Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ50EB-K

All in one, D-SLR-style compacts bridge the gap between budget D-SLRs and system cameras, and their main appeal is the large built in zoom housed in the body. The FZ-50 fits nicely into the hand with a distinct handgrip. Both the zoom ring and focusing ring are manual and operate smoothly, and they are weighted well for precise control. The majority of the camera is made from plastic, but it does have a reasonably solid feel and is well made. One thing is for sure, Panasonic hasn’t skimped on the spec for the FZ-50. It packs in a 10.1Mp CCD sensor, moving up from the 8Mp sported by the FZ-30 ... more

We decided to buy a new digital camera just after the birth of our new son back in July. We went to a local camera store and had a look at the promotional publication they had instore. We wanted something with a great optical zoom and digital zoom and were looking for something that would be fairly simple to use- my hubby is a bit of a technophobe and so we had to find something with enough gadgets to do the job and keep me happy, but simple enough so as not to annoy my husband! We decided to buy a panasonic as they have a great reputation, but couldn't pick between three similar models. I ... more

This is a very nice camera for a number of reasons. Firstly, the quality of the lens; it is made by Leica, and is of abnormally high quality for a conpact camera - it is nice and sharp with little chromatic abberation (the green and magenta tones you often get around high-contrast edges from cheaper lenses). The camera offers the ability to capture images in the compact camera standard format of 4:3, or the 3:2 of SLR cameras. The build quality is solid enough, with a plastic body and metal lens body - the clip-on lens hood is also made of nice thick plastic. One very nice feature is the fold ... more

The camera is so easy to use that you only need to read the book to learn about the special features in depth. I read the book to discover how to put the battery in and then I was away. When I needed to use a feature I looked it up in the instruction book. The FZ50 has a wonderful zoom range and have been taking some stunning photographs. The lens is outstanding. The image stabilisation is v. good and start-up and multiple picture mode is quick. True, it is not the most user-friendly camera nor are the options easy to set-up sometimes. I did buy a spare battery, I dont know why because the ... more