Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28K 10MP Digital Camera with 18x Wide Angle MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Black) by Panasonic
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Digital camera reviews of Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28K 10MP Digital Camera with 18x Wide Angle MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Black)
Digital camera Review: Can't Afford SLR? this is next best thing
Summary: 4 Stars
I've had this lumix for a few years now, and it's awesome. It's a little on the bulky side, but its' been worth it.
First off, the lifesaver is the ability to go from LCD screen to VIEW FINDER. I actually cracked my LCD accidentally, but because i can switch to viewfinder and still see photos i've taken in that... i haven't had to buy another mid-range point & shoot while saving up for a DSLR.
the RAW and RAW+JPG capability is what I really love. I'm able to not only take just point & shoot pictures for family/friends, but I can take really high quality raws for editing. Due to it's ability to go from Macro to wide panaromic really well, its also helped me in times where i WOULD have needed multiple lenses.
i'm no photography expert, infact I'm still learning a lot of the function capabilities on this camera, but because it's been able to do so many thigns so well.. i've been able to shoot really awesome photos and edit print quality photos on this thing.
in regards to battery life... if you're using the flash (which is AWFUL if not diffused) it can last through a few hundred shots, but w/o flash I've been able to make it through a 10day trip overseas w/o needing to recharge.
even when I do end up getting a DSLR, I'll still keep this one around to shoot quick pictures due to the great results. However it is a little on the big side and can weigh down your purse.
Digital camera Review: Can't beat the pricing for such a great performing camera
Summary: 4 Stars
I bought this camera site unseen (other than on the internet) I have been using a Canon G3 for quite some time, and was question not getting another Canon product. The FZ28 is quite a camera. The zoom works great (can't believe I've been shooting with a 3X this long). The stabilizer is very nice, and the auto focus is quick. There are enough menus to fit pretty much any situation, yet manual enough to enjoy experimenting. The only drawback (as noted by other reviewers) is the lack of a swivel LCD display, and hot shoe. I was impressed by the flash though. Has more than enough light for most shots. As far as weight, I thought it was a store demo and they left out the guts of the camera. Very Light !!Digital camera Review: Can't beat this camera at this price
Summary: 5 Stars
I needed a new camera after my good Sony died and my little pocket-sized point and shoot wasn't cutting it. I was not going to spend a lot of money though. As much as I like the dSLR's, I couldn't justify for my uses, the cost. I have been a Sony fan because of the shot to shot speed and response time, the same reason I didn't care for Canon's due to their slower response time. I wasn't seeing a lot of great reviews for comparable Sony's however. I found this Panasonic while researching and was skeptical to say the least. I don't normally hear "Panasonic" in conversation about great cameras - tv's, stereos maybe, but not cameras. The specs met my requirements - wider zoom, higher zoom, higher resolution, some manual control, rechargable batteries, and good flash. But would the specs live up to expectations? The reviews seemed to say so and I was willing to try it for the price.
This camera has not disappointed me. It is lighter than my old Sony and I don't have extra lenses to lug around. The zoom, and the wide angle zoom, are both great! At the highest zoom there can be some fringing but it's minor. We have 5 dogs, a couple of which are camera shy. I needed a higher zoom to sneak pictures of them, and of course that has worked. I have been able to get pics of them on the boat as it's coming in without them noticing, out in the yard, etc. Picture quality for me, both inside and outside, has been great. 3 of my dogs, and my indoor cat, are black - yet you can see individual hair detail in the pictures. I will post some at some point.
There are several choices of scene selections. The menus and these selections took a little getting used to, but that's almost any camera when you change manufacturers. The iAuto setting is perfect as a point and shoot, and my (non-technical) husband has no problem picking it up and taking pics on the fly.
Battery life is great - because it's sporadic and I tend to leave the camera on I haven't checked how many pictures I can take on a battery. I did however order an extra but not the Panasonic brand. I tried the Lenmar and it has worked just fine with the camera.
Lenmar DLP006 Lithium-ion Digital Camera/Camcorder Battery Equivelent to the Panasonic CGR-S006A Battery
I am looking now at recommending another Panasonic, either this one or the TZ5, for a friend who needs a wider zoom to take house pictures of his work, needs something easy to use as he's new to digital, but doesn't have a ton of money to spend. I am impressed with Panasonic, and they have a new convert in me!
Digital camera Review: Close to Perfect, But Not There Yet
Summary: 4 Stars
We are a Canon-centric family and we almost bought the competitive Canon model. By the time you read this all model numbers will change so there is no point in being more specific.
I'm glad we bought the Lumix DMC-FZ28K. It received a real test at Mardi Gras when I took hundreds of quick shots while marching in a parade. Almost every one was as good as could be. The lens is much better than I expected, and with 10 MP to play with, even wide-angle master shots have enough resolution for cropping.
I have no real complaints with the camera per se. I wish it had barn doors over the lens, but then again, no competitor has them either, and they would drive up size, weight and cost.
My feedback is that the camera, like its competition, has just too many modes for most users. Five or six modes are all 99% of users will need. I love the movie feature and thankfully Panasonic chose MOV over AVI or Real format. But the mode dial is so crowded with all these frivolous choices that getting from IA (default) to movie or other significant mode is not easy especially when lighting is poor. The reality is that this market is very competitive and each manufacturer tries to cram in as much as possible to the detriment of usability. Some company is going to have to find the courage to make these digicams user-centric, not market-driven, and explain the reasoning to the consumer. This has already happened to a degree in audio, personal computing, and automobiles, and it is high time for the digicam world to follow suit.
Digital camera Review: DMC-FZ28 is Awesome!
Summary: 5 Stars
I already owned the DMC-FZ18. When the new model came out, I bought it after reading some initial reviews. The camera is great and will be my primary camera especially for my son's sporting events. I will leave the previous model at my vacation house so I always have a good camera their as well. I cannot think of any negatives with this camera. I have had maybe 5 or 6 previous cameras and nothing compares to this one.