Panasonic Lumix DMC-LC70 4MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)It is excellent camera. It takes very good crisp clear pictures. Even though it has no manual, it has good feature of 'Focus'. Motion picture is really good. Very handy and easy to operate. I liked the Menu. Very user friendly. The best part is it takes only 2 seconds to become ready to shoot picture when you power on. I can just carry anywhere and share with anybody without need of any software to upload my images. The moment you connect it is identified as "removable disk" and you just use your explorer in windows to browse the images and download them. In our family we liked color effect 'COOL'mode. The pictures are very soft and cool. You can take mulitple pictures upto 4 in Hi-res and 6 in Lo-resolution.
Except one feature (Manual Focus), it has everything.
Worth for the Money! Great Leica lense.

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Incorporating a Leica 3x optical zoom lens and a 4-megapixel resolution, the Panasonic DMC-LC70 offers professional optics in a classically styled camera at an affordable price. The DMC-LC70 also features several automated scene modes and video capture with sound. It is considerably more compact and 2 ounces lighter than its predecessor, the Lumix DMC-LC43.
Optics and Resolution The DMC-LC70 captures 4-megapixel images up to 2304 x 1728 pixels for poster-size print enlargements. Other resolution modes include 1600 x 1200, 1280 x 960, and 640 x 480. The 3x optical zoom is joined by a 3x digital zoom for a 9x total zoom.
Like all Panasonic Lumix digital cameras, the DMC-LC70 is equipped with a lens made by Leica, manufacturer of precision optical technologies. The top compact lens in the world-renowned Leica family, the DC Vario-Elmarit lens combines comfortably small size with superb image rendering. Its features include:
Seven elements in six groups
3x zoom lens system is equivalent to a 35mm to 105mm lens
Three aspherical lenses
F2.8-F4.9 brightness
Focal distance of 5.8mm to 17.4mm
Multi-coating technology minimizes ghosting caused by excessive light
Fast shutter speeds

Movie Mode In addition to taking still photos, the DMC-LC70 can also record 320 x 240 movie clips at 10 frames per second with audio. Your video length is limited only by the size of your memory card.
More Features The Mega Burst Imaging function allows you to take consecutive pictures at an incredible quick rate, making it perfect for capturing fast-moving objects in high resolution. The DMC-LC70 captures up to 8 consecutive images in standard mode (at either 3.5 or 2 frames per second) or 5 images in fine mode. You can then view your shots on the camera's LCD screen to choose the shot you want and delete the rest.
The Lumix DMC-LC70 features a Mode Dial that gives you a variety of settings to choose from to help give you the best shot possible based on your shooting environment. Modes include simple, normal picture, economy, macro, portrait, landscape, night portrait, and moving image.
The Venus Engine LSI generates the luminance signal of the primary color CCD using all three colors (red, green, blue) for improved diagonal image resolution, compared to conventional CCDs that use only one color (green) to do so, resulting in rich, expressive images. This LSI also handles image processing, LCD functions, and writing to the memory card concurrently, for an overall quick camera response.
Other features include:
1.5-inch LCD screen (114k pixels) and optical viewfinder
Built-in flash with auto, red-eye reduction, slow synchro, and forced on/off modes
ISO sensitivity: Auto, 50, 100, 200, and 400
White balance modes: Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Halogen, and White Set
Self timer of 10 and 2 seconds

Storage and Transfer Images can be stored on the included 16 MB Secure Digital memory card; the DMC-LC70 is also compatible with MultiMedia (MMC) cards. Images can be downloaded to either a Mac or PC via ultra-fast USB 1.1, which means it can be connected to any USB-compatible Windows Me/2000/XP and Mac OS 8.6 or later computer without installing any software.
Power and Size The camera is powered by 2 AA batteries (alkalines included, rechargeable NiMH batteries recommended). Using alkaline batteries, you should expect the battery to capture approximately 200 shots with the LCD on. It measures 3.44 by 2.57 by 1.39 inches (W x H x D) and weighs 5.6 ounces (excluding batteries).
What's in the Box This package includes the Lumix DMC-LC70 digital camera, 16 MB Secure Digital card, 2 AA batteries, USB and A/V cables, and strap. The CD-ROM includes SD Viewer for DSC and Ulead Photo Explorer software.

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Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ10K 4MP Digital Camera with 12x Optical Zoom (Black) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This is a top of the line point'n shoot camera. Without any doubt the 12x optical zoom with image stabilizing and fast 2.8f aperture along the whole zoom range of 35-420 mm (35mm equiv.) are the icing on the cake. Nevertheless I'm slightly dissapointed about this camera because the specs read like my dream camera and the engineers from Panasonic just couldn't keep it together. Why? - I will cover this later.
I was so anxious about getting my set together that I bought a bag first going by the size of the FZ1 - big mistake. The FZ10 is about double the size. Definitly no camera to slip in your pocket.
Battery are pretty expensive, about 50$ a piece. A good replacement, not from Panasonic but way cheaper and even higher in the mAh rating is AC-CGAS002 (the barn were you get 'em from is great). Charge and running time equal almost 1hr.
The Tripod adapter blocks access to the battery and memory compartment.
In dcresource the macro is described to work only in the automatic macro mode. So you couldn`t go by your own settings (manual). Good news - not true-. What is also not described in the manual, the camera does the same macro in manual mode. Literally up to the lense, almost touching it, with super sharp images.
Personally, I do prefer the manual mode for several reasons and this is where my dissapointment starts. In a dim light situation, still enough to take a decent picture, the LCD is pitch black. It is not broken, that's just the way it is. The techs from Panasonic told me something about achery techniques and how to shoot over the body. I call it a "Misconception". Also the brightness of the flash is not displayed, saying the LCD should get brighter when flash is activated. Still you get nice pictures - with dim light focusing slightly advanced to some other digital pointers- just you don't see the composition and focusing. I consider this the major drawback of this camera. Surprisingly enough though, if you switch to Automatic mode the LCD display in the very same dim light situation with exactly the same setting, is fine. Aperture- or Shutter priority are also good in this respect. I say it again, this applies only to dim light situations in manual mode. In standard light situations you won't notice.
Talking about low light situations, the flash is quite impressiv. Gives you also the option to compensate (-2/+2). This is very helpful if you don't wanna compensate the flash by shutter/aperture.
Lense cap has no string to hold it to the body - risk of losing it.
I am an avid Photoshop user. So I like the auto braket function to take 3 consecutive shots with different esposures for different layers in the software. Still after every shot you have to kick the bracket in again. There is no button to enable this function permanently like cameras for only a fraction of the price do. I wouldn't mind that if it were not so long winded to get to that function. Between changing the shutter/aperture in Manual mode, engaging the bracket to -1/+1 and back again, it is necessary to push 9 buttons. (Wanna count? exposure/dial up/3x dial right/3xdial up/exposure.) And this after every shot, huhhh.
Most people won't mind, but it takes only jpeg format. No non-compression formats available. This camera lets me take considerably more pictures (about 165) with 256mb than my Dimage s414 (about 125), which also happens to be a 4 MP camera - each camera in the best jpeg settings. With best settings this camera takes file sizes wich average about 1,5MB (Dimage S414 about 2MB). OK not every manufacture uses compression to the same extend, and in this setting Panasonic has surely found a nice compromise between quality and compression. Still I would be happier if Panasonic had tweaked its compession less aggressively, in order to achieve higher quality (but lager file size). Expecially since non-compression is missing and this camera is supposingly more oriented towards the prosumer section.
Nevertheless the picture quality is superb across the whole zoom range (the lense seems to make up for it).
I read reviews were people complained about noise. I figure they chose the wrong ISO (Auto ISO?). Try to use 100, 50 if possible. Everything from ISO 200 on gets indeed noisy, so is it with other cameras. And the fast lense 2.8f over the whole zoom range together with the Image Stabilizer give you quite some options here.
The image stabilizer works great. I think this feature should become as much of an standard as it is for camcorders. This from Panasonic should be a wake up call for the other manufactures to install it in there ultrazooms.
Very positive is the overall speed of the camera. SD memory might help it. Run-up, Burst mode and time between shots is very fast. High Burst gets you 4-5 shots in 2sec. After that you are ready again after about 4 sec. I consider this to be very fast. The only issue in the Burst mode is that it freezes the picture in the LCD screen. Burst makes sense for moving objects. And that is were you find it almost impossible to keep your object in focus when you just see a series of taken pictures with a delay of about 0.5 seconds.
The purple fringing, which often comes along with extreme zoom lenses seems to be moderate. I haven't seen any so far with taken lots of pictures in situations where this is supposed to be most present, like against the sun with darker objects in front. Still it is mentioned in some of the reviews.
Verdict:
Even thought I wrote critically this shouldn`t distract from the fact that this is a state of the art point'n shoot camera with a great Leica lense and a stabilazation system you won't find in any other model of this category.
So giving away some of my high expectations this is still an excellent camera which will epeal to the advanced photographer with a need for an extreme zoom.

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Fujifilm Finepix S8100fd 10MP Digital Camera with 18x Wide Angle Dual Image Stabilized Optical Zoom Review

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(More customer reviews)Was considering upgrading to a D-SLR type camera from my typical point-and-shoot camera, but I have to admit I was intimidated by price and complexity. I found the Fujifilm S8100fd to be the perfect blend of advanced features, price and complexity level. I wanted something that had a good telephoto/zoom lens and this one is awesome. The stability really helps keep things from being blurry and the advanced modes (multi-shot, movie, flash and no flash at same time [sounds odd, read the manual]) are really cool. This camera helps me take better pictures in almost any scenario. Add in an 8GB SDHC card and you have the ability to store thousands of photos and hours of video. Love this camera!

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Fuji 15823706 10.0 Megapixel Finepix S8100fd Digital Camera10.0 Megapixel Ccd;18x Optical Zoom (27-486mm);2.5" Lcd With 230k Resolution;Dual-Image Stabilization;Face Detection Technology With Automatic Red-Eye Removal;High-Speed Continuous Shooting Of Up To 33 Frames;Full Manual Controls For Advanced Photographic Needs; 4x Aa Battery Power;Xd-Picture Card, Secure Digital and Secure Digital-Hc Media Capable

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