Good quality camera for the novice and experienced user (Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ50)

Member Name: efish

Product:	Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ50
Date:	12/01/08 (99 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Zoom range, steady-shot, usability

Disadvantages: Lens hood obsures flash, filter vignetting, digital noise, wide angle not very wide

Thkis review is my own personal experience of this camera, which I bought a year ago. It replaced my Minolta A1 (which I dropped) and overall I've been very happy with it.

Mostly I use the high-res jpeg setting and ASA 100, to get the best out of the rather dodgy built-in noise reduction. So, low lighting can be a problem but the optical steady-shot really does help.

I could get much better results with RAW - the lens seems to be pretty perfect - but then can't review in-camera of course. Since I'm still experimenting with the digital process (printing via Photobox works for me) I like to see the results ASAP after I take the picture.

Some highlights:
- steadyshot really works
- love the "magnify" on manual focus
- easy to customise setting
- great little viewing screen that twists & turns

Some niggles:
- the lens hood supplied obscures the more than adequate built-in flash
- wide angle tends to vignette, even with the low-profile Hoya super pro polarising filter
- the 12x zoom is great but doesn't focus close enough (approx 2m minimum), so using macro more often than I'd expect
- Panasonic spares v costly (and hard to get at airports!) - get the Olympus FL50 flash, the Uniross battery etc
- custom settings should be easier to alter: "set from what I'm using" would be good
- multi-frame rather clunky
- wide angle not very wide

This Panasonic camera has been well reviewed at Digital Photography Review of course, where there's a good Panasonic user forum too.

Summary: Good camera for the price

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