Panasonic Lumix FX12
Panasonic Lumix FX12
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Panasonic Lumix FX12
Editor's Review
The Panasonic Lumix FX12 is a rather unassuming 7-megapixel ultracompact camera, that features optical image stabilization, a variety of colors (black, silver, or blue), and a large 2.5-inch LCD screen. Like the 6-megapixel version, the FX10, the FX12 is a fairly standard camera that doesn't stand out in a crowd but will serve users adequately. Stay tuned for more information on this camera as it becomes available.
Specifications
- 7.2 megapixels
- 3x optical zoom / 4x digital zoom
- Panasonic MEGA Optical Image Stabilization
- JPEG file format
- Movie mode
- Auto focus and exposure
- ISO 100-3200
- 2.5-inch LCD
- Secure Digital memory (27MB internal)
- Lithium ion battery
- Part Number: DMC-FX30T
- UPC: 5025232417315
- Release Date: Jan 31, 2007
Shop for FX12 Accessories
Panasonic Lumix FX12 Comments & Questions (write your own!)
r samaraweera (08/04/2011)
what is the remark of write error
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setting (reg — 08/11/2010)
i had that one,,but my problem is i dont know how to setting the normal picture everytime i take a picture it becomes blurred,,,shhhhhh..
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need to know (Robyn — 06/12/2010)
need to know how to change the original file name eg: P103....... given when we 1st set up the program for the photos. a new year and now it set it as P104....... I would like to change the file name to the year eg: 2010. the other is the date for the photos. Instead of 20100215 I would like it to store the oppisite eg: 15022010. The last item is what is the correct camera setting for night time activities, as I often have to shoot night time action under flood lights
Regards Robyn
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Regards Robyn
four fx12 (ghassan — 05/18/2010)
I have a problem in how to use video
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by James DeRuvo (05/20/2010)
Okay. What is the issue?
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error message FX12 (Bobby Logan — 01/20/2010)
My camera keeps having trouble with this error message. It will pop up periodically and say. Please turn camera off and back on again. any ideas?
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Brenda Paro (01/30/2010)
Hi Bobby, it could be a number of things. Is the lens moving at all? If it is trying to come out but not making it, or making weird noises, then my guess would be that your lens is out of alignment, which is frankly a pain to fix (and not worth repair cost). For some reason the 'off and on again' error message tends to accompany lens alignment problems.
If there aren't any physical signs that something is wrong aside from the error message, you might just be having a technical glitch. Try going into the camera's Setup Menu and doing a reset (push menu while in shooting mode, and find the setting for Restore, or Reset Defaults, or Restore Factory Defaults, etc. etc.) That will (supposedly) wipe the camera's settings and is sometimes a good way to get a cam past a glitch. You could also, I suppose, check the Panasonic site for a firmware update.
It's a pretty old camera. Sometimes they just... give up the ghost, and once the error message keeps happening again and again I'd advise you to just replace it rather than trying to fix it.
Having said that, if there IS a physical problem/ it seems like it might be the lens, message back and let me know, there are some (ahem) 'home remedies' you can do if it gets bad enough where you don't mind if you break it trying to fix it!
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If there aren't any physical signs that something is wrong aside from the error message, you might just be having a technical glitch. Try going into the camera's Setup Menu and doing a reset (push menu while in shooting mode, and find the setting for Restore, or Reset Defaults, or Restore Factory Defaults, etc. etc.) That will (supposedly) wipe the camera's settings and is sometimes a good way to get a cam past a glitch. You could also, I suppose, check the Panasonic site for a firmware update.
It's a pretty old camera. Sometimes they just... give up the ghost, and once the error message keeps happening again and again I'd advise you to just replace it rather than trying to fix it.
Having said that, if there IS a physical problem/ it seems like it might be the lens, message back and let me know, there are some (ahem) 'home remedies' you can do if it gets bad enough where you don't mind if you break it trying to fix it!
Panasonic Lumix FX12 lense alignment issue (Red23 — 03/16/2010)
I also have this issue with my camera.
I believe the lense is not align and won't focus. Is there a way of physicaly fixing the camera if it is not an electrical fault?
Note to self - don't let your kid sister use your camera.
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I believe the lense is not align and won't focus. Is there a way of physicaly fixing the camera if it is not an electrical fault?
Note to self - don't let your kid sister use your camera.
Black screen when I try to take pictures but I can view old pictures ! (emile330 — 06/19/2009)
I can view stored pictures on my panasonic fx12 yet the screen is completely blank when I'm trying to take pictures. No flickers, just blank.
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by James DeRuvo (06/20/2009)
Sounds like a failing CCD. Since it's out of warranty, I'd check with Panasonic to see if there's a service advisory that covers a faulty CCD. If so, Panasonic may repair it for free. If not, you'll have to pay for the repair and with the average cost of a camera repair is around $180, it may cost more to repair than it is really worth. The rule of thumb is that if the estimate for repair is north of 50% what you paid for it, you're better off taking that money and buying a newer and upgraded model.
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LCD display not working properly (dipakshah — 06/07/2009)
LCD moniter shows images and realtime viewing upside down with no colour. Camera has been in use for over 22 months.
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by James DeRuvo (06/08/2009)
Upside down? This could be a symptom of a failing CCD or corrupted firmware. I'd try resetting your camera back to factory default settings and see if it comes back to normal. Also, check Nikon's website for a firmware update. If there is one, download and install them.
If these steps don't right the LCD image, then I fear the CCD needs lookin' at and a repair is necessary. But understand that the average cost of a camera repair is around $180. As such, it may cost more to repair than it is really worth. The rule of thumb is that if the estimate for repair is north of 50% what you paid for it, you're better off taking that money and buying a newer and upgraded model.
So keep that in mind when waiting for the repair estimate.
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If these steps don't right the LCD image, then I fear the CCD needs lookin' at and a repair is necessary. But understand that the average cost of a camera repair is around $180. As such, it may cost more to repair than it is really worth. The rule of thumb is that if the estimate for repair is north of 50% what you paid for it, you're better off taking that money and buying a newer and upgraded model.
So keep that in mind when waiting for the repair estimate.
My FX12 can't be turned ON. The battery is OK. If it is a software problem, is it possible to do a "master" reset? (Verrierois — 11/20/2008)
When turned On, no reaction on the LCD , on the zoom, no noise, nothing occurs. The battery has been tested, an external supply has been used. It has been opened and visually inspected and nothing wrong appears.
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by James DeRuvo (11/21/2008)
Sure, you can master reset it. Some reset after battery removal, but resets are usually in the setup menu. Some research suggests that if you hold down the menu button for about 30 seconds, it'll perform a master reset. I'd also download and install any available firmware updates. That may help.
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reset (Verrierois — 11/18/2008)
How to reset a Lumix FX12?
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by James DeRuvo (11/19/2008)
Press [ the menu button] to display the [SETUP] menu and select the item to set. (P17) The [REC] or [SETUP] menu settings are reset to the initial settings. • [FAVORITE] (P70) is fixed to [OFF] and [ROTATE DISP.] (P71) is fixed to [ON]. • If the [SETUP] menu settings are reset, the following settings are also reset. – The birthday settings for [BABY1]/ [BABY2] (P48) and [PET] (P49) in scene mode.
– The number of days that have passed since the departure date in [TRAVEL DATE]. (P54)
– The [WORLD TIME] (P56) setting.
• The folder number and the clock setting are not changed.
page 20 manual.
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– The number of days that have passed since the departure date in [TRAVEL DATE]. (P54)
– The [WORLD TIME] (P56) setting.
• The folder number and the clock setting are not changed.
page 20 manual.
DMC FIX 12 BLACK SCREEN (jaghfar — 07/20/2008)
Hi,
I am able to view pictures and the lens shutters open, however I'm not able to see anything on the screen to take a picture. The screen is totally black regardless of the type of light I'm in. Hopefully someone can help, thanks!
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I am able to view pictures and the lens shutters open, however I'm not able to see anything on the screen to take a picture. The screen is totally black regardless of the type of light I'm in. Hopefully someone can help, thanks!
Brenda Paro (07/20/2008)
Is the screen just turned off? Cameras let you do this to save on batteries. There should be a display button somewhere on the back that would turn it back on.
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jaghfar (07/21/2008)
Thank you Brenda. It is not that you say my problem! Because the economy of screen comes out by touching any touch. But it is not the case to me. When I takes a photo it goes out quite black.
I really need my camara. It is quite new and its guarantee expired.
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I really need my camara. It is quite new and its guarantee expired.
Brenda Paro (07/21/2008)
Try to reset the camera. If you can get into the Setup menu, there should be an option to do this. That will fix it if it's just a glitch or something, hopefully. If not, I think you should call Panasonic; it's possible you just got a bad camera and they may be willing to work with you to replace it. 1-800-211-7262. Good luck!
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jaghfar (07/31/2008)
Thank you Brenda! I sent the device to panasonic France and I'm waiting for answer.
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Black screen and no information in some of the pictures (Blue-eyes — 01/19/2008)
Copied some pictures to my PC and after the copying, when i tryid to watch the photos in the camera again some of the taken photos had became black.
So is this a problem with the camera or am I doing something totally wrong?
And what could be done to prevent this problem.
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So is this a problem with the camera or am I doing something totally wrong?
And what could be done to prevent this problem.
Larry (01/20/2008)
May depend on how your are copying your images to the pc. Some software has the option to erase the memory card image after transfering. You can normally change that default setting to NO so that it leaves the image on the card after transfering. Picasa2, which is free compliments of Google, allows you the choice every time you import pictures.
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Blue-eyes (01/22/2008)
Thanks for your answer.
Here is a bit specifications to my earlier explanation.
Just copied the old fasioned way. Operating system Windows XP, hardware laptop and just inserted the memory card to the laptop and copied the files using windows file transfer.
So no additional programs were used. Viewed the photos with windows build in picture/fax viewer. The pictures remain still in the memory card, didn't delete any of the pictures or format the memory card after copying the pictures to the harddrive.
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Here is a bit specifications to my earlier explanation.
Just copied the old fasioned way. Operating system Windows XP, hardware laptop and just inserted the memory card to the laptop and copied the files using windows file transfer.
So no additional programs were used. Viewed the photos with windows build in picture/fax viewer. The pictures remain still in the memory card, didn't delete any of the pictures or format the memory card after copying the pictures to the harddrive.
Alasdair (04/07/2008)
Keeping pictures on the camera allows for 'auto-rotating' to display the portrait images in landscape view.
Leaving Windows xp picture viewer to rotate these images changes them slighly, and then the camera cannot redisplay when viewed on-camera. The images are fine on PC, just the image details have been subtley modified such that the camera shows "blank/black" view instead of the original.
Copy the images back to the camera in their non-rotated format and the camera displays them again.
Don't know why this happens, just that it does happen.
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Leaving Windows xp picture viewer to rotate these images changes them slighly, and then the camera cannot redisplay when viewed on-camera. The images are fine on PC, just the image details have been subtley modified such that the camera shows "blank/black" view instead of the original.
Copy the images back to the camera in their non-rotated format and the camera displays them again.
Don't know why this happens, just that it does happen.
Blue-eyes (04/07/2008)
Thanks for pointing this out. Allready had this info though.
Pretty surtain that i only copied the pictures and viewed the copied pictures from the PC's hard drive not from the memory card wich was from the camera. So only "modification" to the original one's was that they were copied from the memory card to the hard drive. Wasn't clear enough in the earlier posts, but i didn't view the photos from the memory card whilst the card was in the PC.
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Pretty surtain that i only copied the pictures and viewed the copied pictures from the PC's hard drive not from the memory card wich was from the camera. So only "modification" to the original one's was that they were copied from the memory card to the hard drive. Wasn't clear enough in the earlier posts, but i didn't view the photos from the memory card whilst the card was in the PC.
Brigitte (01/04/2009)
My camera just takes black pictures.
I don't even seen anything through the screen, flashes, and the picture is simply black.
whats happened?
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I don't even seen anything through the screen, flashes, and the picture is simply black.
whats happened?
Do you consider the Canon SD1000 a better camera than the Lumix FX12? (Marcie — 11/20/2007)
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Josh Watkins (11/20/2007)
In so many words, yes, definately.
As for justification, panasonic cameras tend to perform poorly in low light, and teh only panasonic I've ever owned had an awful battery life, too much power went to the lcd and the flash and i didnt get many pictures per charge (i suppose this makes me slightly biased, to be fair.).
As for the Canon; Canon produces very solid products and Ive heard good things about the SD1000 (from this site). So, yes, I would prefer teh canon over the pentax, but, in all honesty, you really should go to a store and hold them, the feel and use of a camera will make or break a purchase and unless youve touched them, you wont know.
Also, if youre really fond of the super compacts (as your selections lead me to believe) you may benefit from checking out the Sony Cybershot cameras. The W55 is excellent for a supercompact and could give you the best of both worlds. The best advice for purchasing a camera, or anything for that matter, is not to rush it.
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As for justification, panasonic cameras tend to perform poorly in low light, and teh only panasonic I've ever owned had an awful battery life, too much power went to the lcd and the flash and i didnt get many pictures per charge (i suppose this makes me slightly biased, to be fair.).
As for the Canon; Canon produces very solid products and Ive heard good things about the SD1000 (from this site). So, yes, I would prefer teh canon over the pentax, but, in all honesty, you really should go to a store and hold them, the feel and use of a camera will make or break a purchase and unless youve touched them, you wont know.
Also, if youre really fond of the super compacts (as your selections lead me to believe) you may benefit from checking out the Sony Cybershot cameras. The W55 is excellent for a supercompact and could give you the best of both worlds. The best advice for purchasing a camera, or anything for that matter, is not to rush it.
Scott Ferguson (05/13/2008)
I own a Lumix fx-3, and have been very impressed with it. Shutter lag is almost non-existent, startup is very fast, and battery life is astounding. Using flash on 30% of pictures and shooting maybe 150 pictures a month, I probably charge it up every 2-3 months. Build quality is excellent - after dropping it onto a concrete floor from about 40", it was a little scuffed but worked just fine. It's impressively small, the image stabilization (which the SD1000 doesn't have) works well, and it's a BARGAIN!
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I am considering the FX12 or the FX07 (bsolomonny — 09/05/2007)
The price difference is about $75. What do you think i should do? This will be my first Panasonic ever.
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Matt (09/17/2007)
There's not much difference between these cameras. The extra $75 is essentially paying for a nicer LCD screen and a more wideangle (28mm vs. 35mm) lens. That's it. That being said, the FX07 is the better camera of the two.
Just a suggestion, but the FX07 costs about $250 and the DMC-TZ3 costs about $300. If you're willing to spend a little more, and want a camera that can do everything, the TZ3 does everything both the FZ12 and FX07 do, and more, and better. If not, then the wide-angle of the FX07 (which the TZ3 has) and easier to see screen (twice the resolution) is better.
It all depends on what your budget it :) The FX12 is good value for the money at about $175, but I think the TZ3 at $300 is an even better value.
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Just a suggestion, but the FX07 costs about $250 and the DMC-TZ3 costs about $300. If you're willing to spend a little more, and want a camera that can do everything, the TZ3 does everything both the FZ12 and FX07 do, and more, and better. If not, then the wide-angle of the FX07 (which the TZ3 has) and easier to see screen (twice the resolution) is better.
It all depends on what your budget it :) The FX12 is good value for the money at about $175, but I think the TZ3 at $300 is an even better value.
I have one question about lumix FX12 model. How i can set programe AE in the exposure setting?, I couldn't find it even in the manual, please help me (rafirio — 07/14/2007)
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Brenda Paro (08/01/2007)
Hi Rafi,
I don't own this one so I'm probably not of much help here. All I could find on this info-wise is that the program AE can be located in the Mode menu, along with these choices:
Program AE
• Scene Mode
• Normal picture
• Simple
• Macro
• Intelligent ISO
Does that help? At all?
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I don't own this one so I'm probably not of much help here. All I could find on this info-wise is that the program AE can be located in the Mode menu, along with these choices:
Program AE
• Scene Mode
• Normal picture
• Simple
• Macro
• Intelligent ISO
Does that help? At all?
rafirio (08/01/2007)
thanks for the reply brinda!.. but it never answering my quiery
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Is there any way to not JPG an image? (erich619 — 06/13/2007)
The compression is much too high even in the highest quality setting.
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by James DeRuvo (06/13/2007)
Sadly, the format that the Lumix FX12 records in is just JPG. If you want something better, you should look for a camera that offers RAW picture support. This is a format which records the image uncompressed.
I did find an article on fooling a Canon A620 to shoot in RAW ( mikey.wordpress.com/2007/01... ) rather than JPEG. It's a HACK. It may be able to be adjusted to work on your Lumix, I don't know. But what I do know is that if you try it, you'll probably void your warranty, so be warned.
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I did find an article on fooling a Canon A620 to shoot in RAW ( mikey.wordpress.com/2007/01... ) rather than JPEG. It's a HACK. It may be able to be adjusted to work on your Lumix, I don't know. But what I do know is that if you try it, you'll probably void your warranty, so be warned.
Can anyone comment on the noise level of the FX12, related to the ISO setting? Thanks in advance. (dcepa — 06/06/2007)
I'm a novice point and shoot photographer but I don't want to purchase something that will produce grain at ISO 400. Should I buy the FX12 or wait for the TZ1 (price concerns)?
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Harinder81 (06/06/2007)
I just got this camera a few days ago...so far I'm very happy with it. The first day I got it though, I was getting very blurry pictures. I later realized that it was probably because I was trying to be slick and manually adjust the ISO to slow speeds like ISO 100 and ISO 200. I was at a party, taking shots of people moving around...of course I'm going to get blurry shots at those low ISO speeds!
To comment on your question, noise is there at ISO 400, but in my opinion it's not very noticable. But definitely once you go higher than ISO 400, the noise effects are very apparent.
I can't really comment on the TZ1, but I do know that the price of the FX12 is very reasonable compared to other compacts. And it's on sale at COSTCO this week with the coupon.
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To comment on your question, noise is there at ISO 400, but in my opinion it's not very noticable. But definitely once you go higher than ISO 400, the noise effects are very apparent.
I can't really comment on the TZ1, but I do know that the price of the FX12 is very reasonable compared to other compacts. And it's on sale at COSTCO this week with the coupon.
dcepa (06/07/2007)
Thanks for your input. I'm a little confused still. I plan to be taking shots of kids in action which I presume will use higher (ISO 800-1200) speeds, so it sounds as if this may not be a good camera for me? Any comment on this?
I did see the reasonable price at COSTCO this week too, but I wonder whether I should wait a bit longer to get the TZ1 which had excellent reviews.
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I did see the reasonable price at COSTCO this week too, but I wonder whether I should wait a bit longer to get the TZ1 which had excellent reviews.
Which camera is better the FX12 or the FX01? (Grimtrigger — 05/06/2007)
This is my first camera and I want something easy to use. Based on the review on the front of the website I thought the FX01 would be the way to go.... just looking for some more input.
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Ardi Ounapuu (05/09/2007)
Hi Laura,
I would certainly prefer the FX01 because of it's wide angle lens. It is essential for taking better indoor pictures, group, architecture and panorama shots.
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I would certainly prefer the FX01 because of it's wide angle lens. It is essential for taking better indoor pictures, group, architecture and panorama shots.
Grimtrigger (05/09/2007)
Thanks!
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Panasonic Lumix FX12 Reviews
Panasonic Lumix FX12 Reviews by Digital Camera-HQ Users
- 4.0 out of 5
Useage
(Dipak Shah — 06/08/2009)
Positive: Very friendly user camera. Compact for very high megapixel pictures.
Negative:Trying to sort on how to reset or have it repaired the LCD moniter which now shows images and realtime viewing upside down with no natural colours.
- 5.0 out of 5
Nice little Point and Shoot
(Jeff — 06/29/2007)
Bought this camera at costco for my wife and i have been very impressed with the picture quality.
Get this if your looking for a cheap but well made camera.
