions, as well as full manual settings are of course and for the photo, as well as for the video area. The Super Zoom camera is so for all knowledge levels, and the daily use of the photo. In the laboratory it shows a that or other small weakness in terms of image quality, can prove again their suitability for everyday use but for example with the speed. Who want to shoot ambitious without digital SLR camera, which is exactly correct with the Lumix DMC-FZ45.