If you want to go back to Intelligent Auto at any time, just hit the small IA red button next to the shutter. The Menu/Set button takes you to record, playback or set-up menus, depending on the operating mode. Here you can adjust things such as the image quality, drive mode and aspect ratio. There are three aspect ratio settings: 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9, with the first being the default setting.
Film Grain mode takes a 'blasted with sand' shot.
Click for full-resolution crop
And if all that wasn’t enough, the Q Menu button - for Quick Menu - gives instant access to parameters such as the image stabilisation mode, drive mode, AF mode, white balance, ISO speed and file size.
The set-up menu has an interesting LCD mode, with three settings: Auto, Power and High Angle. The Power setting brightens the LCD screen, making it easier to view the screen when outdoors. We tried this outside on a sunny day and it did have an effect, albeit somewhat marginal. The High Angle setting is supposed to make it easier to see when taking shots above your head, but we didn’t notice any great difference.
We did, however, like the various delete options the FS-7 provides, including one that allows you to clear all shots stored on the card in one go – just be extra careful before you select the 'yes' option...
Plenty of lurid colours to track down
Overall, we think even the most novice of camera users would soon feel comfortable with the DMC-FS7.
COMMENTS
Film grain mode?
Almost, but not quite, entirely unlike film.
RE: @ Peyton
I'd highly recommend the Panasonic TZ5 model, got awesome some and great stabilisation.
Another missing statistic
Another missing statistic: How many mm² is the sensor array?
The bigger the array, the more light you can capture before reaching saturation. More light captured means better contrast at low ISO, and lower noise at high ISO. In fact, the better the picture. My old Fuji 2800Z (1.92MPx) with a freakin' huge array took noticeably better pictures than many 4MPx cameras with smaller arrays.
composition?
seconded on the lack of interior sample shots. Daylight vs indoors is a huge difference.
I like the consistency of the euro, the blue door and the cathedral as standard samples, but I'm not such a fan of the general composition. the camera seems to be pointed downward a little too much for me.
need more info
I have shaky hands - does the image stabilization bit work well? (or does it just crank up the ISO) I'd love to find a decent pocket-sized camera with this, but it's always hard to find info on it in reviews (not just here - everywhere - darn photag reviewers and their ability to take good pictures without assistance :p )
