Zeiss Ikon Lens Shade CS50 for the C Sonnar T* 50mm f/1.5 ZM Lenses. Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This Zeiss Ikon lens shade for the Zeiss ZM 50mm f1.5 C Sonnar lens is a well-built, metal "vented" lens hood that easily mounts onto thelens via the lens' front bayonet mount. Historically, it reminds me of similar vented lens hoods which Leica had made for its 35mm and 50mm lenses from the mid 1960s through 1990s; in all these instances these are "vented" lens hoods to allow users to see through the rangefinders of their cameras. I can enthusiastically recommend this lens hood to any Zeiss Ikon user; I am quite surprised by its relatively low cost, coupled with its rugged construction.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Zeiss Ikon Lens Shade CS50 for the C Sonnar T* 50mm f/1.5 ZM Lenses.

This is a Zeiss metal lens shade in black for the 50mm F/1.5 lens. It is recommended for C Sonnar T* 1.5/50 ZM lenses. Please note: Does not fit to Planar T* 2/50 ZM.

Click here for more information about Zeiss Ikon Lens Shade CS50 for the C Sonnar T* 50mm f/1.5 ZM Lenses.

Voigtlander Super-Wide Heliar 15mm f/4.5 Aspherical Manual Focus Lens with Viewfinder - Silver Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This lens is sharp as heck, light weight, and almost free. The other reviewer notes that it's cheaper than the Leica 15mm. A bit! The Leica is 7500$ and hardly any more contrasty or sharp. Further, you can buy a body, a Bessa L, for 100$ and have an extraordinary combination for interiors, buildings, or special effects. This lens is fully linear. Finally, while the viewfinder does have barrel distortion, the lens has no fisheye effect at all and the finder is BRIGHTER than the Leica (if you took out that 3rd mortgage to buy the Leica).

Click Here to see more reviews about: Voigtlander Super-Wide Heliar 15mm f/4.5 Aspherical Manual Focus Lens with Viewfinder - Silver

Cosina is a general optic manufacturer with unique development skills, which are demonstrated by its attested technology. Discover a new world of images together with Cosina lenses.

Get 18% OFF

Click here for more information about Voigtlander Super-Wide Heliar 15mm f/4.5 Aspherical Manual Focus Lens with Viewfinder - Silver

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

Average Reviews:

(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.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Panasonic RP SDP04GU1K - Flash memory card - 4 GB - Class 4 - SD

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

Click here for more information about Panasonic RP SDP04GU1K - Flash memory card - 4 GB - Class 4 - SD

Tamrac 3320027 Aero 20 Digital Camera Zoom Case (Red) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I love it!!! It fits my panasonic fz35 with a spare battery, sd card, and the sun hood....It's really compact...

Click Here to see more reviews about: Tamrac 3320027 Aero 20 Digital Camera Zoom Case (Red)

Tamrac's Aero Zoom 20 provides a protective carrying solution for the essentials without the bulk of a traditional camera bag.This sleek, foam-padded zoom pack protects digital cameras with large built-in zoom lenses.It is also ideal for a compact digital or hard drive camcorder.A zippered top with a weather flap adds security and protection from the elements, while slim side pockets store extra memory cards and batteries.An adjustable shoulder strap, belt loop and carrying handle provide multiple carrying options for this trim zoom pack.

Get 45% OFF

Click here for more information about Tamrac 3320027 Aero 20 Digital Camera Zoom Case (Red)

Marumi DHG Super Circular Polarizer CPL PL.D 52 52mm Filter Japan Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I am using it on Nikon D3000 18-55mm VR Kit lens. I had tried the Marumi DHG Circular Polarizer CPL earlier and had found some unwanted ghosting/ flare effect. So, I got this "Super" multicoated version instead. It works as advertised and I am very happy with the results, especially the blue sky effect and improved color saturation plus no visible ghosting/ flaring because of multicoating. In depth technical comparisons on "Lenstip dot com" also ranks it overall number one. You can't find a better product for this price point. I see some barrel distortion at 90 degrees (max polarization) compared to 0 degrees (no polarization). I am not sure if this is common among all CPL filters.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Marumi DHG Super Circular Polarizer CPL PL.D 52 52mm Filter Japan

Marumi® brand. DHG Super Multi-coated CPL.Pro quality filter. Made in Japan.Ultra-low reflective coating minimizes reflectionoff internal CCD & CMOS sensors.Multicoated (6 coatings) optical glass filter. Hard protection: Coating guards from scratches.Water & Oil Repellant: Water, oil and fingerprints simply wipe off.Antifouling: Easy clean coating.Black rim: Edge treated with black ink to eliminate relections.Low profile: Just 5mm high (not inc rear threads).Great for Wide angle lenses, no vignetting.Non-reflective metal frame eliminates reflections.Metal, double threaded frame to allow addtional filters or hoods. A Circular Polarizer (polariser) creates contrast between blue sky and cloud for dramatic deep blue skies. Cuts glare off reflected surfaces such as water. Rotates for different effects.Brand new in package

Click here for more information about Marumi DHG Super Circular Polarizer CPL PL.D 52 52mm Filter Japan

RainbowImaging Leica LTM M39 39mm Screw Mount Lens to Micro 4/3 Four Thirds System Camera Mount Adapter, Olympus PEN E-P1, E-P2, E-PL1, Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1, GH1, G1, G2, G10, MSRP: 20.99 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I had a screw-thread Leica 50mm f2 Summitar from my dad's old Leica iiic and after reading about others using the same lens on the micro 4/3 cameras with an adapter, I found this one and ordered it. I ordered it on a Monday and it came in on the following Saturday. The finish and quality were much better than I expected for the price. In the online photo, the black finish looks almost like plastic, but actually is very nicely finished metal. I could find no flaws in finish or manufacturing.
The old lens screwed in smoothly. The mount went on my E-PL2 as smoothly as the kit lens, and had no wobble or looseness. Trial photos showed proper focus, et al.
I can't say enough -- why pay more for a name brand when this does the trick? Now that I know I can find an inexpensive, well-made adapter, I'll start keeping my eyes out for other legacy glass, knowing a can get a good adapter.

Click Here to see more reviews about: RainbowImaging Leica LTM M39 39mm Screw Mount Lens to Micro 4/3 Four Thirds System Camera Mount Adapter, Olympus PEN E-P1, E-P2, E-PL1, Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1, GH1, G1, G2, G10, MSRP: 20.99

High quality metal lens mount allows Leica 39mm to be used on micro 4/3 camera body. The adapter has no electrical connection and diaphragm & focusing are required to be set by manual.Compatible to:Panasonic: G1, GH1, E-P1Olympus: E-P1Material:Made of Copper & Aluminum

Click here for more information about RainbowImaging Leica LTM M39 39mm Screw Mount Lens to Micro 4/3 Four Thirds System Camera Mount Adapter, Olympus PEN E-P1, E-P2, E-PL1, Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1, GH1, G1, G2, G10, MSRP: 20.99

Black Universal Camera Case Review

Average Reviews:

(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.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Black Universal Camera Case

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

Get 62% OFF

Click here for more information about Black Universal Camera Case

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28K 10MP Digital Camera with 18x Wide Angle MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Black) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I have been using a Panasonic TZ1 for a little over two years. That's a nice 10x zoom pocket camera. But its ISO is a bit low for indoor use. The shutter lag of TZ1 also cannot keep up with my growing two-year-old twins. They move too fast for the camera to chase.
My main use for the new camera is to record my kids life. From time to time, I extend my artistic interest to scenes, buildings, animals, insects, flowers...
I've had this camera for a week and took over 1000 photos. It's simply fantastic.
Things I like:
1. The shutter response is much much better than my old camera. In most cases, it will focus quickly and accurately. I use iA mode occasionally. Most time, I set it at program mode with Fn(Function)button programmed to select different focus mode. Contrary to one of the reviewers, I feel it's very responsive. And Face Recognition really works on this Camera.
2. The lens is great. You can capture incredible photos far and near.
3. Wonderful IQ! I constantly mess around with different shooting modes and do comparison shot. I have to say that the iA(intelligent auto) mode in many cases is doing a better job in focusing, exposure, white balance, etc than I do(Hard to admit a machine is smart than I am. :-D). I'm still trying and learning. But I feel eventually I might give up and let the iA totally controls me.
4. The menu system is well-written. I'm only half-way through the manual(Probably I'll never finish the other half). But there's not a function I hesitate to use or feel frustrated when maneuvering through the menu system.
5. The lay-out of the buttons is well thought-out. I especially like the dedicated record/playback button. Why no one else thought about it. So convenient! Love it.
6. LCD. This is perhaps the brightest LCD I ever had. Everything is nicely detailed.
Things I think the next gen Panasonic FZ should improve:
1. ISO. I have very usable photos which are shot at ISO 400. But there are several times I hope the ISO will be even higher for low-light conditions.
2. Ghost-band(Purple/blue vertical lines) on LCD in strong direct light condition. This happens to many digital camera system. But I feel it shows a bit more on this camera.
I frequent dpreview. A few people there(Plenty never set their fingers on the camera) complain about the small EVF of this camera. I primarily use LCD for taking pictures. So I don't really care about EVF. But to be fair and objective, I tried EVF with about 100 photos. It's clear, bright and nice.
Conclusion: It's a fantastic super-zoom camera which can take incredible photos. A nice step-up from simple P&S. What are you waiting for? (Panasonic didn't pay me to say the last line)
Update 09/30/2008: I've been using this camera for about one month. Literally thousands photos taken. Again and again I'm impressed by this camera. This is truly a versatile camera. It takes excellent photos under a broad range conditions. It's hard to go wrong with this camera.
Update 12/27/2008: It's been four months since I got the camera. The more I use it, the more I appreciate its functionality, features and build quality. Best buy ever.
Update 04/14/2009: I found out that my computer/camera illiterate wife uses this camera much more than I do. (Of course, she spends more time with the twins too. )She was intimated by all the buttons at the time when I bought it. Now she just leaves the setting at AI and doesn't bother to mess with anything else. Photos almost always turn out to be perfect. Nothing says more of the camera than this. Great job Panasonic!!!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28K 10MP Digital Camera with 18x Wide Angle MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Black)

Panasonic's new DMC-FZ28 boasts a premium 27mm wide-angle LEICA lens with an 18x optical zoom, ideal for tight indoor shots and long-distance action photos.The 10.1 megapixel digital camera also features an enhanced Intelligent Auto Mode (iA), with the new AF (auto focus) Tracking function, making it easier for photographers at any level to shoot sharp, well-focused photos, even when the subject is moving -- making it ideal for action shots.

Click here for more information about Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28K 10MP Digital Camera with 18x Wide Angle MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Black)

Lowepro 35093 Lowepro Cirrus 100 Shoulder Bag Black Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This bag is a perfect fit for my Canon Powershot S5 IS. If you have anything larger it probably will not fit in this case. The case has some padding along the inside which would help if you dropped it, but I wouldn't trust it to save your camera from a fall from more than just a few feet. There is a small compartment on the inside of the top flap which is perfect for holding and protecting memory cards. The outside compartment is kind of small, I can barely fit about 8 AA batteries and my camera's USB cable in there, so if you have a lot of accessories look for a larger bag. Overall, if you don't have a lot of equipment this bag is great, especially for the price.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Lowepro 35093 Lowepro Cirrus 100 Shoulder Bag Black

Designed for today's digital SLR user, with shock absorbent foam construction and close-fitting padded interior, Cirrus shoulder bags keep your digital SLR with zoom lens or compact video camera snug and safe from impact. The efficient design with built-in media storage also holds your essential cords, battery, and memory cards. Carry this bag comfortably all day using the extra-wide shoulder strap and curved, easy-grip handle.

Get 43% OFF

Click here for more information about Lowepro 35093 Lowepro Cirrus 100 Shoulder Bag Black

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

Average Reviews:

(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.


Click Here to see more reviews about: Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3 inch LCD (Black)

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.

Click here for more information about Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3 inch LCD (Black)

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

Average Reviews:

(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.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Panasonic LUMIX DMC-ZS6 12.1 MP DIGITAL CAMERA BLACK - 3.0 " TFT Screen LCD Display

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.

Click here for more information about Panasonic LUMIX DMC-ZS6 12.1 MP DIGITAL CAMERA BLACK - 3.0 " TFT Screen LCD Display

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

Average Reviews:

(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)


Click Here to see more reviews about: Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5 12.1 MP Digital Camera with 12x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom with 2.7-Inch LCD (Silver)

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

Get 37% OFF

Click here for more information about Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5 12.1 MP Digital Camera with 12x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom with 2.7-Inch LCD (Silver)

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

Average Reviews:

(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.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Twin Pack - 3.0" inch LCD Screen Protector for Digital Cameras - 2.4" (L), 1.8" (W)

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...

Get 60% OFF

Click here for more information about Twin Pack - 3.0" inch LCD Screen Protector for Digital Cameras - 2.4" (L), 1.8" (W)

Lowepro Napoli 20 Camera Case (Chocolate) Review

Average Reviews:

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

Click Here to see more reviews about: Lowepro Napoli 20 Camera Case (Chocolate)

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.

Get 63% OFF

Click here for more information about Lowepro Napoli 20 Camera Case (Chocolate)

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

Average Reviews:

(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).

Click Here to see more reviews about: Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5 12.1 MP Digital Camera with 12x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom with 2.7-Inch LCD (Black)

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

Get 36% OFF

Click here for more information about Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5 12.1 MP Digital Camera with 12x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom with 2.7-Inch LCD (Black)

Nikon UR-E19 Converter Adapter for use with TC-E17ED Tele Converter Lens Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This does what it is supposed to do. Works for connecting a Nikon TC lens to a Nikon Coolpix camera. Good manufacturing and fit and finish as would be expected from Nikon.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Nikon UR-E19 Converter Adapter for use with TC-E17ED Tele Converter Lens

Lens adapter required for use of the Nikon TC-E17ED Tele Converter Lens with Nikon Coolpix 5700 and 8700 Digital Cameras

Click here for more information about Nikon UR-E19 Converter Adapter for use with TC-E17ED Tele Converter Lens

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

Average Reviews:

(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+".


Click Here to see more reviews about: Nikon Coolpix 4200 - Digital camera - compact - 4.0 Mpix - optical zoom: 3 x - supported memory: SD

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.

Click here for more information about Nikon Coolpix 4200 - Digital camera - compact - 4.0 Mpix - optical zoom: 3 x - supported memory: SD