Features

• Leica DC Vario-Element Lens System with 11 elements in 8 groups (3 aspherical lenses/3 aspherical surfaces)
• 12x Optical zoom (equivalent to 36mm to 432mm on a 35mm film camera lens) with aperture of F2.8 to 3.3 & 4x digital zoom
• Compact 6mp camera with Mega Optical Image Stabilization which addresses "anti-blu" of hand & subject movement
• LSI Venus engine II handles image processing, LCD functions, & writing to the memory card simultaneously for incredible responsiveness
• Five software packages included, comes with battery charger& pack, 16MB Sd memoery card, AV cable, USB connection cable, AC cable, strap, CD Rom, Lens cap, lens hood, & lens hood adaptor

Reviews (27)

No more film for this artist.
The potential for creativity and control with this camera is astounding and a Leica lens! For the price some of the expectations in the reviewshave been a little high.This is not an SLR and should not be compared to one. Give this camera a try. Use a tripod, invest in the best photo paper and get in close. This camera will follow your lead with a very strong finish.
BIGGGG step up over the terrific FZ5 except in pixels
I loved the FZ5 but up'ed to the FZ7 not for 1 MP but the bigger LCD.To my surprise, I find the menu and button layout improved and intuitive.I can't compare this to similar Sony and Canon offerings but this camera is for sure smaller and very light. The image stab is unbelieveable..when I'm hiking at 8 to 12 K feet and stop to take a pix, I'm breathing hard and can see the viewfinder jump in time with my pulse.No prob, sqeeze off a shot at ISO 100 and the image is crisp.This should have been an 8 MP camera if Panasonic wanted to really wanted offer an "upgrade"...too bad, but for me 6 MP works.

Great trade-off camera at this price point!
I resisted providing a review of this camera for about 2 months now in order to make sure everything was as I would like it.I can now say that this camera is a great choice for those that are looking for a trade-off between ultra-compact, and long-zoom SLR.I recently took it to a Black Eyed Peas concert that was in the evening. The pictures I took at 12x zoom were really good.The large screen is perfect for sharing with friends immediately.The simple mode is good for taking most pictures, and if you like to fiddle, it's got just enough of the manual features to give you those options.It's considerably lighter than a digi-SLR, with a better form-factor (I think) than either the Canon S3 or Sony H2.I would definitely recommend. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Your son takes his first step, or your daughter takes her encore bow at her first recital. Luckily, you were ready with your digital camera and caught this historic moment. But wait! The photo you took is blurry. In your excitement, you accidentally shook the camera just as you snapped the shutter. If this has ever happened to you--and you are by no means alone!--then you'll want to take a close look at the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ3 5-megapixel digital camera with 6x image-stabilized optical zoom.Read more

Features

• 5.0-megapixel CCD captures enough detail for photo-quality 13 x 17-inch prints
• 6x image-stabilized optical zoom; 2.0-inch LCD display
• Playback of 9, 16, and 25 images is possible on a multi-split screen
• Consecutive shooting feature lets you take up to five shots per second
• Powered by 2 AA-size batteries; stores images on SD memory cards (includes 14 MB of internal memory)

Reviews (9)

Great camera for 13 months...
I bought this camera just over a year ago and really enjoyed it.
great camera..bad photo software
I purchased the Panasonic LUMIX DMC LZ3 camera this summer for our family use. It's been a very good product and takes great pictures at an affordable price. The one knock I have found is the included software LUMIX Simple viewer is extremely lacking. Aside from printing photos or e-mailing them, you cannot easily find the files on your hard drive. The only way to move around the files is to export them back onto your photo card and then move them to a destination. I have since found another program to manage the files. Get the camera and the cannoli s, leave the software.

Great easy to use camera
I bought this camera for my daughter's 13th birthday. She is into salamanders and has 2 geckos. I have not seen a bad picture come out of this camera! I have several black pets that are usually impossible to photograph. They come out clear, with their eyes open! We have also not seen a single blurry photo due to the image stabilization.
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Features

• 10.1-megapixel CCD captures enough detail for photo-quality 18 x 24-inch prints
• 12x image-stabilized optical zoom; 2.0-inch free-angle LCD display
• Intelligent ISO Control (I.I.C.) reduces image blur from subject movement and low light
• Records full-size movies in wide-aspect VGA (848 x 480) at 30 frames per second
• Stores images on SD memory cards (32MB card included); powered by li-ion battery pack (battery and charger included)

Reviews (10)

Superior advanced digicam
This is my first Panasonic camera so I am coming to this completely objectively. People seem to be divided into two groups regarding the FZ50 (and by extension, most of Panasonic's recent digicams) - those who find it's image quality impressive despite it's limitations and enjoy it's superiority in most other areas and those who feel the FZ50 should have been a lot more than it is, lacking the output to back up it's DSLR stylings and not being a revolutionary upgrade over the FZ30. I stand somewhere in the middle but leaning more towards the first view.
All you might ever need
This is my fourth digital camera and comes to replace my Dymage A1 that stopped working right after its warranty expired. I am a serious enthusiast photographer since 2001. The FZ50 is a handsome and light digital camera with wonderful features that work for me, such as the moving LCD screen. The screen turns all around allowing you to take yourself a picture. But the beauty of this is in some special pictures, such as putting the camera at ground level and shoot from there or lifting your camera over a crowd and still be able to frame your shot well. The full Manual Mode works so great that I might abandone the automatic all together. Pictures in the DMC-FZ50 were coming out overexposed in the automatic mode; I have solved this by shooting at S priority. One more thing: No review talks about it, not even the Panasonic official description of this camera, but the DMC-FZ50 has a very decent macro. I have been taking close up pictures my cats and of the flowers in my garden and they came out really good. For a simple person like me, 10 megapixels help me when I need to crop a third of a picture in my computer and still retain printing quality.Actually, the camera lens are excellent and I have not experienced any "noise." The viewfinder is very clear. Besides its great Zoom, this camera also takes EXCELLENT indoor pictures, better so if you use a tripod. The crude reality tough is that, although it is very easy to learn and operate, this camera is no instamatick. So you need to know some photography to really enjoy all its features and get back what you paid for. The bottom line that works for me is: I'm small, fragile and not really rich, I just cannot see myself carryingexpensive SLR digital cameras with heavy and costly interchangeable lens. And, frankly, unless you want to make it into the photography business, you will not need more than this camera to take excellent pictures. In fact, this is the type of camera that might take you into the next step of your picture taking experience because it is very rewarding; so you will be taking good pictures like crazy.

Great camera, features, and more
This camera seems to be quite misunderstood. I have read review after review, and most complaints deal with the "noise" of the camera. There is in fact an issue with noise if you plan on shooting above ISO 400. But thinking about this, anything above ISO 400 would prduce some noise in most cameras. Even my digital SLR has noise when I go above ISO 400. If you plan on shooting outdoors, this camera has done well. Indoor shots using the flash are great. No red eye.
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Features

• 5-megapixel CCD captures enough detail for photo-quality 13 x 17-inch prints
• 2.5-inch high-angle LCD display with Power LCD function; 10x image-stabilized optical zoom
• High-sensitivity mode (up to ISO 1600) reduces motion blur; Unlimited Consecutive Shooting at 3 frames per second
• The Venus Engine III reduces release time lag to as little as 0.006 seconds
• Powered by Lithium-ion battery pack (included); stores images on SD memory cards

Reviews (36)

Indoor video quality sets this camera apart
I bought this camera based on the high approval rating on this site and on ConsumerReport's advice that it had excellent video quality.
Comment to "Noisy...no manual features" review
I don't think you can compare this camera to the canon S2/S3 or the Sony H5.This is a compact, pocket camera that is half their size and weight.You will not get a zoom that is as clear as something that has twice the space to work with.Compare this to similar cameras: Sony Cybershots or Canon SDxxx then you would be more than impressed.3x versus 10x....no competition.If you are looking for a camera with a great zoom that is compact and easy to carry with you everywhere, then look no further.Also, ignore digital zoom when you are researching.Digital zoom just makes everything more blurry.Optical zoom is key to great pictures.Hope this helps others in their decision. :-)

Panasonic lumix rocks
I owned two Panasomic Lumix cameras: FZ1 and TZ1. Besides them, I also have extensive experiences using Canon , Nikon models that were highly rated. The major usage of my camera are for shooting macro images, and nothing beats Lumix in that. The images yielded by Lumic are so precise, cripsy, natural. Once you own a Panasonic Lumix, it is difficult to go with other models. The combination of the LEICA lens, the high resolution LCD, and the magical autonomic shooting mode makes Lumix unbeatable! ... Read more

Editorial Review

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX01K 6MP Compact Digital Camera with 3.6x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom features a Leica DC Vario-Elmarit Lens that deliver outstanding, crisp six megapixel images. With a combined zoom power of 14.4x -- 3.6x optical zoom and 4x digital zoom -- and a burst shooting mode that allows you to take up to 8 images at 2 frames per second, the Lumix DMC-FX01K offers professional quality features and performance.Read more

Features

• Features a Leica DC Vario-Elmarit Lens with a combined zoom power of 14.4x -- 3.6x optical zoom and 4x digital zoom
• Mega Optical Image Stabilization features "anti-blur" to keep photos clear and blur-free
• Mega Burst feature takes up to 8 consecutive shots
• 2.5-inch diagonal polycrystalline TFT LCD; playback mode offers 25- or 9-thumbnail displays
• Included lithium-ion battery pack provides up to 320 shots between charges

Reviews (33)

This Camera Has A WIDE ANGLE Lens
If you are interested in portable digital point and shoot cameras, since Canon discontinued the Power Shot S-80, this one is one of THREE digital point and shoot cameras on the market that I know of that have a "true" WIDE ANGLE lens of 28mm! (The other is: The Canon Power Shot SD800 IS for [...]----and another one is Kodak EasyShare V570 which has a 23mm lens and sells for about [...])
Great wide-angle lens and 16:9 format in a stylish, pocketable camera
I love this camera. I originally bought it for my wife but I've been using it more than she has. The wide-angle lens is great and I value it much more than a big zoom. It's great for close-up shots, group photos, and landscapes. The 16:9 format is great for landscapes, sunsets, etc. The display is clear and bright but a little slow.
PERFECT!!!Have fun with movies and wide angle lens!
So first, this camera does show very noticeable noise in low light/ high iso.
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Features

• 10.2-megapixel CCD captures enough detail for photo-quality 18 x 24-inch prints
• 4x image-stabilized optical zoom; 2.8-inch LCD display
• Intelligent ISO Control (I.I.C.) reduces image blur from subject movement and low light
• Can record movies in a high-definition (1280 x 720) format at 15 frames per second
• Stores images on SD memory cards; powered by li-ion battery pack (battery and charger included)

Reviews (3)

Sweet LITTLE Camera
I bought this camera primarily for its ability to take raw images and for its sort-of-manual exposure settings. I'm into taking HDR images (google HDR) and they require several images over a wide exposure (6 - 8+ EV). This camera works fine in both areas, plus it takes w i d e 28mm photos in w i d e aspect ratio so it is what I was looking for. HDR images sum the noise from several photos so they are by nature noisy. I use NEAT IMAGE to clean them up. This is a very nice $500-ish camera. There are better point-and-shoot cameras at that price point but I could find none other that met my own needs.
MY FIRST DIGITAL CAMERA!!!!
THIS CAM IS AMAZING!!!!All I can say is Leica Lens ... I had taken the specs to a local camera shop and tried to see what they had to compare ... all he showed me was Leica's at around 8 Megapixel (and they can't even do the high def video!)... so I was like - well guess I am getting this Panasonic then!
Still Needs Work
Reading the reviews of the LX1, I desperately hoped that this one would fix the noise issue. Well, when I got it, it was already past sunset, so it was a great time to test it. I took a few pictures of my computer screen inside a dark room. I took them auto mode using 10, 8, 5, and 2 MP to see how big the file sizes were using standard JPEG compression, and then at 10 MP again using maximum compression.
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Features

• Features professional-quality 3CCD imaging system
• 2.7-inch wide LCD display
• 3.1-megapixel still image capture
• 10x optical Leica lens with 700x digital zoom brings you close to the action
• Records to miniDV or directly to PC through DV (FireWire) or high-speed USB 2.0 interfaces

Reviews (11)

Quality cannot be beat!!!
Got this for $480.There is no new camcorder on this planet and at this price which can give you better quality.
Excellent quality,very easy to use.
Love being able to take picture while filming, very rich crisp video and vivid beautiful realistic color.

Perfect for Educational and How-To Videos
I purchased the PV-GS300 several months ago and have been using it to create a educational video, and it works great. Images are good and sharp, good color too. The ability to switch between 4:3 and 16:9 ratio is very handy! Still photos at 16:9 are sharp.
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Features

• Features professional-quality 3CCD imaging system
• 2.7-inch wide LCD display
• 4.0-megapixel still image capture
• 12x optical Leica lens with 700x digital zoom brings you close to the action
• Records to miniDV or directly to PC through DV (FireWire) or high-speed USB 2.0 interfaces

Reviews (15)

Fantastic Camcorder- Great Value
This is a great camcorder for the price. If you are looking at the Panasonic PV-GS line of camcorders, This is the way they should rate:
Great economical 3CCD video camera. Works with OS X.
I have no complaints about this camera. Very happy with my purchase. It does the job and captures great video. And I have had no problem transferring video via Firwire running OS X on my MacBook using Apple's Final Cut Express HD software.

Worth all the time I spent researching it!
I just got my Panasonic PV-GS500 camcorder/digital camera on Friday.I have not had a lot of time to completely try out all its features (which probably has more than I will ever use for either personal or business reasons), but I already love it.One review states that it is over 3 pounds.This is only true if you include all the accessories that come with it.Normal operation (a lens cap, hand strap, tape, SD card, and battery), along with the camera/camcorder, put this unit at just under 1.4 pounds, which is certainly NOT heavy.Also, Amazon does a disservice to potential customers when it lists "What's in the box?" on this page.More than the three items mentioned comes with this camcorder.In fact, everything that the company packages with this camcorder comes with it.To see which accessories are included, you can go to Panasonic's website, click on this product, and view its product manual.The included accessories are listed near Page 12, I believe.You get things like cables, batteries, remotes, a manual, software, etc.I have never written a review before, but these two things compelled me to do so.I love this camera, and Amazon is reputable and offers a great price on it.I did a lot of research on all camcorder/camera combos, and this one won out in my opinion. ... Read more

Editorial Review

When Panasonic digital technologies converged with Leica optical technologies, the result was the amazing Lumix line of digital cameras from Panasonic. The Panasonic Lumix DMC-LS2 5 MP Digital Camera with 3x Image Stabilized Zoom combines the best of optical and digital technologies in a single, high-performance camera.Read more

Features

• High-performance 3x optical zoom and 4x digital zoom for 12x total zoom performance
• Features advanced optical image stabilizer technology to reduce blurred images
• LCD allows playback of1, 9, 16, or 25 images on a multi-split screen
• Can take consecutive shots at three frames per second with full resolution
• Takes up to 250 shots with two AA batteries (included)

Reviews (6)

nervous at first, now, very excited about it
I did a lot of research before buying my first digital camera.I wanted a quality camera, and I went back and forth between the $300+ and the under $150 camera's.I chose this one because I figured at $140, 5MP, and 3x optical zoom, I would use it for a year and then get a new one and not feel gipped.Well, the camera is so great!I knew nothing about digital camera's, the instructions use language that I'm not familiar with, but the camera is very user friendly.It takes some tinkering with, but it's easy to figure everything out.Pictures come out crystal clear.The different picture scene modes make for some creative pictures.I travel a lot, I love to go out to the clubs and bars, party in the moonlight and dance till the sun rises, I love to do outdoor and indoor sports... this camera is light, small, I can keep it in my pocket, and it takes great pictures.I have a mac computer, so the cd didn't load.. but all you have to do is connect the camera and the computer and an icon pops up.Do a little copy and paste, easy.The battery life is good.I like the fact that it used AA batteries, because when travelling overseas, it's easy to buy batteries, and more difficult to make sure you find an outlet to charge your camera.After about 4 days of using it continuously, the battery still was a little over 1/2 full.I was a little concerned about the optical zoom, thought maybe I should invest in a camera that had more... well, after taking a picture of a house, I was able to zoom in and read the words on a post-it note on the front door- 3x is plenty!I Highly recommend this camera.

Totally terrific camera!!!!
This is supposedly an entry level digital camera, but I have already found more cool bells and whistles than I will ever use. Since most of my photography is of performance horses, I was very interested in how the camera would handle the in motion pictures. The "sports" mode stops them in their tracks with totally terrific resolution. It is very easy to operate with on screen menus that really are effortless to use.
Good Camera for the price
Camera has good features and decent battery life for a "regular" camera.For those of you who don't need a special camera and just want something that can take decent pictures.This is a good one.I like it. ... Read more

Features

• Slim & compact 10x optical zoom (equivalent to 35mm to 350mm lens on 35mm film camera) with optical image satbilization
• World's first "high-angle" LCD mode from 2.5" LCD screen with power boost button for 40% brighter display.
• Venu Engine III allows satrt up time to just 0.5 seconds with a release time lag as low as 0.006 seconds.
• Leica DC Vario-element lens witha unique prism lens allowshorizontal zooming within camera in such a small body.
• Crisp clear shots of moving subjects with ISO 800 setting/high sensitivity mode

Reviews (36)

Indoor video quality sets this camera apart
I bought this camera based on the high approval rating on this site and on ConsumerReport's advice that it had excellent video quality.
Comment to "Noisy...no manual features" review
I don't think you can compare this camera to the canon S2/S3 or the Sony H5.This is a compact, pocket camera that is half their size and weight.You will not get a zoom that is as clear as something that has twice the space to work with.Compare this to similar cameras: Sony Cybershots or Canon SDxxx then you would be more than impressed.3x versus 10x....no competition.If you are looking for a camera with a great zoom that is compact and easy to carry with you everywhere, then look no further.Also, ignore digital zoom when you are researching.Digital zoom just makes everything more blurry.Optical zoom is key to great pictures.Hope this helps others in their decision. :-)

Panasonic lumix rocks
I owned two Panasomic Lumix cameras: FZ1 and TZ1. Besides them, I also have extensive experiences using Canon , Nikon models that were highly rated. The major usage of my camera are for shooting macro images, and nothing beats Lumix in that. The images yielded by Lumic are so precise, cripsy, natural. Once you own a Panasonic Lumix, it is difficult to go with other models. The combination of the LEICA lens, the high resolution LCD, and the magical autonomic shooting mode makes Lumix unbeatable! ... Read more

Features

• Slim & compact 10x optical zoom (equivalent to 35mm to 350mm lens on 35mm film camera) with optical image satbilization
• World's first "high-angle" LCD mode from 2.5" LCD screen with power boost button for 40% brighter display.
• Venu Engine III allows satrt up time to just 0.5 seconds with a release time lag as low as 0.006 seconds.
• Leica DC Vario-element lens witha unique prism lens allowshorizontal zooming within camera in such a small body.
• Crisp clear shots of moving subjects with ISO 800 setting/high sensitivity mode

Reviews (36)

Indoor video quality sets this camera apart
I bought this camera based on the high approval rating on this site and on ConsumerReport's advice that it had excellent video quality.
Comment to "Noisy...no manual features" review
I don't think you can compare this camera to the canon S2/S3 or the Sony H5.This is a compact, pocket camera that is half their size and weight.You will not get a zoom that is as clear as something that has twice the space to work with.Compare this to similar cameras: Sony Cybershots or Canon SDxxx then you would be more than impressed.3x versus 10x....no competition.If you are looking for a camera with a great zoom that is compact and easy to carry with you everywhere, then look no further.Also, ignore digital zoom when you are researching.Digital zoom just makes everything more blurry.Optical zoom is key to great pictures.Hope this helps others in their decision. :-)

Panasonic lumix rocks
I owned two Panasomic Lumix cameras: FZ1 and TZ1. Besides them, I also have extensive experiences using Canon , Nikon models that were highly rated. The major usage of my camera are for shooting macro images, and nothing beats Lumix in that. The images yielded by Lumic are so precise, cripsy, natural. Once you own a Panasonic Lumix, it is difficult to go with other models. The combination of the LEICA lens, the high resolution LCD, and the magical autonomic shooting mode makes Lumix unbeatable! ... Read more

Features

• Leica DC Vario-Element Lens System with 11 elements in 8 groups (3 aspherical lenses/3 aspherical surfaces)
• 12x Optical zoom (equivalent to 36mm to 432mm on a 35mm film camera lens) with aperture of F2.8 to 3.3 & 4x digital zoom
• Compact 6mp camera with Mega Optical Image Stabilization which addresses "anti-blu" of hand & subject movement
• LSI Venus engine II handles image processing, LCD functions, & writing to the memory card simultaneously for incredible responsiveness
• Five software packages included, comes with battery charger& pack, 16MB Sd memoery card, AV cable, USB connection cable, AC cable, strap, CD Rom, Lens cap, lens hood, & lens hood adaptor

Reviews (27)

No more film for this artist.
The potential for creativity and control with this camera is astounding and a Leica lens! For the price some of the expectations in the reviewshave been a little high.This is not an SLR and should not be compared to one. Give this camera a try. Use a tripod, invest in the best photo paper and get in close. This camera will follow your lead with a very strong finish.
BIGGGG step up over the terrific FZ5 except in pixels
I loved the FZ5 but up'ed to the FZ7 not for 1 MP but the bigger LCD.To my surprise, I find the menu and button layout improved and intuitive.I can't compare this to similar Sony and Canon offerings but this camera is for sure smaller and very light. The image stab is unbelieveable..when I'm hiking at 8 to 12 K feet and stop to take a pix, I'm breathing hard and can see the viewfinder jump in time with my pulse.No prob, sqeeze off a shot at ISO 100 and the image is crisp.This should have been an 8 MP camera if Panasonic wanted to really wanted offer an "upgrade"...too bad, but for me 6 MP works.

Great trade-off camera at this price point!
I resisted providing a review of this camera for about 2 months now in order to make sure everything was as I would like it.I can now say that this camera is a great choice for those that are looking for a trade-off between ultra-compact, and long-zoom SLR.I recently took it to a Black Eyed Peas concert that was in the evening. The pictures I took at 12x zoom were really good.The large screen is perfect for sharing with friends immediately.The simple mode is good for taking most pictures, and if you like to fiddle, it's got just enough of the manual features to give you those options.It's considerably lighter than a digi-SLR, with a better form-factor (I think) than either the Canon S3 or Sony H2.I would definitely recommend. ... Read more

Features

• 10.2-megapixel CCD captures enough detail for photo-quality 18 x 24-inch prints
• 4x image-stabilized optical zoom; 2.8-inch LCD display
• Intelligent ISO Control (I.I.C.) reduces image blur from subject movement and low light
• Can record movies in a high-definition (1280 x 720) format at 15 frames per second
• Stores images on SD memory cards; powered by li-ion battery pack (battery and charger included)

Reviews (2)

Can you say Noise ?
What more is there to say, if they fixed the noise problem I would buy it in a second.

Superb design with great images, although some noise/detail compromise
I was definitely NOT disappointed with the camera, after reading so much about it and passing on the LX1 a year ago due to the reports of excessive noise in the images.
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Editorial Review

Your son takes his first step, or your daughter takes her encore bow at her first recital. Luckily, you were ready with your digital camera and caught this historic moment. But wait! The photo you took is blurry. In your excitement, you accidentally shook the camera just as you snapped the shutter. If this has ever happened to you--and you are by no means alone!--then you'll want to take a close look at the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ5 6-megapixel digital camera with 6x image-stabilized optical zoom.Read more

Features

• 6.0-megapixel CCD captures enough detail for photo-quality 14 x 19-inch prints
• 6x image-stabilized optical zoom; 2.5-inch LCD display
• Playback of 9, 16, and 25 images is possible on a multi-split screen
• Consecutive shooting feature lets you take up to five shots per second
• Powered by 2 AA-size batteries; stores images on SD memory cards (includes 14 MB of internal memory)

Reviews (8)

Great camera for the price, considering the features it has.
I will try to be breaf, leaving a short but useful feedback:
Limited manual controls
A good camera for a beginner but with limited controls. Neither focus, shutter speed nor aperture control are provided. The most weakness is only multi-pattern exposure available. The picture output is different from other brand such as Canon using the same EV setting.

Great Digital Camera - So far so good!
I orginally bought a Canon A530 I heard alot of reviews of how Canon's have a good rep and they produce the brighest and clearest pics. With this Canon i was not at all happy with it the shutter button was hard to push down and the Macro mode for me did not produce clear shots. Needless, to say the Canon was sold only after 2 months of ownership it was NOT for me.
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Features

• 10x optical zoom, 700x digital zoom
• Macro Zoom lets users shoot extreme close-ups at distances as near as 40cm
• 2.3 megapixel CCD delivers superior still picture capability
• Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS) compensates for hand & camcorder movement
• Soft Skin Detail creates a realistic skin tone

Reviews (4)

Great Light Camera
I bought the GS180 prior to my trip to China. I also bought a 4 hour after-market battery; I've since bought another one. That's what you'll need if you are touring all day and using the LCD screen all of the time. With the battery, the viewfinder becomes just about useless since it doesn't tilt up.
limited accessories
Great camera . . . one of the few lower priced cams to keep the mic jack and the headphone jack,but beware . .. . this camera does NOT come with a lens cap, and NO remote control.other sources state that this camera does NOT have a Leica lens.This camera does NOT have A/V input.No flash, no hot accessory shoe (though it has one which has no power).No widescreen LCD.It does record in widescreen but no image stabilization in widescreen.

off to a great start
This is my first camcorder, so I don't have much to compare it to, but I've enjoyed it so far. It's easy to use. The picture quality seems high.The only minor problem I've found is with the headphone input.Had to try three different sets of headphones before I could find one that would fit into the narrow slot where the headphone jack is. ... Read more

Editorial Review

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX01P 6MP Compact Digital Camera with 3.6x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom features a Leica DC Vario-Elmarit Lens that deliver outstanding, crisp six megapixel images. With a combined zoom power of 14.4x -- 3.6x optical zoom and 4x digital zoom -- and a burst shooting mode that allows you to take up to 8 images at 2 frames per second, the Lumix DMC-FX01P offers professional quality features and performance.Read more

Features

• Features a Leica DC Vario-Elmarit Lens with a combined zoom power of 14.4x -- 3.6x optical zoom and 4x digital zoom
• Mega Optical Image Stabilization features "anti-blur" to keep photos clear and blur-free
• Mega Burst feature takes up to 8 consecutive shots
• 2.5-inch diagonal polycrystalline TFT LCD; playback mode offers 25- or 9-thumbnail displays
• Included lithium-ion battery pack provides up to 320 shots between charges

Reviews (33)

This Camera Has A WIDE ANGLE Lens
If you are interested in portable digital point and shoot cameras, since Canon discontinued the Power Shot S-80, this one is one of THREE digital point and shoot cameras on the market that I know of that have a "true" WIDE ANGLE lens of 28mm! (The other is: The Canon Power Shot SD800 IS for [...]----and another one is Kodak EasyShare V570 which has a 23mm lens and sells for about [...])
Great wide-angle lens and 16:9 format in a stylish, pocketable camera
I love this camera. I originally bought it for my wife but I've been using it more than she has. The wide-angle lens is great and I value it much more than a big zoom. It's great for close-up shots, group photos, and landscapes. The 16:9 format is great for landscapes, sunsets, etc. The display is clear and bright but a little slow.
PERFECT!!!Have fun with movies and wide angle lens!
So first, this camera does show very noticeable noise in low light/ high iso.
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Features

• Widescreen 16 - 9 Mode for Panoramic Images lets you shoot images in widescreen (16 - 9 aspect ratio), so that you can achieve bold, panoramic images, and view photos as full screen images on your widescreen TV
• Snap Off Consecutive Shots at 3 Frames per Second! You can take up to 5 images in Standard Mode and 3 images in Fine Mode with full resolution. In addition, the Unlimited Consecutive Shooting function lets you continue shooting until the memory card or built-in memory is full.
• 6x Optical Zoom in a Compact Body - Use the 6x optical zoom (without the extended optical zoom) together with the 4x digital zoom to enjoy up to 24x zoom power.
• Two Convenient Power Sources--Alkaline or Rechargeable Batteries - It can be powered by two AA alkaline or two rechargeable nickel-metal hydride (Ni-MH) batteries. Two Panasonic Oxyride batteries are included, that allow you to take up to 235 photos. Alkaline batteries let you take about 175 photos and nickel-metal hydride batteries allow up to 390 photos.
• Built-In Memory--Shoot Even When You Don't Have an SD Memory Card - The built-in memory holds up to 14MB of image data, which you can later upload to an SD Memory Card or PC.

Reviews (2)

Great all around camera for casual user....
This proves to be a great all around casual camera for most people who shoot everyday photos, home photos, vacation photos and such thing, print them out on a 4x6 up to 8x11 size for their albums.
OIS really works
Camera takes excellent pictures. I took all those pictures and have'nt even looked at the manual yet. I'm also a novice novice.
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Features

• 10.1-megapixel CCD captures enough detail for photo-quality 18 x 24-inch prints
• 12x image-stabilized optical zoom; 2.0-inch free-angle LCD display
• Intelligent ISO Control (I.I.C.) reduces image blur from subject movement and low light
• Records full-size movies in wide-aspect VGA (848 x 480) at 30 frames per second
• Stores images on SD memory cards (32MB card included); powered by li-ion battery pack (battery and charger included)

Reviews (10)

Superior advanced digicam
This is my first Panasonic camera so I am coming to this completely objectively. People seem to be divided into two groups regarding the FZ50 (and by extension, most of Panasonic's recent digicams) - those who find it's image quality impressive despite it's limitations and enjoy it's superiority in most other areas and those who feel the FZ50 should have been a lot more than it is, lacking the output to back up it's DSLR stylings and not being a revolutionary upgrade over the FZ30. I stand somewhere in the middle but leaning more towards the first view.
All you might ever need
This is my fourth digital camera and comes to replace my Dymage A1 that stopped working right after its warranty expired. I am a serious enthusiast photographer since 2001. The FZ50 is a handsome and light digital camera with wonderful features that work for me, such as the moving LCD screen. The screen turns all around allowing you to take yourself a picture. But the beauty of this is in some special pictures, such as putting the camera at ground level and shoot from there or lifting your camera over a crowd and still be able to frame your shot well. The full Manual Mode works so great that I might abandone the automatic all together. Pictures in the DMC-FZ50 were coming out overexposed in the automatic mode; I have solved this by shooting at S priority. One more thing: No review talks about it, not even the Panasonic official description of this camera, but the DMC-FZ50 has a very decent macro. I have been taking close up pictures my cats and of the flowers in my garden and they came out really good. For a simple person like me, 10 megapixels help me when I need to crop a third of a picture in my computer and still retain printing quality.Actually, the camera lens are excellent and I have not experienced any "noise." The viewfinder is very clear. Besides its great Zoom, this camera also takes EXCELLENT indoor pictures, better so if you use a tripod. The crude reality tough is that, although it is very easy to learn and operate, this camera is no instamatick. So you need to know some photography to really enjoy all its features and get back what you paid for. The bottom line that works for me is: I'm small, fragile and not really rich, I just cannot see myself carryingexpensive SLR digital cameras with heavy and costly interchangeable lens. And, frankly, unless you want to make it into the photography business, you will not need more than this camera to take excellent pictures. In fact, this is the type of camera that might take you into the next step of your picture taking experience because it is very rewarding; so you will be taking good pictures like crazy.

Great camera, features, and more
This camera seems to be quite misunderstood. I have read review after review, and most complaints deal with the "noise" of the camera. There is in fact an issue with noise if you plan on shooting above ISO 400. But thinking about this, anything above ISO 400 would prduce some noise in most cameras. Even my digital SLR has noise when I go above ISO 400. If you plan on shooting outdoors, this camera has done well. Indoor shots using the flash are great. No red eye.
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Editorial Review

The AG-DVC30's Leica Dicomar 16x optical zoom lens answers a broad range of shooting needs, delivering superb results from 39.5mm wide angle all the way to 632mm telephoto (both 35mm lens equivalents). In wide-angle performance--critical in broadcast and other professional applications--this lens is top of its class. Behind this outstanding performance are the advanced optical technologies and expertise that have made Leica Camera AG one of the most respected names in the camera world.Read more

Features

• Professional 3CCD MiniDV camcorder with 60i and 30p movie mode 16x optical, 160x digital zoom
• Optical image stabilization; 3.5-inch color LCD monitor rotates 260 degrees
• 16:9 aspect ratio for widescreen recording
• Selectable shutter speeds; full manual controls
• Powered by lithium ion rechargeable battery pack

Reviews (9)

Outstanding Camera for the Professional Investigator
To my knowlege, there simply isn't a better equipped camera for the professional investigator.It's IR-sensitive mode (nightshot) is in B&W (rather than cheeseygreen), far superior quality-wise to anything Sony's got, and it's the only 3CCD that I know of with a low-light mode.The image stabilization is exceptional and the image quality is production grade.Time/Date stamps can be "burned in" so they xfer via firewire - again, the only camera I'm aware of with this feature.The audio can be turned off which we know is a must.And best yet, you can disable the sleepmode so it won't turn off eliminating missed money shots waiting for the camera to cycle back on.It's built like a tank and feels substantial in the hand, but it's still lightweight thanks to an alloy frame.Finally, it's totally silent even with the tape transport in full swing.
Spectacular Video Quality!
I'm by no means an expert, but I really wanted a reasonably priced video camera that could produce the highest quality picture for the price.I did a TON of research and landed on the AG-DVC30 after much agonizing over "to HD or not HD" as well as brands and features.Based on all the reviews I read, this camera seemed to offer the most features and the best video for the money.I have not been disappointed.On my first outing, I took the cam to the Grand Canyon and Sedona.Wow!What incredible color and clarity!I also really love the 16x zoom.It's smooth and powerful.I got great shots of the Colorado River from the rim of the Grand Canyon.I'll agree with all reviewers that the audio is not great.It is not super sensitive so you lose sound if not quite close to the subject.If you're interested in good audio, I'd suggest an optional mic.If you just want great video, awesome color, and ease of use, this is your camera.At the price (plus the rebate) you really can't beat it.

excellent product for the price!
A camcorder with features found only on more expensive models and resonably easy to operate by a beginner. The quality of the picture was very good and the zoom operated very smoothly. Overall I felt it was a product that waswell thought out in design and well made. ... Read more

Features

• 4.7GB/120 minutes storage capacity

Reviews (1)

If you have a Panasonic DVD Recorder
I have been using Panasonic's DVD-R discs with my Panasonic DVD recorder (model DMR-EH50) for several months.I think I have had two out of about 100 of them bomb out on me.I have tried other discs that were cheaper, but they were not realiable when I used then with my Panasonic recorder. ... Read more