Panasonic LUMIX DMC FH27 Review | 108 Data compared

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH27 is a straightforward, budget-friendly point-and-shoot camera designed for users who want decent automatic photos and extra zoom power in a pocket-sized body. Its standout physical features include an 8x, 28mm wide-angle optical zoom lens and a 3-inch touch-screen LCD. The camera operates reliably using Panasonic’s Intelligent Auto (iA) mode, which automatically handles exposure and scene selection, making it highly effective for casual daylight shooting. Performance-wise, it delivers quick start-up times of 1.3 seconds and low shutter lag in bright conditions, proving itself as a capable "walking-around" camera for everyday moments. However, the camera has notable limitations regarding resolution, video, and low-light performance. While it features a 16-megapixel sensor, the resulting image quality is somewhat soft and does not fully leverage the high resolution. Image quality declines sharply above ISO 400, introducing heavy noise and yellow blotching, which makes it a poor choice for indoor or low-light environments. Additionally, the optical zoom cannot be used while recording 720p HD video, and the alternative digital zoom severely degrades video quality. Finally, while the touch screen adds modern flair,...

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH27 is an attractive, lightweight, and pocket-friendly 16-megapixel compact camera that features an impressive 8x optical zoom (28-224mm equivalent) and enhanced image stabilization. It excels in operational speed, boasting a fast 2-second boot time, a low 0.4-second shutter lag, and a quick 2.3-second recycle time between shots. Additionally, the camera delivers decent low-light performance, remaining under the 1.5% noise threshold up to ISO 1600. Other notable highlights include a handy one-touch E.Zoom button and a bright 3-inch LCD screen suitable for outdoor use. Despite these strengths, the camera earns a mediocre "Fair" 2.5-star rating due to significant performance and design flaws. Its primary downfall is image quality; it produces soft photos, scoring a low 1,548 lines per picture height in sharpness testing. The user experience is further spoiled by a convoluted touch-screen interface packed with mysterious, unexplained icons. Furthermore, the LCD suffers from poor contrast, video recording is restricted to an unideal 720p at 24 frames per second, it uses a restrictive proprietary USB cable, and it completely lacks an HDMI port for TV playback.

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH27 is a very compact 16-megapixel point-and-shoot camera featuring a versatile 8x Leica wide-angle optical zoom lens (28-224mm). It is designed as an aim-and-forget vacation camera equipped with an Intelligent Auto mode and a 3-inch touchscreen interface. Key strengths of the camera include its highly portable body, a strong battery life rated for 250 shots, and reliable optical image stabilization that delivers sharp colors and images in bright sunlight. However, the camera falls short due to several dated features and performance limitations. Its 16MP CCD sensor produces significant digital noise, making images taken above ISO 400 highly speckled and inaccurate in color. Video performance is also lagging, offering a maximum of only 720p at 24 fps with mono sound and no zooming capability while recording. Additionally, the user interface feels clumsy compared to its competitors, featuring smaller, less responsive icons that require a stylus, and the hardware completely omits a mini HDMI output.