Panasonic DMC-FZ50EB-K Digital Camera - Black (10.1MP, 12x Optical Zoom) 2.0" LCD

What a great camera. It has been superseded now , but when I left my previous one out in the rain and ruined it, I immediately replaced it with the same model. The results, definition etc is fantastic. Only complaint is that it is so well made that it is a bit heavy. But still lighter than carrying a load of lenses around .

Bought as 'brown box' but came with all the bits, superb zoom allowing less lenses to be carried, and still seems to command good price this year (2014) second hand. I have other cameras that dont get used much due to versatilty of this camera. Have tried once last year to sell but had no proper bids, so am still mulling idea over, only from point of view that other cameras have better zoom.

The camera I had ordered arrived today. It appears to be everything I expected. The service was speedy and excellent.

Since receiving this Camera, I have had nothing but pure joy using it and capturing literally thousands of really great pictures. It took me a little while to learn my way round, simply because I'm a hobby-phtographer and this has been the first really excellent camera I've owned. I can highly recommend this camera to anyone who really loves great results and reliabilty.

I have huge regard for this camera, having taken many thousand shots without a problem.It replaced a Nikon outfit, and I was so pleased that the all-in-one zoom enabled me to be free of all those lenses and weight.Then, Thursday week ago, I dropped it in a salt-water rock pool on the island of Jersey.Horrors - *fizz-pop* went the battery as the circuits shorted.I'm having it checked by the insurer but doubt it'll survive.If it really is a goner, I'll almost certainly replace it with another Panasonic model.

I purchased this camera in April 2007 after reading rave reviews from many amateur to professional camera sites and blogs. It has not disappointed me yet.I bought the black version, which looks like a serious contender to all market leading SLRs, which is what it is intended for. This probably is the best bridging camera so far available.Its Leica lens with manual zoom and focus ring gives it almost an SLR feel, without the hassle of the multiple lens changes required with an SLR. The fully manual override option is fantastic adding to the SLR functionality.The menu is easy to use. The function option gives you some customisability too.The Optical image stabilisation is an excellent tool, which you will realise is the most practical aspect in the camera soon enough; you cannot live without it.The battery life is good, with 300-350 snaps taken easily with one charge. But I do have a back up battery just in case.The lens hood is a useful accessory, especially in bright settings.The rotating LCD panel is a beauty. I find this extremely useful when taking pictures of my children at odd angles, especially when they are fooling around on the floor. It is also quite handy at parties, when you want to take photos over other people's heads.Indoor photography is no concern. Set it in intelligent ISO mode and the camera comes out with beautiful pictures. You would be the envy of your friends, when seen lugging this beauty. Even some digital SLRs during our latest party from work could not hold a candle to my Panny, in terms of the oohs and aahs it generated.Now, there has been a lot of criticism about the noise it produces, especially at high ISO settings and its noise reduction engine and software. As an amateur who wants a bit of excitement in photography, this, in my opinion is no big deal at all. What I would suggest is use the lowest ISO (definitely no more than 400) and turn off noise reduction. Or for the uninitiated, just use Auto ISO or Intelligent ISO setting. You cannot go wrong.Get a good filter to protect your lens - it is a must. I have a HOYA filter 55 mm.

I spent a long time looking at this camera compared to the Canon S3, Fuji S9500 and Sony H2/H5 and even some low end DSLR's. The picture quality (in my opinion) beats the other point and shoot camera's but of course not the DSLR's. But then to get the equivalent lenses (with image stabilisation) would be BIG money. I just love the versatility this camera offers - that you can take a macro followed by a 12x zoom shot without digging into a heavy bag of lenses. The Optical image stabilisation, movie mode, swivel screen, Leica lens, raw mode, user friendliness and sheer 'wow factor' make this just simply an awesome camera. I highly recommend it