Customer Reviews
Great Camera
The dmc-fz5 is a great camera. You just cannot beat its price in the superzoom category. It has great features with a plethera of scene modes(including portrait, snow etc) and program, aperture priority, shutter priority and manual mode. The camera does have a little focusing and red eye problem but that should not discourage anyone from buying it. The pictures are great and the battery is good too. I love the 12x optical zoom. I would recomend this camera to anyone who is looking for a good superzoom with a low price.
Disappointed
I read all the reviews and fell in love with this camera before seeing it. The specs on this camera in this price range sounded great. I got it Christmas morning and decided to put it to the test. Close up shots of the ornaments on the tree using existing light. Out of twelve shots I was able to keep four. Took it outside to the bird feeder, out of ten shots, able to keep five. Tried close ups of dog, nick naks, always the same results. More then 50% of the pics needed to be deleted. I am not a novice, I own at least five other cameras, film as well as digital. This camera is a disappointment and I returned it. Thinking of trying the Canon S2 IS.
For this camera Five Stars is a merited appraisal.
I have been using this camera since it's purchase 7 months ago. I use it extensively, and have taken various shots in many varying conditions. I use it during the day, which is easy, and during the evening I have found ways to take good photos without the constantly complained about "shaking". I almost LIVE in manual mode. With the exception of macro shots which are occaisional, and simple mode when a quick picture needs to be taken.
But the point is, I find manual mode to be the most desirable feature on the camera. This is not to say that anything on the camera is less desirable. I find that the settings and navigation are more than useful. They are not necessarily intuitive, as in the settings do not allow the user to intuitively know where to go. However they are still very easily navigable.
I enjoy the use of this camera. However I will note that having purchased a new 19" tft flat screen monitor, there is a noticable amount of digitization of the image, at "full size" it is somewhat pixelated or grainy in a digital way. But then again it is the "top of the line" and that's why the price is right!
