By M.K. Wong

THERE are those who don't want to lug around interchangeable lenses, external flashguns and a heavy SLR or single-lens reflex body.

Yet, they are fed up of their feature-limited point-and-shoots and want a digital camera with a long zoom range, RAW file support and full auto and manual modes - stuff you find in an SLR system.

Enter the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28, which builds on the success of its predecessor, the DMC-FZ18.

It resolution has gone up - from 8 to 10.1 megapixels.

The showpiece is the 18x Leica DC Vario-Elmarit optical zoom lens.

With it, you can take anything from 27mm wide-angle shots of architecture and landscape pictures to 486mm telephoto close-ups, say, when shooting wildlife.

If that is not enough, you can even add a 1.7x tele-conversion lens bringing it to a whopping 826mm telephoto.

Plus, the camera is a real winner in rapid-fire shooting - 13 frames per second (fps) is a cinch. You need to set it at a lower resolution of 2megapixels (in 16:9 mode) though.

Or, set it to video mode and capture at 720p resolution (1,280 x 720 pixels) at a full 30fps. This is great for taking video clips fit for making HD Blu-ray movies.

In my outdoor tests, I found the Lumix DMC-FZ28 very pleasant to use. The oversized hand grip made it comfortable to hold the digicam - just what I need for physically taxing holiday trips overseas.

I was not burdened by the weight and the camera performed admirably: The shutter release was very responsive and the auto-exposure in diverse lighting conditions was accurate.

I would have liked a couple more dedicated buttons for quick selections. For example, a specific button for changing aspect ratios from 4:3 to 3:2 or 16:9 would be nice.

I'm not a fan of the electronic viewfinder (EVF) because it gives restricted webcam-type views and always lags behind your movements. I was pleasantly surprised though by how in sync this EVF was with my moves. (Read: no headaches from lags.)

Focusing was also very nifty and accurate and the overall enjoyment of the camera hit home after long hours of shooting.

Shot after shot, the camera produced results that were not whitewashed in glaring sunlight nor too dark in moon-lit scenes.

FINAL SAY

After a long search, I might have found my ideal travel mate. No more fiddling around to change lenses and put on flashguns. This digicam comes close to a DSLR.

This article was first published in The Straits Times Digital Life on Sep 17, 2008.

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