Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ15K 4MP Digital Camera with 12x Image Stabilized Optical Zoom

by Panasonic

Product Details

Product Manual [8.31mb PDF]

• Item Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• ASIN: B0002R2824
• Item model number: DMC-FZ15P-K
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #23,300 in Camera & Photo (See Top 100 in Camera & Photo)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes
• Date first available at Amazon.com: July 26, 2004

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Optics and Resolution
Featuring a 4-megapixel CCD sensor, the DMC-FZ15K delivers a wide range of detail and color with images up to 2304 x 1728 pixels--enough information to make photo-quality prints up to 11 by 15 inches. Leica DC Vario-Elmarit 12x zoom lens, with 3 aspheric elements, combines comfortably small size with superb image rendering. By combining with a 4x digital zoom, users will have an equivalence of a 48x zoom lens in a very compact body, though users should note that digital zoom degrades picture quality.

Movie Mode
The DMC-FZ15K lets you shoot QuickTime Motion JPEG video at resolutions up to 320 x 240 pixels. The amount of video you can capture is limited by space on the memory card; you'll fit more at low quality (10 frames-per-second) than at high quality (30 frames-per-second). The movies aren't camcorder quality, but they're fun and convenient, and they're perfect as e-mail attachments.

More Features

• Flip Animation: Allows you to create your own frame-by-frame animations.
• Unlimited Consecutive Shooting: Allows consecutive shooting up to the capacity of the SD memory card.
• Two-inch diagonal polycrystalline TFT LCD display (130k pixels)
• Mega Burst Shooting Mode: Shoot up to seven images at four or two frames-per-second in standard resolution, or up to four images in fine resolution. This option is designed to provide you with the best selection of photos during action, such as a sporting event.

Storage and Transfer
Images and video are stored on Secure Digital (SD) memory cards. An 8 MB SD card is included. Files can be downloaded to either a Mac or PC via USB connectivity, which means it can be connected to any USB-based Windows 98/Me/2000/XP and Mac OS 8.6 or later computer without installing any software.

Printing
This camera supports the PictBridge standard. PictBridge is a technology that lets you transfer pictures from a digital camera to a compatible printer, without a PC or image-editing software. Because PictBridge is an industry standard, users can connect PictBridge-compatible devices made by many different manufacturers. Learn more about PictBridge.

Power and Size
The camera is powered by lithium-ion battery pack (included with charger). It measures 3.43 by 5.02 by 4.18 inches and weighs 1.14 pounds.

What's in the Box
DMC-FZ15K digital camera, battery charger, battery pack, 8MB SD memory card, lens cap, lens hood with adaptor, A/V and USB cables, strap, and CD-ROM

Product Description

4.0 Megapixel, 12x Optical /4x Digital Zoom. CCD Resolution. 35mm Zoom Lens: 35-420mm. Auto-focus/Manual Focus. Resolutions: 1280 x 960, 1600 x 1200, 2304 x 1728, 640 x 480. Video Quality: 320 x 240 (QVGA). Video Speed: 30 fps. Film/Camera Type: 35mm; Image Sensor (megapixel): 4; Focus/Zoom: 12X Optical Zoom; Exposures: NA.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best camera short of the DLSR's, December 1, 2004

By 

Alfy (Ohio) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ15K 4MP Digital Camera with 12x Image Stabilized Optical Zoom (Electronics)

Many people consider this camera the best solution short of the much more expensive DLSR's.

It comes with Leica lenses, quality lenses usually found in much more expensive cameras.

The 12x continuous zoom with dual mode stabilizer feature that lets you hand-hold the camera for clear pictures, even at 420 mm setting at f2.8 brightness throughout the entire zoom range.
With a super-fast response, lets you snap off consecutive shots at 3 frames per second, or in Consecutive Shooting setting, it can take unlimited pictures until the SD card gets full, all this with full resolution. As with all other manufactures, you'll have to get a decent SD card, since it comes with an 8Mb card.

Also I think it has better AF then its bigger brother, the FZ20, and the pictures are sharper, due in part to the ISO64 mode.
I don't agree with the other reviewer assessment about noise. At ISO400 there will be some noise, but not at the level to render this camera useless. Keep in mind THIS IS NOT A DSLR. You can't get Dslr functions and quality at half the price.

Now one word of caution. The FZ15, like all the other Lumix cameras, are lacking the "gain-up" functionality in low light conditions. In other words, if you're in low light conditions, the LCD screen will not brighten-up, but you can manage around this annoyance.
If you'll use this camera mostly for indoors shoots, you better look somewhere else.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Can't go wrong with this digital camera, January 1, 2005

By 

Gregory Buckless (Colchester, Vermont) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ15K 4MP Digital Camera with 12x Image Stabilized Optical Zoom (Electronics)

After researching high magnification digital cameras for quite a while, I finally settled on the Panasonic FZ15K mostly because of it's features, and the good user ratings that I was able to find online. The features I wanted were high zoom, image stabilization, a burst mode, and low shutter lag (the time it takes for the picture to be taken after you press the shutter).

I've taken pictures with the FZ15K for two weeks now and couldn't be more impressed with this camera. Although there are lots of features, everything is smartly layed out so you will quickly be able to learn how to take advantage of all of the wonderful features.

The zoom/image stablization is amazing. 10X-12X pictures with shutter speeds of 1/60 sec are taken with a snap and always come out clear. The viewfinder and LCD are both clear and the information in the LCD is clear and easy to undrestand. Shutter lag is very low once you prefocus by pressing on the shutter slightly. It feels like a normal SLR after that with very little shutter lag. There is a bracketing feature that takes three consecutive pictures with slightly different exposures for difficult lighting situations, but most times I have used it, the normal shot is the best. The burst mode is fantastic with 4 pictures/second. I can't wait to take pictures at my daughters softball games this summer. The flash is bright and recharges very quickly. There are also lots of modes to choose from - snow , panning, fireworks, low light, sports, etc that adjust the settings on the camera for those unique situations. I tried taking pictures with bright sun and snow using the "snow" mode and they all came out great. Although you won't be using it very often, the manual focus also works very good.

Do yourself a favor, if your looking for a digital in this price range, look no longer. I can't imagine how you could do any better than this one.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Leica & Panasonic - great team!, January 1, 2005

By 

Diamond57 (New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ15K 4MP Digital Camera with 12x Image Stabilized Optical Zoom (Electronics)

Got one for Christmas, this camera has it all! My first picture was of an object 25ft away using the built in flash. The picture was awesome! Perfectly focused and exposed. It has a very nice viewfinder/LCD option, image stabilization option can be set to constant or just before the shutter snaps or off altogether, (you'll want to use it at higher magnifications) also has a histogram display function which enables you to constantly monitor light levels for a perfect shot, up to 3fps and more bells and whistles to keep you occupied than could fit into this review. The only thing it doesn't have is sound but then again if you want sound and motion then buy a video camera instead! This is the perfect digital still camera, with 12x optical zoom and manual/auto/manual-assist focus options it can take a perfect picture every time or let you experiment with fully automatic, Aperture/shutter or fully manual exposure options. There's even a 1.5x tele-converter available which will give you well over 600mm. These Leica lenses are truly awesome! It comes with a USB interface cable and a tv cable so you can see your pics on your TV directly from your camera. Charger automatically turns off when battery is ready, a lens hood for blocking out stray sunlight when outside and a 16mb SD card, (you will want to buy the 256). Software included is easy to use and has enough options to be as high-tech as you like. Loads easily on XP. In my opinion for the price it is the best digital camera out there today!