Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ20K Digital Camera (5MP, 2560x1920, 12x Opt, 16MB SD Card)

Panasonic DMC-FZ20

Lumix DMC-FZ20K Digital Camera (5MP, 2560x1920, 12x Opt, 16MB SD Card) Review, by Alan Stafford October 25, 2005

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• Reviewed by: neo111

  Strengths: image stablization, leica optics

  Weaknesses: small screen

  Overall: execellent digital camera, perhaps one of the best (if not the best) in its price range. Fast, reliable. Sharp images.Easy to handle. The only thing I wish could've been changed - relatively small screen.

• Reviewed by: LCliff

  Strengths: Since I use both this digital & my Maxxum 7 film camera, I really like the fact that the Panasonic handles & operates very much like my Maxxum. I also find the macro element excellent.

  Weaknesses: I haven't found many weaknesses with this camera.

  Overall: This is a substantial camera for the price. If you are looking for a point & shoot digital that you can tuck in a pocket & use to take snapshots, this is not it. However, this is an excellent camera for someone who is serious about taking good quality digital pictures but who is not ready to invest in an SLR digital camera.The Panasonic has all the same setting (Program, Aperture, Shutter and Manual) that an SLR has. It has a 12x zoom and auto focus. The macro element will focus within an inch of the subject.I'm sure the newer model is even better but I don't think you can find many digital cameras for this price that are better.

• Reviewed by: nphotogr

  Strengths: 12x Leica Lens with asperical and ED lens elements. Flexibility in the numerous modes. Manual is easy to read and well documented. Hot shoe option for external flash.Easy for all photographers.

  Weaknesses: Proprietary battery. Not really a big deal as they can be purchased for about 39.99 by other brands instead of Panasonic.

  Overall: This will be the third digital camera that I have bought in the last 6 years. The others were fine cameras and were long zooms but the FZ20 blew the others away as far as image quality, sharpness, and color saturation. I would imagine this camera has been on the market for over a year and may well be replaced by a newer and hotter version soon. That is OK I will still use this camera for some time to come. Not really into the latest craze gotta have club. Used the old Nikon Nikormat FTN for over 15 years before switching to an FE-2 and an F-3. Rather than waste more money on another digital camera, I did quite an extensive amount of research on this camera ( about 6 months)before I decided on the FZ-20 and am glad I did. I really could not find enough negatives on this camera to drop considering buying it. First of all the lens zooms out to 432MM at F2.8. The auto focus is fast and reliable 95% of the time. Image stabilization is a real big factor for me and it works great but a good tripod at maximum zoom is a plus to attain sharpest images. I really like the flexibility of using the camera in many manual exposure modes that really work. Other cameras that I have used are some what lacking in this area or not as effective. A hot shoe for external flash is a fantastic option to have on a camera in this category. Easier to eliminate red eye. I wonder if you could use studio lighting with the hot shoe. Using the camera with many test shots rendered me with excellent pictures and true to color reproduction in any exposure mode I tried. Did I also mention sharp and crisp photos? The size does not bother me as I like a bigger camera in order to have better handling. I have read some reviews about purple fringing or red fringing in high contrast objects but I think that is a problem found on any Digital camera with long zooms. However, I have not found that to be much of an annoyance with the FZ-20. It seems to do a better job of reducing much of that condition than other cameras or I am more aware of that condition and work at reducing that possibility . Bottom Line. I am quite surprised and pleased with this camera and it's operation. Certainly a better alternative to a Digital SLR and a big lens to carry around on long hikes. I would think it is as good as most low end Digital SLR cameras at a small fraction of the cost. Buy it. You will be glad you did.

• Reviewed by: jneuge

  Strengths: 12x zoom, f2.8 lens

  Weaknesses: Good luck if you happen to get condensation on the outside of the camera. Zoom or shutter allows moisture to enter the camera and results in a permanent malfunction

  Overall: Rotating the Zoom or pressing the shutter allows moisture to enter the camera and results in a permanent malfunction. You can send the camera to Panasonic but they will just forward to their Chicago "authorized dealer", and forget the repair quote over the phone, it will be $297.36 to get it back. Funny that a camera with a 12x lens should not be used outdoors. (it has a snow mode?) Who needs a 12x zoom indoors (do we really need to see Uncle Daves nose hairs) Seems like a $475 piece of equipment could afford a little moisture protection like a 2 cent O ring. Note:directions for cleaning suggest to wet a soft cloth with tap water, wring it well and wipe the camera. I would not suggest that. My last Panasonic product.

• Reviewed by: enotgib

  Strengths: High Quality images, nice to handle, very light, Good movie mode, Menu is easy to navigate

  Weaknesses: To protect lens you need a 72mm filter that has to be fitted to the screw in hood. Built in flash is masked by this in wide angle setting.

  Overall: I have used this camera for 5 months now and have been delighted with results. (I have a Nikon 990 which is a hard act to follow.) The quality of images,432mm stabilised zoom, fast start uptime, no shutter lag, keep this camera at the forefront of all the competition. No camera is perfect though, I have found the start up in wide angle setting a bit anoying especially as the long zoom is what I bought it for and represents aarge proportion of my shots. In my SLR camera I often use programme shift which is activated by a simple theumwheel. Programme shift is available on the Lumix but you have to press the exposure button first before you can make the changes using the fourway adjustent. This applies also to aperture and shutter priority. Being used to a full size EOS Canon with grip due to my large hands I find the Lumix a little small for me but I have remied this by making a bracket in matching black with leather facing which has also the added advantage of making the shutter button being in a better location for my use. Finally I find the EVF although better than the main screen for viewing in bright sunlight it still lets light in and you have to shade you eye from the sun to see the image clearly. I have overcome this by buying a Canon FD eyecup. If you bend the flanges that normally slide in the Canon eyepiece out slightly you will find that is fits perfectly onto the Lumix and I leave it on all the time. Despite these few negatives I still enjoy using this camera and have no plans to change it for many years to come. I am getting quality results that are on a par with my Camera Club's friends SLRs at very much higher prices with their range of lenses and they dont have a image stabiliser either unless it the KM D7.