Panasonic RP SDP04GU1K - Flash memory card - 4 GB - Class 4 - SD Review

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(More customer reviews)This worked perfectly and has survived some potentially damaging things. I shoved it into the wrong card reader outlet thing several times before I found the right one, and at one point, it was sitting on my printer's paper feed area, and when I printed a document, this card was pulled into the printer as well and jammed it, but the card was fine.
Please note that none of these actions are recommended.

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SDHC is the memory card format of choice among all major brands of digital cameras, including Panasonic Lumix series. It offers a fast storage system for photos and movies that you can edit and reuse. Yet it's also stable. It holds memory securely as long as you want it. With data transfer speeds up to 20MB per second, large files are easily processed. If you have a digital camera with maximum resolutions of 10 megapixels or more, make the Panasonic 4GB SDHC Memory Card Class 4 your choice. Camera and optics equipment deliver high storage capacity and fast data transfer rates

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Canon PowerShot SX200IS 12.1 MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3.0-inch LCD (Blue) Review

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(More customer reviews)This review is based off of several days of use and a THOROUGH review of the manual. If you are interested in seeing specifications and actual pictures of this camera (which I suggest you do) I recommend visiting websites that offer extensive these types of reviews [...]First, lets review what seems to be common CONS to the camera.
POP UP FLASH. Contrary to some reviews, this camera is not hard to handle/hold nor does the pop up flash get in the way or feel flimsy. Notice Canon has made three designs to combat this problem (e.g. indented thumbprint above controls on back of camera, curved body on right side of camera, and about 3/4 inch space to place finger behind the flash. As I right this review, I am playing around with the flash and notice it feels sturdy; not flimsy. Also, the further the distance between the flash and the lens allows for a better red-eye reduction.
NO VIDEO (optical) Zoom. This camera offers excellent video quality for a "point and shoot camera". It is 720 so expect that quality - no more no less. As for the zoom, it only has a digital zoom (i.e. less quality than optical). Nonetheless, it should not be a deal breaker - unless you are in the market for a digital videorecorder. I recommend a stand alone video recorder at this point. Would it be nice to have a zoom, sure, but honestly, this is not a big deal.
NOISE - Indoor use. PLEASE believe me when I say I find very little if any noise on indoor shots (when using the camera correctly (e.g reading the manual!!!). There are many ways to adjust this camera - MANY ways! Again, I am reviewing pictures I just shot today inside my local library and find them very pleasing and no noise!
FIT/FEEL of Camera. This camera does not feel flimsy. This I think I can promise you. Actually, when I got the camera in my hands, I was suprised to feel and see it was thicker than I thought - but not too thick. Still able to put in pocket (although not if you are wearing tight jeans). If you are looking at this camera, chances are you doing so because of the aesthetic body - and you are right. When/if you put it in your hands, you'll understand that it is, well, sexy and fashionable.
I have put forth what I saw as potentially "deal breakers" to some people and find all of these supposedly negative points not so negative. After thorough research and an extensive review of the manual, I find this camera to be excellent.
Finally, let me try to state what I believe to be the absolute best features of this camera.
1. Quality. The only way to defend this point is to recommend doing research. Many websites have posted pictures this camera has taken - many of them stunning. I even saw a side by side comparison with the SX200IS rival - the TZ7. It was a picture of a night time view of a major city. This camera won hands down. And as for video quality, I was happy with the quality - if you expect 720 and not blu-ray quality. It honestly is great- oh yea, and I notice that when shooting with video, the image seemed to have little or no shake ( I was suprised about this).
2. Function. You can immediately use this even if you never used a camera before. Thank canon for the "easy" function which lets you only hit the shutter button: it does ALL the work for you, and has hints/tips on the screen as you shoot. Or if you are not so novice, you can turn this camera into a complete manual function and create your own aperture, shutter, and ISO values. (This is the reason I bought this camera; so I could go more manual while my wife could just point and click).
3. After having this camera, I have noticed that CANON has not marketed this camera well enough. It has LCD image brightness control that changes on screen depending on how bright it is where you are shooting. Very nice to view the lcd. Also, the LCD has been layered with a scratch resistant coating!
Finally, in my opinion, this camera's best feature is its versatility. What I mean by this is that it takes excellent pictures and allows you to grow with the camera - this point needs to be emphasized.
I suggest that you truly do your research (as you are doing!!:) and you may see as I did that no matter how many cameras I reviewed, I kept coming back to the SX200IS. I am glad I have it.
One final point. If you do get this, please review the manual. It is your bible and will really help you understand the camera if you want to turn it into more than a point and shoot. I wrote this review because I was SHOCKED at the criticisms this camera received. I agree that this camera can be fine tuned (longer battery life.....etc...) but these are by no means deal breakers. Don't worry, whatever camera you get, it will be soon outdated - all cameras get their annual tweaking. Having said that about camera's getting outdated, note that I chose this camera for the features it has for the price it is. Having taken it home, I realize that I am more than getting my money's worth. I am honestly concerned about answering any questions you may have. I wish I could ask people questions before I buy things, so please feel free to comment and/or ask. Best wishes.
***Updated 4-6-08****
For those interested in comparisons, I have recently compared the SX200IS vs the Panasonic TZ5 [...]. Unbelievable, I was able to find same scene shots taken by these two different cameras. This is hard to find. Plus, being that the TZ5 is really the main competitor to the SX200IS, it makes for an interesting comparison. If you do review this website, particularly notice the "city night shot" and ISO 400 setting. In my opinion, the SX200IS is much clearer and offers a more accurate picture. Again, the SX200IS is a winner to me!
***Updatd 7-26-09***
After 4 months of extensive use, this camera is now having power issues. When the camera is turned on, and then turned off, it automatically turns on when I do not want it too! :( It will go back to be fixed. So in terms of reliability, I am a little disappointed. Nonetheless, given the quality and features of this camera, I will GLADLY keep the camera and GLADLY have it fixed. Even with this electronic issue, it is still the best camera out there.

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Canon PowerShot SX200IS 12.1 MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3.0-inch LCD (Blue)

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Kodak P20 Zoom Flash for P850, P880 & P712 Digital Cameras Review

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(More customer reviews)I actually have a very nice flash for an older Nikon camera, but it wouldn't "talk" to my Kodak P850, so I purchased this flash. I have been very happy with the operation of the flash so far. It has more power than the camera's built-in flash, supports auotmatic zoom and power level. You also can change the settings manually. The only issue I have had with the flash is that it is lacking features. It works just fine as a simple flash, and works with the camera settings, but is missing some professional modes and features like a remote flash function. However, it does the job well for the price, and will work with your Kodak camera.

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KODAK 8683484 P20 Zoom Flash for P-Series Cameras Bounce head allows images to have a more natural affect; Automated zoom gives greater flash coverage; Flash system can read camera setting information through the Hot Shoe & react accordingly;10-sec recycle time on fully charged batteries; At ISO 100 speed, the flash reaches a distance of 30 ft wide & 33 ft at telephoto; At ISO 200 speed, the flash range doubles; Guide number: 40 at 80mm position (ISO 100); View setting on LCD display; Works with KDKP712 & KDKP880P20 Zoom Flash for P-Series Cameras

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Black Universal Camera Case Review

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(More customer reviews)This case has a sewn belt strap instead of a Velcro strap. I like this choice since it nearly eliminates the possibility that the case will tear loose from a belt. The case was purchased for use with a Panasonic DMC-TZ5 and works well with that camera.

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Lightweight, durable, convenient to carry Color: Black External size: 4.9" x 3.0" x 1.9" Internal size: 4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7"Please note: while this case fits many models we cannot guarantee it will fit ALL models. To ensure compatibility and avoid a return please compare the specified internal camera case dimensions to your own camera model.Panasonic Lumix DMC-LS80, DMC-LX1, DMC-LX2, DMC-LZ1, DMC-LZ2, DMC-LZ6, DMC-LZ7, DMC-LZ8, DMC-LZ10, DMC-LZ80, DMC-TZ2, DMC-TZ3, DMC-TZ4, DMC-TZ5, DMC-FS7, DMC-FS25, DMC-TS1, DMC-ZS1, DMC-ZS3, DMC-FX580- DMC-FX48, DMC-LX2, DMC-TZ50, DMC-FX37, DMC-FX150, DMC-LS85, DMC-FX65, DMC-FP8, DMC-ZR1, FS12, FS62, FS42, DMC-FX66, DMC-ZR3, DMC-TS2, DMC-ZS7, DMC-ZS5Nikon Coolpix 2200, 3200, 4100, 4200, 4600, 5200, 5600, 5900, 7600, 7900, L2, L3, L4, L6, L10, L11, L12, L14, L15, L18, L21, L22, P1, P2, P4, P60, P5000, P5100, P6000, S1, S2, S3, S4, S5, S6, S7C, S9, S50, S50C, S51, S51C, S52, S52C, S60, S200, S210, S500, S510, S520, S550, S560, S600, S700, S710, S630, S620, S230, S220, S610C, L20, L19, S1000pj, S3000, S4000, S6000, S8000Kodak EasyShare C513, C530, C613, C653, C663, C713, C763, C813, C875, C913, M753Canon Powershot A75, A85, A95, A310, A400, A410, A420, A430, A450, A460, A470, A480, A510, A520, A530, A540, A550, A560, A570, A580, A590, A700, A710, A720, A1000, A1100, A2000, A2100, S60, S70, S80, S410, S500, SD20, SD30, SD40, SD110, SD450, SD500, SD550, SD600, SD630, SD700, SD750, SD770, SD790, SD800, SD850, SD870, SD880, SD890, SD900, SD950, SD960, SD970, SD780, SD990, SD1000, SD1100, SD1200, SX200, S90, SD940 IS, SD980 IS, E1, TX1, SX210 IS, SD3500 IS, SD1400 IS, SD1300 IS, A3100 IS, A490, A495, A3000 ISAs well as Sony Cybershot, Samsung, Olympus Stylus, Olympus FE models, Leica Digital Camera C-Lux 3, FujiFilm FinePix, Casio Exilim

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Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3 inch LCD (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)I have owned two prior digital cameras- the first was a Canon that took good pictures, but was too bulky to pocket around and required AA batteries to power it. The second was a Sony CyberShot DSC-W150 that took crappy, blurry pictures in low light. Needless to say, I felt an upgrade was in order.
So I'm going on an east coast trip next month. My buddy and I are avid baseball fans. One problem: as we do not always have great seats, taking close-up pictures of ballplayers is a real pain with 99% of the compact point and shoots out there. This is because the camera's size will only allow it 5X optical zoom. You can combine this with digital zooming, but I don't need to tell you how terrible and pixilated this looks. Thus my conundrum. So I really wanted a compact, pocketable camera with a long range optical lens, without having to lug around an expensive digital SLR.
Enter the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3. When I read the specs on it, I was in awe. 10 megapixel, 12X OPTICAL zoom. Here's the sweetest part about the zoom- if you planning to use smaller prints (i.e. 4X6), you can quickly adjust the camera's Megapixel (MP) count from 10 to 7, 5, and 3 to yield maximum OPTICAL zooms of 14.3, 17.1, and 21.4 respectably, without much loss of detail on such prints. I wish Panasonic would have allowed the camera to adjust the MP count automatically as you zoom, but it's not too much trouble to change the MP settings manually from the quick menu.
Another great feature: the camera's screen is beautiful at 460,000 pixels, twice the count as the rival Canon Powershot SX200 IS (more on that camera later). From the moment you view your first picture, you'll quickly notice how much sharper photos look on this camera. It's a nice convenience to view photos on the camera in a manner closer to the quality that will actually be seen when you're viewing them on the computer (and ultimately printing them).
I also want to give Panasonic kudos for the build quality and compactness of this camera. The ZS3 is a replacement for the popular TZ5 model, which was 9MP and 10X Optical Zoom. So they increased the resolution, and added a wider range lens, and REDUCED the size by .4 cubic inches. Specifications aside, I was more than pleased that this camera will comfortably fit inside my jeans pocket. It's a bit bulkier than an ultracompact for sure, but not objectionably so. Note that the SX200 is a full 2.0 cubic inches thicker, another reason I passed on the Canon. Here's a few more reasons the Canon falls short: the Canon has a cheesy looking popup flash that sticks out at the top of the camera, whether you're using flash or not (bad design decision). It has less rated battery life than the Lumix. Also, when shooting video, the Canon does NOT allow you to use optical zooming.
Photo quality on the Lumix is excellent, although I've only snapped samples around my place so far. However, I've taken quite a few pictures at low light, and at maximum zoom levels to try to get a bad shot. So far, there's none to be found. I'll put this through its paces more when I travel next month, but I'm extremely pleased so far. As for video shooting, I've sampled it a bit, and it seems pretty solid. The camera gives you the choice of shooting video in its touted AVCHD Lite format (ideal for watching it on your TV in HD with an optional mini to standard HDMI cable), or JPEG if you prefer to email video clips to friends. This year's model also added stereo sound on video playback versus last year's monaural effort. One thing I found a bit strange, was the incredibly slow zooming when shooting video. I guess Panasonic was trying to give the user a more controlled, deliberate zoom, but unlike the snappy photo zooming, it's a bit slow for my liking.
Some other minor quibbles: The dial that controls the shooting mode is extremely loose. If you lightly rub it against anything (a camera bag, your pocket), there's a good chance it will shift. When you turn the camera on, it will digitally tell you what mode you're in, but it's still annoying when it happens by accident. Second, when making a quick zoom on an object, it will appear blurry on the camera's screen until the shutter button is pressed. There are modes to continually focus the object when zooming, but this drains the camera's battery life more rapidly. It would be nice if this feature was incorporated automatically without any such sacrifice.
Also, I'm not a huge fan of the included PhotofunStudio software bundled with this camera, as there are other, more compelling programs to view, edit, and print photos (I like Canon's Zoombrowser program better). Finally, this is not the camera to buy if you're into manual controls. There's a ton of preset scenes that can be used (nighttime, portrait, baby, sunset, food, etc.), and you can adjust items like flash, white balance, and max ISO level, but this is meant to be a simple point and shoot for casual photographers. Note that the Lumix has an intelligent auto mode (IA) that will analyze the shooting conditions and pick the right scene, flash, and exposure without any adjustments by the user. This camera screams simplicity, but there's enough tweaking on the Normal and Scene modes to keep the vast majority of amateur photographers happy.
Regardless of these nitpicks, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 is an awesome camera, unbeatable for those that want the best of both worlds- a great zoom lens and compact body. It's a bit pricey at $399, but you're getting quite a lot of camera for your hard earned dollars. I have no doubt that my third digital camera is a terrific buy and a long-term staple for my travels.


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The Panasonic Lumix ZS3 features 10.1-megapixels, a 25mm ultra-wide-angle lens and 12x optical zoom, meaning it has added 2x optical zoom to the award-winning TZ-series camera, yet reduced its size. The ZS3 also features a Leica DC Vario-Elmar lens and High Definition (HD) video recording ability, known as AVCHD Lite. The ZS3 is the world\'s first digital camera to feature HD video recording in "AVCHD Lite." Compared with the conventional Motion JPEG format, AVCHD Lite allows longer recordings with breathtaking HD visual and audio quality. This combined with a well-considered control interface, which includes a dedicated movie recording button on the camera\'s back panel, makes the ZS3 a hybrid model that performs admirably for both still and motion image capture.FEATURES:
Increased Scene modes for both still and motion image shooting--optimized for a variety of situations. There are 26 scene modes for still image and 17 for motion image (Portrait, Soft Skin, Transform, Self portrait, Scenery, Low light, Food, Party, Candle light, Sunset, High sensitivity, Beach, Snow, Aerial, Pin hole, Film grain and Underwater)
Two My Scene settings let users assign their two most frequently used Scene modes to the setting, and with a simple switch, allow access to either scene instantly.
Panorama Assist scene mode allows users to shoot a number of consistent photos, either vertically or horizontally, by aligning them according to a guide that overlaps the screen. Then using those photos and the bundled Panorama Maker software, users can create dramatic panoramic images.
High-Speed Burst (Speed Priority) that fires off approx. 10 shots per second.
Menus are clearer and easier to navigate with the Display Size option.

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Panasonic LUMIX DMC-ZS6 12.1 MP DIGITAL CAMERA BLACK - 3.0 " TFT Screen LCD Display Review

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(More customer reviews)Panasonic makes the best compact superzoom cameras! Here's why. I was a professional photographer for over twenty years and recently sold all my professional film cameras (35mm, 21/4"x 23/4" and 4" x 5"). I've been searching for a compact superzoom camera that I can keep with me at all times to catch those once-in-a-lifetime shots without the expense or weight of a Digital Single Lens Reflex (DSLR) camera. Keep in mind that a compact superzoom has a smaller imaging sensor and will never truly compete with a high quality DSLR but if you want the best camera available in the compact point-and-shoot category then Panasonic DMC-Z series of cameras wins hands down. I've conducted an exhaustive search of camera review sites and have found Panasonic to consistently meet my standards of excellence. You don't have to take my words for it, you can check out my claims for yourself at the digitalcamerareview and dpreview web sites.
OPTICS:
The heart of any camera is the lens. Nothing else in photography counts without good optics. Panasonic uses Leica DC Vario-Elmar lenses in many of their cameras. Amongst professional photographers Leica has a reputation for quality akin to Rolls Royce. Leica appears to have maintained their reputation in Panasonic cameras by avoiding significant optical flaws. Most superzoom camera optics suffer from multiple flaws. Two optical flaws that I find completely unacceptable are chromatic aberration and uneven or soft focus.
You'll see chromatic aberration as a color fringe (red on one edge and blue or green on the opposite edge) along the edge of an object. It's often most visible near the corner of the image and along the edges of high contrast subjects like a dark car in front of a bright building. Sometimes chromatic aberration is so bad that it can be see in the center of a 4" x 6" photo but it's most often only visible when enlarged to full screen on a 17" or larger monitor. In my opinion, when it comes to chromatic aberration, Panasonic consistently out performs all competitors including Nikon, Canon, Olympus and Sony. I strongly suggest you see this for yourself by looking at web reviews that have full resolution images. Click on the full resolution image, zoom in and scroll from corner to corner and you'll see what I mean.
The second major optical concern is focus. Some camera lenses are sharp in the center of the photo but go slightly out of focus towards the edge of the photo. This usually isn't a problem if you are only going to use your multi-hundred dollar camera to make 4" x 6" prints but soft focus can be a huge disappointment when making larger prints or viewing the photo as a full screen image. The Leica lenses on the Panasonic cameras appear to excel in the category of sharp focus. Again, I suggest you see for yourself by zooming in on full resolution images available from some web review sites.
Other optical concerns include barrel and pincushion, which describe how vertical and horizontal lines can be curved in the photograph even though they were straight in real life. Some barreling or pincushioning is inherent to every zoom and are usually only noticeable at the widest angle or strongest telephoto settings. This type of distortion can be so severe that it distracts the viewer from appreciating the subject of the photograph. Leica does a superb job of minimizing barreling and pincushioning to the point that I find this type of distortion within acceptable limits.
My final comment on the Panasonic DMC-Z series optics is that the wide-angle setting on the zoom lens is equivalent to a 25mm lens on a 35mm camera. In my experience, the wide-angle lens is the most important feature of a zoom lens. You can always crop an image to get the equivalent effect of a stronger telephoto (of course you'll lose some resolution) but there is no similar way to compensate for not having a wide enough lens. Sure you can paste images together using a panoramic mode but you wind up with a long narrow picture that's difficult to put in a frame. Plus, except for the latest top-of-the-line Sony, you can't paste a large group photo together because people will move between shots.
SENSOR:
If the heart of a digital camera is the lens then the soul is the imaging chip and the camera's internal image processing software. Panasonic excels in this area too. Again, I strongly suggest you see for yourself by zooming in on full resolution images available from some web review sites. Every digital camera has software that is designed to minimize the noise introduced into the image by the sensor. If noise reduction is too strong then details are lost and objects start to look like cartoon drawings. If noise reduction is too weak then smooth areas like blue sky or concrete look unnatural because they're covered with dots. Panasonic has managed to achieve a pleasing balance in this category.
CONCLUSION:
Finally, I'd like to mention that, for the most part, I don't care about what photo editing or cataloging software comes with a camera. There's plenty of great software available from third party vendors and if the camera is not capable of producing a quality image then the accompanying software is absolutely useless to me.
So the bottom line is that the Panasonic DMC-Z series has the best combination of lens & sensor/built-in image processing software of any of the point-and-shoot cameras and is the most capable of producing an image that can stand up to being enlarged. Additionally, considering Costco has the Panasonic on sale this month along with their great return policy, I consider Panasonic a great buy.

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The Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS6 delivers 720p HD movie recording, 25mm ultra wide-angle and powerful 12x optical zoom lens in a compact body to cover virtually any shooting situation. This 12.1-megapixel powerhouse includes an abundance of features like Hi-speed AF, Power OIS for double the corrective power, providing crisp sharp images, Optical Image Stabilization, Intelligent Auto (iA) prevents blurring and provides intelligent ISO control, subject detection and AF tracking.25mm Ultra Wide-angle LensThe DMC-ZS6 features a 25mm ultra wide-angle 12x optical zoom f/3.3-4.9 Leica DC Vario-Elmar lens. Incorporating Panasonic's advanced optical technologies, this lens system is comprised of 10 elements in 8 groups, with 2 ED and 2 aspherical lenses / 3 aspherical surfaces. This lens system enables a remarkable 25 to 300mm range of focal length in a compact body.The 25mm ultra wide-angle lens has about twice the shooting area as a standard 35mm lens. This enhances shooting situations when you're photographing a group of people at a party or shooting a large structure or sweeping landscape while traveling.16x Intelligent Zoom/23.4x Extra Optical ZoomThanks to the newly designed Intelligent Resolution technology extends the zoom ratio by 1.3x while maintaining the picture quality even with digital zoom. This means the 12x optical can virtually extend to 16x equivalent. Furthermore, the Extra Optical Zoom function extends zoom power to 23.4x by using the center part of the large CCD to bring subjects even closer.Sonic Speed AFThe Sonic Speed AF system in the DMC-ZS6 includes numerous re-engineering enhancements, including a higher-speed actuator, optimized algorithms and parallel software processing. The result is fast and accurate AF performance. You can quickly get moving subjects in focus, such as when you're shooting sports scenes.

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Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5 12.1 MP Digital Camera with 12x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom with 2.7-Inch LCD (Silver) Review

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(More customer reviews)After a long time contemplating buying the ZS3 I finally decided to wait and see what Panasonic would have for us in the 2010 line up. And so far I'm very glad I waited.
The ZS1 and ZS3 were Panasonic's high zoom compact cameras last year, and both of them receive great reviews. I've had a chance on several occasions to play with 2 different ZS3's that belong to friends, and this was initially the camera I was going to get being very impressed with it's performance. However, by the time I was ready to buy, the new ZS5 and ZS7 (to replace ZS1 and ZS3 respectively) were on the markets. And to my surprise, the ZS5 with several upgraded features was significantly cheaper than it's predecessors.
A few things I noticed right away comparing my new ZS5 to my friend's ZS3:
-First, physically the ZS5 has a smaller screen than the ZS3. The screen however is still sharp and clear, and perfectly usable. After a few minutes I don't even notice the difference.
-The ZS5 can zoom while recording a movie, something that my friends ZS3 can not do.
-The ZS5 image stabilization is just amazing, and seems to be much better than the ZS3. Especially noticeable at the higher zooms while recording video.
-The ZS5 now has manual controls, something the ZS3 does not have. For me, even as a complete amateur, this is a huge benefit, and the single largest upgrade over the ZS3.
-The ZS5 has a one touch zoom button on the back in addition to the normal zoom control on top. This button with one press takes you from zoomed out, to full optical zoom, then full digital zoom, then returns to zoomed out. Not a big feature but something I can see being handy from time to time.
-The ZS5 no longer has the dedicated movie record button on the back, but rather an option on the selection dial on the top, similar to other cameras I have used, and what I personally prefer.
-The ZS5 has an exposure button on the back. While in manual modes pressing this button activates the directional buttons below it to act as the adjustments to your various manual settings. I think this is a clean and easy way to get control over settings and better than other setups I've seen in compact digitals with manual settings, where you often have to navigate menus to find the settings.
-Overall the ZS5 construction feels very solid, the lens action is smooth and quite, and the buttons have the high quality feel, just like the ZS3. Perhaps the main difference being the ZS5 has a slightly stiffer mode selection wheel, while the ZS3 mode selection wheel would often be moved just by removing it from your pocket. Now to compare the ZS5 to it's bigger brother the ZS7.
From my research (not experience) the main differences are the 7 has the larger screen, on board GPS, and a slightly different image processor. For me, these first two differences actually benefit the 5 over the 7, giving it longer battery life simply because it doesn't use power on the GPS or the larger screen. The image processor might be an advantage to the 7 though, with some reviews that I have seen especially emphasizing better low light video quality on the 7. I've taken a few indoor and outdoor videos with the ZS5 and they seem very sharp and clear to me. Certainly the best I've had from a pocket digi camera, so without side by side comparison with the ZS7 it's hard to discount the 5's video quality.
Overall, this camera has exceeded my expectations in every way. I have owned 12 digital cameras, everything from ultra compact to DSLR. This camera by far has the most capability vs. portability of any camera I have owned. I've already taken about 300 pictures and several videos, color, contrast, and sharpness are all very impressive. I'm still on my first charge with an indicated 2/3 battery remaining.
The automatic mode works great and the auto focusing is the best I've seen outside of a DSLR. The focusing is so fast and accurate, combined with the quick turn on time and very short shutter lag time, this camera is the 'quickest on the draw' I have personally used.
This camera is like having my DSLR with a 25-300mm VR lens, combined with my high def video camera, all in a package I can slip in my shirt pocket. In any case I know I will have better results with my ZS5 than a DSLR or the video camera simply because I can have my ZS5 with me almost all the time, ready to get that perfect shot at a moments notice.
Amazing, and well worth the wait. 5 stars.
By the way the "Pelican 1010 Micro Case" fits this camera perfectly and makes a great water resistant/crush proof carrying case. Also highly recommended. Pelican 1010 Micro-Case (Black)


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Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5 Point & Shoot Digital Camera - 12.1 Megapixel - 2.70" Active Matrix TFT Color LCD - Silver DMC-ZS5S Digital Cameras

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Twin Pack - 3.0" inch LCD Screen Protector for Digital Cameras - 2.4" (L), 1.8" (W) Review

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(More customer reviews)I highly recommend this for the Canon PowerShot SD750 7.1MP Digital Elph Camera with 3x Optical Zoom (Silver). I also really recommend the camera because it's so awesome;) The screen fits perfectly, works really well, and you can bearly tell that it's on the screen at all. I had some difficulty applying it at first, because it was hard to remove one of the sticker tabs used to hold onto the screen while applying it. The adhesive used for the sticker isn't one of those that come off easily, unfortunately.

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High quality LCD Screen Protector against scratching, scraping & abrasion Removable without leaving residuary mark Resistance to erosion and finger-print Dimensions: 2.4" x 1.8" inches (6.1cm x 4.6cm)Fits:CanonPowershotSX210 ISCanonEOS550DCasioExilim EXZ2000CasioExilim EXH15CasioExilim EXFH100CasioExilim EXG1CasioExilim EXFH25FujifilmFINEPixS2500HDFujifilmFinePixS1800FujifilmFinePixS1600FujifilmFinePixHS10FujifilmFInePixF80EXRKodakEasyShareM575KodakEasyShareZ981NikonCoolpixL22NikonCoolpixL110NikonCoolpixS8000NikonCoolpixS6000NikonCoolpixS4000NikonCoolpixP100OlympusSP-800 UZOlympusStylus7040PanasonicLumixDMC-G2PanasonicLumixDMC-G10PanasonicLumixDMC-ZS7PanasonicLumixDMC-FP3PanasonicLumixDMC-FH22SamsungTL500SamsungTL350SamsungHZ35WSamsungHZ30WSamsungNX10SamsungHZ25WSonyDSCH55SonyDSCTX5SonyDSCW330SonyDSCS2100SonyDSCS2000SonyDSCHX5SonyDSCW370and many more...

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Fujifilm FinePix S1500 10MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle Dual Image Stabilized Optical Zoom Review

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(More customer reviews)First, I did not buy mine from Amazon, instead electing to get it instantly at Wal-Mart.
I am also far from a camera expert.
With that said, I was quite pleased with this camera, which was a huge upgrade over my old Kodak DC340.
First, I REALLY like the generous 12x zoom with this camera, which enabled me to get excellent quality photos with good detail of two particular wary birds, a Bob White quail, and an Eastern Bluebird.
I also found the imagine stabilization feature useful for my less than completely still hands, and I need to reiterate that image stabilization has NOTHING to do with capturing a fast moving object, as Spacejockey seemed to believe.
Also, far from being annoyed by the flash having a button to pop it up, I really like being able to manually disable flash by leaving the flash physically latched down instead of having to mess around with menu controls to do it.
I fail to see how this is a negative, Spacejockey.
Likewise, I quite liked the intelligent face detection feature, which seemed to be particularly useful for the excellent automatic red eye removal feature.
Again, Spacejockey, why the grumbling about this feature?
Another point of contention is the gripe about the "double clicking" when taking photos.
Well, you can override that by pressing the shutter button completely without pause, but the first click is to allow you ensure your lens is fully focused on your target before committing to taking the shot.
You can press halfway, see if the focus indicator is on your target, then squeeze the rest of the way to take the shot.
Again, why the complaint about that?
Regarding the yellowish cast to photos taken indoors without flash, that is easily overcome by using the basic manual controls, which allow you to set the exposure appropriate to the lighting, which includes the "Tungsten" setting that is indicated for use indoors under incandescent lighting.
Problem solved, and I have to wonder why Spacejockey couldn't trouble himself to look into that before grumbling about that.
One point where I must agree with Spacejockey is the idiotic choice of micro USB connector instead of the far more common and useful mini USB connector used on most other portable electronic devices.
It's not as if this large camera had a space constraint to require that.
Was Fuji simply out to make its customers carry an extra cable instead of the mini-USB they already have for their other devices?
One related complaint of my own, since I find myself instead electing to pop out the SD card to insert into an external card reader, is that it was a poor choice indeed to put the SD card slot inside the battery compartment, thus requiring the camera be powered off and having a fragile battery door undergo a finite open/close cycle that will accelerate it breaking and reducing the camera to an expense block of plastic.
Also, Spacejockey, macro mode should NEVER use zoom.
You want more detail for a close object, I suggest you GET CLOSER.
Sheesh!
Again, I have to disagree about the menu system, which I found easy to figure out, without really having to resort to the manual.
I also really like how large the LCD display is.
I tend to agree with the complaint about the lack of a printed manual, but this is a sad trend among electronic manufacturers these days.
Witness the utter lack of printed documentation AT ALL when you open up that stylish box your iPod comes in.
Regarding the inability to read the documenation found on the CD, I would suggest you contact Fuji to let them know that your disk was scratched and unreadable on a number of different computersm, and request they send you a free undamaged CD.
Regarding the panorama mode, I would not even consider using that in the field, unless I had a tripod and carefully positioned each shot to make the overlap as seamless as possible.
Failing that, I would do it up right on my computer with an image editor, so I have to wonder again at what seems a gratuitous gripe about a feature that Spacejockey probably never intended to use anyway.
Speaking of gripes, why the grumbling about lack of filters or lens accessories on a camera that is NOT an SLR?
This is a mid to high end point-and-shoot camera, and a motorized lens that moves in and out can get easily damaged by a filter or other such appliance attached to it.
Spacejockey, have you really thought that complaint through?
Sorry to sound as if I have some kind of axe to grind with Spacejockey, but I am a firm believer that a critical review really should focus upon being both fair and factual, and too many of the gripes leveled at this low to mid range camera seemed really lacking in both departments.
Anyone who has used the pocket sized point-and-shoot cameras, such as my old Kodak, will immediately see the improvement of this camera over those, but anyone wanting all the features demanded by Spacejockey would be better served with one of the better digital SLR cameras instead.
However, those SLR cameras are also targeted more at the experienced photographer, thus requiring far more manual control over the camera.
Again, there is nothing wrong with a critical review, but I have to be critical of SJ's review itself.
Nothing personal.

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Lowepro Napoli 20 Camera Case (Chocolate) Review

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(More customer reviews)The is my second one. They are well built, durable, and the magnetic latch is perfest.

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With an elegant sense of style and a sleek compact design, the Napoli 20 by Lowepro is designed to hold an ultra-compact digital camera. A durable, fine-grain nappa leather exterior surrounds the soft, padded suede interior protecting your camera against impacts and scratches.

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Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5 12.1 MP Digital Camera with 12x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom with 2.7-Inch LCD (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)Purchased this to replace my Canon A1000, which I bought last year for a trip to Rocky Mountain National Park. Had to really struggle to get a good pic with the Canon -- I was very aggravated with it (though I finally came up with some program combinations that worked okay for the low light under the trees). But I decided for this summer's trip to the beach to try a new camera, with more zoom, and pass my Canon down to my 12-year-old son -- who's not nearly as picky as I am ;-)
Did a bit of research (which is always overwhelming because there's such a huge selection to choose from, and such a diversity of opinions on what makes a "good" camera). And I still wanted a pocket camera for convenience when hiking, fishing, float tripping, etc., so the Canon SX20 and Nikon P100 and the like were still too large for my needs. And then I came across well over 100 user reviews raving about the Panasonic ZS3 -- the predecessor of the ZS5/7 models -- on various websites, and it's reviews were also very good on "official" review sites. What especially impressed me was a review by a couple who guide trips to Yellowstone, were experienced SLR users, and had tried the ZS3 as a compact alternative -- and they loved it for outdoor shots. So I decided to try out the newer version of the ZS3, the ZS5.
(The main differences I saw between the ZS5 and ZS7 were that the ZS5's screen is 2.7" instead of 3.0", the ZS7 has two custom "My Scene's" instead of one, the ZS7 has a built-in GPS, and the ZS7 also has stereo video instead of mono, with more advanced video technology. None of those features were important to me for the additional money.)
I've had the camera only a couple of days, and have done various side-by-side camera comparisons between the ZS5 and the Canon A1000, and I'm pretty floored by the capabilities and photo quality of the ZS5. I'm especially impressed with the macro (I like to take wildflower pics). While no camera is perfect (from what I've seen), for me the ZS5 is going to be just what I needed for outdoor pictures. I'll update this review once I've had more time to experiment.
Update 05/11/10: Some cons -- (1) Battery door latch seems a little flimsy; wonder if it will get where it doesn't latch tight after alot of use? Only time will tell. (Other than that, this camera feels solidly built.) (2) Proprietary battery that has an ID chip built in, and the software in the camera looks for that (on their website, Panasonic says this change was made to ensure battery quality/safety). However, it appears you can finally get a 3rd-party battery thru Amazon (meaning a whole lot cheaper), and other vendors -- just be sure to look for "ID Secured" batteries (e-mail and ask the vendor first if you're not sure). I knew this before I bought the camera, but figured it should be pointed out. (3) I've had several indoor shots, in not very low light, that looked fuzzy, especially when you zoomed in on a PC. Not always the case, though. I think the "iA" mode is not always as intelligent as it should be. Also, reducing to 4 stars, so as not to mislead anyone that the camera is "perfect" -- though it's still "pretty amazing", and I'm really happy with it.
Update 05/14/10: The best pics seem to come with my own settings, and not with the "iA" mode where the computer is trying to make all the decisions for me. So you'll want to learn what the various settings do (and there's quite a few of them -- lots of flexibility). The ZS5 has three "Custom" memory slots in which to save your own configurations (which is great -- my Canon had no memory slots, and I was constantly fiddling with the settings).

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Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5 Point & Shoot Digital Camera - 12.1 Megapixel - 2.70" Active Matrix TFT Color LCD - Black DMC-ZS5K Digital Cameras

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Nikon Coolpix 4200 - Digital camera - compact - 4.0 Mpix - optical zoom: 3 x - supported memory: SD Review

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(More customer reviews)It is a very good and simple to handle that rewards you with excellent pictures. Vibrant colors. I got especially good results for city landscape, indoor pictures and nature. I will give "A" for that. Though, the results for mountains and beach are just ok, maybe `B', "B+".


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Nikon presents an exciting addition to the popular Coolpix range. Through easy operation, it delivers satisfying results without complication. With a streamlined range of functions, it's simple to take shots anytime without having to wade through lists of options. This attractive aluminum-cased camera with design as attractive as the results it produces, the Coolpix 4200 bring effortless enjoyment and new excitement to the digital photography experience.The Coolpix 4200, designed to emphasize Nikon's status as a premium brand, packed with the latest technology and accessible functionality that gives you more enjoyment with digital photography, is a streamlined performance to suit your modern life style.

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Kodak EasyShare Z915 Digital Camera (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)I have had probably ten different digital cameras over the last ten years, mostly Kodak, although the most recent ones were Canon. I was spoiled with the 12x optical zoom on my Kodak Z1012 and the clear, sharp images it produced. I don't want to carry it in my purse every day though! I recently purchased a Canon SX110, which is small enough to carry daily and takes great photos; however, it doesn't allow for a date stamp except at 1600x1200 resolution. After researching for several days online, I purchased a Kodak Z915 today. Took it straight to the park and played with it. Got some fantastic photos today. I mean, I was surprisingly truly impressed by the clear, sharp images I got today for a relatively inexpensive camera. I love the 10x zoom -- can't even imagine owning a camera with less after having that feature for a couple of years now. This one does all that I need and does it well. The movie mode seemed to have tiny shifts in focus while recording, but I don't use the video features on my cameras too often, so not a concern for me. I may play with it some more and see if some tweaking of settings will allow for a smoother playback. Again, can't say enough how happy I am with the image quality and that's my main requirement.

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Kodak EasyShare Z915 Digital Camera Black

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Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20 14.1 MP Digital Camera with 8x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7-Inch LCD (Red) Review

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(More customer reviews)Purchased camera for an upcoming trip. Wanted a point and shoot that was pocket sized and took good pictures. I was going to get a Canon Powershot but then started looking at Panasonic. I feel like I got more for my money. Maybe because Panasonic is not yet a household name in cameras. A few clicks online will reveal they are "joined at the hips" with Leica.
Using the iA mode delivered great pictures everytime. Did not take a bad picture yet, the smarts built-in really work! Focusing time is short, but you have to let the camera focus before pressing all the way. Zoom is great for such a small package, but image stabilization is a must without tripod. Also has wide angle lens which is a plus, not readily available in competing models. Have not played with any of the scene modes, I let iA handle that. And when I'll need the manual modes, I'll be reaching for the dSLR where I can play with buttons.
Played briefly with the video mode and was happily surprised. It is not a camcorder replacement, but it is better than expected. Sreen is large and bright under all experienced conditions so far. It does have a mode that adjusts LCD brightness to ambient light automatically. I do miss the viewfinder but I would trade a bigger LCD for a poor viewfinder anytime. Great point and shoot camera so far, good optics, it does what it should. Will probably look for a second battery soon, but I am a little confused at moment on which one to buy.

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Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20 Point & Shoot Digital Camera - 14.1 Megapixel - 2.70" Active Matrix TFT Color LCD - Red DMC-FH20R Digital Cameras

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Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7 12.1 MP Digital Camera with 12x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3.0-Inch LCD (Blue) Review

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(More customer reviews)After using this camera for a few weeks I am amending my rating and giving it 5 stars. This camera is truly incredible. The intelligent automatic is amazing---I only move it to manual for a few special situations. The only real complaint is that I occasionally inadvertently hit the video button. Otherwise it is simply amazing.
It handles difficult situations with grace. Sunset with sky and foreground properly exposed. Delivery room newborn with no flash and low ambient lighting. Black and white is fantastic. Couldn't be happier.
This is a great camera for a beginner---Point and shoot. Lots of control for advance photographers. I'm sorry to say I don't lug around a camera bag and tripod anymore. Just slip this in my purse.
I waited a long time to upgrade from the first generation Panasonic Lumix TZ1 (complete with dangling lens cover & 5MP) Glad I did. The best improvements are the quick power-up and lack of a shutter delay for catching fast action. If you leave it in the completely automatic mode it does an impressive job---and if you need control there's plenty and then some. Lots of programs plus aperture and shutter priority or complete control.
Other notable improvements are in the macro end of things where capturing very fine close-ups are greatly improved---my TZ1 was always focusing on the background if I could get it to focus at all. This does an incredible job! Almost too much detail (if that's possible) Every speck on the petal of a flower is exposed. This camera is slightly smaller and has a larger display screen. Most of the functions and dials are similar and I find easy to use but that may be because they are familiar.
Flash is improved over the first generation.
The zoom on the original was 10X. 12X even better. I took incredible photos of bullfrogs 15 feet away. Unbelievable detail.
This camera isn't perfect and no camera will ever be. It would be nice to have a more powerful flash and nice if you could shoot in lower light with less noise without flash and it would be nice if it had a 20X optical zoom and a faster lens but for what it is its an incredible piece of engineering. AND don't forget the Leica lens which is just plain beautiful.
All cameras have limitations and this is no exception. However it will get you a great photo most of the time. The wide angle to long telephoto range is why I bought my first Lumix. This flexibility makes for great travel photos. I did side by side comparisons of a Sony, Canon, Nikon and the first Lumix in the store and then we printed them out on the spot. No comparison. No ghosting, better color correction, better macro. And I like the ergonomics. I always place the wrist band over my wrist and hold onto the camera with fingers and pad of thumb and it feels secure. Some of the ultra small cameras are almost too small for me. (Didn't compare to current models)
What is truly awful about this camera is that the manual is on a disk and covers this camera and its 2 predecessors making it a bit (if Not totally confusing at times). It also does not come with MAC compatible editing software which is really not a big deal for me. One person asked if it is MAC OSX 10.6.3 compatible and it is. The only problem I've encountered is in using Aperture (a MAC program)it doesn't want to import directly into a project that has other images from my other Lumix camera. Make a new project and problem is solved but irritating. (Manual software and downloading from card to MAC is compatible)
Haven't tried uploading video yet.
DO purchase an extra Panasonic Battery DMW-BCG 10PP. Make sure it has the PP (It won't work without it) Also you'll need a SD Card. It's not necessary to go to the Class 6 cards unless you are shooting HD video. A SDHC 4GB card will hold 700+ photos at full MP.For most people this will be more than adequate. I carry two cards in case one goes south. You can always find them on sale for under $20. I also like the Caselogic TBC-302 Ultra Compact Camera Case for under $8.


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Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7 Point & Shoot Digital Camera - 12.1 Megapixel - 3" Active Matrix TFT Color LCD - Blue DMC-ZS7A Digital Cameras

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