5 comments about Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX33A 8.1MP Digital Camera with 3.6x Wide Angle MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Blue).

1. A great unit, however chip missing, and the video quality in low lite situations is superb. The price was 200 EURO less than in Hamburg shops.



2. I had the 5 megapixel version of this camera and it was great. When I lost that camera I knew that there was no other point and shoot that I would want to own. The image stabilizer is phenomenal for an amature photographer and it's 100 times better than the kodak cameras that I've owned. I won't buy any other camera for everyday use.



3. I'm not one who needs to review things, but this camera is special. I have used many digital cameras over many years, each improved over the last model as technology improves and becomes more afordable. Having purchased the FZ18 I noticed the FX30 very is similar in menu and features which I have grown to like on the FZ. There are trade offs with the tiny cameras of optical quality(CCD size)and zoom. Looking at most all others they have similar limitations needing enough light to keep the noise down. Some have much worse quality issues, like so called "digital image stabilization" that automatically lower quality with increased noise to useless levels. The thing I wanted to share is this camera grows on you. I cannot leave it home or often worry it might loose it down the couch or worse! It is cute and needs TLC and just happens to take great pictures too!



4. I bought this camera for my daughter and she found it a week later in Best Buy for the same price but 10 megapixels. What a deal!! But the camera itself is great.



5. I gave it three stars because it falls short in one critical area - photo quality.
   
   But first, the good stuff. Like an earlier review noted, the black rubberized finish feels good in hand. The "Intelligent Auto" mode works reasonably well - it was able to distinguish between macro, landscape, portrait and night modes most of the time. The wide angle lens really came in handy for group photos, landscape and architecture shots. Normal operation is fairly snappy, and the menu are easy to figure out. Lastly, the LCD screen's resolution is fairly high, and the gain can be adjusted with one button to aid viewing in bright environments.
   
   However, the photo quality was underwhelming. I've owned a Canon Powershot S410 and Fuji Finepix F20 (both pocket-sized Point & Shoot cameras) and the photo quality in those cameras were superior to the Panasonic. Panasonic cameras have had the reputation of great lenses with mediocre noise reduction, and that's what I expected with this camera. However, the photos are very soft and the colors lack saturation. The noise reduction is noticeable at ISO 200, and is very apparent at ISO 400. This level of noise reduction is not unusual for this class of camera, though I prefer the Canon approach of more detail but more noise.
   
   The camera also has an "Intelligent ISO" mode, which boosts the ISO if shaking or motion is detected in the frame. It sounds good, but it's very aggressive, and the resulting photos are usually shot at fairly high ISO where the detail is lost. There is a option to limit the highest ISO, though the option is not available in "Intelligent Auto" mode.
   
   I haven't printed any photos from this camera, though I would suspect that regular sized prints would be fine. You can usually tell the difference in quality by zooming into a photo, but in this case, I was able to tell the difference even when shrinking the photos to fit in a web album.
   
   It's not a bad camera. I actually enjoyed using it, but at the end of the day, when you sit down and look over the photos you took, that's where the camera underwhelms.

5 comments about Panasonic VDRM70 DVD Camcorder with 2.5-inch LCD w/10x Optical Zoom.

1. These instructions suck! They leave out vital information on procedures (like the exporting and burning onto disks) and then stick it somewhere else in the book. It does not give the "how to" in step by step format. I have had this complicated mess for a year and still don't have it figured out. Recording is a breeze but getting it off your dvd-ram onto your computer is a load of crap and best of all I have yet to find a place that sells the magical dvd-r's that are compatible to this thing. I finally exported my recording from the dvd-ram into the software and now I will have to thumb through these instructions for days to find out the small paragraphs just thrown about in bits and pieces throughout this manual to figure out how to save it to a dvd-r (wherever you find the ones that go with this fickle panasonic camcorder)



2. I have had this camera for about a year. I have used to record sports events, home events, etc. I have been satisfied with the recording capability. I did have to upgrade my home dvd player so that I can use the DVD format. I have been able to transfer movies to my PC for professional editing using third party software from Pinnacle and Dazzle. The software supplied by Panasonic for PC operations does not work, period. I have tried to contact Panasonic for support, and have received absolutely no response, not even an acknowledgement. There is no way I can find to replace or upgrade the software, or to get a human to answer questions. Customer support is crucial to me, I will not buy another Panasonic product given my experience to date.



3. One star is one too many for this camera. It will only work with RAM discs with frequent errors. Found many errors in owners manual. The drive motor has gone bad and now I have nothing. Panasonic wants $500 to fix it! I don't see myself EVER buying another Panasonic ANYTHING !



4. I've had this camera for a couple of years and think it is great. In response to a couple of the negative comments posted here: 1) Using DVD-RAM discs is a huge advantage over other cameras like the Sony. It is great to be able to re-use the discs. 2) Yes, it's true that the software that comes with the camera isn't very good. I don't use it. I use Ulead Video Studio, which works great with this camera. It is even easier to use if you get a DVD-RAM drive for your PC (which will cost less than $20). I shoot a disc's worth of video, import it into Video Studio, then erase the disc and shoot some more. It is good to format the discs now and then - that should prevent disc errors. The picture quality is quite good. It is only lacking in low light, which is true of nearly all video cameras.



5. I got this camera as a Christmas present and loved it for awhile until my Dell broke and I finally got a new Mac!! I was surprised to find out that that this camera does NOT work with Mac's unfortunately. Now I can't even use it because burning to a DVD and then bringing it into iMovie reduces the quality so much, it's not even worth the hassle. When I used this camera on my dell, it worked perfectly though so no worries there!
   
   Despite it not working on Mac's, I have to say I was NOT impressed with the image quality. The auto focus is constantly searching and the manual focus doesn't work too well. I've used Sony MiniDV cameras and they are SOO much better for image quality. It's a good camera for anyone taking simple video and not taking too much action shots. Okay Camera, but there's better ones for your money out there.

5 comments about Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ20K 5MP Digital Camera with 12x Image Stabilized Optical Zoom (Black).

1. This camera is Awsome, the ZOOM is insaine on it, it gets crisp cristel clear shots, just make sure you have some experience using a more pro camera like this one.



2. I got the FZ20 when it first came out. It was an addition to several other digital and film cameras that I own.
   
   Having been a semi-pro photographer for years, we have to realize that different people look for different things in a camera. That's one reason why I have a lot of cameras.
   
   However, if size is not a factor but I still can't carry a complete camera bag with interchangeable lenses, then my go-to camera is the FZ20. Why? Well, if I am shooting in low light, the results with either a Sunpak 422D or Metz 60CT is great. Also, in normal situations where the onboard flash will work or in available light situations within the range of the camera, the lens on this hummer will catch shots that I would otherwise not get. The incredible zoom range, quality within the range and 2.8 aperture are an incredible combination. Think about it. And while it is 5 MP, because of the broad zoom range, there is far less need to crop a photo later on, losing resolution. With the FZ20 one has far greater flexibility in framing and cropping the photo in the camera, using the lens. The results are pretty stunning
   
   The camera has been very reliable over the years, taken lots of bumps and bruises, and just doesn't quit. No problems whatsoever. Destined to become a classic, I think.
   
   The internal battery is pretty good, and I always carry a spare, but I use external batteries with this to help keep me going during a shoot.
   
   CONS, well there are a few. Not the best for video display of shots taken at extremely low light, but print results look good.
   
   Some people have complained about the viewfinder and screen, I find that they work perfectly well for me, and would not have wanted to buy the camera at a higher cost for something better than it has.
   
   This is another common complaint that I read about... and that is image quality of cameras. Too often the image quality will vary depending on whether the photo is being displayed on a computer screen or printed. And if it's printed, the printer and paper used. When printing either at a lab or on my dye sub printer, I have never had a bad photo with this camera, except for, say, user error.
   
   OTOH, photos taken with my non-Lumix cameras tend to look flat and uninspiring by comparison. There is something about the Leica lenses that makes people really flip out over the Lumix shots.
   
   Also, the location of the SD card is in the BOTTOM of the camera, which is a drag when using a tripod. You have to unscrew the camera from the tripod base to get to the card. Max card capacity is 2GB. Which is generally enough. Why they didn't mount the card in the side of the camera is a mystery.



3. I've had this camera for a few years now and love it, BUT I have discovered that I cannot do long exposures needed for most night photography.
   
   The maximum built-in exposure time is 8 seconds, far too little for most night photography. It's a great camera if you don't want to do time exposures but a big disappointment if you do.



4. At 5 megapixels this camera is somewhat outdated, yet with owning newer and supposedly better cameras I still grab this one most often. The lens is stunning, fast and clear with an amazing zoom ratio. I got this camera when I was fascinated with photographing ducks. The 430mm equivalent zoom is perfect for bird photography. Compared to an SLR with equivalent length of zoom it's so light and easy to handle. And with a 36mm equivalent wide angle it replaces an entire kit of lenses. And with a 2.8 aperture it's remarkably fast for such a zoom.
   
   My biggest complaint is that the with a minimum aperture of F8 I can't get quite the depth of field that I'd sometimes like. Some other features are a bit dated, too. Maximum movie size is 320 x 240 pixels. The USB connector is only the slower version 1. But since I don't like hauling multiple lenses around (or changing them in bad weather) and don't really use this as a movie camera, it's still the camera that goes on hikes with me. If you can find a used one at a good price don't worry about the 5 MP limit. The few photos that I've needed to print at a large size, I've taken to a print shop that does giclee printing. I have a stunning 16" x 20" shot of a red tailed hawk that's as fine as any of my 35mm prints. The printing was pricey but considering the framing and mounting costs the $15 printing cost was trivial.



5. I bought this camera used for $99. What a bargain!! It takes fabulous pictures! I downloaded pictures I took at Niagra Falls and use them as my screen saver and I can't believe I took those pictures. They look like they were taken by a professional! I still have a lot to learn on this camera but so far the pictures are stunning. I can't imagine what kind of pictures I'll be able to take when I learn more about the camera.
   
   The only one tiny problem I have is where they put the digital view finder. When I look through it my nose touches the LCD screen. But other than that I love this camera. What a great find!!!

5 comments about Panasonic SV-AV50S 2MP MPEG-4 Camcorder w/2.5x Digital Zoom.

1. This camera is a piece of crap.
   
   It is poorly constructed (2 screws have already fallen out of mine) and it is repleat with poor photographic and videographic recording capabilities.
   
   I bought one of these for my wife for Christmas 2004, and was severley disappointed in the quality of the videos and photos. Yes, it is a small, compact package, but I've seen cell-phones that take better pictures than this. I even purchased a 512MB memory card for her so that she could shoot some decent length videos, but the picture quality is so bad that she hardly ever uses it.
   
   This camera doesn't even have a firewire connection (something I should have checked on before buying), so we can't download the videos to our Macs. The photos are often blurry and/or grainy (low resolution, even on the 'high reso' setting) and are really not the quality we are accustomed to. I have a Canon Powershot S40 that takes MUCH better photos (and up to 30 seconds of video) than this camera.
   
   I will not EVER be buying a Panasonic/Lumix camera again. Fool me once shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.



2. The Panasonic D-snap, model SV-AV50, is a great product. The D-snap can be used for many different tasks. It is a digital camera, camcorder, mp3 player, and voice recorder. The D-snap is small and portable. The D-snap is so small that it can fit into your pocket easily. The Panasonic D-snap is easy to recharge the batteries.
   
   The D-snap has a cradle included. Once the D-snap is connected to the cradle, many things can be done. The cradle connects the D-snap to the television set and the computer. There's an earphone and a remote controller included. The earphone is to listen to music when the D-snap is used as an mp3 player. The remote control is to help the person using the D-snap to easily press the record button or control the D-snap away from the camera.
   
   The Panasonic D-snap is simple to use. All the data is stored on a SD memory card. After taking pictures, video record, or voice record, the pictures, video clips, or voice recordings can be displayed right after by switching a switch from record to play. Afterwards, the data can be transferred into the computer. The camera can be connected to the television set and the data can be transferred to the screen.
   
   There are a few bad things about the Panasonic D-snap. First, the D-snap is so small, most of the times when the camera or camcorder feature is in use, the person's finger may get in the way and covers the lens of the camera. Second, when the video clips are transferred to the television screen, the clips are not as clear as it appeared on the LCD of the D-snap. Third, each task feature uses up too much of the memory card. Finally, when using the night vision feature, the camcorder slows the recording down.
   
   Overall, the Panasonic D-snap is very handy, useful, and convenient. It takes up little space in a female's purse, can be fitted into the pockets, and also takes up little space in the suitcase. The D-snap can perform many tasks, leaving a person less objects to carry around. If the person is taking a trip somewhere, he or she can just grab and pack the Panasonic D-snap and leave. The person does not have to look around for his or her mp3, camcorder, or camera.



3. The unit itself is well designed. The quality of video is fair, at least for such a compact unit. Photos are near worthless due to horrible quality. My cell phone has far superior images.
   
   Sadly, for all the niceties of the gadget Panasonic chose to cripple the unit with it's software and make it virtually worthless.
   
   a) the videos ARE NOT mpeg4 as advertised. Rather, they are encapsulated in an .asf DRM file which is unviewable by anyone.
   
   b) the voice recorder is fairly useless. Sure it's a digital voice recorder. But nothing can play the digital files it records but the camera. You have no way of converting them or playing them on your PC.
   
   Due to the software implementation this camera because mostly non-functional.
   
   Today I have several videos that I cannot view. You need a special plug-in. That said, Panasonic doesn't let you download without a special code.
   
   THIS IS NOT A MPEG4 CAMERA AS ADVERTISED



4. This is my second one. First one lasted 3 1/2 years........I'd buy another one if this breaks!!!



5. I regret buying this camera because I cannot view the videos I shot. If you buy a Sony digital camera it shoots video in MPEG4 format and that can be viewed by several programs such as Real Player, Windows Movie Maker, QuickTime, etc. This Panasonic camcorder claims to shoot MPEG, but it does not.
   
   The video files are something called ASF and I cannot find a program to view the videos or to convert them to real MPEGS. Going to the Panasonic site is a complete waste of time because they expect you to have a serial number just to download the program to view the videos in their non standard format.
   
   Save yourself the hassle, and get a Sony that shoots video in a standard format that is read by many programs.

5 comments about Panasonic DMW-LZACKIT Accessory Kit for the Panasonic LZ2, LZ3 and LZ5 Digital Camera.

1. This is a nice little case for my FX01 and I like the way they bundled it with an extra battery.



2. This case fits my Panasonic DMC- TZ3S 7.2MP 10 Optical Zoom camera very well. There is however no room for storing items like a spare battery or SD card. Given that the camera is a bit on the large side this case fits very snug thereby not contributing to further bulkiness. This case does not have any padding to protect from accidential knocks etc. There is also no clip on strap or place for it to secure the casing to your hand. It does however have a loop through which a waist belt can pass through. The camera strap can be fed outside the casing and substitute for lack of the external strap.
   
   The spare battery in the kit is the same as the orignial and works well. The screen protectors are too small for the size of the screen in my camera. It is good quality though and would fit nicely in the smaller cameras. I am using the protector in my Samsung D900i cell phone and it fits perfect. Overall, for the price this kit is good value for money.



3. battery is ok, screen protector to small to cover TZ3 screen and the bag to large for TZ3: Amazon should be careful when advertize this kit with TZ3!



4. A case AND a battery for under $20! AND it's Panasonic brand. You can't beat it! They work like a charm.



5. This is the oem battery. This battery can actually be used for more than the cameras listed. I use it in my fx12. OEM battery with a case for an awesome price. No other places sell the oem battery for less than $50.

5 comments about Panasonic Lumix DMC-LC70 4MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom.

1. See my detailed review for DMC-LC50...same should apply here.
   
   Panasonic dig cameras produce very sharp images. The lens is the best even compared to Canon.
   
   You won;t regret buying this



2. Compact size, 4MP, fast start up, and intuitive controls. Lots of different options to play around with that I'm still learning. Pictures can be downloaded to any computer without any software. Picture quality is excellent and the price is right. I purchased mine on Broadway Photo (bwayphoto.com) which is cheaper than amazon, $229, but they have high shipping fees and they are slow. Took them 5 days just to process the order. LCD screen could have been a little bigger, but I think this camera gives you the biggest bang for your buck!



3. This is not a bad camera at all. The only problem we have with it is that once you push the button to take the picture it takes too long for the camera to actually take the picture. We have kids and when we want to take a picture we want the picture when we push the button because otherwise you miss the action. It has a lot of great features but it didn't work for us. Like I said before, it is a great camera which is why I gave it a four star review.



4. I am having a ball with this camera.. The first time I used it, I was on vacation and with the 256 mb memory card I bought for it, I could have taken hundreds of pictures.. The camera is easy to use, and with the printer I have (Epson Photo RX600) I put the memory card straight from the camera into the printer and I have my pictures... I've printed out small wallets, 4x6, 5x7 and 8x10 and all are crisp, clear, vibrant and of expert quality.
   
   The camera also takes mpegs so I used it to capture my granddaughter during a dance performance... It took a really good little movie with clear sound that my family will treasure forever..
   
   Although the camera says to use only Panasonic batteries, I've found that any brand of good quality alkaline batteries work just as well and last just as long or longer than the Panasonic batteries that came with the camera did.
   
   I still haven't used all the features associated with this camera, but it's so easy and convenient to keep it with me to capture whatever moment I happen upon. Others have said the delay from one picture to the next can make you miss a shot, and that's the only drawback I've seen so far. Still I rate it five stars because for the price, quality, and ease of use I think it's beyond excellent!



5. This has been a good travel/weekend camera. The pictures are a bit grainy compared to my 6 MP camera, but it's good for the price. It does have a neat "digital camera for dummies" setting that's very user friendly and great for those who are new to the digital camera world.

2 comments about Panasonic Lumix DMC-F7 2.1MP Digital Camera w/ Leica Lens and 2x Optical Zoom.

1. I have a Canon PowerShot s230, and bought the Lumix for my mother for Xmas hoping to save some money and get a camera of similar quality. Sadly, I'm disappointed with the Lumix despite the savings.

   For those familiar with the Canon, you know that it's a very effective digital camera experience. It's solid, sturdy, has a great interface and takes excellent pictures. The Lumix is none of these things.

   Holding the Lumix in your hand is disappointing compared to the Canon. It's flimsy at best. There's no weight to it, but that's not a good thing. It feels hollow, as if it would really sustain serious damage if dropped or otherwise banged up. The case is stainless steel, like my Canon, but my camera's solid construction and obvious design superiority makes it a more satisfying experience. As I said, the Lumix is too light to feel dependable.

   The Lumix experience, overall, was disappointing. There's no intuitive buttons on the body of the camera. It actually took me about 20 minutes to find the 'on' button. (it's actually more if you count me trying to find it two separate times). Nothing is clearly marked. To make matters worse, there is not only no "getting started" mini-manual in the package, but the instructions are confusing with about 1 out of every 10 words spelled incorrectly.

   Finally, the operation of the camera resembles something that was designed and engineered in a rush by a company that doesn't really know what they're doing. The display on the rear of the camera is grainy, the operation of the device is sketchy, and, as I mention above, the interface of the buttons and display screen icons is confusing where it's not completely impossible to understand.

   Can you tell I'm disappointed with my purchase? If you're in the market for a camera, go with the Canon. This camera seems like it's either the last deliverable of the last generation cameras, or a rushed-to-market early adopter model of the current generation. I'm very satisfied with my Canon and will definitely never advice anyone on anything else.




2. This is my first digital camera - I've had it for over a year and overall I have been happy with the purchase. I particularly like the metal case - it is very sturdy (has survived a few falls already), nice and compact, easily fits in a front jeans pocket. Also nice is the rechargable battery: you plug a power supply straight into the camera so no need for an external charger. Now for the photo quality - in general, the photos come out quite well, sometimes they are a little grainy, but they are good for computer use and printing onto standard photo size is usually comparable to a regular camera. I would consider buying another panasonic camera when it comes time to upgrade.

3 comments about Panasonic DMCLC50 3.2MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom.

1. Adquiri esta pequeña camara hace un mes aproxidamente y tenia mis dudas acerca de la calidad de las fotos que podria obtener, pero me anime a adquirirla despues de revisar un buen numero de "reviews" publicados en Internet, y sobre todo el de Steve's Digicams, el cual ofrece imagenes de muestra en variadas circunstancias y en la maxima resolucion. Luego de efectuada la comparacion con otras camaras dentro del mismo rango de precios, llegue a la conclusion que la calidad de las fotos, en brillo, resolucion y nitidez (sharpness) eran muy similares entre la Canon A75, Nikon 3200 y esta - la LC50, estando por encima del resto de camaras, pero note que ligeramente el nivel de ruido era mejor trabajado en la LC50, ademas de tener ligeramente mas nitidez que la A70 y la Nikon 3200.
   Y bueno, me decidi a adquirir esta camara y como mencione anteriormente, luego de casi un mes de uso, los resultados han sido bastante satisfactorios, he podido obtener fotos bastante claras y nitidas y las tomas nocturnas, presentan bajos niveles de ruido. El aspecto negativo vendria a ser que esta camara es hecha de plastico y seguro muchos usuarios preferiran una camara mas solida, como las que se fabrican actualmente de metal, con el objeto de tener una camara mas duradera y segura al tacto, pero los fabricante utilizan este material a fin de reducir costos y ofrecer productos al alcance de todos.
   De otro lado, la camara ofrece tres niveles de ajustes para la imagen, siendo la opcion de "Vivid Colors" la que utilizo con mas frecuencia, sobre todo para retratar paisajes, monumentos, etc y el modo "Normal" para retrar personas.
   Considero que esta camara es altamente recomendable, para las personas que requieran una camara portatil, ligera, de facil manejo y confiable...
   Como informacion adicional, recomiendo que cuando se revise la calidad de las fotos que una camara pueda tomar, se utilize un monitor TFT LCD, ya que estas pantallas son bastante sensibles y detectan niveles de "ruido" que no son detectables con las monitores convencionales.... esto lo digo por que he leido muchos reviews y comentarios alabando las caracteristicas de ciertas camaras, cuyos defectos en la imagen son altamente perceptibles en un monitor LCD, pudiendo ser engañosos.



2. I have tried everything in digital camera world - Sony, Fuji, Canon & Panasonic.
   
   Panasonic C50 which replaced the old LC-33 produces sharper pictures than Canon A75 (i produced several prints & compared) & any other camera in this range. My wife & I finally found out that this is a hidden gem compared to other popular ones out there.
   
   For day light pictures, this is the best ! Yes, even better than Canon - canon colors are a bit over-saturated in day light & Panasonic is well balanced. Yes, leica lens makes a diff, after using panasonic for a while, we bought Canon A75 & found out Lens was so coarse & nowhere as smooth as Panasonic.
   
   But Panasonic has to fix these issues, if they want a leading model:
   1. AF Assist Lamp for low light focussing. They are doing it in high-end models now.
   
   2. Is 640 video mode too much to ask for ? They are all still 320 mode.
   
   3. Can't we have speaker to play-back videos ? this is annoying. I believe LC70 has it.
   
   4. A bit more powerful flash.
   
   5. 1.8 LCD screen maybe ?
   
   But still LC50 won't disappoint you. LC70 may be worth it becos of the in-built speaker for playback videos.



3. I tried several different brands of cameras and I am most satisfied with this Panasonic. It takes awesome pictures...fairly fast shutter release time...lots of features...As another reviewer mentioned..it does not have audio capability but personally I would not use this feature anyway...The video mode is good enough compared to other cameras in this class...I wanted a digital camera..not a camcorder so I can live with the video mode limitations...I think by not having all the bells and whistles helps keep the price reasonable since it does have a quality Leica lens...I rather this lens and give up some other bells that I would only use now and then. I get very good indoor pictures with the flash....which to me has a better than average range...The menu is easy to use once you become familiar with it..Fairly compact size..very tiny but also chunky at the same time... Only reason I would not give this camera 5 stars is that nothing is perfect....I love this camera..

5 comments about Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX30S 7.2MP Digital Camera with 3.6x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Silver).

1. I like it lots. I haven't figured it out yet, but its going to be a lot of fun using that wide angle feature of this camera.



2. This is a great camera, that takes great pictures. I got one for Christmas, and decided we needed 2. The pictures are great, and the videos that it can take are good quality. I would not rely on it as a video camera, but it's handy when you need one.



3. great deal at $166. not as intuitive to use until you get used to wheel to set modes. i cannot see small symbols on wheel without glasses. screen is nice and big, but lack of viewfinder makes it harder for outdoor shots in sunlight. excellent battery life. fabulous quality pictures with no blur. excellent auto fill in flash for backlit outdoor shots. very pleased with it.



4. I knew how this camera worked. My boyfriend had one just like it a few years back, so I was obsessed in getting it myself. But in the meantime, the great little camera I knew turned into an even greater camera. Now it makes movies and has a lot of little features that help you take amazing pictures. In three words: I Love It! Always keep it in my purse handy. It's just the greatest little cam I ever had, and people just love my pictures.



5. Super good purchase. Compact camera with tons and TONS of functions. Very intuitive operating system (had no need for user guide reference). Very good quality photos and unexpectedly for videos also. I liked the inteli-ISO function for low lighting conditions. Best of all, it felt like it had the best price in the market for what I got. I'd definitely recommend this item.

5 comments about Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ10K 4MP Digital Camera with 12x Optical Zoom (Black).

1. I bought this camera in August of this year so I've had time to play with it for a while. I'm very pleased with it's performance. It is very easy to use, at least for basic usage--I'm still learning all of it's bells and whistles. The pictures look great, so far I have only enlarged to 8x10 but they are beautiful. The only drawbacks are, as with all of my digital cameras it is not a great performer in low light conditions. In fact, sometimes you are shooting blind. Also, if I don't have the flash up my pictures have a blue tint to them. I'm sure that I just need to read the manual because I know you can adjust the color some.



2. I have a web site in which I compared identical pictures of Minolta A1, Nikon 5200, Canon S60 and Sony W1. Althought the latter two (Canon and Sony) were also excellent, the Panasonic FZ10 was the best of the cameras in terms of picture quality and flexibility. The S60 is certainly a close contender in quality. But the Leica Zoom 35-420mm on such a light camera, re-defines the meaning of travel camera.
   
   In the old days a travel SLR camera was at best a 28 to 90mm SLR. The thought of taking along a 300 or 400mm zoom was absurd because those lenses weighed too much or were too big. But the Panasonic FZ10 changes all that. While it is technically not an SLR, it certainly serves the same function about 98% of the time. I took the camera on a recent cruise to Scandinavia, and got great pictures from 35mm to 420mm.
   
   The anti-shake feature is very handy for those long focal length pictures, and works very well.
   
   HIGHLY RECOMMENDED



3. There was no other camera that could compete with this when it came out, and now only its sucessors from Panasonic can do so (well them and a $900 Nikon, but I'd rather save my money). This camera is that good. Is it perfect? No, not at all. I could write a lengthy listing of gripes, but they pale in comparisons to the positives:
   
   A high performance Leica designed (Panasonic manufactured) lens
   Opitical image stabilizer
   Fast burst mode
   12x zoom
   Solid Japanese built body
   
   All in all, you will have fun taking great shots at birthday parties, zoos, fireworks, parks, concerts, and many other places--I did. Why? The lens, it allows for blur free images thanks to its wide aperture and image stabilizer, and it also allows you to get close to the action with a tremendous zoom. Other camers may offer 10x zooms, but the lack the image stabilizer so everything is big AND BLURRY. Buy this or the newer FZ-15 or FZ-20 from Panasonic--you won't regret it.



4. My wife got this camera for me when they were relased in 12/03 for my Christmas presant. I was very sick at the time with a Galbladder infection and lose of patassium. It was March before I felt like useing the camera. It worked great and was everything I was wanting in a camera. The first big usage of this was on vacation. All otoaled I have taken 1300 pixs with this unit. I got up on the 21st of this Feb to us it to post a knife on eBay I turned on the camera and hear a strange grinding sound, as I tried to focus I could not get it to in manual or auto and it has nt worrked since. My wife paid almost $600 for this unit. When I call the Panasonic help line they tell me that unfortuinately it will have to be sent in for repair and is no longer covered under warrnety. spend a little extra and buy a cannon!!!!!!!!!!!!!



5. I bought this camera in June '04 and haven't had a single problem with it. If the rating system had half stars, I would give it a 4.5 out of 5. It's that good, really.
   
   I have an extra battery; it comes in very handy because recharging takes some serious time. I bought a 512 MB smart media - a wise investment when yhou're on trips.
   
   Of all the things it does well, the lens is the best feature. 12x zoom brings the subject in close with sharp edges and great color and contrast. The image stabilizer works very well, as several other reviewers have noted. However, it can give you a false sense of security at long focal ranges; for really sharp images at the upper reaches of the lens, you need a tripod or a really steady grip on the camera. The manual focus works well and macro mode brings you stunning close-ups. The flash is OK for small groups but has limited range; I prefer to set the ASA fairly high and skip the flash to avoid the inevitable differences in exposure based on distance from the camera.
   
   The camera is surprisingly large, due in large part to the lens; it's too large to slip into your pocket. But it's durable. Over the past 10 months it has knocked into chairs, tables, doors and whatever, and even survived a drop on a hardwood floor, with no apparent damage.
   
   The LCD is big and bright but washes out in strong sunlight as do most others. Switching to the viewfinder takes care of this problem. The diopter adjustment on the viewfinder helps people like me (with glasses) see the screen easily.
   
   This is the first camera I have had with PictBridge, the ability to print straight from the camera. I hook up the USB cable to my printer and set the printer for 4x6 and have a print in less than a minute. I chose the Canon i960 printer, which has worked well with this camera - easy to set up, easy to print and really sharp prints with great color and contrast. It would be nice if Panasonic would allow you to pick several pictures to print at one time, instead of one at a time, but this is a minor inconvenience.
   
   Overall, I am very pleased with this camera and have taken a lot of great pictures with it.