Great little camera

Author's Rating:

Pros: Clear sharp photos.
Many manual options.
Decent video.

Cons: Viewing of screen in sunlight.

The Bottom Line: 
A great camera with Leica lens, multiple modes, allowing either simple or more sophisticated photography.

Author's Review
After much research on performance and price, I picked this up at Costco for under $200 and have enjoyed it on 2 vacations. Part of the expanding Lumix line, it is remarkably versatile, with dozens of manual settings available besides the Auto mode. Constructed with a Leica glass lens,  it has taken exceptionally clearsharp photos. HD video is also included and provided high quality video, although the nature of this type of camera restricts video use. The only downside is the common problem of viewing the screen in bright sunlight. Why oh why have manufacturers eliminated the viewfinder?

One nice feature is a slimming mode where subjects appear thinner than they (we) really are, which is sure to delight most of the wives and many of the husbands.Another option is a setting for shooting through windows, called airplane mode. There are also the usual pre programmed modes for portraits, landscapes, flowers, etc.

The box includes a battery charger, small case which attaches to your belt, a CD, and UBS cable. A decent print manual is enclosed, and additional information is on the CD.Downloads work quickly and automatically.

I purchased mine with a black case (the only offered by Costco) but it is available in several different colors for the fashion conscious.

While I originally was leaning towards a Nikon or Canon, I am totally satisfied with this selection and would not hesitate to buy it again.