5 comments about Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ30S 8MP Digital Camera with 12x Image Stabilized Optical Zoom (Silver).

1. some of the more "technical" reviews of this camera {on various web sites} seem to distract from the facts... this is a fine camera for the money! it has EVERY option anyone could hope for, and a few that I still have not even found yet!
   
   the picture quality is excellent, IF you have patience and read the manual, the zoom lens is Incredible!! yes there may be "noise" issues, but I spent an entire lifetime using grainy film cameras so no big deal!
   
   look at the customer images that have been sent in, and be sure to check out the pictures I posted here..I surprised myself!! those are the reasons for buying the DMC-FZ30, you can't argue with the facts, spectacular photographs ARE available thru this camera...
   
   so, don't let the tech experts throw you off at getting a great camera for the money, after all were talking about taking pictures, not launching a rocket. you will not be dissapointed in this neat camera!



2. I'm a camera dummy but I get really great pictures with this camera. One of my friends thought I had an expensive SLR camera when he saw some of my pictures and looked really puzzled over how I got such such great pictures when I told him it was "just" a Panasonic, not a Nikon.
   
   I've had this camera for around a year and use it almost every day. It's a workhorse and it's been flawless. Be sure to get a 1 gig high speed SD memory card to go with it. Also, get a tripod for those zoom shots.



3. It might even compete with the SLR's but I don't have a digital SLR so I can't really make that statement. My FZ-30 served me well for 2 years until it quit working due to getting wet. (Thank you American Airlines)
   
   I primarily use my camera for well lit out door shots. I do a lot of sports photography and the telephoto is always on max. I did use it for indoors as well and never saw the noise problem that some people comment about. It has a great balance and feel, focused accurately and took crisp clear pictures with accurate colors.
   
   I decided to replace it with a Canon S3 IS (very good reviews)since the FZ-30 was out of production, and the Canon was about $150 less. That was a mistake. There is no comparison, The Panasonic took so much clearer pictures. The Canon is quite a bit smaller and lighter, it does not have the quality feel of the Panasonic. I am returning the Canon and ordering an FZ-50.



4. A Retired professional, I have had medium format and numerous pro 35mm's. This is my choice camera. I have prints on my wall up to 24x30 (and larger which I gave as gifts) from this camera. They were printed by non-pro, online order labs and they receive great unsolicited compliments. This camera has top capabilities and came with a leica 35-420 lens! It is easy to operate and the battery long-lived. I was comparing it to newer cameras since I'm used to having to upgrade frequently, and realized there is no need to spend more. Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ30K 8MP Digital Camera with 12x Image Stabilized Optical Zoom (Black)



5. This is a very nice camera for taking on my bike rides. Though it is not a pocket sized Point and shoot camera, it weight much less than my Nikon D-200. I love the 12X optical zoom. I was able to photograph a nest of Sandhill Cranes every day, as I biked the trail next to the nesting pond. True to the reviews I had read about it, this camera has some noise issues at anything higher than 80 Iso. At max optical telephoto it also produces softer photos than I would get with the Nikon, but closer range it takes tack sharp photos with great, true color rendition. The vibration reduction is great. I have shot some cose-ups in the shade at a 30th of a second and got sharp results. I found the rotating LCD screen helpful with low angle and some higher angle photos. The transfer time is a bit slow, but when you use a faster memory card, I have found it satisfactory. I use a high speed 1 GB SD card and shoot at the raw setting with acceptable results. I haven't tried all the possibilities with this camera, since I've only had it for a short time, but, even with it's noise shortcomings, I would recommend this camera to friends.

5 comments about Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ8S 7.2MP Digital Camera with 12x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Silver).

1. i am a two time panasonic owner and love their products. i owned my previous camera for about 4 years and absolutly loved it. the only reason i upgraded to the dmc-fz8 is because the old on had a crack in the lens. which i didn't know about until i was on vacation. the dmc-fz8 is an execellent camera with more features than i could ever use. the zoom on this camera is incredible. although the pictures tend to get grainy at full extended zoom. anyone have any solutions to this grainyness? other than that i have had no problems. the dmc-fz8 was well worth the money i payed and would do it again. thanks to amazon for all the reviews and imformation which help me make my decision on what camera to buy.



2. Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ8K 7.2MP Digital Camera with 12x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Black)
   
   I recommend this product 100%, is excellent!!!!!!!



3. I borrowed my friend's Panasonic FZ8 this past weekend to photograph my son's birthday party. I took about 150 photos total. I took all photos on Manual mode. Finding a photo that is sharp is a actually challenge! I ended up deleting 90% of the photos after uploading them to the computer. So, if you take lots of photos indoors where a flash is usually needed, keep on shopping. After taking dozens of photos indoors, I went outside to test the camera under bright sunlight. Horrible. photos were overexposed. I wouldn't want a free FZ8, let alone buy one.



4. We needed a camera to replace our Kodak C743 that my wife carries in her purse. We use a Digital SLR most of the time, but we like to have one with us for those times we "wish we had a camera".
   Anyway, here are some good points about this camera. Put it on the simple mode and you get great pics. Some pics have some red-eye, but it is probably one of the better compact cameras on handling red-eye. Its very durable and easy to use. We recently came back from a vacation on took almost 1400 pictures with this camera. All with the flash and the battery held up well.
   The only real bad point I have on this camera is the size. Its kind of bulky for a "compact" camera, but overall I would recommend it as a buy.



5. Pros: Image quality, features and UI, price, optical zoom, weight.
   
   Cons: Larger than expected, not great for wide angle (or indoor, low light stuff).
   
   Thoughts: You can't beat the price. I researched for quite a while before buying this camera and I choose right; I would buy it again. It's just right for what I wanted to use it for: outdoor landscape pictures and long range. Not really interested in indoor photography. (The long shutter setting is great for night shots, as long as you have a tripod.)

5 comments about Panasonic DMC-FX07K 7.2MP Digital Camera with 3.6x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Black).

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 Lumix DMC-LS70S 7MP Digital Camera with 3x Image Stabilized Zoom.

1. My husband is a newspaper reporter and actually wrote a column about our little Lumix.
   A month or so ago we had a blizzard here in Ohio so we walked around the town to take photos. My camera fell out of my pocket somewhere along the road and we couldn't find it. The snow eventually started melting away and 2 weeks later our camera was found in a melting snow drift downtown. We took the batteries out and let it dry out for 3 days. We put the batteries back in, flipped on the power switch and it started right up. It is literally in perfect condition. I would recommend this camera to anyone.
   Before this camera I had 2 Sonys and I don't think either of them would've withstood 2 weeks in the elements.



2. DHL deliver the product in a different direction to the direction of delivery and the product is lost



3. I wanted a small point and shoot camera for taking pictures while we are out and about. Tired of lugging a big heavy camera. I also wanted to get a good price. This camera is great for the price and small and light enough. The only problem is that it's not an easy point and shoot. You have to put it on the right setting to get a decent picture and change the settings frequently based on what your photographing. Settings are not as simple as setting the dial either. But once you get a hang of it, it's not so bad. It downloads pics easily and has a decent battery life. It wasn't the perfect camera for me but it is a very good camera.



4. Bought it for my girlfriend who was still using a film camera. Took fantastic pictures on our trip, easy to use. Uses AA rechargeable batteries which is a big plus. The only thing it does not have is a viewfinder, which can effect shots in very bright sunlight. However, it was worth sacrificing the viewfinder in order to have the picture stabilization feature. It never took a bad photo! I recommended it to my travel agent, and she also bought one!



5. When I was in the market for a digital camera, I researched and researched and researched. I wanted something fairly inexpensive that also took great pictures--a hard find in today's market. After reading tons of reviews on Amazon (and elsewhere), I decided that the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LS70/LS75 was my best bet. I have not been disappointed. The camera takes GREAT pictures (better than my brother's brand new 8 megapixel Sony Cybershot), the optical image stabilization is amazing, and I love the fact that it runs on AA batteries (no more having to keep up with a charger)! The colors are beautiful and the pictures are crisp and clear. This is a definite winner if you're looking for an inexpensive camera that will still take great shots. The only con: no audio in video mode. I never took videos on my old camera, so this doesn't bother me. I'd much rather have a camera that costs $100 less and has great picture quality.
   
   You can't go wrong with this camera. I highly recommend it!

5 comments about Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ6S 7.2MP Digital Camera with 6x Image Stabilized Zoom (Silver).

1. Muy buena camara, su precio es bastante accesible a la calidad que ofrece.
   Simplemente genial. Para aquellos que no nos conformamos con una camara pequeña, pero tampoco somos profesionales en el tema.
   Aun no he utilizado todas las cualidades que posee, sin embargo ya estoy teniendo muy buenos resultados fotograficos.



2. Although this item was wrong for my operating system, I wanted to give the 5 stars to Amazon cutomer service! This one one Company that stands behind their policies, guarantees & high standards of service.
   Great items, great service & greatly appreciated! "Thank you Amazon"



3. Bought this camera a month ago and used on a trip. Already had over 1000 shots on it. Love its rich features - flexible. Excellent picture quality. Its image stablizer seems to be effective. I also have a Lumix 5Mp camera which is also excellent. I think that there are two limitations on the Lumix cameras people need to know before buying. (1) It does not have a "view-window" (only LCD screen). It is impossible to see the screen in sunlight when you don't have a hat or something to shield the reflection; (2) If you plan to use rechargable NiHM batteries, buy only quality rechargable with 2500ma or better. It won't tolerate less quality rechargables.



4. Excellent camera for the money. Takes sharp, clear photos and has a good anti-jittering option. Loaded with features, but the camera display menus are a little confusing and the printed user's guide is cumbersome. That said, the camera is very easy to use for the average point-and-shoot photographer like myself. More experienced photo enthusiasts will probably get a lot more out of it if they wish to explore the seemingly endless feature menus.



5. Camera does all that it suppose to, however it is difficult to view image in bright light.

5 comments about Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX10S 6.0MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Silver).

1. I bought this camera for my wife because she wanted something small and simple as an alternative to my camera. It is definitely small easily fitting in a purse or shirt pocket. The quality feels good and the option for a pink color was a nice touch. The necessary functions of the camera are easy to find and use. I know that, because if they weren't my wife would be more frustrated and lets me know when she can't figure something out. It takes decent snapshots. Not being one to work with lots of features, she manages just fine.
   
   This is the third digital camera I bought, all Panasonic. I have done detailed pre-purchase comparisons I find that Panasonic has high quality and features for a better price than the more well-known brands such as Canon or Sony. I do select for media type and rule out anything that doesn't use SD cards because I have lots of them from several devices. It doesn't have a viewfinder, but the LCD screen is big and bright covering most of the back of the camera. Image stabilization is a good feature for someone who takes snapshots without thinking about the camera settings.
   
   I haven't evaluated the fine points of picture quality... that's not what I bought the camera for. Her first use was to take new-born pictures of our grandson. We were all satisfied with the results.



2. Perfect size. Great stabilizer, great photos. It takes the picture very fast and not having to wait to take the next photo. It's just great, I love it!



3. i have an fz50 and a leica d-lux 2 made along with panasonic. my wife wanted a pocket replacement for her ancient casio with a postage stamp size screen. she picked this one in spite of a lack of viewfinder. it is truly pocket size and quick reacting. beautiful results. don't expect miracles shooting in low light without a flash. turn the flash on and live with it, or practioce alot with the flash off. panasonic makes solid electronics, and leica lenses are the best.



4. I ordered this product in early October and received a notice about ten days later that it was delayed but have heard nothing since and it is now late November.



5. This camera was so awesome, it was stolen from me. I'm not rich, so I'll wait to write another review until I know more, but for the week or so we were together, it took perfect pictures, had some cool settings, took a decent video(even in the dark ;)

5 comments about Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ20S 5MP Digital Camera with 12x Image Stabilized Optical Zoom (Silver).

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 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.

No comments about Panasonic DMC-LX3S 10.1MP Digital Camera with 2.5x Wide Angle MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Silver).

5 comments about Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ2 5MP Digital Camera with 6x Image Stabilized Optical Zoom (Silver).

1. I've had this camera and been using it heavily for several years now. The Amazon review above describes most of the camera's strengths and shortcomings but I'd like to add that the "Mega-Burst" mode where you can shoot 4 frames in rapid succession is a really great feature. I re-discovered it when my infant son started smiling and we've captured some great shots with it that we just never could have captured.
   
   I've captured a lot of great shots with this camera and generally get the best color with the flash turned off. In retrospect, I'd buy it again.



2. I bought this camera in 2005. The colors of the pictures are magnificent; the 6x optical zoom rocks for such as small camera. The only problem is shooting consecutive pictures with flash - camera is too slow.
   
   Up to now it still works wonderfully even though I've accidentally dropped it several times on cemented floors, tiles, stone, name it! I admit, I am clumsy and i am thankful that this camera is very durable.



3. Purchased this camera for the 6x zoom. Worked well for about a year. It is pretty much impossible to see anything in the LCD outdoors in any kind of daylight. You often have to just point and guess. When it took pictures the quality was very good. After about a year the LCD screen when black. All the menu items would show, even the flash would go, but the pictures were just black. Replacing batteries would sometimes work for a day. Enjoyed the 6x zoom and the picture quality, but really can't recommend that camera. Look for something more reliable.



4. I've had this camera for two years and I absolutely love it. I'm not a big electronics geek who has to have the latest and best of everything that's new on the market, but this camera has given me 2 full years of enjoyment without any problems and it has taken some incredible pictures for internet use and also just for family.
   
   It has a video and sound feature which has been a lot of fun. I love the size. It is really well-made and easy to use. I accidentally bumped it the other day and now the lense is stuck in one position, so I am just going to get another one just like this one because there is really nothing that I don't like about this camera and some other camera's with higher megapixels don't have as much zoom as this one.



5. I'm just a point and shoot guy. I don't use all the fancy settings on this camera and I only glanced at the manual. The pics are awesome. I've gotten numerous compliments on my photos with very little thought and effort on my part. The colors are accurate and vivid. The feature I find most useful is the quick set up time between activation and ready to shoot. No problems in the year I've had it.