Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ20 Review

Overall Rating

Gorgeous Camera with Huge Features and so easy to get great results even for a novice.

Really can't think of any.

Great Looking, Great Performance, Lovely to handle and own. The Panasonic FZ20 must be digital photography's best kept secret. Like all Panasonic equipment, the FZ20 oozes quality. Very much like a 35mm camera to look at, the FZ20 offers a huge 12x optical zoom "yes optical zoom" plus a 4x digital zoom which gives an overall 48x zoom lens. The image stabilise has to be tried to be believed and even at 48x zoom, produces crystal clear hand held shots. The lens is made by Leica (and you don't get any better than that) and all through the range it's bright and accurate, producing class leading pictures. The camera has a manual focus option which means you can take pretty much any shot you want. High quality display on the back and the best electronic viewfinder I have ever seen. Easy to use controls that allow you to just point and shoot, or you can choose different scene modes for different conditions, but if you want to be David Bailey, go manual and you can choose every setting. The flash is great, producing realistic looking shots. Video (with sound) is great, but its not a video camera, so dont expect that quality (but its not far behind). Battery life is stunning, but I purchased 2 spares (cheap off the net) took the camera on holiday to Miami, took 470 pictures plus loads of video (I have a 1gb card) and only had to put the second battery in the day before comming home. I could go on about this camera all day long. I have owned several digital cameras including Olympus, Pentax, Cannon, Samsung and Casio and this camera just blows them all away. I love touching it and using it and frankly just holding it and looking at it. If you want a play toy that is something special, look no further. My only regret is I can't open the box again for the first time !!!!

Members' Comments onbazthecat's Review

• bazthecat on 30th Mar 2006

  It's now been over 12 months since first buying the FZ20, and dragging it all over the place, the camera works as well as it did the day I cracked the box open.
  
  The pictures I have taken have been superb, and when using it, I still get the same buzz I did the day I bought it.
  
  This really is a stunning camera for a sensible price.
  I would love the FZ30, but why?...
  
  I really do think that when it comes to any kind of TV or Video images, that you can pretty much buy anything Panasonic and relax in the knowledge you have one of the best products around.