1. 8.0-megapixel resolution captures enough detail for photo-quality 16x 22-inch 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 32mm 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 Lz8 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. - 32-160mm) 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 Flash, Microphone and Speaker SD/SDHC, MultiMedia Card Slot 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 :

Best photos ever in a point-and-shoot

This takes fabulous photos under both bright and low light conditions. I have had two previous versions of this camera and each version is a real improvement on its predecessor.

Rating :

Absolute dud!

This is my 3rd camera in the last 6 years and by far this is the worst experience. The focus is not reliable. The usage is not intuitive. The redeye reduction barely works. The eyes in the picture look glazed.

I used this for my daughter's fifth birthday and I luckly also had a Cannon video camera taking shots. If I just relied on this camera, it would have been a disaster!



Rating :

Gift for Mom

Purchased this camera for my Mom for Christmas, she was still using film, and I was tired of scanning the photos. I used the camera for about a week so I would know how to run it. I took comparison photos with this camera and my Sony Cybershot. The Panasonic photos were better all around, especially inside. Love the auto image mode for sports and this will be great for my mom as she takes numerous shots of grandkids. My mom has been able to use the camera with accuracy and found it very easy to view photos on the screen. I think I will order one just like it and leave my expensive sony behind.

Rating :

Easy to Use!

I'm a photography novice and wanting a quality camera that was light (easy to tote), comfortable in my hand (contoured slightly), easy-to-use (uncomplicated) and reasonably priced (under #200). If you're like me, this may be the perfect camera for you. It is for me! Just got our first round of photos back....nice quality. Highly recommend it!

Rating :

Just what I wanted

Compact and takes quality photos of my family, friends, and puppy. Simple enough for my wife to use.

Rating :

More reviews...

1. 10-megapixel CCD captures enough detail for photo-quality poster-size prints
2. 5x wide-angle MEGA Optical Image Stabilized zoom lens
3. Intelligent Auto Modes include new side portrait and AF tracking
4. High Definition video mode
5. 50 MB built-in memory; capture images to SD/SDHC memory cards (not included)

Editorial Review :

The Lumix DMC-FX37 digital camera features a 25mm ultra wide-angle Leica DC lens, enabling you to capture almost double the viewing space at the same shooting distance as compared to 35mm cameras. The 10.1-megapixel FX37, capable of High Definition video recording, also includes a powerful 5x optical zoom while maintaining a sleek, ultra-compact body and expands Intelligent Auto Mode (iA), Panasonics system of intuitive technologies that help you capture better photos.

Customer Review :

Great small camera

Bought this camera after a lot of online research. I had a Sony 5 MP camera before. This one takes better pictures, the quality of the images is incredible, and the auto focus/shutter speed is fast. The menus and options are very well designed and easy to use. This camera looks great and does a fantastic job!

Rating :

Quality camera, responsive, great 25-125mm f/2.8-5.9 lens

The exemplary build quality gives this camera a luxury feel. The camera is dense, feels hefty for its size when picked up, unlike many similar cameras that feel like a piece of plastic. This is a fine example of Japanese craftsmanship. It is fast and very responsive in operation. The lens is fantastic, 25mm (effective) wide angle is rare among such cameras, significantly wider angle than the 28mm of the FX33. In wide angle lenses every mm counts. Thankfully, the max aperture is back to f/2.8 - the FX35 maxed at f/3.3. The lens is sharp edge to edge with very little, if any, in the way of distortion and chromatic aberration. Certainly, the lens is better than the sensor. The wide aperture (f/2.8) at the wide angle is great for low light [The lenses on the FX35, TZ3, TZ4 and TZ5 are not as fast].

The flash is weak [manufacturers under-power the flash in order to gain on the "shots per battery charge" scale.].

Hints: In low light, including indoor shots with flash, use the wide angle (zoom out) to make use of the f/2.8 aperture, and you'll get less dark underexposed pictures. Stick with ISO 100 and 200. Keep ISO 400 for emergencies, but never go beyond 400. In auto-ISO mode, you can limit the max ISO. You probably read a lot about image noise. Yes, it is there, but you will not see it in 4x6 or 8x10 prints. You won't see it on a typical 20" monitor (12"x16") when viewing the whole image on the screen. You will see it if you view part of the image 1:1, which amounts to close up inspection of a 57"x38" print (assuming the monitor is running at 1024x768). Those wanting 57"x38" prints will be using a medium-format digital back, not this camera anyway. Reduce the resolution to 3 or 5 mp and you'll see less noise (per pixel), and save hard disk space!

I recommend an extra battery and a 4 GB memory card (minimum).

Optical image stabilization is very effective indeed. Video (1280x720x30) is very good.

I took out one star for: 1) Lack of full manual controls, 2) sensor noise.
This camera needs a larger sensor.

The more expensive TZ3, TZ4 and TZ5 lack the f/2.8 aperture (they max at f/3.3).

If you like the size and build-quality of the FX37, but want a better picture-taking machine, look at the LX3. It has a larger sensor, manual controls, RAW, and an excellent 24-60mm (equiv) f/2-2.8 lens. The LX3 is destined to be a big hit.

Rating :

stay away

I don't normally write reviews but I felt compelled to attach a warning to this camera's page. After using the 37 for a week, I have since returned it. Almost every picture looks like it was taken with a webcam--very pixelated and grainy at 10MP shooting 4:3. Also, the LCD screen is very low-quality. Lastly, there is a lot of shutter lag. It's too bad since it boasts such a wide lens (although this does cause more-than-moderate fish-eye effect with images close up) and the HD 16:9 video (although, I don't really need that anyway). This is the first time in awhile that I have purchased a non-Canon camera and I will not do so again. Oh, and as with other Panasonic Lumix cameras, the usb input is non-standard (usually a mini-usb). Anyway, avoid this camera: Panasonic has ruined the Leica name with this one.

Rating :

1. 14.7-megapixel CCD captures enough detail for photo-quality poster-size prints
2. 3.6x wide-angle MEGA Optical Image Stabilized zoom lens
3. Intelligent Auto Modes include new side portrait and AF tracking; HD video capture
4. Face Detection AF sensing up to 15 faces; Creative modes include multiple exposure and simple manual
5. Capture images to SD/SDHC memory cards (not included)

Editorial Review :

Equipped with 14.7 megapixels, the new Panasonic FX150 boasts a 28mm wide-angle Leica DC Vario-Elmarit lens with F2.8 brightness and 3.6x optical zoom. The FX150s manual controls and creative-shooting features distinguish it from many of its ultra-compact competitors. For instance, the Manual Exposure mode lets users choose the shutter speed, giving the freedom to render artistic images of ordinary scenes. The multi-exposure function superimposes up to three consecutively shot images together while the user views the previous image on the LCD, creating a surrealistic effect that cannot be achieved with a single image alone. Furthermore, the manual bracketing function includes typical exposure and adds new color bracketing to capture color, monochromatic and sepia shots of an image simultaneously.

Customer Review :

Noisy pictures, gimped raw capability, glorious movie capability

This camera has the capability to be a legend. The lens is tack sharp (besides the fact that it only has two aperture settings), and pictures look great in the day time. The auto white balance performance is better than my LX3, and the RAW capability is very cool (now with support in Adobe Photoshop Raw!). The 720/24p video is more than excellent, although it would have been nicer if it were H.264 video. The camera looks great in silver (it is actually a bit of a gunmetal color).

That's where the good ends.

You can see noise even at the lowest ISO setting, and chroma noise renders even ISO 800 images unusable for anything except thumbnails. Before you solely blame the minuscule sensor, remember that Ricoh Caplios have a smaller size sensor that they have been packing more pixels on for a few years now. The high ISO output from a Ricoh Caplio may be lacking in detail, but it doesn't have awful chroma noise infecting every inch of your photograph. Yes, I know the Caplios top out at 10 megapixels, and this camera tosses 15 insane megapixels, but still the density on the Caplio R10 is nearly identical! There's no reason the FX150 should be so underperforming.

The RAW capability is nice to have. However, Panasonic saw it fit to make sure you can't EV bracket in raw. Speaking of bracketing, you can't do +2 and -2 EV bracketing either, which I feel shames both the FX150 and the LX3 (and I'm not the only one who feels this way). Another issue with RAW is that the dynamic range of the camera is so narrow that it really doesn't matter that it is there.

This camera could have been a classic, and I really want to like it. But unfortunately, it doesn't win my heart.

Rating :

Get the LX3

If you can afford the price difference and don't mind the extra bulk of the protruding lens, get the DMC-LX3. You will be SO much happier. It's the bigger sibling to this camera, and all the pros are buying it and raving about it. I returned FX-150 and bought the LX3 when I experienced the poor low light performance and random blurry spots on the FX-150 lens myself. LX3 has full manual controls, MUCH wider angle (which I LOVE!), and MUCH, MUCH better lower light performance thanks to its f2.0 lens and larger sensor.

---A NOTE ON 720p VIDEO:---

Don't let the promise of 720p video fool you. The movies recorded on the FX-150 or the LX3 have TERRIBLE audio. It's like cell phone quality. It's really hard to hear consonants or what people are saying. It's really a shame because the video it records is pretty decent. It looks overly sharpened, though, and probably only has about 500 lines of resolution or less, not 720. Also, you cannot zoom OR refocus while filming, which means you have to stand rooted in one place, and so does your subject, which really sucks in practice. (Video/audio quality on the LX3 is exactly the same.)

Rating :

Best 14MP camera

Before I bought this camera I just bought a Sony t300. It was a crappy camera the pictures was so bad. The Sony T300 camera with the extras cost 400. So much money for so bad pictures.If your looking for a camera with smile ang face features and very nice GUI then buy sony. But dont expect good quality pictures. So Sony never again! So, i was thinking of buying a Canon SD990. But before I buy it I checked the net for some reviews on it. It was not a bad camera but for a 14mp it wasnt what the reviewers expected. The macro was bad and also when you use high ISO. Then I decided to get this Panasonic FX150. After few tests of the camera I was amazed on the cameras crisp pictures. On Macro shots youll be amazed this camera does.

So, Overall this camera is the best buy for me. And it only cost much cheaper than Sony and Canon. And teh best thing is the 4gb memory is free.

Rating :

Fairway Phil

Camera has all the bells and whisles-I don't think the manual is sufficient enough to help u distinguish between all the really good features. it's my fourth Lumix so u probably guessed I like the mfg.-has a good mega pixel rating at 14.7- get the case it sometimes turns on in my pocket with other junk nudging it. If you have large fingers, the camera may be cumbersome to use especially in the one handed mode. Screen always needs to be cleaned because the camera is so small with the screen taking almost all the back side. Screen is good in all except facing bright sun. I believe there is an adjustment for such, but I have not got around to that in the manual. Just came back from Caribbean and the electronic markets down there have not seen this model yet. I believe the pricing thru amazon was competitive. The face tracking recognition feature is cool. I'm a click and shoot photographer and do not want to wait to change settings or go to manual mode to get the perfect picture. I'll shot 10 picts to get one good one and maybe fix it up in PhotoShop. Flash seems better than other comprobables. Batter last a long time on one charge. Charger is compact and takes almost no room in the luggage. Shot over 500 picts in this last week's trip. A lot of good features more than the average Joe or Jill would want.
I like it and would recommend it. Get the case!

Rating :

Wonderful Camera

An absolutely wonderful camera with awesome video quality and picture quality. very compact and discreet.

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 :

outstanding buy

Bought this camera for my 13 yr old daughter recently. Wish I had bought one for my wife a few months ago, but we stayed with Canon and she got an 870 IS - a nice camera but over-priced. The Lumix FS3A on the other hand, is a great value. It appears to be well made and the buttons have a quality feel. The lens is 33 mm on the wide end which is enough for most wide angle needs. The camera starts quickly and there is not obtrusive shutter lag. We are particularly impressed with the macro performance. It seems like the OIS works better than on the Canon 870, and the exposure of the pics is more consistent although both tend to be over-exposed in the auto settings. No compact digital cameras like these take photos anywhere near the quality of the DSLR type cameras with quality lenses. The differences you read about in lens quality, etc. for these compacts just isn't that important compared with more practical considerations, such as overall performance, feel, and value. The FS3A is a fun and small camera that you don't need an insurance policy for. This camera is 5 stars mostly due to its value.

Rating :

good point and shoot for shows

I took this camera with me to Bumbershoot to take pictures of The Weakerthans (indoors) and Del Tha Funky Homosapien (outdoors) and it held up pretty well. I got pretty close to The Weakerthans and I was able to snap some good pictures using the "night" setting with the flash turned off. The typical concert lighting for an indoor show didn't ruin the pictures so the pictures came out pretty well. When I took the camera to Del, I was right up front and it was able to capture him in action. Some of the pictures were blurry because he was moving around so fast, but, I don't think a camera could do any better unless it was an expensive camera with a super fast shutter speed... and those types of cameras are usually banned from concert venues unless you have a special press pass. Another feature that could be considered a downside would be the big screen in the back. While it gives you a really nice idea of what you're about to take a picture of, I'm always afraid of scratching it when I put the camera in my pocket. It hasn't happened yet, but, I'm being careful.

In summary:

+ Good to take into shows because it's small enough to put in your pocket and is powerful enough to take nice pictures.
+ The battery life is very good compared to my digital camera that uses AA batteries. At the end of the day, I just plug the battery pack into the wall until the green light turns off.
+ It comes with a built in memory that has enough room for about 16 pictures.

- If you're looking for a camera with a really fast shutter speed, this isn't the camera for you. This is what I am talking about in terms of shutter speed for the novice picture taker: http://www.digicamguides.com/learn/shutter-speed-examples.html
If you're interested in taking pictures of moving objects without them being blurry, consider researching DSLR cameras. I just got this one because it is affordable.


To parents/grandparents/guardians/siblings out there: This would be a good holiday present for a teenagers who go to see live music. It fits well in a small purse or pocket so it's easy to hide if they're not allowed in a venue. It's light and compact, making it easy to tolerate carrying around during a 4 hour show, and if they turn off the flash option, then it's also not detectable. It's also much better than those cell phone cameras that I see kids using with disappointing results.

Rating :

Great Camera!

I love this camera! I bought this camera just before a trip to Canada and was more than pleased with the way the pictures turned out. Its user-friendly and the battery lasts a long time. I didn't have a problem with the red bars that one reviewer complained about. The lines were so minimal I barely noticed them. The only reason I gave it four stars instead of five is because I noticed that the pictures came out a little blurry when using the full zoom and I would've liked the zoom to be better. Overall this is a great camera for the price and exceeded my expectations.

Rating :

Excellent relation price / quality

The FS3 is an easy to use camera. It has a lot of presets ( scene modes ) covering most of the real-world situations which leaves no need to have a manual mode.
Overall quality picture is very good for a "pocket-size" camera.
If you are looking for an versatile point-and-shoot camera, this is the one for you.

Rating :

I love this camera!

I was able to get this camera in silver 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 :

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. f=5.2-20.8mm (35mm Equiv. - 30-120mm) Focal Length 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 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 - 310 pictures (CIPA Standard) Approximate Unit Weight - 0.319 lbs

Customer Review :

A good camera, but....

Before you get into this, please note that the 4 stars above should really be 3 and a half. I bought this camera as a replacement for my Casio Exilim EX-Z750, which was damaged by sand. I did a lot of research, and was almost set to buy the Canon SD870 IS, largely for the wide angle. However, while in the store, I saw the Lumix DMC-FS20, which had a more solid feeling than the Canon, and -to me- it also looked better.

There were only few reviews about the FS20 online (mainly good), and I had read good things about other Lumix models, so I ordered it. This camera is basically like the FS5, except for three things: the FS20 has a bigger LCD screen and a joystick-like control, instead of buttons; the FS5 has, among its accessories, an underwater case. The FS-20 is slightly bigger. The reason I went for the FS-20 was the joystick, with which I fell in love immediately.

The camera has a limited set of manual controls, which become even fewer if you choose the "intelligent" mode, so if you like being able to adjust most of your setting, this is not the camera for you. However, there are a few things one can set manually in the non-intelligent mode (and I discovered that I'd better use them), and quite a few scene modes (including one for sport). Not much can be done to the photos in the camera, but I use Paint Shop Pro, so I don' t mind.

Although I only had this camera for a few days (and not in a place where I can get great panoramic photos), I am, overall, pleased -but not delighted- with it:

What I like:
I am very impressed by the stabilizer. My previous camera did not have it and, boy, does it make a BIG difference!

Good close-ups: one can get really good, crisp photos at 5 cm. I took a pic of my shirt and, on zooming in, I could see all the threads, which was pretty neat. You get the fuzz on a peach, and all the details in a caterpillar (if you are so inclined).

In general, images are very crisp. I took a photo of a Word text on my laptop screen, and I could read it and see the pixels when zooming in on the camera screen. Did the same with a page from a paperback book, and it was perfectly readable and neat.

I took several photos of myself with the flash, and was pleasantly surprised by the absence of major red-eye -a rarity in these point-and-shoot models (I have brown eyes -maybe it is different with blue or green eyes).

There is the possibility of changing the exposure and also of "bracketing", which means that you can set the range of exposure you want the camera to try, and it takes three photos in a row, from which you can pick the best.

The image quality is reasonable - but has problems (see below)

I like the wide angle (although it is not as wide as in the Canon (30 mm here, vs. 28 mm in the Canon)). I only tried it on rather uninspiring landscapes, however.

The previously mentioned joystick is great to use.

The manual is on paper, which meant that I actually read it, and discovered things I would never have found out otherwise.

The software included with the camera includes a program to make panoramas and stitch together photos (the Canon has a similar feature). I was fairly impressed by it, because it actually stitched together a couple of sets of photos I had taken before, without having this in mind. Sometimes, however, the program picks photos that really do not match, so check your results....

It has face recognition (it even recognizes faces on TV).

It comes with a 4X optical zoom (most of the small models come with 3, although some have 5 or 7). It is not the fastest on the planet, although it has a button for fast complete extension.


What I do not like:

It does not have a viewfinder (although I knew this upon buying it, of course). The LCD screen is nice in good light but, in sunlight, I really miss a viewfinder.

So far, most of the images I wanted to keep needed some retouching (so did most of those taken with my previous camera, however). The colors were at times dull (I used mostly standard colors), and the auto white balance does not always work properly (this was specified in the manual). It can be set manually, although you need to have something white at hand for that, and this improves things somewhat. Generally, indoor shots seemed under-exposed, but exposure can be adjusted.

When taking an indoor photo of a white piece of paper during the day, I noticed that the corners tend to be darker than the middle (also without flash), even if no shadow was visible to me. This, too, improves a little by fiddling with white balance and exposure. Outdoors this is much less of a problem.

The speed (or lack thereof) of the card when you connect the camera to your PC is a shortcoming. I generally dislike the photo viewers that come with cameras, and I tend to use the camera as an external drive. If you do this, don't even think of rotating a picture while you pretend that this is a USB drive, because your youth will be gone before the thing has rotated 90 degrees... Looking at the images is also painfully slow, and the software that comes with the camera only speeds things up a little, but it is slow to start. Fortunately, you can neatly delete multiple pics (even not in sequence) on the camera in few strokes, and I suggest you be selective before you connect to your PC.

Although viewing your photos on the 3-inch screen is great, that's a lot of real estate to leave your fingerprints on. The camera can hardly be handled without touching the screen, which occupies most of the back.

Battery life is about 270 photos (and I stressed the battery quite a bit by using flash and playback a lot). This is as promised, and the large LCD probably eats up a lot of energy. This is worse than my Casio, but better than other cameras with similar features - so not quite a negative.

Overall, I like this camera, but you should be prepared to retouch several of your images. Also, don't expect the whitest of whites if lighting is not optimal. The manual settings may be too few for those who like them and too many for those who don't (although one can just use the intelligent mode, even if that will not always be satisfactory).

Thank you for getting to the end of this long review. I hope it helps those who are trying to make up their mind....


Rating :

best camera

this camera is the best that i have

special made in Japan

Rating :

Good snapper

I use a DSLR when I want great photos, and a "snapper" when pocket-size portability for travel and for fun are more important. My excellent, old Casio "snapper" was 2-1/2 years old, without image stabilization like my DSLR, so it was time for a new one. I seriously looked-at, tried-out, and read all the literature and reviews I could lay my hands-on for four models retailing under $240 (in July 2008): Nikon CoolPix S600, Canon PowerShot SD850, Casio Exilim EX-Z200, and this Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS20. Each of these cameras has their own virtues and their own faults.

I do not have the space to review all four cameras properly and mention each of their good points, so I will limit this to mostly a couple of downside issues I saw in each:

** CoolPix: This snapper probably would get my vote for best overall images, HOWEVER, it has a very annoying - and for me, hard-to-use -spin/scroll-wheel control, is slowest to focus, slowest to record image, has ill designed internal software menus, manual controls are lacking, and it has a horribly short battery life.

** Powershot: Obvious barrell distortion due to the lens (why Canon, why?!), more noise in high ISO photos than Nikon or Lumix, oddly designed rounded body does not allow the camera to stand upright (for selftimer for example).

** Exilim: This camera has a lot going for it - especially great software and incredible battery life that seems to go on-and-on-and-on, HOWEVER, the photo quality is worst of the group with noticeable blue-purple haze at edges where highest contrast areas meet (e.g. sky and trees). This not visible if you are only viewing images on your computer screen at normal sizes, or are not making enlargements, but it is there none the less.

** Lumix: In most ways, best overall (and best reviewed) - - The images have extraordinary clarity for a camera in this price range. The Lumix image stabilization system and Venus engine is the same in this camera as in their high-end cameras, and it shows. Simply great! The camera also has a first-rate Leica Vario-Elmar lens with very little detectable distorion edge-to-edge in the frame (puts Canon to shame); and has wide-angle 4X optical and 7.1X digital zoom. The Auto Focus system sensor at low-light levels is unmatched by other cameras in this group. The flash is excellent. "Noise" is an issue with all snapper cameras at high ISO levels, and the Lumix no worse than any other brand. The auto-rotation of images in-camera is surprisingly good. The software Manual Override systems are outstanding (they deserve an award) - easy to learn and easier to use, and delivers pretty much what I am looking for. As for hardware, the Joy-Stick Control works so well, I expect that all companies will adopt this design in the future. I also find the camera body solid and attractive (but not a dazzler). It has no view finder - (they are useless on pocket models in my opinion, anyway) - but, the huge 3-inch viewing screen has four brightness levels.

The Lumix has 50MB of memory built-in. I use a 4GB SDHC SanDisk Extreme III with it, which runs fairly fast. (FYI: This Lumix cannot run 2GB SD cards.)

I have not tested video capabilities more than a couple of times, but has worked fine for me when tested in different modes.

The drawbacks about the Lumix are these:
* Out-of-the-box, especially in iA mode, photos are slightly "warm." I shot about 350 images outdoors over two perfect days, and the sky veered toward cyan rather than blue without adjustments. This won't bother most people, but it does me, although it can be corrected.
* In iA mode, the sensor will get confused in, for example, a green lawn with dappled sunlight - tough for any sensor - one image may shift warm to compensate for shadows, and the next cool to adjust for the sun, even when the position of the camera is not moved. (This isn't really a complaint, just an observation. To stop this from occurring, put the camera in "Normal" mode and create your own settings.)
* The images from my Lumix camera, in the farthest upper-right corner of the frame, appear very slightly underexposed - up to a half stop - compared to the rest of the image... but not all of the time. (I can't figure this out at all.) I can crop it out of prints or fix it in Photoshop when it occurs, but it is annoying.
* The battery life is only average, equal to PowerShot, but far shy of the amazing Exilim. I am only getting about 190 shots (no flash or playback), which is less than I expected, and less than advertised. - For me, the battery issue is the camera's biggest drawback because I had been used to consistently getting over 300 still shots on a charge that could last weeks in my old camera.


Overall: The Lumix DMC-FS20 gets 4 stars - - - I chose the Lumix and I am generally satisified, but after actually owning and using it, I would choose the Exilim EX-Z200 on a do-over because of its strongest point - stellar battery life, which is important to me when I travel. (Please note again: In my opinion, the Exilim EX-Z200 does not deliver the picture quality of Lumix, but it is still very acceptable.) If long battery life is not an important concern for you, you will find the Lumix to be an excellent choice.



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