Customer Reviews

Panasonic DMC-FZ50S 10.1MP Digital Camera with 12x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Silver)

5 star:		(125)
4 star:		(32)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

In the past, I've owned or used several Panasonic Lumix models. All were good digital cameras. The FZ-50, however, is something very special.

The Leica approved lens design is, as always, superbly sharp. From a butte with a 50+ mile view, landscapes of wheat fields were crisp and highly detailed and the 10 megapixel images withstood enlargement well. Color fidelity is also excellent though a bit on the muted side: easy enough to quickly correct in any image editing program.

The new optical image stabilization (OIS) algorithm which compensates for both hand shaking and subject movement is absolutely brilliant and works incredibly well.

The ability to shoot at ISO values up to 1,600 goes hand in hand with the new OIS abilities. No one could resist testing a handheld digital camera in a dim environment at ISO 1600. Needless to say, the images are noisy. But at ISO 1600, what would you expect? Handheld photos shot at 1/20th of a second at ISO 1600 in a dim restaurant were filled with both detail and noise. Remarkably the color balance was very well-handled: the incadescent restaurant lights were recorded faithfully along with the neon and halogen lamplight streaming in through the blinds from outside. Very, very impressive.

Much of the noise could be ameliorated in Photoshop or similar programs with appropriate plug-ins. The high-speed capability is well worth the trade for noisy images. Purists may want noiseless images at ISO 1600, but it's unlikely they will ever get it. Practical photographers, on the other hand, will definitely appreciate the capability and undoubtedly will exploit it.

Ergonomically, the FZ-50 is practically a work of art. All of the frequently used controls are accessible with the right hand. The enlarged hand grip is just perfect for my large hands and the shutter release is perfectly positioned, something I am not able to say about most of the digital cameras I've used. The electronic viewfinder is sharp and is boosted for low-light focusing. (There is also an AF-assist lamp.) The flip-out LCD may be positioned for high and low angle shooting or reversed for self-portraits.

At about 1-1/2 pounds, the FZ-50 is a joy to carry for long periods.

The menu system is very accessible and quick and easy to adjust.

The few scene modes I tried worked well. Shooting pictures from a car moving at 60 miles per hour worked surprisingly well in the sports action mode.

Shutter lag is remarkably slight: the Panasonic Venus III engine lives up to its billing. Response is not up to the level of a Nikon or Canon DSLR, but it is certainly faster than any other midlevel digital camera I've used. Burst rate of about one frame per second are routinely attainable.

The FZ-50 will do RAW, but it is on the slow side. Either use an extremely fast SD card or avoid RAW where you need to be prepared for one exposure after another. JPEG files at full resolution (3,648 x 2,736 pixels) are quite good and will withstand, in my opinion, enlargement of about 4 - 5x.

I think SD card compatibility may be an issue with 4GB cards. I tried one and the camera refused to boot. A variety of 2GB cards worked without a problem.

The battery is rated for 360 shots between images. The test used by manufacturers uses one shot every 30 seconds, I believe. My experience with the battery didn't allow for more than 300 shots before the warning indicator started flashing. I don't know how many more shots I could have gotten, but I would definitely advise having a second battery for this camera.

I did not try the movie mode, so I can't comment on that.

Overall, the FZ-50 is more than satisfactory in every way. It is not a replacement for a Canon or Nikon DSLR, but is in many ways more satisfying to use. It is lighter than either a Canon or a Nikon; its 12x Leica approved designed lens covers 35 - to 425mm. Image quality is superb and the OIS is fantastic. I would highly recommend the FZ-50 as a travel camera or just for everyday use.

Jerry

Perhaps you've heard: one of the most difficult targets for photography = birds-- super small **and** super frisky. Most texts urge you to buy a dSLR, with a VERY long AND fast zoom. Such lenses are heavy, big, 4-figure expensive AND require stabilization. To outfit yourself accordingly, you're looking at a minimum 2 grand outlay (camera body, walk-around lens, fast super-zoom lens, tripod, etc)...........................


On the other hand, this 10mp all-in-one camera STARTS with a built-in 12x zoom. This yields the 35mm equivalent of a 35mm to 420mm lens, WITH an aperture of f/2.8 to 3.7. In English: fast, and with serious reach. Yet, there's a delightful surprise: you can EASILY drop down to 5mp, getting in return a 17x OPTICAL zoom. Bird still too far away? Drop the camera's resolution down to 3mp--- now you've got a 21.4x OPTICAL zoom. This is NO software-based gimmick, folks, as the quality of the image remains incredible throughout. The camera simply hones in on the central image (i.e., the central 5mp or 3mp area), cropping out the excess sides, thereby effectively increasing the optical zoom with NO image deterioration. As I already have Panasonic's LT55 telephoto 1.7x converter lens (used with my now-old FZ7 camera), I can just screw that directly onto the FZ50 lens, for still more reach. And again, none of this is "digital", so we're still talking super optical quality throughout the reach. Keep in mind-- this is all **with** image stabilization! It's so very good / crisp/ detailed, that I now **keep** it at 3mp whenever I'm shooting birds, so I can enjoy that mind-blowing extra optical zoom.


Now, if some of the technical jargon in the preceding paragraph spooks you, know this: I purchased my first digicam (FZ7) a few months ago. I knew nadda, photographically speaking. But I added "PCPhoto Digital Zoom Camera Handbook" to my cart, enjoyed the easy but super-informative read during a weekend, and was shooting up a storm in no time, actually KNOWING what the different options are all about. Later, when I started wondering about actual "technique," a quick trip to my local bookstore introduced me to a UK monthly magazine, "Digital Camera" --- truly useful info in every issue, not to mention the included teach-me CD with videos.


If you prefer to just point and shoot, there's a "auto" mode for you. If you like scene modes, you'll find plenty here from which to choose, including night scene, fireworks scene, and party scene. There's a zoom ring, instead of a moving lens jutting in and out. If you prefer to sometimes indulge manual focus, you'll love the new focus ring on the lens. Nice touch: the system auto-magnifies the target as you rotate the focus ring, encouraging maximum sharpness.


That's the thing about this ultra sweet package: nice touches abound, making for an marveloously smooth and easy user experience. There are two dial rings, which you manipulate with your third finger and thumb (as index finger sits in shutter release). Both dial rings are to the right of the camera, one in front and the other in the back. Ergonomically, this means that your eye need never leave the electronic viewfinder (or LCD) in order to tweak exposure. These can be customized, allowing one to no-think change aperture and exposure compensation on the fly, with a simple, quick twirl of a dial ring (the selections/result are visible on the EVF/LCD). A "function" button allows equal ease in tweaking white balance, flash, bracketing, ISO sensitivity and more. Read: no hunting thru the system menu!


Want to add an external flash? No problem-- there's a hot shoe. Like to crop pics within the camera itself? Do it in "playback" mode-- it's your option as to whether to retain or trash the original. Want to save your tweaking settings as an "option"? Use one of the 3 personal customization slots available. Prefer an EVF? Got it. Want a move-it-around sharp LCD? Wish granted. Wanna zoom your pics during playback, to doublecheck for sharpness? Also dirt easy, via a max 8x zoom. Wear glasses? So what, there's a diopter adjustment dial next to the EVF. You can even get an optional shutter release cord.


55mm filters, as well as the LT55 teleconverter for the FZ7, work fine here without a special converter-- just screw the add-on to the FZ50 lens itself. But it's an either-or proposition, i.e., can't use a circular polarizer with the teleconverter lens. Small loss, given the series of optional built-in optical zooms you can get from this beauty.


Third party batteries work just fine. Just look for a CGR-S006A equivalent. (I got cheapie DynaMax-- works great.) The charger is ultra-convenient. Not quite the size of a deck of cards, it just plugs into an outlet -- no cords. I always have one battery in it at home, so switching is a no sweat/delay deal (pop in and out). Very healthy battery life also (more than 300 pics, despite keeping the system at "10 minutes")!


One negative: while there is a burst mode, it's rather slow. That irked me, but everything else is so profoundly sweet, that I've opted to live with it. Just too much incredible goodness here for me to elevate this one item to deal-breaker status.


One special note: if you just start shooting when you get the camera, you might be disappointed. The pics may appear softer than you anticipate. Go into the menu, select "Picture Adjustment", and tweak saturation, contrast, sharpness and noise reduction until you get a personally satisfying result. Worth the extra effort!


Still not sure about coughing up your hard-earned dough for the FZ50? Yes, it's a little cheaper elsewhere, but check out Amazon's return page (Help >> Return Policy >> Product Specific Policies >> Camera & Photo) -- it confirms a very generous 30-day return policy, from date of receipt. My bet is that, like me, you'll quickly adopt this baby as your own, tossing the Amazon box long before that 30 day period expires. And, you'll never look back.


-------------In the Box
camera (duh!)
32mb SD card
battery
battery charger
USB connection cable
AV cable
CD-ROM
Shoulder strap (nice!)
lens cap
lens hood

This is my first Panasonic camera so I am coming to this completely objectively. People seem to be divided into two groups regarding the FZ50 (and by extension, most of Panasonic's recent digicams) - those who find it's image quality impressive despite it's limitations and enjoy it's superiority in most other areas and those who feel the FZ50 should have been a lot more than it is, lacking the output to back up it's DSLR stylings and not being a revolutionary upgrade over the FZ30. I stand somewhere in the middle but leaning more towards the first view.

The fact is, the FZ50 is a great bridge / mega zoom all-in-one digicam. The huge 12x focal range really is liberating and I just could not go back to a measly 3x zoom ever again. The superior quality of the Leica lens, which really is the main selling point is not to be underestimated - it's very sharp, producing next to no chromatic aberrations with truly effective stabilisation and I think is far superior to the lens of current competition. As everyone points out, to get this quality of (stabilised) lens over such a huge focal range for a DSLR would usually require more than one bulky lens and would probably cost well over a $1000, so you can't really find anything to grumble about here.

I absolutely love the manual zoom and focus, which means you can fine tune to a degree that you just couldn't with a mechanical zoom - it's also silent and saves valuable battery power. I've found colour representation in the photos to be realistic although I must say that on every digital camera I've used, photos have never appeared quite how my eyes saw the original scene colour wise. I've found auto white balance to do a good job in most situations so far and this can also be fine tuned when in manual mode. The flash output can also be set to varying degrees, which is useful when you want to retain a more natural look in dimly lit conditions. The ergonomics as everyone points out are also great, the FZ50 feels comfortable and your hand position will feel natural around it.

The flexibility of the twist out and swivel LCD screen is also not to be underestimated, allowing more versatile shooting angles than a fixed screen would give you. I really wish the screen could have been bigger though - I'm sure Panasonic could have extended it to 2.5" as there is a border around the screen which could have possibly been used up with extra pixels. However, the screen is great. At 207K pixels, everything is nice and sharp and there is no ghosting unless in very dim light. I am a little confused though as even though the EVF has a higher resolution than the LCD screen at 235K pixels, it is very noticeably less detailed in both colour and sharpness - can anybody enlighten me by leaving a comment?

And so we come to image quality - the real bone of contention between the two camps. I have to say that I agree with a lot of those who complain about Panasonic's decision to up the pixel count from the FZ30 to 10mp whilst still using the same sized sensor, which is a fraction of the size of a DSLR. The (now infamous) Venus 3 engine covers the noise well but as others will point out, at the cost of smudging out fine detail. Unfortunately, when Panasonic in their FZ50 press release said that high ISO noise levels were much improved over the FZ30, they didn't quite mean they had made a breakthrough with sensor technology, they simply meant they had developed a better way to hide the noise!

Having said that, my photos have really impressed me with great clarity and colour and the main digicam review sites have pointed out that the image quality is above average in this anyway superior class of consumer digicam, and you can see this from their test shots. Also, if you go onto some of the Panasonic forums such as at dpreview you'll find some great examples of what can be achieved with the FZ50 and I'm sure you'll be really impressed. And at low ISO 100, some comparison tests show the FZ50 to give lower end DSLR's like the XT a good run for their money! But you do have to ask what is the point of putting in 10 megapixels if you have to print and view at sizes that a lower megapixel count would give you because when viewed at 100%, the effects of the heavy noise reduction can look pretty ugly. I would have much preferred a 6mp FZ50 if that would have resulted in less noise for the Venus 3 to work with. If I'm right in saying that a larger sensor would then result in a smaller focal range then Panasonic have probably tried to get the best from all angles and successfully so - however, Fuji have shown that great strides in sensor technology can be achieved.

To conclude, the FZ50 is a great advanced digicam and really impresses in all areas. It's a lot of fun to use because it's so comfortable and makes such a wide range of shots possible not to mention being extremely responsive and quick. The effects of the heavy noise reduction will only be an issue if you plan on viewing and printing large and using the high ISO's but otherwise image quality is great. For the advanced consumer who wants the best there is before the expense and bulk of a DSLR, then the FZ50 is the one to choose.

This camera seems to be quite misunderstood. I have read review after review, and most complaints deal with the "noise" of the camera. There is in fact an issue with noise if you plan on shooting above ISO 400. But thinking about this, anything above ISO 400 would prduce some noise in most cameras. Even my digital SLR has noise when I go above ISO 400. If you plan on shooting outdoors, this camera has done well. Indoor shots using the flash are great. No red eye.

ISO ratings came about from film cameras. They set the speed of the film. Even in a film camera, as you increase the ISO, you increase the grain of the film. I do not see a big problem with noise at 100 and 200. And for me, I do most shots outside, so it is fine. I think sometimes people are looking for a "Perfect" digital camera, and as far as I know - there is not one. But for the money, I would take on my Canon EOS 30D any day with this camera, and I would be pleased.

This camera has wonderful features, a very crisp lens, and an excellent zoom range. When you set the camera to use 3Megs, the zoom range is incredible ! - I get better distant shots with this camera, than I do with my Canon 30D and a 300m lens.

If you are looking for a compact digital camera that will offer you great shots, this is well worth the money. I have owned 3 Digital SLR's that cost in the $[...], and I still choose this camera.

I have some test shots up on my web site if you wish to take a look. You will be amazed. (You can also post your test shots there as well). I would recommend this camera to anyone who is looking for a reliable camera that will give great photos - both for the experienced user and the novice. Very well built, solid feel, and many features.

Just an added note. I have owned this camera for two months now, taken over 2000 shots with it, and it has NEVER let me down. I would buy it again if I needed two cameras!!!

[...]

Enjoy

This is my fourth digital camera and comes to replace my Dymage A1 that stopped working right after its warranty expired. I am a serious enthusiast photographer since 2001. The FZ50 is a handsome and light digital camera with wonderful features that work for me, such as the moving LCD screen. The screen turns all around allowing you to take yourself a picture. But the beauty of this is in some special pictures, such as putting the camera at ground level and shoot from there or lifting your camera over a crowd and still be able to frame your shot well. The full Manual Mode works so great that I might abandone the automatic all together. Pictures in the DMC-FZ50 were coming out overexposed in the automatic mode; I have solved this by shooting at S priority. One more thing: No review talks about it, not even the Panasonic official description of this camera, but the DMC-FZ50 has a very decent macro. I have been taking close up pictures my cats and of the flowers in my garden and they came out really good. For a simple person like me, 10 megapixels help me when I need to crop a third of a picture in my computer and still retain printing quality. Actually, the camera lens are excellent and I have not experienced any "noise." The viewfinder is very clear. Besides its great Zoom, this camera also takes EXCELLENT indoor pictures, better so if you use a tripod. The crude reality tough is that, although it is very easy to learn and operate, this camera is no instamatick. So you need to know some photography to really enjoy all its features and get back what you paid for. The bottom line that works for me is: I'm small, fragile and not really rich, I just cannot see myself carrying expensive SLR digital cameras with heavy and costly interchangeable lens. And, frankly, unless you want to make it into the photography business, you will not need more than this camera to take excellent pictures. In fact, this is the type of camera that might take you into the next step of your picture taking experience because it is very rewarding; so you will be taking good pictures like crazy.

If you read the various reviews of the DMC-FZ50 on the 'Net, you will see many remarks about the high noise level of the Panasonic sensor at high ISO settings. The same reviewers will post sample photographs for your perusal -- pay close attention to them. First, on many of them the noise is not objectionable at all. Second, they are JPEGs produced by the Venus III engine. Yet, this superlative camera can produce RAW images. With the SilkyPix software included with the camera kit, you can bypass the Venus III noise reduction (RAW images do not use the camera's noise reduction circuitry). The SilkyPix noise reduction software (or that available in Adobe RAW Capture) is superior to the Venus III, and will produce final images that equal those produced by the Canon Rebel XTi or the Nikon D80.

With the debate over noise levels now moot, I challenge anyone to find a comparable camera with similar features at ANY price that can best the DMC-FZ50.

Bought this FZ50 camera from Amazon last week at a good bargin price--477.00. And added some 1GB memory cards and an extra battery. All arrived intact. I've had a Panasonic FZ10 for a few years and it still works perfectly. The FZ series has moved on to the FZ20 and the FZ30--and by the time I got around to thinking of buying a new model, the FZ50 came alone. Recent price made me jump, partly for concern that the model could be discontinued for the next new thing.

Having now seen some 90 (so far) digital image from a FZ50 for myself, the noise issue simply isn't there for images shot during daylight at lower ASA sensitivities (100, maybe 200). The little CCD sensor can't be expected to do well at higher ASA settings, but I was surprised at how nice all the test shots turned out. Detail in images shot at 100 ASA is simply grand. The higher telephoto shots show sharp, unimagined detail, without apparent chromatic problems (red, blue, etc. fringing around objects near edges of an image). This improvement over the FZ10, I think, is a result of the Venus III processor, rather than the lens, but all the same the images are very clean and sharp from edge to edge at wide and moderate aperature settings used so far (F3.5 to F5.6).

The camera is rich with features, but the best in my opinion is the Focus/Exposure lock botton. The Focus/Exposure lock has three settings in the menu:

1) Focus lock
2) Exposure lock
3) Both focus and exposure lock together

Since the auto focus and the manual focus work so well, I selected exposure lock. Because the view finder is a digital image that reflects the exposure one is about to make (with shutter half-compressed), the ability to detect whether the image might be over or under-exposed makes the exposure lock very useful. One only has to find a slightly dimmer or brighter image on which to lock exposure and return to the desired image with a modified exposure setting very quickly. The locked exposure is released when you press the button again. Wonderful feature.

This is not the camera to get if you want to reproduce large, smooth prints, though smaller prints up to 11x14 inches ought to look pretty nice. Instead, this camera is a unique, all-in-one-piece, wide to telephoto tool able to capture subjects near and far in wonderful detail. Being an illustrator, this camera is perfect for capturing the nut and bolt resources for future work--be it rabbits, birds, people, landscapes, etc. The Image Stabilization (set in menu to work only when pressing shutter) works very well and greatly helps the very good lens get the best shot--my opinion, anyway, after seeing the first test results. I could clearly read our town's name on a water tower some 3 miles away and was able to take some surprisingly sharp hand-held photos of the moon at full telephoto.

Bought this FZ50 for my wife--another one of those Homer bowling ball gift purchases.

I purchased the Panasonic FZ50 primarily to take pictures of my daughter's soccer games (she's 10). The more I get to know the camera, the more I like it. It's the best camera for me, short of purchasing an SLR and several lenses.

Since one of the biggest strengths is the Leica lens, I've learned that zooming in to frame the shot (versus taking a wide-angle picture and cropping on the computer later) provides the most crisp results. The pictures I get in full daylight are quite remarkable, especially when printed at 4x6.

Further, I really enjoy the easy access to ISO sensitivity. I start out at ISO 100, and if it gets cloudy or dark I can quickly adjust to ISO 200 or 400 (or higher) and still get the "stop action" pictures. At higher ISO and 4"x6" prints, the increased noise is not an issue. I think it's flattering that people are comparing the "noise" of the FZ50 to that of DLSR's (which, of course, have less noise at high ISO's).

I am now exploring the focus (and auto exposure) lock functionality, which really speed up taking a photo. When the action dictates, I can lock in and then fire shots so quickly that I think I am using an SLR.

Another usability feature I really like is the manual zoom. It is so much better to turn the ring to zoom in or out than the mechanical ones I have used in the past. I no longer miss a shot because my camera couldn't zoom in or out in time. I do not recall another camera in this class having a manual zoom ring.

I'm going to keep it short and sweet and just say that I could not be happier with this camera. I am only a novice when it comes to photography, but this camera, while preserving simplicity for novices, will tempt you to take it to the next level with its amazing feature set. I wanted to buy myself a camera that would put me a year or two ahead of where I technically need to be, but I didn't want to spend a fortune on something that would be simply "too much camera." This is the perfect compromise.

I love Amazon, but you should be able to get this camera for under $500. And if you plan to shoot video or RAW images, I highly recommend you splurging for the SanDisk Extreme III 2gb SD card. Total investment with accessories may run you up to $700, but this is worth it. You will not be disappointed.

But don't just believe me, read one of the most comprehensive reviews on the Web regarding this camera, and then make an informed decision on whether it is right for you:

[...]

I am best described as a "gifted amateur with a good eye." I've had photos published in national publications and I am the official photographer for a national beauty pageant, and bought this camera in late October just before our national event.

This is my 3rd digital camera. But in the past I have used analog to photograph the pageant (Cannon Elan 7). I chose Lumix FZ 50 mainly because of the 12X Optical Zoom, the number of pixels were also very important to me. I was very pleased with both.

It's very easy to use. The day after I got the camera I it to Central Park for an hour and got some great shots after only a quick glance through the manual.

The zoom lens is great -- I love not having to carry extra lenses or be bothered changing lenses!

I didn't use 10 mp's -- mostly I kept it on 8, and I am very pleased with the color, clarity and detail of the photos. I ocassionally changed to 5 mp's for less important shots (things I know will only go into our newsletter). The color on the 5 mp shots wasn't as good, but adequate for it's purpose.

The camera is usually very fast in terms of lag between pushing the button and the shutter actually firing -- there were several ocassions when there was a significant lag. And sometimes it takes it's time focusing. I was impressed, however, that the camera can focus practically in the dark.

The Lumix is not as good as my Cannon Elan at capturing moving subjects -- even if they're not moving very fast.

I bought the Sunpak 383 Auto Flash (a recommended accessory) with the camera. It's not a bad flash, but not adequate for my needs. At times with the pageant I have to photograph quickly and repeatedly. The flash could not keep up with me. It takes a long time to recycle. Also this flash goes through batteries very quickly (including titanium batteries). The batteries get very hot -- you can feel it through the casing. I plan to upgrade before my next important event.

Overall: I love this camera and highly recommend it.