Full Review

This is my first digital camera, and I wanted one that would be easily portable without sacrificing picture quality. I was used to using an old Canon AE-1 SLR camera and I wanted something that could take comparible pictures without the bulk. I poured over research and found a great site for information.
http://www.imaging-resource.com/

I examined many brands, but the Panasonic DMC-FX50 had the right combination of portability and image quality with a host of easy to use and proffessional features. A solid build with a 28mm wide angle Leica lens with a 3.6x optical zoom that is extendable up to 5.5x and a digital zoom that can add as much as 16x! This really is a photographer's camera.

The first feature that sold me on Panasonic was the Mega O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabalization). This feature compinsates for camera movement by realigning the camera lens with the optical axis. Panasonic is currently the ONLY digital camera manufacturer to have this on every camera model. Most other brands use a digital compensation which is more offten than not less than perfect. With Mega O.I.S. you get true, crisp images. Find out more and watch a demo at http://panasonic.co.jp/pavc/global/lumix/

The second feature that I loved on this camera is the 3" LCD display. Easy to view, even in sun-light. It has three modes, normal, power (which brightens the display for easier viewing under harsh lighting) and high-angle (which alters the display to make it viewable when you have to take a picture with the camera held high). The 3" LCD on this model also offers a side-by-side viewing feature so you can compare images you've taken. Something not available on the 2.5" models.

The next biggest feature is the list of features. This camera has multiple setting options for exposure, flash, auto focus, ISO settings, white balence, shutter speed, color enhancement, plus scene modes for pre-programed picture adjustmens to make setting the camera simple. The mode dial offers settings for normal, macro, and simple picture taking, scene modes, motion picture recording, picture review, and printer connectivity.

This camera is flexible enough to allow the user to adjust and tweek the settings much like you would on an SLR while making it simple to use. This is an ideal camera for someone who is a begginer photogrpher because it is simple to use, but offers the comlexity should they choose to use it. It is also ideal for a pro as a portable alternative to the large proffessional cameras. For a camera that is less than an inch thick and about the size of a post card to have what this camera does is amazing to me.