Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)This camera has far exceeded my expectations. I am one of those geeks that research everything on the market before making a purchase. There are plenty of cameras that looked like they would meet my needs, but as I researched and tested, too many had glaring flaws or fell short on critical features.
I'm not going to waste your time and mine repeating all the details of every feature from the earlier reviewers. They did a great job of listing its strengths and weaknesses. Instead, I will waste our time sharing my personal impressions on the use and results of this fine camera.
The image stabilizer is like magic. I have been able to take indoor, hand held shots that would have been impossible with an un-stabilized camera. I cannot overstate the value of this feature. In well lit pictures the stabilization makes for a crispness I haven't seen in a point and shoot type camera (perhaps the massive Leica lens may have had something to do with this too). The flash has impressed me as well. It seems to meter very well compared to my Cannon A70. No more flash blown out shots on close up groups. Rarely did it get it wrong.
I spent yesterday at the Point Defiance Zoo in Seattle, running the FZ5 through its paces. The resulting pictures blew me away. I couldn't wipe the smile off my face looking at the pics on my computer afterwards. I'm no pro, but some of the pics were. It was a bit humorous to hear comments all day long by other Point and Shoot photographers "I wish I had more zoom", all the while I am taking crisp 12x close-ups of all the fuzzy critters in cages.
Also, I like a camera that looks and handles like a camera, not some kind of Star Trek shuttle craft with a lens on the front. The Minoltas look goofy and handle goofy. Scotty, beam me up.
Is it perfect? Nope, but so close I'm still smirking with smug satisfaction. After the zoo trip, I would like a manual focus option. There were times that glass or chain link fence made focusing a chore. Would I trade for a bigger, heavier camera that had manual focusing? Not for my uses. You can keep your bloated and clunky DSLRs. This camera carries like a Point and Shoot, but functions like a much bigger beast. Toting it around was barely noticeable (that is a key feature for me). This is a camera that you can carry easily and it excels at 95% of any use I may deem for it. The size is perfect. A gargantuan 12x stabilized lens on a camera this small is unreal (somebody pinch me).
Of course, please upgrade the included SD card. I get annoyed when reviews gripe about the small included memory cards in today's cameras. I don't want the camera company deciding for me which high capacity card to use (and jacking up the price of the camera). I say put in a tiny inexpensive card to allow camera testing, then let the end user pick their favorite card. This camera is already speed demon compared to my Canon A70. Imagine my surprise after plugging in a SanDisk Ultra II card and watching the write speeds cut in half. It was dramatic. Get a fast 10mb SD card and snap pictures at will.
As far as the review by "jjmmdd" I have to say "Either you don't know how to hold a camera still, or the camera is defective" If it is the former, spend more time on your technique. If it is the latter, then for heaven sakes, get the camera fixed or replaced. Across the board Panasonic puts out some of the most consistently reliable consumer products available. "jjmmdd", you were so very right. Every positive review written for Panasonic products is written by a Panasonic employee. Dude, put on your aluminum foil hat, check yourself for alien implants, and "buy a vowel".
Regarding the review by "D. Rosenfeld", as far as I am concerned, any "movie mode" in a "still camera" is a defect, not a feature. If you need a video camera, buy a video camera. Anyone buying a still camera for its video features is looped. It is consumers like you that make me fear the camera companies will start putting cell phones in digital cameras. D'oh! Oh another thing "D".... The stabilizer "ROCKS!!!"
It has been a while since I purchased a toy that lived up to my expectations after I lived with it for a while. The Panasonic FZ5 did just that. I'm now dreaming of this same camera with manual focus and a magnesium chassis......mmmmmm, magnesium. Wake up man!!!In the category of "Stellar, Point, and Shoot, Mega-Zoom, Cameras" This baby is getting all 5 stars from me.
(Subliminal message to follow)
Panasonic, please release the DMC-FX8 in the US market..... Panasonic, please release the DMC-FX8 in the US market..... Panasonic, please release the DMC-FX8 in the US market.....
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Product Description:
The DMC-FZ5K Lumix Digital Camera is a small, lightweight camera that has as much power as bigger 40mm film cameras. The super-bright 12x optical zoom and 4x digital zoom gives the flexibility required to capture every detail. The MEGA Optical image stabilizer has a gyrosensor that compensates for shaking hands, while the Fast Auto Focus gives you a sharp shot of a fast-moving subject. Snap off consecutive shots at 3 frames per second, until you fill the memory card with Unlimited Consecutive Shooting. The positioning of controls and the shape of the grip have also been improved. It's a great camera at a reasonable price. 2 & 10 sec. self-timerRecords 5 seconds of audio with still images or 10 seconds of Audio DubbingAuto Review with 1 sec/3 sec/zoom @ 1x, 4x and 8xRecords to SD/MMC cards Built-in mic & speakerWhite Balance -Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Halogen, Flash, White Set, White Balance Adjustment Scene Modes -Portrait, Sports, Scenery, Night Scenery, Panning, Night Portait, Fireworks, Party, Snow, Playback MEGA Optical image stabilizer eliminates blurry picturesPlayback Modes -Thumbnail Display, Zoomed Playback(16x max), Slide Show, Resizing, Trimming, DPOFColor Effect Modes -Cool, Warm, Black & White, SepiaLithium-ion battery pack with charger - takes up to 320 picturesColor -BlackDimensions(HxWxD) -2.69 x 4.25 x 3.34Weight -0.72 lbs. Included Accessories -Battery charger & pack, 16MB SD Card, lens cap, lens hood & adapter, A/V & USB cable, strap and software
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