1. 10-megapixel CCD captures enough detail for photo-quality poster-size prints
2. 5x optical zoom; 25mm/f2.8 wide-angle Leica DC lens
3. 3.0-inch touch-screen LCD monitor
4. Face Detection; Advanced Optical Image Stabilization and Intelligent ISO
5. Capture images to SD/SDHC/MMC (not included)

Editorial Review :

10.1 MegaPixel / 5x Zoom / 3.0" LCD Touchscreen / HD Movie / Picture Adjustment

Customer Review :

Quality of pictures is first-rate!

I used this camera on a two week vacation and was very pleased with prints of the pictures taken. So, it follows that I have to disagree with those who've written about the quality of the shots taken with this camera!

It's true that "intelligent auto" isn't the best choice for shooting in low light. (That mode, however, works very well for other shots, including those with action that needs to be stopped at high speed.) But, as several have noted on the other side ... e.g. in reviews of the FX500 silver ..., there are other choices in the Mode selection that work very nicely in low light conditions.

I'm very pleased that I choose this camera instead of similar Canon or Sony models!

Rating :

Poor image quality, especially in low light

There are many things to like about this camera (touch-screen controls, manual overrides, large viewing screen, image stabilization, Leica lens) unfortunately image quality is not one.

While daylight exposures at ISO 100 or lower are OK albeit not outstanding, the noise and fuzziness of the images at higher ISO's makes the camera unusable at those settings. The images look great on the camera screen but get them back to your laptop or printer and the lack of sharpness is appalling. It's so bad I thought something was wrong with the camera, but reading all the other reviews I see I'm not alone. I've tried overriding the factory noise reduction setting but to no avail, it produces different results of similarly poor quality. Wish I was still within my 30-day return period.

Not recommended.

Rating :

Wonderful!

This is an amazing camera. It is very easy to use and takes great pictures.

Rating :

Lumix FX500

A gem with super wide-angle and good movie. All for 16:9 HDTV. It's a pity that component cable as option only.

Rating :

Noise levels are heartbreaking

On the surface, the FX500 seems like an almost ideal point and shoot digital camera with a good balance of pocketability and breadth of function for both novice and more advanced users but it has a significant achilles heel that shouldn't be ignored. The noise levels on photos in even lightly shaded\darkened conditions are horrendous. I have a 3 yr old point and shoot digital camera that handles such conditions significantly better. Details just get blown out and I can't imagine prints ever being worth the time.

I had seen complaints online about the noise but after viewing photos taken by other FX500 owners online which didn't display much noise, I thought this was an issue that could be managed through learning to use the camera, much as with other cameras I've had before this. But I'm sincerely baffled as to how to make the best of it in this case - trying to adjust the noise reduction setting seems to make absolutely no difference in the amount of detectable noise in a photo, whether it's set to +2 noise reduction (the most noise reduction) or -2 (the least). And as for those photos I saw online - the ones which exhibited little or no noise were the ones taken with ample lighting. I should have paid more attention.

So this one is going to get returned. If it weren't for the noise, I think I'd be in love by now. But the noise levels are absolutely a dealbreaker.

Rating :

More reviews...

1. 10-megapixel resolution captures enough detail for poster-sized prints
2. 4x wide-angle optical zoom; Mega Optical Image Stabilized
3. 3.0-inch Intelligent LCD; Face Detection
4. Intelligent ISO; Intelligent Scene Selector
5. 50 MB built-in memory; captures images to SD memory cards (not included)

Editorial Review :

Simply set the 10.1-megapixel DMC-FS20 to iA mode and let the four Intelligent Auto functions team up to help prevent shooting errors. Intelligent Scene Selector chooses the mode that best fits the situation; MEGA Optical Image Stabilization (O.I.S.) helps prevent blurring from hand-shake; Intelligent ISO Control helps prevent motion blur; and Face Detection helps produce clear portraits by optimizing the focus and exposure settings. The 30mm wide-angle Leica DC Vario-Elmar lens with 4x optical zoom takes wider shots than an ordinary 35mm lens. This is helpful in small rooms or crowded places, for example, letting you fit more people into a group photo. There's also an Easy Zoom button on the camera top - just press it, and the optical zoom and Extra Optical Zoom instantly extend to full telescopic position. This quick zooming lets you catch even fleeting opportunities. The brightness and contrast of the large 3.0" diagonal LCD adjust automatically in 10 steps as ambient light conditions change, so images are clear, bright and easy to see day or night, indoors or outdoors. 3.0 Diagonal Polycrystalline TFT LCD Display (230K dots) Focusing Area Normal - Wide 50cm/ Tele 100cm - infinity, Macro / Intelligent AUTO - Wide 10cm / Tele 100cm - infinity 8 - 1/2,000 sec. Starry Sky Mode - 15, 30, 60sec. Shutter Speed Auto / 100 / 200 / 400 / 800 / 1600 (High Sensitivity Mode - Auto (1600 - 6400) ) ISO 27MB Internal Memory (additional SD memory recommended to store more photos and video) Built-in Microphone and Speaker SD SDHC and MultiMedia Card Slot Built-in Flash with Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced Off modes DC Input, AV Output (NTSC/PAL), USB Connections PictBridge Compatible Approximate Battery Life - 310 pictures (Per CIPA Standard) Approximate Unit Weight - 0.319 lbs

Customer Review :

Great camera

This is a great, really compact, easy to use, quality camera. However, if I had to do it over again, I would have just kept my old 4 MP Kodak funshare. It's really more fancy than I need. The pictures are better with the Lumix, but they take forever to load/copy onto the computer. Plus the camera is so small it is almost difficult to hold. Also without a memory card it only holds 14 pictures, so be sure to order one if you order the camera.

Rating :

The camera is cheap, user friendly and good

The camera is cheap but it offers all the specs of a more expensive camera. I like the pictures that this camera produces, clear and colorful. The best thing is that the camera is userfriendly.

Rating :

I love this camera!

So I began shooting with a Canon Rebel. I moved onto digital with the Canon Powershot S3 - which I loved - until the LCD screen cracked. I toyed with idea of the Canon Powershot S5, but when I saw the Lumix, I balked. I really wanted a pocket camera. The others were fabulous, but just too chunky. I would get tired of lugging them around everywhere. So I read every review in the world and decided to give the Panasonic a try. It is a lovely camera. It takes fabulous pictures and is easy to use. It's intuitive, but not overly simplistic for people who like to fool around with their shots. I was concerned about the battery life, but it lasts about two days with regular use. When I was on vacation, I charged it each night and had absolutely no issues with battery life. The three-inch screen is a joy to review pics, and the "joystick" button is terrific. I love this camera and I am quite pleased with my purchase! Not to mention, the pink is really cute!!

Rating :

Great on paper, but a little short on performance

I'm a dSLR shooter, bought this for the wife as mother's day present with great expectations. But in the end, I wasn't completely thrilled.

Positives:
* Eye pleasing all-metal design. High quality construction. The pink color in far better looking than the images on this website
* Excellent Leica lens with good edge-to-edge clarity and little distortion thru out the useful 30-140mm (35mm equivalent) zoom range
* Optical image stabilizer works as advertised
* Large 3" LCD, although screen quality is just average
* By far the best manual system ever came across. It took me 15 minutes to learn to use the camera without even reading a single page of the instruction manual
* "Joy-Stick" dial offers easy navigation and it's a pleasure to your figures
* Three picture sizes...4:3, 3:2 (APS) and 16:9 (Wide) aspect ratios
* Excellent movie mode. A fast HCSD card is recommended for movies. I use a Sandisk Extreme III 4 GB card
* Quick AF speed and very capable under low lighting
* Powerful onboard flash. AF assist light works very well in darkness

Negatives:
* Noise reduction is present at all ISO settings
* Ultra-compact size makes it difficult to grip
* iA (Intelligent Automatic) Mode gets confused from time to time. A multi-colored dress wore by my girl got the camera "thinking" I'm shooting flower, it turned into the Macro Mode
* No auto image rotation
* Images with ISO above 400 is good for viewing only


The bottom line:
3-1/2 stars. I may had too high of expectations out of this camera based upon on the specs alone. The biggest disappointment, however, is the IQ. It is unfortunate an excellent Leica lens is matched with an average CCD, thus offers NO distinct advantage over any good quality 7 or 8MP camera. At a premium price tag of nearly $250 (some places selling at $300); I couldn't command this camera at this time. But people shouldn't hesitate of grabbing one when price drops below $200.



Rating :

Panasonic Lumix Just Slightly Ahead of our Time

I'm not a professional photographer by any means which is why I like the Panasonic DMC-FS20P 10mp digital camera. One of the simplest cameras to use with a ingenious lithium battery and charger. To date the camera has taken great photos, battery life is excellent and stabilization and face detect features just what I needed. The Leica lens is one of the best in photography! Replacement battery and accessories are inexpensive as well.

Rating :

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 :

A Surprisingly Good Compact

I've had my LX3 for a couple of weeks now, and shot everything with it from landscapes to portraits and Xmas candids. It has produced a surprising number of impressively good images. It's produced city scapes with great detail at 100% in Photoshop, and portraits with smooth, lifelike tone and colors that show pores and individual hairs on faces.

The LX3 does have its weaknesses. Noise is often visible in shadowed areas on many images, even with the lower ISO's. It can't compete with DSLR's for fine color contrast (for example, hair). Auto white balance and auto focus sometimes miss the mark. Get this camera out of its comfort zone and it will remind you it is a compact. I also wish it extended beyond its conservative 2.5x (ignore the 2.0x description above--the LX3 is a 2.5).

This is the first compact, however, that I've ever really considered a workable DSLR substitute. My prior compact, a Canon G7, gave up too much resolution and picked up too much noise at ISO 200 and above for confidence with reliably capturing that one great impromptu shot. My LX3 recently produced a pic of two orange koi in a pond at ISO 400 that shows why the folks at dpreview praise this camera's mid-range ISO performance---the shot is surprisingly clean and the colors are vibrant (with a little Photoshop work). If you can recognize and work within this camera's limitations, the LX3 can be a fun and great tool. Best compact I've ever owned.

Rating :

Does Everything I Was Looking For

I got this camera for Christmas. I wanted a camera that would take indoor pictures of my kittens in natural light, and I've got some amazing photos already. I've also taken nighttime pictures of our house with the Christmas lights on, and they came out great as well. There are so many options available. I love having the option of using the automatic settings the camera chooses for me, or using my choice of settings for aperature or shutter. It is small, lightweight, and has a huge LCD display. I also purchased a memory card and an extra battery, which I would recommend. All in all, I'm looking forward to lots of fun with this camera. (I took over 400 pictures in a 3-day period over Christmas!)

Rating :

Super enthusiast camera

I've owned this camera for a couple months and it has really changed my photography. I previously used a Pentax dslr, which provided great quality but was just too big to carry around too much. I initially got into digital photography using compacts and liked the small size but they were always lacking in either features or image quality. I'm always looking for photo opps but often didn't have a camera with me. With the LX3, I'm able to have it with me virtually everywhere. I've taken more pictures, and more quality pictures, since I got the LX3 than I have the previous year. As someone who started photography with manual film camera, the manual settings are great and allow utmost creativity. The auto features are great and yield fantastic results also. The fast Leica f2.0 24mm (equiv) lens is super. I was always a wide angle fan and most photos I take are at the wide end. The few hd videos I have shot are surprisingly nice but they are not what I look for in a still camera. A nice feature to have though because, well, you never know.



Rating :

great samll camera

As a professional photographer I am picky about image quality and camera controls. This is a great small camera with outstanding image quality. I love it for natural light photography and the wide lens is perfect for scenics and travel. If the noise level is not as good as good SLR so what... it comes very close and I can take it with me all the time.

Rating :

Amazing

This is my 4th digital camera, and I like it much better than my previous point-and-shoots, as well as my SLR! I use it in manual mode with AF. I love having a camera that gives me control over aperture and shutter speed, yet is compact enough to fit in my pocket. The wide-angle, fast lens is excellent!

Rating :

More reviews...

1. 10-megapixel resolution captures enough detail for poster-sized prints
2. 5x wide-angle optical zoom; Mega Optical Image Stabilized
3. 2.5-inch Intelligent LCD screen; Face Detection
4. Intelligent ISO; Intelligent Scene Selector
5. Captures images to SD memory cards (not included)

Editorial Review :

With both a 30mm wide-angle Leica DC Vario-Elmar lens and a 5x zoom, this is one camera that does it all. You can fit more in the photo than you can with a 35mm lens, so you can get more of a sweeping landscape in a single shot. The 5x zoom is great for capturing dramatic shots of small or distant subjects. There's also an Extra Optical Zoom function that boosts zoom power to 8.9x in 3-megapixel resolution mode. Simply set the LZ10 to iA mode and let the camera do the rest. Intelligent Scene Selector chooses the mode that best fits the situation; MEGA Optical Image Stabilization (O.I.S.) helps prevent blurring from hand-shake; Intelligent ISO Control helps prevent motion blur; and Face Detection helps produce clear portraits by optimizing the focus and exposure settings. The brightness and contrast of the large 2.5" diagonal LCD adjust automatically in 10 steps as ambient light conditions change, so images are clear, bright and easy to see day or night, indoors or outdoors. f=5.2-26mm (35mm Equiv. - 30-150mm) Focal Length 2.5 Diagonal Polycrystalline TFT LCD Display (230K dots) Focusing Area Normal - Wide 50cm/ Tele 100cm - infinity, Macro / Intelligent AUTO - Wide 5cm / Tele 100cm - infinity 8 - 1/2,000 sec. Starry Sky Mode - 15, 30, 60sec. Shutter Speed Auto / 100 / 200 / 400 / 800 / 1600 (High Sensitivity Mode - Auto(1600 - 6400) ) ISO 27MB Internal Memory (additional memory recommended to store more photos and video) Built-in Microphone and Speaker SD/SDHC, MultiMedia Card Slot Built-in Flash with Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced Off modes DC Input, AV Output (NTSC/PAL), USB Connections PictBridge Compatible Approximate Battery Life - 260 Shots (Oxide Batteries) Approximate Unit Weight - 0.33 lbs

Customer Review :

Very adaptive

This is my first digicam and so I'm a novice and loving this camera. At it's easiest, you can trust Intelligent Auto Mode to take a great picture most of the time. But it's also very user-friendly and I'm quickly learning to go beyond the basic settings and play with other modes, functions and settings. The shots are great quality and look fabulous online or printed. The instruction manual is very easy to follow and learn from when you are ready to get into some more advanced operations. I would highly recommend this camera as a tool for beginners that are interested in starting with something not overly complicated, but that also offers the capacity to learn and grow.

Rating :

Exceptional features for this price!!!

I waited for 5 days, and got a 10 megapixel, 5x optical zoom and a 30mm wide angle optically stabilized leica lens. All this along with P, A, S, M modes which are hard to find in such point and shooot cameras. Well on paper it seems great and actually unbeatable at the price at which it is offered. So, I wont take long and will come to the point.
The cons:
-> Slight shutter lag and screen blackout after a photograph (annoying).
-> Takes a bit longer to focus while not in quick focus mode.
-> Use of AA batteries (it can be of an advantage to few but for me its not much).
-> Grip (there should have been a rubber or something instead of hard grey plastic in it).
-> If I get too complaining, I'd say the wrist strap is placed on a wrong place, it should have been somewhere on the lower right side of the camera (but again it maybe just me who doesnt likes that).

Now the pros:
-> Good image quality with assistance of optical stabilization.
-> Nice and easy to use with an intutive intelligent auto mode.
-> Good control with A, S, M modes for more knowledgable photographers (im kinda working on it).
-> 30mm wide angle is really handy in tight locations.
-> Nice flash range with good focussing even in low light situations.
-> Good widescreen videos (if you don't compare them to a camcorder).

Overall, if you want a "has it all" kind of a camera which can do almost anything with a minimal budget. This is your pic then. I have it from past 3 days and yet have a few things to discover about it.

Rating :

Panasonic Lumix DMC LZ10

This camera is probably about the best one you can find with the options it has for the price.

Takes incredibly good pictures. I use it mainly for city scapes, but it also did incredibly well at a my morning jacket concert. Videos are also incredibly easy to take and the microphone takes surprisingly good audio. 10 MP for 140 bucks? What are you waiting for?

Love this camera!

Rating :

Great Camera for a low price

Is easy to use and loaded with fun features. Great price for a reliable camera.

Rating :

Pretty Good

This camera works really well. I hate that it takes a little while to reload itself after taking a picture. It is not ready instantly as other cameras. I also hate the fact you have to change the batteries everytime. Rest all is perfect. Takes awesome pictures.
Just because of those two things I rate it 4 out of 5.

Rating :

More reviews...

1. 8.0-megapixel resolution captures enough detail for photo-quality 16x 22-inch prints
2. 3x wide-angle optical zoom; Mega Optical Image Stabilized
3. 2.5-inch LCD screen; Face Detection
4. Intelligent ISO; Intelligent Scene Selector
5. 50 MB built-in memory; captures images to SD memory cards (not included)

Editorial Review :

Simply set the 8.1-megapixel DMC-FS3 to iA mode and let the four Intelligent Auto functions team up to help prevent shooting errors. Intelligent Scene Selector chooses the mode that best fits the situation; MEGA Optical Image Stabilization (O.I.S.) helps prevent blurring from hand-shake; Intelligent ISO Control helps prevent motion blur; and Face Detection helps produce clear portraits by optimizing the focus and exposure settings. The 33mm Leica DC Vario-Elmarit lens with 3x optical zoom takes wider shots than an ordinary 35mm lens. This is helpful in small rooms or crowded places, for example, letting you fit more people into a group photo. There's also an Easy Zoom button on the camera top - just press it, and the optical zoom and Extra Optical Zoom instantly extend to full telescopic position. This quick zooming lets you catch even fleeting opportunities. The brightness and contrast of the large 2.5" diagonal LCD adjust automatically in 10 steps as ambient light conditions change, so images are clear, bright and easy to see day or night, indoors or outdoors. f=5.5-16.5mm (35mm Equiv. - 33-100mm) Focal Length 2.5 Diagonal Polycrystalline TFT LCD Display (230K dots) Focusing Area Normal - 50cm - infinity, Macro / Intelligent AUTO - Wide 5cm / Tele 30cm - infinity 8 - 1/2,000 sec. Starry Sky Mode - 15, 30, 60sec. Shutter Speed Auto / 100 / 200 / 400 / 800 / 1600 (High Sensitivity Mode - Auto(1600 - 6400) ) ISO 27MB Internal Memory (additional memory recommended to store more photos and video) Built-in Microphone and Speaker SD/SDHC, MultiMedia Card Slot Built-in Flash with Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced Off modes DC Input, AV Output (NTSC/PAL), USB Connections PictBridge Compatible Approximate Battery Life - 320 pictures (CIPA Standard) Approximate Unit Weight - 0.319 lbs

Customer Review :

Dont Use it with 4G SD card

Dont use this cemera with the 4G card after a awaile all the pics will
be deleted.. Panasonic should have informed about that Error all my pictures from a month of backpacing were deleted.
I havnt tried it with a 2G card yet

Rating :

Excellent camera

Although not using all its functions since purchase I have found it an excellent little camera with great many photos if you adjust the resolution accordingly.

Rating :

Can't beat it for the price

I owned a larger Lumix DMC-FZ7 6MP 36-432mm @ f2.8-3.3 that I bought a few years ago and have been very happy with it. I wanted a smaller version to carry in my hiking bag and chose the DMC-FS3 8MP 33-100mm f2.8-f5.1 . I'm delighted with it.. It has the same, intuitive, easy to navigate menus that are even improved over my older model along with an excellent quality Lumix lens. I was surprised how many features this very small camera has, and it only has a few things missing that my other one has along with a shorter zoom and smaller f5.1 at 100mm compared to the FZ7's f3.3 at 432mm, but for me, this isn't a big deal for the portability.. I can carry it in my pocket, it's that small. The only disadvantage I have encountered is that the flash is not that strong.. you have to be within 10-12 feet, but that's true of most of these smaller cameras in this price range, and even the more expensive small ones. The image stabilization is pretty amazing, allowing shots, even in dim light and full zoom. It also has a lot of "scene" settings for the novice. The burst mode is fast and great for portrait shots and almost guarantees that you will get a good shot of friends. You can't go wrong with this camera.

Rating :

I love this camera!!!

I was able to get this camera on Black Friday for just $88 from a local store! I already had a Lumix TZ4 and I love it, but I wanted to get another Panasonic that was smaller and cheaper to tote around in my purse, so I'd always have a camera with me for an unexpected shot!

You cannot go wrong with this camera - I have already taken a few shots with this one, and it's just as good as the more expensive TZ4 I own. You cannot go wrong with a Leica lens - they are some of the best in the world.

I love the fact this camera uses a lithium-ion battery - it charges full in 90 minutes and you are good to go. You will get around 300 shots from one charge.

The shutter response time is super fast on this camera, as well as the lag time between shots when using the flash. Much better than the latest entry level point & shoots I have recently tried and returned: The Nikon Coolpix L18: VERY slow; the Canon Powershot A470: slow but not as bad as the Coolpix was.

I will be uploading some pictures for you to see later.

Rating :

SAME PRICE

BOUGHT MINE YESTERDAY AND AM WAITING FOR DELIVERY. TODAYS' SUN. PAPER HAS THE SAME CAMERA AT THE SAME PRICE AT BEST BUY. SO MUCH FOR SHOPPING AT AMAZON "BIG SAVING"! THINK ABOUT IT..... ....12/1/08. the camera came today "SWEET"!! I GAVE 2 STAR RATING FOR THE COST NOT THE CAMERA. I'M ALWAYS MORE AT EASE WHEN I CAN SEE AND TOUCH AN ITEM BEFORE BUYING. ONE WOULD THINK THAT BUYING ON-LINE WOULD BE LESS PRICEY....OH YEAH, I WON'T BE RETURNING IT BUT, NEXT TIME I'LL SHOP A BIT MORE..

Rating :

More reviews...