Very, Very Happy With This Purchase

Author's Rating:

Pros: Zoom, Great lens, Good for beginners and pros.

Cons: Slow USB speed from camera, Zooming not fluid in lower resolution modes, EVF

The Bottom Line: 
Take time to research this camera AND dSLRs. The main thing that sets this camera above cheap dSLRs is its many features. Small sensor but takes GREAT pics.

Author's Review
Although the noise is very apparent as you increase its ISO speed, you can be sure that keeping it on ISO 80 or ISO 100 will keep its quality levels up to that of its rivals such as dSLRs. Keep in mind this is a bridge camera (a class between regular digi cams and pro cams) and I believe it does a VERY great job of showing up the more expensive cameras in its megapixel class. This camera has so many options like video, manual controls, and awesome zoom. Compared to its predecessor, it has been redesigned totally which is as good as it gets until the FZ-40 comes out. I highly recommend buying this camera even though you might read a lot of reviews which complain about noise levels, because what it comes down to is if you know what you're doing, then noise WON'T be that much of a problem.

In recap: Zoom is great, lens is that of very high quality (produced by Leica), Good for beginners and pros alike, and fits so many options together that other cameras don't.
However, Kinda wish the viewfinder wasn't electronic, annoying pauses when in lower resolution modes while manipulating zoom ring due to extended zoom feature, and features only USB full speed instead of USB high speed. The solution to that would have to be to get an SD card reader for picture upload instead of reading card from camera.