The Panasonic LUMIX DMC-FH5 has a basic and easy-to-use control layout. Its shutter button has a distinct two-step feel that allows you to easily focus on your subject before pushing all the way down to take the shot. We think this is a shining example of how all shutter buttons should work. Some compact cameras we have reviewed recently, such as the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W570, have had very poor shutter button designs. Around the LUMIX DMC-FH5's shutter is a zoom ring and next to that is the power switch.
The rear of the Panasonic LUMIX DMC-FH5 has a 2.7in LCD screen that can be very hard to see when shooting outdoors on a bright day (like many compact cameras), but its clarity is high. To the right of the screen is a five-way control for navigating the menu and directly manipulating popular functions such as the flash, timer and macro modes; there are only three other buttons (mode, display and Q.Menu) along with a switch for playback and recording modes. There is ample space on the rear to rest your thumb while you take a photo and this, along with the excellent shutter button is what makes this camera so comfortable to use — despite being small, it doesn't feel cramped.
The Panasonic LUMIX DMC-FH5 doesn't have a manual or a semi-manual mode. To take photos, you can select from normal mode, intelligent auto mode, flash burst (a burst mode that allows you to use the flash) and scene mode. There 28 different scene modes to choose from and this includes three art modes: pin hole, film grain and high dynamic range.