5 comments about Panasonic PVGS15 MiniDV Compact Digital Camcorder w/24x Optical Zoom.

1. I bought this camcorder at the end of September in 2004.
   
   This was my first camcorder and my first MiniDV. Since I never had a camcorder before, the small convenient size of the camcorder and tapes just blew me away. It also brings attention to those curious and unfamiliar with MiniDVs.
   
   This camcorder performed great the first couple of months. Here are a few Pros and Cons I noticed while I used this camera:
   
   Pros:
   - Powerful built in mic. You can make the audio pick up noise as you zoom in.
   - Clear and bright outdoor picture. In good lighting, the colors were quite accurate.
   - Colored view finder.
   - Take pictures while recording and doesn't disturb your recording.
   - Firewire port for video editing.
   - Changing tape is a breeze since it's on top.
   - Backlight button is very useful under lowlight.
   - Comes with a remote control great to use if you're recording yourself or want to do a prank without being caught. (Not that I've done this...)
   
   Cons:
   - Grany picture in low-light
   - Hard to control from shaking if you use more then 14x zoom
   - Digital pictures come out dark
   - Limited Warranty
   
   Like I said before, it was great for the first few months, but then on January, things started going downhill with this camcorder:
   
   After uploading video into my computer, I rewinded the tape I've watched several times before. I pushed play and suddenly the video and audio started to skip. I checked my other tapes to see if it was just the tape that went bad, but now all of them were acting up. I looked at the tape and noticed that the camera was marking the film strip. I bought a head cleaner, but that did nothing to improve.
   
   I called Panasonic and they said it was probably something wrong with the head. They told me to send it to a certified camcorder repair shop (I live in Florida and the closest was in Tennessee). So I packed it up, sent it over there. They looked at it and told me that it would cost around $159 to get it fix (the warranty didn't cover it). So, I paid to get it repaired. A few weeks later, I got it back.
   
   When I turn it on, at first it acted just the same. I was furious. Though I kept recording and it soon stopped for a month or two.
   
   Now, however, the video sometimes shows these lines that go up and down and last for a minute. It shows up on all my tapes either at the beginning or in the middle of a used tape.
   
   Also, I went out of state last saturday, and during the whole trip my cassette would constantly jam and request to be restarted almost every time I turn it on or changed modes.
   
   In conclusion, I ask that if you have just purchase this camcorder, register it and buy the extended warranty.
   
   If you are thinking of buying this camera, don't. It's been a nightmare and I'm so dissapointed I've waisted $450 (cost) + $159 of repairs that did little to help it.
   
   Despite the problems, I still use it but for events with little importance that I don't mind having the video skip.



2. THIS CAMERA IS GREAT FOR THE AMEATEUR AS WELL AS FOR THE MORE EXPERIANCED! FOR ME THIS CAMERA WAS PERFECT BECAUSE I EXPECTED A GREAT, EASY-TO-USE CAMCORDER FOR A LOW PRICE; THIS IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE BETTER CAMERAS IN ITS PRICE CATAGORY ($300-$400). I HAVE BEEN USING THIS CAMCORDER FOR OVER A YEAR, MAINLY FOR CREATING MOVIES THROUGH WHICH ITS GOOD FEATURES HAVE ENABLED ME TO BE WELL SATISFIED. I LOOKED FOR A GOOD CAMERA WITH DECENT SP-FX AND GOOD LIGHTING. THE LIGHTING FOR THIS CAMERA IS PRETTY GOOD AND SUFFICENT FOR WORKING WITH AT NIGHT. THE ZOOM IS A VERY GOOD FEATURE FOR THIS PRICE CATEGORY (24x) AND I HAVE USED THIS TO TAKE PICTURES FROM A CRUISE SHIP TO THE SHORE WHEN PORTING. I HAVE NOTICED HOWEVER (FOR MOST CAMCORDERS) YOU MUST HAVE A STEADY HAND WHEN ZOOMED IN ALL THE WAY AND FOR THE MORE EXPERIANCED FILM MAKERS A TRIPOD IS A MUST (THIS PERTAINS TO ALL CAMCORDERS HOWEVER(IN MY MIND)). THE CAMERA IS BUILT VERY WELL. I AM IMPRESSED THAT IT SURVIVED ME FOR OVER A YEAR. THIS HAS BEEN USED IN EVERY SITUATION THOUGHT POSSIBLE AND I HAVE FOUND NO DAMAGE YET. I ALSO ADMIRE THE SET UP VERY WELL. THE MENU IS SETUP INSIDE OF WHERE THE SCREEN FLIPS OUT AND THIS NOT ONLY MAKES THE CAMERA COMPACT BUT EASY-TO NAVIGATE/USE AS WELL. THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE CAMCORDER SET-UPS I HAVE SEEN WHEN LOOKING MAINLY BECAUSE EVERYTHING FEELS LIKE IT'S IN ITS OWN PLACE AND IT EASILY GRASPED AND FEELS GOOD ON THE HAND. I PURCHASED MINE FROM COSTCO FOR $300 LAST YEAR WHICH IS VERY CHEAP FOR THIS CAMCORDER, HOWEVER THIS WAS A SPECIAL AND IT DIDN'T COME WITH ALL THE ACCESORIES (NOT EVEN THE REMOTE) THAT THE REGULAR PRODUCT HAS. IF YOU WANT THESE ACCESORIES I SUGGEST YOU BUY IT FROM ANOTHER STORE FOR AROUND $350-$450. I HAVE DONE MY HOMEWORK ON THIS PRICE CATAGORY OF CAMERAS AND I AM VERY IMPRESSED WITH MY DESCISION!



3. I bought this camcorder a couple of years ago, when it was the latest version of the pv-gs# series. It has proven a great purchase, with tons of features for a great price.
   
   My favorite features are:
   (1) 24x optical zoom--plenty for virtually any need
   (2) Appearance/feel--I will have a hard time when I need to find a replacement; why don't they make nice-looking, comfortable camcorders anymore?
   (3) PhotoShot--pics are never blurry, and its a breeze to use
   (4) All the add-ons--SoftSkin, Backlight, LED light, WindCut, ZoomMic...
   (5)Price--Outrageously low next to comps!
   
   I dislike:
   (1) Magicpix--doesn't do a great job, but I understand there's not much better out there
   (2) D-zoom--never been successful using it, so just turn it off. Who needs 800x zoom anyway?
   (3) You cannot burn video to a DVD or anything without buying pricey software
   (4) Recently all components must be in perfect alignment or am asked to press the reset button. Anyone familiar with this?
   
   Also, not a good camcorder to tape storms etc. where it is directly exposed to rain; if it gets wet, dry it out ASAP. I used it to record severe weather several times last year without thinking about it, and ended up corroding the battery contacts (which are nearly impossible to clean thoroughly).
   
   Bottom line--this guy gives plenty of bang for the buck, especially at its new price. Logically, there is no need to buy the "latest and greatest" model, when there is a well-equipped "last-year's" model at a remarkably lower price.
   
   If you're sold, act fast--this is a discontinued model so once its gone its gone forever. Good luck!



4. After buying camera, worked fine then i started having to reset it constantly. I sent it in, came back working fine. Same thing started up again, and now i cant play back. Also, terrible quality when filming indoors. Very grainy.



5. I have a Panasonic camcorder, PV-GS15, five months short of being two years old. Now it is broke and does not work. However before it died, the screen kept turning blue with a message to hit the reset button. Doing so provided no positive results. I telephoned Panasonic and questioned the reason for this reset button, and their technical support could not offer an explanation. I noticed all Panasonic camcorders have this annoying reset button, while other manufacturers do not have this defect of an option. I suggest buying your camcorder from anyone but Panasonic.

5 comments about Panasonic PV-GS9 MiniDV Camcorder w/20x Optical Zoom.

1. For the price this Camera Rocks !! I've had it for close to 2 years and for the price it's awesome.. I've used it to video tape Basketball and Football games .. Just an outstanding value.. The battery last at least over an hour .. Picture quality is great .. Check out some of my video at www.pleasantgrovesports.com .. Go to either Basketball or Football links .. click J.V. and then one of the kids last name for a short video clip..
   
   I shot all of the football video from the stands .. outstanding zoom !!
   
   If you can still find this video camera ... buy it .. especially if it's around $ 200 dollars ..
   
   I use pinnacle 9 and adobe for video editing ..
   
   My camera came with the standard A.V. cables .. and i expected to have to buy, or have , the other cables needed to connect to my computer ..
   
   Thanks Panasonic !!



2. I've had this camera for 2 years now and for the price it has done alright. Recently though, just as someone had mentioned in an earlier review, it stopped connecting to my PC via the firewire. I plugged in a friends JVC and it worked fine, so I know it's not the computer or the cable. Its past warranty obviously... I don't think I'll pay to have it fixed. I just wish this would have lasted longer. Time for a better one - this time made in America !



3. Well, I just read other reviews and I was surprised! First of all, I had a USB cable that fit the camera and plugged into my computer, so I didn't have that issue. I'm sure I would've been frustrated as well if I had to go purchase one. Personally, I was able to edit and create movies on my computer with no problem, using the free software that came with my computer (Sony VAIO, 3 years old). So I guess maybe I was lucky, but I have had a very good experience with this camera. The only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 is because the picture quality on my movies isn't the greatest. This camera is a little outdated though, so I can't complain. Plus, for the price, it has been outstanding.



4. Yo uso esta camara para montarla en motocicletas deportivas expuesta a mucha vibracion, somplemente nunca ha fallado, segue trabajando como nueva a pesar de ya tener mas de 20 horas grabadas bajo estas duras condiciones.



5. beware of the low price, panasonic has managed to make the price so low ($350) because they don't give you any software for the computer (to transfer or to edit), and no cables for the computer. I can't believe they would neglet to put them in the box. Your better of with PVGS 15 as it comes with the software and a USB cable, the price is $500, but the software, cable, and still picture on sd make up the $150 price difference.

5 comments about Panasonic DMC-FX01 6MP Compact Digital Camera with 3.6x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Black).

1. Camera takes great photos if out in the sun or daylight. Indoors or flash are awful from my experience. It is nice and small, sturdy and has served me well for what I like to take photos of and I have several others so this is just one for the pocket when out and about.



2. This vendor sold me a broken, re-furbished camera. On the first day of my trip to Brazil my camera broke. I didn`t drop it or bang it against anything, I used it normally, took some photos that afternoon. I noticed that the camera was draining my batteries (from a previous version of this camera) much faster than normal. I tried turning on my camera the next day and it didn`t work. I tried recharging the batteries again and nothing. Its a shame, because I had a previous version of this Panasonic Luminix camera and they are great cameras`... and of course it also almost ruined my trip to south america as i had to buy another camera from Sony Brasil that isn`t that great in quality (errors on some of the images I took)



3. I've had this camera for about a year now. I've taken thousands of shots and it has preformed without missing a beat. What I still love most about this camera is it's small size, quick start up and amazingly long battery life. What I like least is the picture quality. It's fine for shots that don't require a great level of detail but use it for something close up or zoom in on a picture you've taken and you'll notice a great deal of "noise" in the image. I'm still happy using it but I know there is better out there. When this one dies I will probably get a Canon based on the several positive reviews I read about that make.



4. This camera takes great pictures and is very compact and portable. I've loved having it, but it has one glaring flaw which is the proprietary data cable. If you lose it, there is no universal cable you can use to transfer your pictures to your computer. You have to buy a very specific replacement cable. Not being able to get my pictures off my own camera has rendered it nearly pointless.



5. I'm sort of relieved that my Lumix FX-01 is at Panasonic after I refused to pay $111 to have them fix my lens, which bent to the side.
   
   How did it bend to the side?
   See that on/off switch on the top of the camera? The entire time I had the camera it would turn on by itself since it's very easy to hit by accident. Apparently this happened somehow in my pocket and the lens bent and stuck.
   
   When I pointed out to customer service that no other camera has a switch that extends like that - and seemingly for a very good reason - they were not moved.
   
   On another note this camera is HORRIBLE in low light photography. Additionally the colors and photos were always kind of harsh without the nuance and "wysiwyg" quality I got with my old Canon point and shoot.
   
   I HIGHLY recommend getting a Canon instead of this. The main reason I got this Lumix was a 28mm lens, but that wasn't worth it -- especially after my bad experience with their product design.

5 comments about Panasonic DMC-FZ7S 6MP Digital Camera with 12x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Silver).

1. I bought this camera to replace my canon POS, because it has a lot of pro features and was - well, cheap. And you get what you pay for: the lens and the zoom are great (Leica), the features overflowing; but *alas* even at ISO 80 it's a really noisy image. Also, it tends to shoot too bright, so I have to underexpose by just a little. And no RAW, so no pro images.
   
   A great trainer camera for a newbie exploring to see if a pro-cam is worthwhile, and I don't know if the Fz8 or 50 has a better sensor chip, but this one has kind of a crappy sensor chip, definite pixellation at full-sized without any tweaks. I spend a lot of time in Photoshop these days, and will likely replace it with a Canon instead of another Lumix.



2. This is a fine camera, light, small, great zoom and stabilization. Battery life is also good.
   
   The negatives would be the manual focus is a bit tricky to master and the small size leaves your pinky finger with no room. The other negative was the high ISO setting is a bit obtuse as you have to go to scene mode to engage it.
   
   Lens caps seem to get lost as well.
   The light weight makes it a bit unstable at long zooms. Michelle Ress USA



3. I'm not an expert photographer, but in my experience using the Panasonic DMC-FZ7, I've found that:
   - it takes clear, crisp photos in daylight or using the flash.
   - in dim light, the photos have a lot of noise.
   - the optical zoom lens is great.
   - the macro feature allows incredibly detailed close-ups.
   - it's best to use a tripod if you're not using the flash (to reduce blurriness).
   
   I've owned the FZ7 for about a year and half and I still love it and have had no problems with it thus far. My best use of the camera was during a camping trip to the mountains where I got some really good photos that I'm still showing off to people.
   
   The optical zoom feature is INCREDIBLE! I was standing quite a distance from a tree that had a huge hornet (or wasp?) nest in it and I zoomed in as close as possible and the photo was crystal clear.
   
   Two of my absolute favorite photos taken with this camera were a super close-up (using the macro feature) of my cat's face and the photo described above of the hornet nest (using the 12x optical zoom). Awesome.



4. Beautiful pictures from this camera. Perfect weight and nice feel in hands. I have highly reccomended this camera to family and friends.



5. The camera is small, lightweight and fully packed with manual controls and the possibility of attaching additional lenses. Battery lasts forever, I think I took 250 to 300 pictures (20% with flash) without having to recharge. The pictures come out extremely sharp, color is good not so saturated, but be adivsed that noise is a seroius issue. You dont really want to take picutres with this camera above ISO 100. At ISO 400 pit gets very grainy. Remember to leave the "Noise reduction" setting at "High" in the options menu, it helps a bit. Overall is a four star, would buy it again. I would now go with the FZ18K, which is packed with 18x zoom, sports 8 megapixel and has face detection.

5 comments about Panasonic DMC-FX07R 7.2MP Digital Camera with 3.6x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Red).

1. I am very happy with this camera, it's way better than any of my friends cameras (besides my brother who has a $1000 dig slr!)...I used this camera to take photos for album art for a band and it looks very professional. I got it because it takes such great close ups. Sometimes I'm annoyed at the "glowing eyes" my dog gets when taking a picture of her...but otherwise it's great.



2. I know that almost every critical review on this camera talks about the noise. I don't have a FX07 myself, but my boss has one that I used for office work after my Canon A85's CCD crapped out after 3 years of rigorous service.
   
   There is normal noise and then there is FX07 noise. Normal noise (at low ISO anyway) is manageable - throw image into Noise Ninja noise reduction program, Auto-Profile, set Chrominance filtering to Max, fiddle around with Luminance filtering, process, save. Rinse and repeat.
   
   At low ISOs, the FX07's noise is coarse and non-uniform. Which blows the Auto-Profiling - the Luma and Chroma noise level readings come out low - the noise is too coarse to be recognized. Even with maximum filtering in Chroma and Luma, you see lots of huge individual noise specks. So you run up the "Smoothness" to squelch them (like the program recommends) and lose half the detail in an photo. That's at ISO 100.
   
   At higher ISOs, say oh 200 or 400, the noise is even coarser and more uniform. Luma and Chroma estimates remains low (for the ISOs), but the noise covers up the image in huge coarse grains. Any attempt to recover detail from said grains is futile. The image details don't just turn "plasticy", they are obliterated.
   
   Results at ISO800 or 1250 are unusable, but since that's true of even a Powershot G9 I guess I shouldn't complain about that - it's the poor low-ISO results that are the killer.
   
   After some painful lessons, I came to the conclusion that this is at best a 5MP camera (even at low ISO), not a 7MP. By admitting this fact and setting your camera to 5MP, the noise grains become small enough that Noise Ninja actually recognizes them as noise (the measured noise levels actually rise) and you can squelch them without destroying the image. If the image was taken in 7MP, the only real chance for usability is to scale it to 50% - that is turning it into a ~1.8MP image before putting it into Noise Ninja (Noise Ninja NR is theoretically done before downsizing but theory obviously did not factor in the Lumix FX07).
   
   On the positive, it is a OK 2-5MP camera. It is small, colors are good, optical stabilizer works - just read the 4/5 star reviews. But do you want to pay the listed price for a 5MP (at best) camera? As for me, after 4 months of the above torture I went to buy a Canon G9 camera for use at work and home.



3. Panasonic DMC-FX07R 7.2MP Digital Camera with 3.6x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Red)
   I have own this fabulous little camera for over a year now and I just love how well all of my pictures have turned out. I read in some other reviews how it doesn't seem to do well when it comes to places with limited light. I beg to differ...in Feb. 2008, I went to the rodeo to enjoy the show and and concert. For those of you who have gone before to a concert at the rodeo, you know just how much light is displayed and usually if you try to pictures and/ or record it, the quality is very poor. However, with this little camera, not only were my pictures clear and well-lit, the two video clips I did at the concert came out awesome! I just couldn't believe how clear the bnd looked from where I was sitting and later when I uploaded it to my computer, you could clearly hear all the words of the song being sung. This had been my first time using this option and I just wish I had started using it sooner.
   
   So for those of you who are interested in purchasing this camera, you will not regret it. For being such a tiny camera, the outcomes of pictures and video will leave you pleased.



4. I must say this camera has been a huge disappointment. The noise is terrible as has already been mentioned. Ease of use is very simple though. I'm going to have to save this for just video. Does a decent job of that. I bought it because the wide angle is a very nice a feature & when I was looking at point & shoots a year a so ago there wasn't a whole lot out there. That has changed a bit.
   
   If picture quality doesn't matter to you, than go ahead & buy this camera.



5. When I got this I took a series of pictures inside with flash/no flash and compared to my old sony cybershot P150.
   
   When I looked at images on camera screens I was suprised. The sony's looked better when I zoomed it in. Sharper, less noise.
   
   However when I uploaded them to PC I found sony's may have less noise and were slightly better with flash. But without flash the Fx07 was the best. All shots in focus and sony's were blurry. Image stabilisation is great for when you can't use a flash inside.
   
   Also, after experimenting with a few settings (switch slow shutter speed to 1/4 or 1/2 (not 1/8) and images were no longer dark in low light. Better still is intelligent ISO which does all this for you. Most of the time it will pick something sensible that results in a reasonably quick shutter speed to prevent shake and acceptable ISO so not too much noise. Hint avoid ISO 800/1250 if possible. Photo's are very noisy at these settings. 400 is OK, 200 better, 100 brilliant but only really can be used outside.
   
   Seems good so far, gonna have to take it somewhere nice and try it outside.

5 comments about Panasonic PV-GS120 3CCD MiniDV Camcorder w/10x Optical Zoom.

1. I've had this camera for about 4-months now and have taken well over 150-hours worth of video from various sporting events and a few family events.
   
   The first thing that hits you once you download the video capture is the color saturation...unbelievable! 3-CCD's makes a huge difference! Like night and day, compared to other camcorders in the same price range.
   
   I looked at many camcorders before choosing the PV-GS120. My first thought was I needed a camcorder with atleast a 20x Optical Zoom. However, all the camcorders I saw didn't have the picture quality I was looking for.
   
   When I saw the PV-GS120, I wasn't really receptive to the fact it was only 10x optical zoom. However when I started shooting with it the store, how good the picture was. Don't take my word for it, seeing is believing!
   
   I chose the Panasonic and have been very pleased with it.
   
   Don't get caught up in the Optical Zoom hype...who cares if the optical zoom is 16x, 18x, 20x, if the picture is horrible.



2. I've been video taping weddings for 25 years and the PV-GS120 was the 11th and 12th camera I've bought (Yea, I bought two)
   I was impressed with both the price and quality of the 3CCD's
   I also appreciated the 1.5 hour (LP mode) taping time available which I needed for taping wedding ceremonies without having to change media during the ceremony.
   
   I needed the mic and headphone input that were missing from some other manufacturers products and I remembered the quality I had always experienced from the Panasonic cameras I'd used before I moved to 8mm.
   
   I've done 7 weddings with the PV-GS120 and my customers and I are very satified with the quality images and audio this camera captures and recreates.
   
   On the downside I missed the option of adding a wired remote zoom control and the steadycam feature wasn't quite what Sony had.
   The low light feature isn't as good as the single chip cameras but 3CCD's always require more light.
   
   I've been recommending this camera to anyone who is thinking about upgrading from 8mm or VHS. Forget about the DVD media cameras and go with tape, you can make (and scratch) all the DVD's you want after downloading and editing your work from your computer.



3. I am team manager for a small midwest skate team and we were in need for a video camera. I was also looking for something that had a clear enough video i could do some short movies with it as well.
   
   I have had the camera for almost 1 year now and it has taken some nasty hits from skaters and drops from 4 foot to pure concrete and took the beating like a champ.
   
   I spent almost double what it is going for now and it was worth it back then so if you can get it now for around 450 it's a must buy camcorder.



4. I've waited two years to write my review so that I'd be removed from the excitement that comes with buying a new camera. The strongpoints of this camcorder are its size, color reproduction, remote control, and adjustable light/color settings. It's drawbacks are: poor performance in low/med-low light conditions. The colors tend to go blue in mid to low light situations, and that can be annnoying for those trying to make short films with different locations/lighting. I think that this camera would be a great buy for someone looking to do a lot of serious filming in outdoor areas. If you just want something to make home movies of your kids or something, then I'd go for a cheaper model Panasonic or a Sony. I think that I'm going to buy a Sony next time because I like their low-light features.



5. I have been using this camera for about 2 yrs. I did a lot of research before buying and I am sure that I am not much mistaken in my choice.
   Pros
   Excellent color reproduction especially in out door settings
   Easy to use menu
   small size
   I did not have any problem with noise from tape as some one reviewed
   Still pictures are also really good for a 1.2 Mp camera-color reproducion really good, can take still pictures while shooting a video without going back to menu-just click the Still picture button.
   
   Cones
   Manual that comes along with is "CRAPPY". It is as if the manufacturers mean this camera for Still images only. it does not even mention where exactly to connect the fire wire cable. i had to find it out from some reviews!!
   The product did not come with a fire wire cable; Find a good one elsewhere. I called Panasonic customer support regarding this and they too had only one suggestion-buy it elsewhere!!
   It takes a long while for me (about 1hr plus) to transfer one MiniDV cassette of video to computer and to form file on the Windows Movie maker I used. My computer has about 756 MB RAM. I did not try another software.
   Software that came with camcorder is redundant.
   Performance in low light is not good
   No built-in light source; find a suitable one and attach separate
   optical zoom is only 10X, and no need to mention anything about digital zoom
   Battery does not last for long-may be for 30-40 mts with the digital viewer turned on; have apare battery if you are serious about shooting for a longer period.
   
   Because of the negative points, I am looking for a better model with 3CCD technology

2 comments about Remanufactured Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ5 5MP Digital Camera with 12x Image Stabilized Optical Zoom (Black).

1. My wife and I serached all vacation to find her a camera that fits her smaller hands. After trying Sam's Costco, CopmUSA, various photo shops and Target. The Panasonic DMC FZ5K was just the right fit.
   
   I did a search on Amazon and just happen to find a great deal for $233 at the warehouse_deals part of Amazon.com.
   
   Please be patient because they get the sporattic ones in so it may take a day or two before the camera comes to you.
   
   The one we received had the date set and the manual package opened and every thing else was never opened.
   
   Comes with a 90 day warranty so I recommend this deal. I have bought refurbed Panasonic shavers and wireless phones and had great luck with their brand. Panasonic checks their own refurbed stuff and warranties their stuff.



2. This is one of the best cameras to take professional quality digital photos available. The quality is flawless! It feels sturdy and fits standard cases very nicely. It is extremely light, I think the battery nearly weighs more then the camera! The anti-shake feature is nice. The one thing it's missing that the next camera up has (FZ5X maybe) is that while in video mode you can not zoom in and out. This isn't really that big a problem but there is alway that moment where you really wish you had a video camera in your hand instead of just a camera. Macro also does a beautiful job.
   
   Overall, best purchase I've made

5 comments about Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ5S 6MP Digital Camera with 6x Image Stabilized Zoom.

1. this is a great camera. The only thing in noticed was a couple of my pictures that i took, and i took 12, were blurred. I thhought that the stablizer would have worked. Great Camera for price, takes pictures otherwise.



2. I was looking for a good, inexpensive digital camera and found it in the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ5; I love it!
   
   After extensive reading online, I bought one about 3 weeks (2/07). I read the manual to learn how to operate. The camera is really amazing. I have taken ~150 shots of all kinds, and still on second set of regular AA batteries with plenty of charge left. The DMC-LZ5 has several pre-set options for scenes like "night scene," "starry night," "snow," and "candle light" which look great when using a tripod. Everybody I show my inside, day, and night time images say how very sharp they look. The color is rich. I usually take more images than I need, then delete all but the very best composed. I find it friendly to operate this way: I slide the SD card out of the camera, and into my laptop's SD port. Using windows file manager, I copy images to the laptop's hard drive, backup to CD, and view... I put the SD card back into camera and delete all the images on the SD card. This process is quick to move large numbers of images using no cables. This is my second digital camera.
   
   DMC-LZ5 has a "simple" mode that sets all the features automatically. Can you tell I am happy with my purchase? Thank goodness for all the online reviews, I almost bought wrong brand. This is 6MP, 6X optical zoom for less than $200, and it works great. I bought mine in black. Since I don't use apple, my only complaint is the "video mode" creates quicktime files; so I don't use it to capture video. Instead, I use my MiniDV video camera for video. But the "still" shots create .jpg format, which is perfect for my needs; my new hobby and my web-site development businesses.



3. I bought this camera 10 months ago from Amazon (the black version of it). It was my 4th digital in seven years, and definitely my favorite one. The size is just perfect to carry around, and the 6X optical zoom with image stabilization is hard to beat. At the time, I struggled between this model and the Canon counterpart, but at the end, I was really happy with my decision. I actually stopped using my video camera, storing movies in my 4 2GB SD cards.
   
   One week ago, the flash stopped working. I thought to myself "no problem, the one year warranty will cover it". Well, guess what, the warranty only covers parts, and the labor flat-fee from Panasonic is $170.00 USD. I can buy a new one on Amazon for less than that! I wrote to Panasonic, but didn't get a satisfactory response from them.
   
   I am switching now to the Canon Powershot A570 IS, which supports image stabilization, and 7 Megapixel pictures. Their warranty covers EVERYTHING for one whole year, so at least I feel safer buying their product. The price is a little bit higher than this model, but totally worth it.
   
   Something to keep in mind if you are considering to buy this model.



4. This is a great camera for a great price! I'm happy with it.



5. I am vary happy with this camera. I have Pentax Option S which is smaller and Olympus 510 which is bigger, this small Panasonic camera makes me very happy. Auto-mode makes vivd sharp pictures, trees and green comes out outstanding.
   
   I was looking for a small camera that fits in the pocket but not too small because I came to conclusion that superlslim cameras sacrifice their optics quality for lightweighness. This camera does nto compromise image quality.It fits into pocket or pouch, I have it with me anywhere.
   
   This camera is fast. Shooting ans saving is fast. This is very important quality. They never show in spe spec the time it takes, on average, to focus and to save images, so it is difficult to judge before you buy, and slow cameras are so irritating. This camera is fast I like it very much.
   
   Battery life is very very good. On two AA batteries, it can go for close to 2 weeks if I switch it on immediately before the shot and off immediately after the shot.
   
   AA batteries are preferable to me than builtin lithum batteries because lithium batteries die sooner or later and to replace them is expensive, and I do not want to carry the charger with me.
   The LCD screen if big and visible in any light.
   
   Bottom line: Thanks Panasonic.
   
   I'd prefer than Power button had 3 positions, Off, On-Shoot, On-View, that would be comfortable for me, but no camera has it anyway.

5 comments about Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ5S 5MP Digital Camera with 12x Image Stabilized Optical Zoom (Silver).

1. Bought this camera 2+ years ago. Everything worked really well for the most part and took some amazing pictures. This was really my ideal digital camera and I would've given it more stars if it wasn't for the fact that it quit on me after the warranty ran out. It just stopped working..the lens was stuck in the inside position and i was unable to fix it. I ended up opening it up to check out the mechanics and now it is truly finished :). I am thinking of buying the fz7 as replacement but not sure due to the jamming problem I experienced with the fz5.



2. I LOVED this camera, everything about it, until it jammed for no apparent reason after having it just over a year. I've seen other users with the same problem on this website so I guess I'm glad to know I'm not the only one. But, do I buy another Panasonic, do I upgrade to the FZ8, don't know whether I trust them or not which is a shame because as I mentioned it is great - easy to learn & use, takes reliable pictures etc.



3. The Panasonic Lumix FZ5K (K for black, S for silver) is came out on February 2005. In tech terms, it's a little old but still a great camera and an even a better value. It has dummy-proof modes that allow newcomers to digita photography to focus on the composition and is advanced enough for all but the pickiest dSLR users. The package includes everything you need to get started, including the battery charger.
   
   --- Target Audience ---
   Newcomers to digital photography to advanced users. If you're new to photography, the FZ5 includes programmed modesIf you're a basic-to-advanced amateur, the program, aperture-priority, shutter-priority, manual, compensation, and multiple other settings allow for broad creative control.
   
   --- Pros ---
   Truly inexpensive 5MP.
   - You can grab one of these in Wolf/Ritz Camera or Fry's for $177-190.
   Broad optical zoom range at 6-72 (36-432 equivalent on a 35mm camera).
   Leica DC Vario-Elmarit 1:2.8-3.3/6-72 aspherical lens.
   - I've read that Leica doesn't actually manufacture this lens but the pictures speak for themselves and their "seal of approval" appears well represented.
   Max aperture of f/2.8.
   Super-compact.
   - I've used an Olympus OM-1n for many years. This camera set the standard for compact SLRs. The DMC-FZ5 is smaller... way smaller.
   Pretty responsive shutter despite its "age".
   Integrated flash.
   "Flippable" hood.
   2-hr battery charge (lasts 200-250 photos).
   "Sealed", non-interchangeable lens design.
   - With its broad zoom range, equivalent to a 36-432mm zoom lens on a 35mm camera, this is probably not a concern. The fact that it is closed removes the dreaded dust issues that only advanced dust-removal technologies can take care of.
   
   --- Cons ---
   Will not accept SD cards above 1GB.
   Only 5MP (i.e., don't plan on framing anything above 8" x 10").
   No RAW format support (TIFF is supported and will likely do the trick for non-pro users).
   Proprietary battery (no biggie; I've found third-party equivalents for $5-10).
   No hotshoe.



4. This is my quick review:
   1. Per usual, spent 2 weeks pouring over the specs, reviews and ratings
   prior to purchase
   
   2. I have small children and need something durable and responsive.
   
   3. I'm a casual user...just a little more than a point and shoot queen.
   
   In July 05 I plunked down the money for this camera. I have no regrets...absolutely, positively LOVE IT! I have taken it everywhere, banged it around, dropped it, had my small children take photos with it.
   
   I brought home the Canon and Fuji in the same price range. Tried both and
   returned both. High points for me are it's light weight, Image Stabization (a must with kids), rapid fire repeat photo ability, and
   easy downloads.
   
   Would buy it again in a heartbeat!



5. I purchased this camera in March 2005 and within a month had to return it for repair. Panasonic told me at that time that they would not replace the camera if it could be repaired even though I had only had it for a month...so they repaired it and sent it back to me. I really enjoyed this camera and took some incredible photos with it. I would give it 5 stars for the various features mentioned in other reviews except that now after 3 years of moderate use it has died completely and is not worth fixing. Too bad! I would not spend this kind of money again unless I was purchasing a true digital SLR. Buyer beware!

1 comments about Panasonic 128 MB Secure Digital Memory Card.

1. The advancements in technology never cease to amaze me. They continue to get smaller and smaller even when you didn't think it was possible. Such is the case for the Panasonic SD Memory card as well. Not only is it small, but it has a large capacity for adapting to a variety of digital content types. This SD Memory Card can write data at a rate of 10 MB per second! I mainly use my SD Memory card to save music from my MP3 player. I normally get about 5 1/2 hours out of the card. I highly recommend this to anyone who uses audio, video, communications and information devices and appliances. It is the wave of the future!