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Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX9K 6MP Digital Camera with 3x Image Stabilized Optical Zoom (Black) | 
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| Brand: Panasonic
Category: Photography
Buy Refurbished: $155.95
New (3) from $160.00
Avg. Customer Rating:  31 reviews
Color: Black
Media: Electronics
Floppy Disk Drive: None
Optical Zoom: 3
Digital Zoom: 4
Display Size: 2.5
Maximum Focal Length: 17.4
Minimum Focal Length: 5.8
Maximum Resolution: 6
Has Red Eye Reduction: Yes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.3
Dimensions (in): 3.7 x 1 x 2
MPN: DMC-FX9K
Model: DMC-FX9K
UPC: 037988985272
EAN: 0037988985272
Release Date: September 25, 2005
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Features:
| • | 6-megapixel CCD captures enough detail for photo-quality 14-by-19-inch enlargements | | • | 3x optical zoom with Mega Optical Image Stabilization; 2.5-inch LCD display | | • | 14 scene modes with easy-to-access help screens | | • | Moving-Image Mode captures VGA-size movies at 30 frames per second | | • | Powered by Lithium-ion battery pack (included); stores images on SD memory cards (16 MB card included) |
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Product Description
This Panasonic Lumix Digital-camera offers a host of distinct features that sets it above most cameras in this price range. A prestigious Leica DC VARIO-ELMARIT Lens with 3x Optical Zoom optical zoom lens (35mm equivalent: 35 to 105mm) offers (critically acclaimed) superior imaging performance. It is further extended with up to 4x digital zoom. Jitter from shaky hands is one of the main reasons why cameras produce blurry images. The DMC-FX9 has a built-in gyrosensor that detects any hand movement and relays a signal to a tiny microcomputer inside the camera, which instantly calculates the compensation needed. A linear motor then shifts the Optical Image Stabilizer lens as necessary to guide incoming light from the image straight to the CCD. You won't even notice it working--all you'll see are the outstanding results. Add a bright, beautiful 2.5" TFT LCD screen plus multiple scene modes (still and movie) and you've got a camera that's incomparably easy to use without blocking your creative potentials. At this price range, when you sum it up, this ranks among the top of its class. Built-in Electronic-Flash Mode - Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced On/Off Up to 2816 x 2112 still image resolution at 4 - 3 aspect ratio. 3 - 2 and 16 - 9 ratios also selectable Motion (movie) images at up to 640x480 Sound recording capable for movie and still (up to 5 seconds per still) / Up to 10 seconds audio dubbing Recording Formats - Still Image - JPEG (design rule for camera file system), DPOF corresponding / Still Image with Audio - JPEG (design rule for camera file system) / Motion - QuickTime and JPEG Ultracompact - Unit Size - 1.99'' x 3.70'' x 0.95'' / Weighs about 4 ounces
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| Customer Reviews: Read 26 more reviews...
 LCD of 2.5" and OIS = One of the Best Ultra-Compact Cameras November 22, 2005
69 out of 69 found this review helpful
First, I should qualify this by saying I've been a huge fan of Panasonic digital cameras since I bought the DMC-LC20. I later upgraded to a DMC-LC33, and now, I've taken the plunge and bought the FX9.
The camera I compared this with the most, and nearly bought was the Canon SD400. And I actually was really close to buying the SD400 over the FX7, but luckily I waited long enough to hear about the FX8 and FX9 being launched in the US. I could not have made a better choice.
Panasonic's carried over some of the best features of some of its previous lines:
- Size: This camera is tiny. It fits nicely in your pocket. The black version of this camera also looks really sleek. Very nice brushed finish to it that doesn't get fingerprints on it too easily.
- An absolutely beautiful 2.5" LCD screen. Seriously, this screen alone is reason enough to get the FX9 (207k pixels) over the FX8 (114k pixels). It is simply amazing. You can tell right on the screen whether the picture you took is in focus, and the colors are just more vibrant.
- The Optical Image Stabilizer (OIS) is works wonders for this ultra-compact camera. Some would argue that well, if you had an optical viewfinder, you wouldn't need the OIS because you could stabilize the camera against your face. But seriously, who uses a viewfinder with an ultra-compact digital now? Digital SLR, sure, but an ultra-compact? Granted, if a viewfinder is important to you, this camera may not be right for you. But really, with the 2.5" LCD, you won't miss the viewfinder. I actually compared shots between the SD400 and FX9, and at full zoom, you can really see that the OIS helps with the image's focus.
- Leica lens: Gives amazingly sharp, vibrant pictures.
- Burst mode: Allows you to take literally an infinite number of pictures in rapid succession in well-lit (no flash) conditions. This is an amazing feature for taking action and sports shots. I loved this feature on my old Panny cameras and I still really enjoy it on this one.
- Picture Review: The picture review on this camera is amazing. First, you can zoom up to 16x to check the clarity of the picture. Second, you can zoom out and review 25 thumbnails at once. 25! That's what a 2.5" LCD can do for you.
- Movie mode: Although a HUGE memory hog, the movie mode is vastly improved from the FX7. In fact, one reason why I almost opted for the SD400 was because the movie mode on the FX7 was pretty much useless. The FX9 takes great video, and the image stabilizer (detailed below) works to help stabilize the video image.
- Powerup lag and time between pictures has been excellent.
Some of the cons of this camera:
- The on-off switch of this camera could be designed better. I've accidentally turned the camera on several times while reaching into my pocket and have resorted to turning the mode dial to Review mode whenever I pocket the camera to prevent any damage to the lens motor.
- Unfortunately, they've done away with AA batteries, but in a camera of this size, AAs wouldn't even fit. So I can understand the transition to proprietary batteries. At $69 a pop for a spare OEM battery though, that sorta hurts.
- Once again, Panasonic has seen fit to package the camera with pretty useless software and a practically unusable 16MB SD card. Come on... 16MB? That's good for no more than 8 pictures in full-resolution.
- I hear the FX9 isn't great in low-light condition and has a weak flash, but I haven't had too many problems with it.
Of course, which digital camera you buy depends on what features are most important to you. I bought this as a camera to bring anywhere I wanted to go. I realized that the bulk of my old camera was preventing me from bringing it out everywhere, so I decided early on to get an ultra-compact. So far, I've been exceptionally happy with my purchase.
 Great Camera (some update) October 11, 2005
47 out of 55 found this review helpful
I was originally planning to buy Dimage X1. However, after some researches, I decided to go to Panasonic. This camera is just what I wanted, compact-sized(size of cigarette pack) and image stabilized.
For outside shooting(under daylight), it is not really necessary to change many settings, but automatic shooting is good enough like most cameras. However, this camera shines for indoor shooting with the image stablization.
For those who are new to camera, let me say that image stabilizer is not a miracle-maker letting you to get clean and sharp picture in the middle of earthquake. However, it is capable of compensating shake of hand holding camera good enough if used with some physical stabilization, or if there were nowhere to put your arms, with timed shutter. This camera has 2-sec and 10-sec timer, and I mostly use 2-sec without using flash indoors. (Force of pressing shutter may give camera shake that image stabilizer cannot compensate, so timed shutter is very handy.)
Result? Good enough, although I could see some noise indoors with automatic ISO setting(it usually sets ISO to 200 for some reason).
One thing: most of my indoor shootings are still-life(many times in macro mode). I haven't tested it for portrait yet, but I guess that shooting portrait in some distance may require less concern for hand-shake, unless under low-light condition.
Battery duration seems very good, too. However, extra battery will be nice.
Complaint: (maybe or maybe not)
1. Single file of 6 megapixel picture usually costs between 2 and 2.5 megabytes, but Panasonic only included 16MB memory. Is it a joke?
2. It's not really a complaint, but big LCD screen means more chances of getting scratches. I use the protective film (designed for PDA, so I have to cut it to right size) for all of my digital cameras.
The best little d-cam on Earth today - 9/26/05 September 27, 2005
38 out of 48 found this review helpful
Altoids-sized, rectangular cameras are a very competitive niche. What stands this camera apart is that it has both active focus assist and motion compensation. I have not seen both, in this tiny a camera, from any other manufacturer.
There are three other distinctions this camera has: a slightly higher resolution than average; the cachet of the noun, Leica, engraved on the lens ring; and that it is available (in Europe) in red. I paid a little more and took a little larger risk (no US warranty) for the later. But it just looks so darn cool.
Fit-and-finish are very good. The User Interface is very nice. And the point of all this all, its picture-quality what I'd always fantasized Elmarit lens would give me. It is incapable of making raw files. Nuts.
Interestingly, the serious photography-only camera stores in my area do not carry Panasonics, only the big box discount stores.
Things that I don't like. It doesn't fit into the World's best camera case, an empty Altoids tin like my Pentax Optios did.
Cameras like this totally abstract fundamentals like f-stops, shutter-speeds, depth-of-field considerations and all those other Ansel Adams master craftsman, operational parameters. But in my dotage, I'm finding that increasingly ok and also reckon that I love the metier of image-capture more than ever. And did I mention that it can do the almost de rigueur 640x480, monaural, 30fps Quicktime video? With active, real-time motion compensation? 660 sec/gigabyte is dear compared to MPEG-1, but it'll do.
It is what it is, compromised and niched in the "take me along" bin. I have bigger, more "serious" dcams (and solid tripods) for once-in-a-lifetime or extreme photography (one of them, a Canon IS2 has less rez). Altoid-cams are to seduce to you carry as regularly as car-keys, cell phone, iPod and wallet.
VERY well made Camera! December 26, 2005
15 out of 15 found this review helpful
I exercise with my dog every morning early am. Ok you want to know about the FX9 not my dog. My point is I live near a pretty park, and very beautiful woods. I always wanted to take some shots of the early morning beauty but I didn't want to carry my huge Canon G4 around. Long story short, I started hunting for one of these pocket sized cameras. I read TONS of reviews and looked at sample pictures. Finally I got taken in by the cuteness of the Casio s500 camera. I had it about 1 week and after the cuteness wore off I had to return it as the pictures OVERALL were pretty bad..and lacking detail etc. Next I had a gift cert to "another web site" I decided I'd try the Canon sd450. Well that camera actually is quite good. But I still wasn't THRILLED. So I used 1 more gift cert..to another site..and just had to try this Panasonic FX9 camera. Like a crazy person I kept A-B-eeeing The SD 450 with this FX9. In the end I ended up loving the FX 9 while just liking the Canon. I must say for indoor flesh tones I must give the edge to the SD450. However after much reading I found if you set the white balance manually on the FX9..it looks pretty awesome on people..on everything. Outdoors I just use auto white balance. One major reason I'm SO impressed with this little guy is about the 2nd day I had the FX9 i accidentally dropped in on a VERY hard floor from 5 feet above the floor. It slammed to the ground right on the lcd and slid about 3 feet. I felt sick. But it only had a TINY dust like scratch. Everything still worked...this thing can take abuse ..though that's the last thing I wanted to do to this FX9.
In the end..I found that overall this camera is just awesome. The user inteface will just MAKE you like it. It's SUPER easy to use..and feels solid as a rock. In the end...it's about picture quality.I'd say the pic quality is about as good as it gets in this class..and I ought to know having owned 3 cameras in this category and the FX9 to me is the CLEAR winner!
Great Camera, may be best in class! You won't be sorry. November 21, 2005
14 out of 16 found this review helpful
After settling on the Nikon 7900 (7MP) I decided to go to the store and do one more run through. I took my Treo with me (which uses SD and can view the pics) and shot several different scenes - outdoor, indoor, motion. I could not tell the difference between the Nikon and the Panasonic. So why did I end up with the FX9? My wife came over and refused to even try the Nikon because it was "ugly".
After spending some time with this camera, I can say that the speed of shot to shot and colors are two major reasons to buy this camera. It is also sexy, and the additional features are great, image stabilization (it really works), and auto-orientation sensor are two I use all the time.
This camera has once again turned the heads of my colleages and friends, which is harder to do these days since everyone has a digicam.
I will post any updates next week as I give it the "Thanksgiving trial by fire"
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