Panasonic DMC-ZS50K Lumix 4K Digital Camera ZS50K, 12.1 Megapixel Pocket-Size Camera with 24mm Travel Zoom Lecia Lens, Low Light Sensor (Black)
Condition: Used - Good
Buy Now, Pay Later
As low as
/ mo
Learn more
- – Up to 36-month term if approved
- – No impact on credit to apply
- – Instant approval decision
- – Secure and straightforward checkout
Ready to go? Add this product to your cart and select a plan during checkout.
Payment plans are offered through our trusted finance partners Klarna, Affirm, Afterpay, Zip, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. No-credit-needed leasing options through Acima may also be available at checkout.
Learn more about financing & leasing here.
Selected Option
Free shipping on this product
30-day returns
Learn more
This item is eligible for return within 30 days of receipt
To qualify for a full refund, items must be returned in their original, unused condition. If an item is returned in a used, damaged, or materially different state, you may be granted a partial refund.
To initiate a return, please visit our Returns Center.
View our full returns policy here.
Availability:
Only 3 left in stock, order soon!
Arrives
Tuesday, Sep 8
Style: ZS50K
Set: Camera
Features
- LUMIX 30X Travel Zoom Camera with Eye Viewfinder
- Enhanced low-light sensitivity for improved sharpness even without a flash
- Built-in eye viewfinder eliminates outdoor glare on sunny days
- Intelligent Zoom 60x
- Digital Zoom: 4.0
- Max Focal Length: 129.0
Description
LUMIX 30X Travel Zoom Camera with Eye Viewfinder
Compatible Mountings: Micro Four Thirds
Aspect Ratio: 43
Photo Sensor Technology: MOS
Supported File Format: JPEG, MPO, Raw
Image Stabilization: Optical
Maximum Focal Length: 12.9 centimeters
Optical Zoom: 30 x
Maximum Aperture: 3.3 f_stop
Expanded ISO Minimum: 80
Metering Description: Center-Weighted Average, Multi, Spot
Compatible Mountings: Micro Four Thirds
Aspect Ratio: 43
Sensor Type: MOS
File Format: JPEG, MPO, Raw
Image stabilization: Optical
Maximum Aperture: 3.3 f_stop
Expanded ISO Minimum: 80
Photo Sensor Resolution: 12.1 mp
Photo Sensor Size: 1/2.3-inch
Maximum Shutter Speed: 4 seconds
Minimum Shutter Speed: Moins de 0.0001 s
Exposure Control: Manual
Form Factor: Compact
Effective Still Resolution: 12.1 mp
Special Feature: Built-in eye viewfinder, Wi-Fi
Color: Black
Screen Size: 1 inches
Shooting Modes: Intelligent Auto, P, A, S, M, C1 (Custom), C2 (Custom), panorama shot, scene, creative control
Item Weight: 243 g
Video Resolution: FHD 1080p
Viewfinder: Electronic
Flash Modes: Auto, Auto/Red-Eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync/Red-Eye Reduction
Camera Flash: Built-In
Skill Level: Amateur
Specific Uses For Product: Travel, Everyday Photography, Low-Light Conditions
Compatible Devices: Micro Four Thirds, Wi-Fi enabled devices
Continuous Shooting: 10 frames_per_second
Aperture modes: F3.3-F6.4
Flash Sync Speed: 1/200
Video Capture Format: AVCHD
Connectivity Technology: AV / USB Multi, AV Output, HDMI D (Micro)
Wireless Technology: Wi-Fi
Video Output: HDMI
Total USB Ports: 1
Total Video Out Ports: 1
Hardware Interface: AV Port
HDMI Type: Type D Micro HDMI
Display Type: LCD
Dots Per Screen: 1040k dots
Display Fixture Type: Fixed
Display Maximum Resolution: 1040k dots
Display Resolution Maximum: 1040k dots
Flash Memory Type: SDXC
Memory Storage Capacity: 86 MB
Recording Capacity: 60 minutes
Write Speed: 10 fps
Flash Memory Speed Class: 10
Flash Memory UHS Speed Class: U1
Flash Memory Bus Interface Type: UHS-I
Flash Memory Installed Size: 86 MB
Compatible Flash Memory Type: SD, SDUC, SDXC
JPEG Quality Level: Normal
Supported Image Format: JPEG, RAW, AVCHD, Other
Bit Depth: 8 Bit
Total Still Resolution: 12.1 mp
Maximum Focal Length: 12.9 centimeters
Optical Zoom: 30 x
Lens Type: all-in-one-zoom
Zoom: Automatic and manual focus
Camera Lens: The Panasonic Lumix ZS50 features a Leica DC Vario-Elmar 24-720mm (35mm equivalent) lens with 30x optical zoom. It offers enhanced low-light sensitivity and optical image stabilization for sharp images.
Minimum Focal Length: 4.3 millimeters
Real Angle Of View: 6.4 degrees
Focal Length Description: 4.3 to 129mm (35mm Equivalent Focal Length 24 to 720mm)
Digital Zoom: 4 x
Number of Diaphragm Blades: 7
Metering Methods: Center-Weighted Average, Multi, Spot
White Balance Settings: Auto
Crop Mode: 43
Brand: Panasonic
Model Name: Panasonic Lumix ZS50
Built-In Media: Camera, battery, battery charger, ac adaptor, software
Model Number: DMC-ZS50K
Model Series: ZS50
Series Number: 50
Global Trade Identification Number: 65
Generation: 1
UPC: 017846464644 885170235465
Unit Count: 1 Count
Age Range Description: All Ages
Manufacturer: Panasonic
Manufacturer Part Number: DMC-ZS50K
Warranty Description: 1 Year
Digital Scene Transition: zoom
Image Capture Type: Stills & Video
Auto Focus Technology: Contrast Detection
Focus Features: Auto Focus
Autofocus Points: 23
Focus Type: Automatic and manual focus
Focus Mode: Continuous-Servo AF (AF-C)
Frequently asked questions
If you place your order now, the estimated arrival date for this product is:
Tuesday, Sep 8
Yes, absolutely! You may return this product for a full refund within 30 days of receiving it.
To initiate a return, please visit our Returns Center.
View our full returns policy here.
To initiate a return, please visit our Returns Center.
View our full returns policy here.
- Klarna Financing
- Affirm Pay in 4
- Affirm Financing
- Afterpay Financing
- Zip Pay in 4
- Financing through Apple Pay
- Financing through Google Pay
Learn more about financing & leasing here.
Similar Products
![Canon PowerShot Digital Camera [G7 X Mark II] with Wi-Fi & NFC, LCD Screen, and 1-inch Sensor - Black, 100-1066C001](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51tBYrGvudL._AC_US500_.jpg)
Top Amazon Reviews
Style: ZS50K
Set: Camera
I am on day 3 of using this camera and I love it. I took a 3-hour hike yesterday shooting all the way, and have really gotten to know it. I downloaded all the shots last night and am really happy with them. The amazing thing is how sharp the 30X pictures are when hand held. I’ve attached a pic that I took at 30X and I hope Amazon saves the full resolution, because it shows the crispness of the detail possible in a hand held 30X pic. It’s due to the well-designed image stabilization, and great sensor, (and great optics). Because the image stabilization is so good even through the viewfinder, it is not hard to compose the long-range shots—the viewfinder image is not jerky even at 30X. Some people say they don’t need a 30X zoom, they say that it’s a just a gimmick or only needed for long nature shots. But even if you are simply taking pictures on the street, when you are looking for great shots, it’s amazing the variety of new subjects you can obtain simply because you can reach further from where you are standing. Go for the long zoom, you will use it constantly. Battery life if very long. I took 140 shots yesterday, and the battery was still at 3 full bars afterward. I did buy the BM extra battery kit shown on this amazon page ($19) just in case. The EFV (electronic view finder) is also a main reason to get this camera. I wear reading glasses (reluctantly) and I hate having to put them on every time I want to take a shot. With other cameras, and with my iPhone 7, I’d have to fumble my reading glasses out of my pocket for each shot. With a good EFV like this, you don’t need to do that. Rather, just set the diopter focus once to match your eyes, and you can leave your reading glasses behind. The EFV on this camera is as good as ones on much more expensive cameras. Smaller of course, but very good. Controls: I’ve owned a lot of high-end cameras, and this is my simplest yet. If you stick to Ai mode, this is a simple point-and-shoot camera. But there is a lot of depth below the surface with all the extra settings that are possible. I also own a Lumix DMC-FZ2500, and the power of this smaller camera is comparable in many ways. Of course, this ZS50 camera is more limited than that amazing (but huge) FZ2500 camera; but for on-the-go shots, the ZS50 has all I need. I especially like the manual focus ring, it’s useful for some closeup shots where you want to carefully pick what’s in focus. Also regarding controls, even if you primarily want a point and shoot camera, I do recommend you learn the other settings for this camera (study the manual). That’s because, as many reviewers here have said, the powerful controls are easy to change in your pocket without knowing you did it. So it’s helpful to be able to identify what setting you put it in accidentally, so you can put it back to where you want it. I just take a quick glance at the upper left corner of the screen/viewfinder before each new set of shots; that tells me if I jiggled the controls or not. Size and weight: this camera fits easily in the front pocket of my blue jeans. Very light. I’ve had even smaller cameras, (my 20-year-old Canon PowerShot Elph for example), and if all you want is a tiny and simple point and shoot you might do better with something that size and power. But with the extra power this camera has, I can’t imagine controlling it in a smaller form factor. The camera powers up very quickly, which is good if you are on the go and pulling the camera in and out of your pocket for quick shots. I initially considered getting one of the newer models in this line (ZS60, ZS70), those with a 20M image capacity (and 4K video), but after my research I feel I picked the right model with the ZS50. If you read all the reviews of this camera here on Amazon, you will read from a number of people who tried out the newer models and found the image quality to be worse on the newer ones, and came back to this one. I think that must be due to the sensor. By now you know Panasonic used a lower pixel density sensor on this camera, which means each pixel is larger at the fixed sensor size of this line. I suspect that’s what makes the difference. I have cameras with much higher pixel density, but I don’t miss them. At 12.1M, this camera is perfect for me since I usually only view the image on a screen. The biggest images I display from it are on a 4K image wall-mounted TV. That requires a 9M sized image so the match is great. If I were cropping images in Photoshop and actually printing large photos from them, I’d use a camera with a higher pixel density. By the way, like many Lumix cameras, you can digital zoom beyond the 30X optical limit, but I tried that and the pics I took with that were not sharp. Stick with the optical 30X zoom. So to wrap it up, I needed a good pocket camera that was simple but had lots of hidden power, had an EFV, and a high-quality long zoom, and this is it. And by the way, since it’s a two-year old model, today’s price is great too.
...
show more
Reviewed in the United States on December 4, 2017 by ML
Style: ZS50K
Set: Camera
I wanted a compact camera that had a viewfinder. I was tired of trying to see what was displayed on an LCD screen on a bright day or whenever the lighting conditions made it difficult. It does had an LCD as well and what is clever is that you can set it so the LCD automatically shuts down when you place your eye next to the viewfinder. What I also liked-- Takes good quality photos and videos. No comparison to the photo's on an iphone 6, especially in low light or when you want to use the zoom; which is optically engineered (unlike smartphones that simply enlarge the captured image).. no contest here hands down better than any smartphone. 1. Fairly light-- You can carry it easily in a cargo pants pocket but not in a jeans pocket. 2. Very long zoom range-- from wide angle to 25+ zoom with optical image stabilization 3. Many manual controls for those who have photographic backgrounds or a intelligent auto mode for those who do not. 4. Wifi and smartphone app --if you like your images transferred to your smartphone or control your camera completely through the smartphone, you can do so with an app. What I don't like: The panorama mode creates images that are fuzzy. They are also timed. I think it actually creates a video and saves it as an image; and it will time out if you don't move it fast enough. You are better off creating your panoramas manually by taking 3-5 separate photos and stitching them together using photo editing software. This isn't convenient though. I
...
show more
Reviewed in the United States on July 15, 2015 by MSC
Style: ZS50K
Set: Camera
I've been looking for a good quality point-and-shoot light-weight camera that fits in my pocket, has a long zoom, has a good viewfinder, one that travels easily, and not too costly. Turns out there aren't many choices that fit all these criteria. I enjoy photography, am a highly experienced photographer although not a pro, and have a really good camera with interchangeable lenses, etc. which I use when I want to get top quality pics and need to have a lot of control over focus, depth of field, mounted flash, etc. However, when traveling by air, hauling all that equipment around, taking up space in carry-on luggage, etc. tends to make me leave the really good camera at home. With pocket cameras I've used, I really miss having a viewfinder. I find them awkward to hold steady, and difficult to see on the backside LCD panel exactly what I'm getting in bright light or when I need to follow and catch fast moving objects (e.g., flying birds), particularly when the zoom is extended. I've been frustrated when I can't get the pics I want with those pocket cameras. So I went out on a limb, spent a little more than I had intended, and got the new Panasonic Lumix ZS50, which I preordered. I seldom buy new models of anything when they first come out, so for me this was a bit of a gamble. However, I have been pleasantly surprised so far with this little camera. It has an amazing feature set for something that really does fit in my pocket, has a good viewfinder and plenty of zoom. I have not given it a true test yet, taking thousands of pics under a wide range of lighting and distance conditions, so I will have to report back later. What I like so far: - camera takes good pictures in the auto mode under most conditions - viewfinder works well in bright light conditions, and switches on automatically when you hold it up to your eye - zoom and focusing are relatively quick and quiet - the steady shot feature works well, especially in shooting video - flexibility and control in non-auto modes (e.g., program mode when I want more control over depth of field, etc.) - several different focusing and exposure methods - ability to save images in RAW format as well as JPEG - the right hand grip feels fairly secure for such a small camera What I don't like so far: - viewfinder is off-center when holding the camera, compared with what I'm used to with larger cameras, so I can't grip it as securely with my left hand (because my nose is in the way) BUT I love having that viewfinder anyway! - lots of MODES in the menu system for settings (I eventually found that I needed to switch to program mode in order to find settings I was looking for, e.g., to save pics in RAW format, change focusing methods). Can be confusing at times, a bit of a learning curve. - the LCD display sometimes suddenly turns off and then back on, which had me baffled initially when playing back pics. Turns out I had moved a finger too close the the viewfinder, which fooled the camera into auto-switching to the viewfinder. - when taking flash pictures, it's too easy to partially block the flash somewhat on the right side, which casts a shadow--just something I'll need to get used to by gripping a little differently on the right side (I've had this problem with other pocket cameras that don't have pop-up flashes). Works fine when I move my fingers down on the right-side grip a little. - when doing the wi-fi setup, I could not enter user names or passwords that had spaces in them--I am stumped on this, and cannot understand why Panasonic would not allow selection of the 'space' character!!! - wi-fi will not transfer pics in RAW format, so have to use cable or take out memory card and plug into my computer--again, why? Granted 15 Mb per pic will take a lot longer to transfer than smaller JPEGs. - cannot charge battery outside of camera and must use Panasonic's cable - not sure yet whether 12 megapixel sensor will be enough resolution for severely cropped pics, printed at 8x10 in. or larger All in all, this is hands-down the best pocket camera I've owned and used. Why not 5 stars? I'll need to really give it the "road" test by taking thousands of pics under a wide range of conditions. Haven't had time to do this yet, and plan to edit this review later when I have. Added Comments: April 26, 2015 I've changed my rating to 5 stars now, after taking several hundred pictures under varying conditions. Here are my further observations: - Indoor pictures with flash turn out fairly well. There are still sharp background shadows from objects illuminated by the flash, but that is to be expected with a direct flash (compared to one with indirect lighting, e.g., by bouncing light off the ceiling). - outdoor pictures are quite good on the whole. The 30x zoom certainly provides some additional flexibility, and I have not had issues with camera shake when the zoom is extended. - the one very challenging condition I was somewhat disappointed with was photographing fast flying pelicans at a distance on a very windy, overcast day. Many of the photos of the birds were taken at distances of several hundred yards up to half a mile, using the zoom extended out to 30x. I WAS able to track the birds relatively easily using the viewfinder. When later viewing the images with significant cropping on a flat screen HDTV, clarity of the images left something to be desired--a bit fuzzy on the edges of the birds against the cloudy sky. This is a very challenging set of circumstances--even with a good DSLR camera with a long telephoto lens, it would be challenging to get high quality pics. All in all, the Panasonic ZS50 did a remarkable job, considering the distance involved, with background of a cloudy sky, the speed of the flying flock of birds, and the fast panning required. The severely cropped images of the high flying birds still allowed my wife to identify them as white pelicans by comparing with pictures in her bird book. - I took some pics of blossoms and flowers with the camera just a few inches away, using the close-up focus setting on a sunny and very windy day. These came out exceptionally well. I was very pleased with the results. The pictures were quite stunning on a flat screen TV. All in all, I am quite impressed with this pocket camera, and enjoy taking pictures with it, since it is so light, has a decent viewfinder, and takes good photos. I use the Program mode mostly, rather than the Auto mode. Of course, I can get great pics with my really good camera, but I've invested roughly 4x as much for the body, lenses and external flash unit. On the other hand, this Panasonic ZS50 fits in my pocket, is easy to use, and costs a lot less.
...
show more
Reviewed in the United States on March 24, 2015 by Pragmatist: T. Frick
Style: ZS50K
Set: Camera
Let me begin by saying that I do have some experience in photography. I own MANY cameras, from Hasselblads to an 8X10 view camera. I have numerous 35mm SLRs, and a couple of very nice DSLRs. I have taught photography at both a high school and at a community college. What I'm saying is that I do have a background on which to base my review! I bought this camera for travel, hoping I could leave my bulkier cameras home. Well, home they are staying! This camera will work perfectly for my vacation needs, with the incredible extra advantage of being pocketable! Okay, this isn't something a pro would use for an important shoot. But it comes close to matching my Canon T1i in image quality, and has FAR better video capability. I normally carry the Canon wherever I go, but now I just stick the ZS50 in my pocket. The long zoom, the viewfinder, and the ability to shoot in RAW are what drew me to this camera. It's a very nice little package, and I expect to take several thousand pictures on my vacation. If I have any further comments, I'll add this to this review. If you are looking for a nice, compact, high-quality point-and-shoot, buy this! ONE IMPORTANT NOTE: If you do buy this camera, be VERY careful when you insert the semi-proprietary USB cable into it to charge the camera battery or transfer pictures to your computer (I bought an external charger and extra batteries, but still use the cable on occasion). It would be very easy to damage the plug in the camera if the cable isn't inserted in exactly the right orientation. This is the only shortcoming I've noticed thus far, but it isn't enough to tarnish any of the five stars!
...
show more
Reviewed in the United States on July 22, 2015 by Gryphon
Style: ZS50K
Set: Camera
This is a great camera. Not a perfect camera but a great one. In reality, it's probably a 4 to 4.5 star camera but because it has a view finder as well as a lcd screen on back, for me, that's worth an extra star. I've never been good at walking around like a zombie, arms out straight staring blankly. I have however learned to use view finders with one eye, while using the other to keep me aware of my surroundings. I don't like being annoyed by glowing screens at darkened venues like concerts and other night time events. It's rude folks...stop it! I have an FZ18 as well as an FZ70 for more serious stuff. But I like the convenience of a small point and shoot with a view finder eyepiece. I also have a collection of older high end 35mm SLRs The basics: I purchased the all black ZS50 which is the 'K' model I believe. Mine was set for Caracas time zone and came with Spanish Language owners manual. But that's okay as I am bi-lingual. Camera fits in a man's dress shirt pocket. It is fairly solid (heavy) but not so much as to be objectionable. Flash is built into front top of camera and does not pop up All knobs and buttons are well placed. Holding and using the camera feels normal and natural. ( I have perfect vision, no glasses or contacts to get in the way) Electronic viewfinder is bright, color accurate and proportionally accurate to area captured by lens. Leica glass optics. Zoom is fast and easy to use. 30x optical and mine goes out to 57x electronically. For some reason, I though it had a 60x digital zoom but mine only ('only' LOL) goes out to 57x. Having started in the 1950s shooting two and a quarter inch large format negative film, I have to chuckle and at the same time be amazed by what these little gems can do. I'll let you read all the tech details online, but it has them all, aperture priority, manual focus, video, sepia, and a million special effects. It has a 12 mega-pixel MOS sensor which is way better (technical term) in low light than other previous sensors. I would compare it to a 16 or 18 megapixel sensor which in my opinion is just overkill. I don't know why, but I can take many low light shots without a flash and get realistic definition and color. Autofocus could be a bit faster, but I really can't complain since I use the heck out of my cameras and expect them to survive under the abuse I put them through all over the globe. For most folks, you won't even notice the extra millisecond or so . I'm using a class 10 64GB SD card in mine and it seems to work fine. My older ZS3 P&S can't hold a candle (sorry) to this ZS50. The camera does not come with an external battery charger. You have to plug the camera into line voltage to recharge - this always makes me a bit nervous.given the sensitive electronics in the camera and the sad state of the US power grid. I bought an external charger with two batteries and a car charger from Wasabi which is also sold on Amazon. I have no affiliation with Wasabi and no profit motive. I'm sure other chargers are just as good. Finally, the ZS50 has WiFi as well as cables. If you need a medium price, pocket size P&S with tons of capability and a battery saving VIEW FINDER EYEPIECE, this is a great choice.
...
show more
Reviewed in the United States on July 6, 2015 by Frank P
Style: ZS50K
Set: Camera
I bought this when I decided my old Olympus Tough tg-310 waterproof camera was too limiting. I traded the toughness and waterproofing for a camera with enormously greater zoom capability. I have been using it nearly constantly for two months. I mainly do nature photography, varying from close-ups to landscapes. I have been very pleased with the zoom, and with image stabilization--I was worried about my shaky hands, but have gotten good images. Autofocus can be hit or miss when doing close-ups, even with the focus lock feature. But my real gripe is dust: shooting a photo in which direct sunlight fell on the lens (though not in the photo), I found the interior surfaces of the lens elements sprinkled with dust! Any photo taken under similar circumstances has dust specks showing in the image. I take good care of the camera, and carry it constantly in my pants pocket: presumably lint is finding its way into the mechanism and getting on the lenses. I saw no warning about this in the manual, and I have found no fix that does not involve either expense, or risking taking it apart and voiding the warranty.
...
show more
Reviewed in the United States on August 29, 2018 by Jeffrey Michals-Brown
Style: ZS50K
Set: Camera
When we opened the box, the retractable lens cover was only half-way closed. We inserted the already charged battery and the retractable lens cover opened all the way. Upon turning the camera off, the retractable lens cover only closed half-way. To me there is no excuse for this camera getting past quality control and getting boxed up with this issue. We have already received a replacement from Amazon, I'll try to update our thoughts after more time with it, but to be honest I should not be buying another Panasonic ZS* camera. We have an older ZS model and had a bad experience sending it back for repair (it had issues with out of focus pictures). After having our camera for a month or more, Panasonic opted to send us a refurbished camera, one model up from ours which needed repair. And now 3~4 years later that replacement is having focus problems and an issue where the retractable lens cover does not fully retract. That is why it was particularly un-nerving to unbox the new one and see the same issue. However, the ZS50 was on-sale at a great price so we are taking the chance on Panasonic again. If you get a good one and at good sale price, it is a great little camera. The optical zoom is the must-have feature for some in the family. Other alternatives with such a high-zoom seem to cost much more. We have our fingers crossed that this one is not lemon.
...
show more
Reviewed in the United States on January 27, 2019 by Grayson
Style: ZS50K
Set: Camera
Ok, so I finally pulled the trigger on getting a new compact camera since my old Cannon SX610 bit the dust. I was very happy with the Cannon, and it took great photos, but dust got inside the lens and when I tried to clean it, I pretty much broke it. Anyway, on to this replacement! I am not a big fan of cell phone photos and I know that I am in the minority for that, but I just love having a dedicated camera. And if you are really used to using a dedicated camera, you quickly realize how lousy cell phone photos really look. First and foremost: Ergonomics: I really like the size and feel of this camera. It is very compact, yet feels substantial at the same time. I really like the front and rear grips and it truly allows for one handed operation of the camera. All controls and buttons are well located and are easily pressed. The mode dial has a nice positive lock for each setting as well. I really like the feel of the lens ring too as it is comfortable and easily gripped. Everything is well laid out, except for the flash, but more on that later. Photo Quality: Takes really nice photos that are as good or better than most compacts of today. Slightly better color and sharpness than my old Cannon. Auto focus is pretty darn quick. Start up is nice and quick which allows for catching some untimely shots, which is nice. The ability to shoot RAW format photos is a nice touch, but to be honest I probably will not be using that feature much on this camera. Why? Because I also have a Panasonic FZ1000 which has a MUCH larger sensor and therefore can take full advantage of a RAW format photo. If I really needed to take that detailed of a photo, I would grab the FZ1000, not this camera. I would consider this more of a "point and shoot" (though a very advanced one) for my use and will likely keep the JPEG format for photos with this camera. I will have to play with the RAW files and test them to see if I can really pull much more detail out of this, but with the small sensor, probably not so much. Full light photos are great! The lower the light, the lower quality the photo. Hey, it's a 1/2.3"-type sensor, so what can you expect? As the ISO increases, the graininess of the photo does as well. Detail drops as the ISO goes up, quite rapidly after ISO 800. But again, you can't expect the world from a sensor of this size. The flash is powerful, but more detail later on that. As I am sure that you know, Panasonic decided to actually decrease the number of pixels on this camera from its predecessor. Did it really make that much of a difference? Well, I do feel that you lose some detail at extreme cropping, but having fewer pixels does allow more light in for each pixel, and I think that improves overall image quality. A huge difference? No, but a difference none the less. Battery: I have not had a chance to fully test the battery life yet, but speaking of the battery, this is the first camera that I have had where you do not remove the battery to charge it. The camera comes with a wall charger and cable (that can detach from the charger) that plugs into the camera itself. At first I thought that this was a bit of an inconvenience, but later realized that this then allows me to carry a portable battery charging pack that I can just plug into the camera if the battery gets low. That is nice and I feel an advantage over having to carry multiple batteries and keeping track of which ones are charged or not. Again, I have not really tested this much yet, but for now, I think that I like how they decided to charge the battery. Lens and sensor: Well, it's a Leica lens, so you know it's good. I am happy with the lens and have little to complain about it so far. As for the sensor, well, the 1/2.3"-type High Sensitivity MOS sensor is as good as any other one that is in these compact cameras. It really boils down to how the camera processes the photos. I liked the Cannon and I like the Panasonic. The processor seems to do a fair job and keeps things pretty "realistic". No, the camera does not have GPS capability BUILT IN. Is it a cool feature, yeah, I think so. Is it a "must have", absolutely not. I know that a lot of people have reprimanded Panasonic for removing the GPS feature from this line with this model. What you must realize is that it DOES have GPS capability, you just have to enable it from your smart phone and connect the phone and camera. Voila! GPS tagging! Yes, it does require another step to get it going, but if it is really that important to you, then yes, you can have GPS tagging using this camera as long as you have your smart phone with you. Ok, so far so good, right? So why the four stars instead of 5? Well, one simple word: FLASH. As I stated before, the flash is quite powerful for such a small flash and works well on auto mode to turn itself on and off as necessary in Auto Mode. Now, if you are a real photo 'enthusiast', you probably just leave your flash off for a camera like this and make due with all the manual adjustments to make sure that you are getting your best shot. Kudos if you do that and I think that this camera, for what it is, would be a five star camera in that case. When I grip the camera one handed, and again, the grips on the camera area great for one handed shots, the knuckle of my middle finger blocks most of the flash. I have tried diligently to change my grip so that the flash is not blocked, but in order to do so I must contort my fingers in such an uncomfortable manner that it is just easier to hold the camera with both hands. In my opinion, this is a MAJOR design flaw and could have been remedied by moving the flash as far over next to the lens as possible, or better yet, use a pop-up flash like Cannon or Sony. I don't know why Panasonic chose to do this, but it is a drawback for me. In fact, the very first photo I took was indoors of my wife. I held the camera in my right hand only and took her photo in Auto mode. The flash went off. When I reviewed the photo on the camera screen, the entire right side of the photo had reduced lighting and looked a little 'flesh' colored. I took another, and the same happened. I took another, this time using both hands, and it came out fine. That's when I looked at the front of the camera when holding it one handed and saw that my finger was covering the flash. I really almost could not believe that such an otherwise well designed camera would have such an obvious design flaw. If you look at any picture of the front of the camera, you will see what I mean. The grip is literally half way under the flash. So, in conclusion, I really like this camera. It is a great compact size that can truly be placed in a large pocket, it takes beautiful photos, and has great flexibility and control. My only complaint thus far is the location of the flash, but that is something that I will just have to deal with at this point and it is not a deal breaker for me given the capabilities of this camera. I would recommend that you look at it if you are considering cameras in this category.
...
show more
Reviewed in the United States on January 5, 2016 by A.J.