1. 10-megapixel CCD captures enough detail for photo-quality poster-size prints
2. 18x wide-angle MEGA Optical Image Stabilized zoom lens
3. 2.7-inch high-resolution LCD screen; HD video capture
4. Full SLR-like manual operations including aperture, shutter, program and full manual modes with Advanced Scene modes
5. Capture images to SD/SDHC memory cards (not included)

Editorial Review :

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.

Customer Review :

Really great camera for the money

Bought this a few weeks ago - clearly a 5 star value. Great pictures, easy to use and excellent battery life.

Rating :

A Fine Camera with an unbelievable Lens

This is my third Panasonic Camera. My other two are both Lumix FZ-10. I am inclined towards Landscape and Flowers type of photography. To me, the most important part of a camera is the Lens more than any otherwise. Panasonic use Leica Brand lens on the FZ28 which is built in Japan under strict Leica Supervision. The resolving power of the lens is second to none. Its colour is vivid yet not overwhelming. Its detail presentation is almost impeccable to the finest degree, especially in shadow area. Yes, I agree that photoshop can do amazing things to a picture and can almost turn it 180 degreee around. However, no matter how good an editing software is, it still has to rely on the fundamental information captured by the lens. Only human eyes, created by The Lord, can outperform the quality and integrity of any lens made by human engineering. Next in line, in my opinion, is Leica Lens. Thank you.

Rating :

From FZ18 to FZ28: worth the upgrade

I thought long and hard before buying this camera. I owned the previous model, the FZ18, and did a lot of research to conclude (or convince myself) that the upgrade was really worth it, and also to find out if there wasn't a better ultrazoom / bridge camera for me. After visiting the forums and reading reviews of the Panasonic and also of the new Nikon, Canon and Fuji ultrazoom models, I concluded that not only was it a valid buy (and gave the FZ18 to my mom, who owns an ancient Olympus camera), but also that the Panasonic was the best bridge camera out there.

However, it remained to be seen whether my one big gripe with the FZ18 -- shutter lag, read my review at Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18K 8.1MP Digital Camera with 18x Wide Angle MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Black) if you're interested -- would still be present or if Panasonic had at least minimized it in the new model.

The FZ28's operation is, of course, very similar to the FZ18's, so for me it was a breeze to set it up. There are only slight button changes in relation to its predecessor, but I found bigger ones in the menus, like more metering and focusing options. I referred to the manual (well organized and very easy to consult) to find the ideal configurations for me. Then I set out to do some test shots.

To my satisfaction, the flying airplane that was in the middle of my frame when I hit the shutter was still in the middle of my frame when I looked at the photos in my computer. This meant that not only had I set the new camera up correctly, but that the shutter lag issue which annoyed me so much in the FZ18 has been drastically improved in the new model. This makes the FZ28 a viable camera for bird shots -- my main use for it -- and I won't be seeing photos of empty blue skies anymore.

Furthermore, despite the small sensor (a characteristic all compact digital cameras share) and increase in resolution, from 8 to 10 MP, image quality has also improved. Shooting at ISO 400, the noise levels have decreased, requiring little or no post-processing in the computer. Image artifacts, like purple fringing, are still present in specific conditions -- such as shooting a dark object against a bright sky -- but much less than before. And the FZ28's handling of low-light situations has also improved considerably.

The incredibly compact and light package still remains, as do the high-quality Leica optics, making the FZ28 a great all-around camera. It has lost a bit in optical zoom, from 506 to 486 mm, because the wide-angle capability has increased (from 28 mm in the FZ18 to 27 mm in the current model), but it doesn't seem to make that much difference overall. And a wider angle is nice in an all-around camera.

I've taken several hundred shots in all kinds of light and distance situations, and even tried iA, Intelligent Auto, something I rarely did in the previous camera -- I normally shoot in Aperture mode -- to see how well it worked. It gave me some very usable images. So if you don't want to think about the settings and just use the FZ28 as a big zoom point-and-shoot, you'll be fine. But tweaking and controling the settings is very easy too.

Battery life is still amazing, but I advise you to get a couple of spare batteries (an original Panasonic or a Digipower will do the job. There are also good reviews on the Lenmar battery, and I'll be giving that one a try). Each photo with the highest resolution and quality is around 4 MB, so several SDHC memory cards are also a good idea. I haven't tested the video capabilities yet, but I'll get around to it eventually.

So far, my conclusion is: if I already liked and enjoyed the FZ18 despite its shortcomings, the FZ28 is a promising step up from that.



Rating :

Excellent camera

My wife and I are average users and were looking for a high-end point-and-shoot camera that takes high quality pictures with a large zoom, would also be as lightweight and compact as possible, easy to operate but that would also offer rich manual options when desired. Very quickly we found ourselves comparing between the Nikon P80, the Cannon SX10S and this Panasonic FZ28. We chose the latter due to the superiour reviews, low size and lower cost. We've had the camera for about 1 month now and we're very happy. It meets or exceeds all our above requirements

Rating :

Nice Lite Camera

Nice Camera, upto 32X optical zoom with lower res. However, no protector that you can buy just yet. I guess Panasonic is working on it. Very Lite compare to the SX10. you have to buy cable for HD viewing, but you view HD on Dual Core computer or fast single. Pictures are very good. Menus are easy after a couple of days. I like the buttons for on and off, and Record and Play. Manual focus works well. only problem is the protector lense is not offered just yet from Panasonic. Pics in JPG and Movies in MOV (QIUCKTIME). Battery seems good (1 week on first charge, still have battery left. Big menus, Day light viewing seems good. zoom has a nice sound to it.

yet another fine line between camcorder and Camera.

Loads quickly to Computer.





Rating :

More reviews...

1. 9-megapixel resolution captures enough detail for poster-sized prints
2. 10x optical zoom Leica DC lens; Face Detection
3. New Panasonic Venus Engine IV improves noise reduction, elevates the detection accuracy and corrective effects
4. 3.0-inch LCD; Mega O.I.S. and Intelligent ISO
5. Captures images to SD memory cards (not included)

Editorial Review :

9-megapixel effective recording * 10X optical zoom (4X digital/40X total zoom) * 3" color LCD screen with automatic 10-step brightness adjustment * optical image stabilization * wide-angle lens for shooting landscapes and large groups * 35mm equivalent focal length: 28-280mm * top JPEG resolution: 3648 x 2736 * face detection adjusts focus and exposure settings for better portraits * scene recognition identifies shooting conditions and selects optimal settings * intelligent ISO detects subject movement and adjusts camera settings to prevent blur * high sensitivity mode for better low-light and flash-free shooting * variable ISO sensitivity (film speed equivalent) settings * variable burst mode lets you select shooting resolution and speed (up to 10 frames per second) *

Customer Review :

digital camera

Very nice camera .. easy to set and use.. i love the bust action photos you can take with it...

Rating :

Great automatic camera

After much research I decided on the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5A camera. I received it 5 days before going on vacation. I took many pictures and did some experimenting with different settings and they all turned out great!! I highly recommend this camera to anyone that wants great pictures made easy!

Rating :

Digital Camera

This is a great camera but I returned it before it was shipped. I decided to get the Canon camcorder instead. I'm looking for something that will do both video and stills.

Rating :

Great digitial camera

I love this camera although I am still figuring out all the options. Using different scene modes is very easy and the camera is great for distance shots as well as close ups. Solid product well worth the money

Rating :

Color me amazed

I'm not one to write a lot of product reviews, but this one compels me to do so. I've been using digital cameras for a long time, and in the past have stuck with another brand (which I won't name because I don't want to convey that they're inferior - they're also very good, just not like this one, and may well be ideal for someone else). I got the DMC-TZ5 last month, shot a few images around campus, then took it off to San Francisco for a week.

To put it simply, I am blown away by the handling and image quality. You can read elsewhere about the outstanding Leica lens, the good build quality and materials, and I haven't taken it apart or put it on the test bench so I won't add to that discussion. But I'm a pretty demanding photographer, and this camera makes me very happy.

I took street grab shots all over the city and found the camera very responsive. The LCD worked fine for me in all lighting conditions, and I found it quite easy to compose and shoot. The most needed controls are easily accessible - white balance, exposure compensation, picture modes - and the menus and default settings are easy to work with to get the camera configured just the way you want. The ability to select different color profiles is especially nice. The grip and general configuration work well - I have fairly large hands and have no problem with this relatively small camera. The lens does take a moment to crank out or in when you turn the camera on or off but that's to be expected with a 10X zoom.

Flash photos worked fine, although like any small camera the flash reach is limited, but where it really blew me away was in taking image-stabilized low-light photos. I shot nighttime street scenes, lit by store signs and street lights only, and the images are sharp and crisp at ISO 800. No, I haven't printed them, but looking onscreen at full resolution they're better than any others I've seen. I'm sure one can get better from a D-SLR but I'm not willing to carry around that much camera equipment anymore - I want a camera that will always be with me and can still take excellent photos, and this fits the bill better than I had imagined.

I haven't used the video function so can't speak to that. Image uploading isn't exactly fast but I think that's a function of the high resolution and corresponding large files rather than some kind of electronic limitation. I like the blue color finish on the body even.

I see surprisingly little barrel distortion at the wide end of the zoom, and being able to go from 28-280mm equivalent is wonderful. And at the long end the image stabilization really does work. Well. Even in low light.

In sum, I love this camera!

Rating :

More reviews...

1. 9-megapixel resolution captures enough detail for poster-sized prints
2. 10x optical zoom Leica DC lens; Face Detection
3. New Panasonic Venus Engine IV improves noise reduction, elevates the detection accuracy and corrective effects
4. 3.0-inch LCD; Mega O.I.S. and Intelligent ISO
5. Captures images to SD memory cards (not included)

Editorial Review :

9-megapixel effective recording * 10X optical zoom (4X digital/40X total zoom) * 3" color LCD screen with automatic 10-step brightness adjustment * optical image stabilization * wide-angle lens for shooting landscapes and large groups * 35mm equivalent focal length: 28-280mm * top JPEG resolution: 3648 x 2736 * face detection adjusts focus and exposure settings for better portraits * scene recognition identifies shooting conditions and selects optimal settings * intelligent ISO detects subject movement and adjusts camera settings to prevent blur * high sensitivity mode for better low-light and flash-free shooting * variable ISO sensitivity (film speed equivalent) settings * variable burst mode lets you select shooting resolution and speed (up to 10 frames per second) *

Customer Review :

Great digitial camera

I love this camera although I am still figuring out all the options. Using different scene modes is very easy and the camera is great for distance shots as well as close ups. Solid product well worth the money

Rating :

Digital Camera

This is a great camera but I returned it before it was shipped. I decided to get the Canon camcorder instead. I'm looking for something that will do both video and stills.

Rating :

digital camera

Very nice camera .. easy to set and use.. i love the bust action photos you can take with it...

Rating :

Great automatic camera

After much research I decided on the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5A camera. I received it 5 days before going on vacation. I took many pictures and did some experimenting with different settings and they all turned out great!! I highly recommend this camera to anyone that wants great pictures made easy!

Rating :

Color me amazed

I'm not one to write a lot of product reviews, but this one compels me to do so. I've been using digital cameras for a long time, and in the past have stuck with another brand (which I won't name because I don't want to convey that they're inferior - they're also very good, just not like this one, and may well be ideal for someone else). I got the DMC-TZ5 last month, shot a few images around campus, then took it off to San Francisco for a week.

To put it simply, I am blown away by the handling and image quality. You can read elsewhere about the outstanding Leica lens, the good build quality and materials, and I haven't taken it apart or put it on the test bench so I won't add to that discussion. But I'm a pretty demanding photographer, and this camera makes me very happy.

I took street grab shots all over the city and found the camera very responsive. The LCD worked fine for me in all lighting conditions, and I found it quite easy to compose and shoot. The most needed controls are easily accessible - white balance, exposure compensation, picture modes - and the menus and default settings are easy to work with to get the camera configured just the way you want. The ability to select different color profiles is especially nice. The grip and general configuration work well - I have fairly large hands and have no problem with this relatively small camera. The lens does take a moment to crank out or in when you turn the camera on or off but that's to be expected with a 10X zoom.

Flash photos worked fine, although like any small camera the flash reach is limited, but where it really blew me away was in taking image-stabilized low-light photos. I shot nighttime street scenes, lit by store signs and street lights only, and the images are sharp and crisp at ISO 800. No, I haven't printed them, but looking onscreen at full resolution they're better than any others I've seen. I'm sure one can get better from a D-SLR but I'm not willing to carry around that much camera equipment anymore - I want a camera that will always be with me and can still take excellent photos, and this fits the bill better than I had imagined.

I haven't used the video function so can't speak to that. Image uploading isn't exactly fast but I think that's a function of the high resolution and corresponding large files rather than some kind of electronic limitation. I like the blue color finish on the body even.

I see surprisingly little barrel distortion at the wide end of the zoom, and being able to go from 28-280mm equivalent is wonderful. And at the long end the image stabilization really does work. Well. Even in low light.

In sum, I love this camera!

Rating :

More reviews...

1. 10.1-megapixel CCD captures enough detail for photo-quality poster-size prints
2. 2.5x wide-angle MEGA Optical Image Stabilized zoom lens
3. 3.0-inch high-resolution LCD screen; HD video capture
4. Classic SLR-like manual operations include selectable AF spot/multi AF area, customization button, aperture, shutter, program and full manual modes
5. Capture images to SD/SDHC memory cards (not included)

Editorial Review :

Designed for easy, creative shooting, and high-performance in low-light conditions, the DMC-LX3 features a F2.0 24mm LEICA DC VARIO-SUMMICRON lens, 10.1 megapixels and an ultra-sensitive 1/1.63-inch CCD developed specifically for this model. By combining a high-quality lens and sensor ready for a variety of shooting conditions with a wide-range of accessories and manual controls, the DMC-LX3 is ideal for professional photographers and serious amateurs looking for a compact digital camera that furthers their creative photography.

Customer Review :

Excellent image but falls very short.

I really want to keep this camera, because the image quality is so good, and wide angle is heavenly. However, after some use, I found that I need a little bit more reach too often. For a general purpose pocket camera, 24mm X 2.5 zoom is way too little. 3.5X could have been acceptable. And I was very disappointed by the huge video file size. It uses Quick Time JPEG motion, which is an outdated technology. And when you take HD video, the file size is ridiculously immense. Panasonic should have used H264 mpeg, which will reduce the file size at least by quarter. When I pay almost $500, I don't want to pay for the outdated technology.

I am looking forward to the next version, LX4 which will fix these two problems. But I praise Panasonic for its first try to "Image quality, not mega pixel war". Good work !

Rating :

Outstanding camera!

The camera is performing exactly as designed. The many professional reviews I could find on the net helped me to pick that camera. Smallest digital camera with full manual control and superb lens!

Rating :

Tradeoffs between LX2 and LX3

I've owned the LX2 for a year and a half now and decided to try an LX3 to see if any of the LX2 shortcomings were remedied.
Long story to short,don't bother.
Yes the lens on the LX3 is slightly faster and goes a little wider and yes
the noise has been reduced a bit but in reality you will rarely notice the improvements in noise over the LX2.
Unfortunately none of it makes up for the big detraction from the new LX3 which
is the radically shortened Zoom range which I miss a lot.You just can't move in on a subject like you could with the LX2 and therefore must do it with software after you have taken the picture.Of course when you have to blow up and crop a photo is when the noise in the photo can become a more noticeable problem. The camera is also slightly larger than an LX2 and unfortunately Panasonic decided to continue with the very annoying lens cap design for lens protection.If they are going to make us use a lens cap why then would they make us buy a special adapter just to add a filter to the end of the lens.The lens sticks out anyway so let us screw a filter on it without adding even more length of an extra adapter barrel.
Another annoying carryover is if you decide to use the video recording
mode you still cannot zoom the lens while shooting video.And why are video clips limited to ten minutes when you use a multi-gigabyte card that could record for much longer ?
So I'm not finding the improvements to the LX3 and the continued glaring lack of other improvements all that useful in the real world.

Rating :

surprisingly good 'all around' camera

I have been using the LX3 for about 1.5 months. I find it to be a good substitute for my DSLR in many situations.

One weird thing about it: when the lens is set at the widest setting the lens is fully extended. This works really well, because I can put on the lens adapter and use it like a lens shade. In other situations, if you have shading for wide, you have no protection for telephoto. Not so for this camera, because if the lens shade is not blocking anything at wide, it certainly is not going to block anything at the telephoto (retracted position).

Those who use off-camera flash/strobes should consider a hotshoe-to-PC synch cord adapter such as the Nikon AS-15. I used this camera to do my son's passport pictures and it worked surprisingly well.

This camera is designed for those who crave for wide coverage. Those who like to use 85mm+ lenses on a full-frame DSLR (equivalent) should not consider this one.

Rating :

Panasonic LX3

Great camera for low light (f2 lens) and landscape (24mm wide-angle lens). HD video recording. I used it for street and travel photography also. Highly recommended.

Rating :

More reviews...

1. 10-megapixel CCD captures enough detail for photo-quality poster-size prints
2. 18x wide-angle MEGA Optical Image Stabilized zoom lens
3. 2.7-inch high-resolution LCD screen; HD video capture
4. Full SLR-like manual operations including aperture, shutter, program and full manual modes with Advanced Scene modes
5. Capture images to SD/SDHC memory cards (not included)

Editorial Review :

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.

Customer Review :

Good Walk Around Camera

I bought this camera to replace our old walk around camera (Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S650 7.2 MP).
I was looking for a camera with a better zoom capability, better indoor picture quality, and higher resolution video.

I shot over 120 pictures this Thanksgiving (indoors and out) and 4 HD mode videos (indoors and out).
The outdoor pictures were very crisp, true colors in Ai mode, and auto focus was very reliable. Indoor pictures without a flash, in a well lit room, came out better than expected (in Ai mode) - colors were still true (maybe slightly muted - but still good). The indoors pictures with flash were very sharp and well lit.

You'll love the autofocus face focus boxes that track your subject (even multiple faces). Your subject can be on the side of your shot and will still use them as your focal point. This will allow for depth in your zoom shots.

The video is good, but will not replace a HD camcorder (that was my wish). The sound in the video is not great and the video playback look slightly "jumpy" on my kids running around outside. I still will need to buy a HD video camera (if Santa doesn't bring one - come on Santa :-)

Battery life was great - never moved off the fully charged indication all day (don't buy a spare battery).
SDHC card with 16MB of memory will hold over 4000 pictures in the highest setting (never came close to filling this thing up while even shooting video).

I'm very happy with the camera.

Rating :

awesome

This camera is everything i could have wanted and more ... I did a ton of research and thought about an SLR camera and was worried that i would be dissappointed with this ... I could not have been more wrong. The pictures that i have taken are breathtaking. I have now a Flickr page and there is a whole community there dedicated to this camera, and the pictures made by others are fantastic!!! real gems. I can not say enough great things about this camera and would reccoment it 100% !!!!!!!!

Rating :

Awesome Camera!

Wow! Great 18X WA Lens, 10 MP Processor, Image Stabilization,and Red Eye Reduction! Easy to use and great price! All in one awesome camera!

Rating :

Surpasses Expectations!

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28S 10MP Digital Camera with 18x Wide Angle MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Silver)
I began taking scores of photos as soon as the camera arrived and have been completely satisfied with its performance. I use it a lot for nature shots, especially animals, and find the 18X exceptionally effective. My HAND-HELD SHOTS AT FULL 18 X zoom are amazing - strong testimony to Panasonic's image stabilization. My assessment now is that this may be the last camera I will need. Worth the full 5 stars!

Rating :

Panasonic FZ28

Purchased this camera several weeks ago to replace a Sanyo Xacti C6 that failed a while earlier. The FZ28 is nothing like the Sanyo. The Sanyo was very small and lightweight and it was extremely simple to use for both pictures and movies. However, the overall picture/movie quality and low-light performance of the Sanyo was inferior to the FZ28. I am very pleased with the FZ28; the iA mode setting makes it a simple to use point and shoot camers. The 18X optical zoom is amazing.

Rating :

More reviews...