Full Review

Well, i have just purchased the Panasonic FZ50 for about 3 weeks now, after about 600 test shots with it i have come to a conclusion that this FZ50 is by far the best FZ i've ever own. I have owned FZ7, FZ10, FZ15, FZ20(2), FZ30 and now FZ50, its no surprise to me, this FZ50 out do the rest of its family in image quality, FZ50 gives almost perfect pictures, the sharpness from its Leica lens is amazingly sharp, full of details contrast, full of depth of field, im very pleased with it..
here is my FZ50.
http://entertainment.webshots.com/photo/2433024510078509665wQLsnx
I must add FZ50 has an extra close up for Macro shots, i can shoot a subject at about 2 inches from subject to lens hood.
You can see some samples here.
http://www.pbase.com/twg/image/86368259
I must say FZ50 got some noise from iso 200 to 800, but i know it before hand, so now i use noise reduction software to remove it after in my pc easily..I think most all point and shoot cameras do have noise issue so this is no exception.
I have put FZ50 thru the iso tests, i shot at all iso setting from 100-1600, the results were very pleased, from iso 800 i can see noise creeping in, then comes iso 1600 it shows even more, but both can be a quick fix to me..both were useable images.I also use high noise reduction in camera, its really helps.
Now!, comes the colors, i think FZ50 has a bluish cast to all images, but FZ50 has a custom white balance 1 and 2, so i usetilized that by set a custom w/b 1 for the outdoors and 2 for indoor w/o flash. they turned out perfectly, totally awesome..FZ50 produces very sharp images throughout the range, a very compact, light but versatle camera for all day shooting or a great back up camera for DSLR, but im afraid its may out performs many DSLRs out there.
I must also mention about the bokeh, FZ50 has a minimum of bokeh at tele end, therefore it gives you extra depth of field. I love this camera for its telefoto range, at max 420mm at f3.7 it produces very, very sharp, contrasty images. Anyone who tries to buy the big lens at 400mm f3.5 you will pay an arm and a leg for DSLR use and you will need a pro tripod to hold it sturdy, but not on FZ50 i can shoot it handheld w/o any problem due to its OIS optical image stabilizer. This is my favorite feature on FZ50 is the tele range.
I also add on the Raynox wide angle 0.72x adapter to it so i can get the range from 25mm to 420mm..What a range for anyone to have for everyday use.
I also bought the 3rd party battery grip holder for it too, the grip holds 2 batts, i can shoot for a week or about 500 shots. The grip has 2 vertical triggers.
you can see here.
http://entertainment.webshots.com/photo/2367515530078509665ihVRwQ
Finally. I love this camera, i want to carry it with me everywhere now. I may try to use it in my studio soon..
Good luck
Chao
JV