Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ7

PROS: Fantastic "straight outta the box" image quality. There is almost little or no shutter lag the second your press the shutter button. Auto focus is fast too. It wasn't so much that this was a standard point-and-shoot when I was looking for an ultra-slim camera - but most of the ultra-slim cameras I've tried sacrifice image quality to cram as much technology in such a little body - while boosting the price up. The LZ7 is a fantastic performer. The 6x optical zoom with OPTICAL image stabilization (not digital, I'm not a fan of "digital" image stabilization) is a plus. It's actually BETTER than the IS on the Canon SD700IS and SD800IS that I previously tested out (I returned both of them because paying DSLR body prices for a point-and-shoot camera is outrageous). The major plus of this camera is the image quality. Fantastic, sharp and decently saturated. It's one of the few cameras where I feel comfortable printing photos straight outta the camera. I even impressed a few colleagues of showing some 8x10s that I printed straight out of my silver LZ7 and they were shocked that I didn't take the shot with a DSLR. That's what I call great image quality!

CONS: This is quite a beefy camera. In the age of ultra-slim point-and-shoot cameras that boasts the same features as the LZ7, for the price I paid for it, it's totally worth it. The use of AA batteries might be convenient to some, but it sure contributes to the weight and size of this camera. I'm still pleased regardless. The image quality and pros outweigh the cons of this camera.

This camera shoots gorgeous pics and movies. I picked it after some pretty intensive research. I wanted a camera that would capture ALL pics even in low light with a stabilizer that would give me steady pics even if the person holding it had shaky hands. I also wanted it so simple that it had icons that was obvious. (In other words, a camera for the "point & shoot" challenged.) I wanted it to have easy to get and cheap batteries (Double A)and memory card (my 2 gig SDM cost $29) I also wanted it to download right to my pictbridge printer in the event I didn't want to power up my pc. And just to make it REALLY fun, I wanted all this for less than $250.

Does it deliver?

Oh yeah.

I bought this camera primarily for the 848x480, 30fps video (with audio) capability. I also like the 16 x 9 native pixel layout. The video does indeed look very good. It's also inexpensive. The drawbacks to the camera are:

1) It isn't very compact. It does fit in my pocket, as I bought it for a pocket camera, however it's pretty bulky and heavy. From pictures online it's hard to tell.

2) Low light performance is poor. My other pocket cameras that shoot 30fps video with sound, namely the Nikon 5200, and the Canon A620 and SD series both do much better with low light shots in stills and video. The pixelation is noticeable even beyond normal JPG artifacts.

3) The wide angle is not very wide. I didn't realize how much I used the widest angle of the other cameras until I started using the Lumix. It has a pretty good zoom, but not wide. I take photos of people at tables occasionally using the ever popular "wine glass" tripod, and I simply can't get more than one person's face in any one shot with the Lumix lens.

In my view it's a specialty camera. If I don't want to bring my DV camera and want some good video it works well, especially with a decent amount of light. As for an overall pocket camera, I'll be carrying a canon SD 600 for it's small form factor.

Many reviews comment about the bulkiness of this camera. That's what drew me to the LZ7,... it's size. I have large hands and cannot curl my fingers around something small like many of the cameras currently on the market. I also wanted something that was easy to use and had buttons large enough for my fingers to be able to use them without me stopping to look at the camera controls every time I wanted to take a picture.

My main use of a digital camera is to take pictures of items that I put up at internet auction sites. I didn't need something that would have such a high optical zoom that I could count the individual stitches on the picture of a sweater. But I did want something that gave me a little more clarity than my current Olympus 1.3 Megapixel without going into debt to get one. I did a lot of research and came to the conclusion this camera should suit my needs nicely for several years to come. I checked it out at a local big box retailer and was pleased with how it fit in my hand. Buttons were easy to reach and use. The shutter button is located in from the edge just over 3/4 of an inch which allows my index finger to extend out comfortably as I press down.

This is my first camera without a viewfinder and that is a little hard to get used to but it's the way of the future. The screen is not quite 2 ½" diagonally but it is generous enough. I like how the camera freezes the shot and shows it on the screen for a couple of seconds before it goes back to live mode.

My Olympus required the card to be in the camera before I could take a picture. This one does not. It has a bit of built in memory which can be a good and a bad thing. It's great if you happen to forget to put the card back in and snap an important once in a lifetime shot but it's bad in the fact that once you take the shot you have to dig out the USB cable and connect the camera to your computer to get the picture. I usually use a card reader but I'll be searching for a USB hub soon since the only free USB slots I have are in the back of my computer and I often forget to put the card back in.

The thing about this camera that has impressed me more than anything else is the clarity and colors, especially in a shot that was totally lacking of light. In testing, I went into an interior room that has no windows. The only light was a small amount under the doors but not enough for me to see anything. I set the camera on normal mode, pointed the camera toward the interior of the room and pressed the button. When I looked at the picture I was amazed at how brightly lit and clear the shot was. Colors like light lavender, turquoise, ekru and bright yellow were exact. I doubt if I will have a lot of need to take pictures in total darkness but sometimes I get into a situation where the light is not always the greatest. I know this camera will be able to handle it and give me a great picture the first time.

One review I read stated to be sure to read the manual. That gave me the impression this camera was complicated. I have not read the manual yet and have been able to take pictures with no problem. I am sure I will be reading the manual when I want to take a picture with a feature I haven't used or to delve deeper into the many different options this camera has. The pictures, all of mine have been JPG, are clear and the colors vivid. The colors weren't so vivid for me in ISO mode but that's just one of 4-5 picture modes so you have plenty of options. I haven't had the opportunity to use Scene mode yet but in playing around with it I found it very simple to select from the multitude of options and having the option name right there on the screen helps, and the animations on the option icons is an fun touch. I really like the "Heart" (simple) mode. It's great for taking my auction pictures but I have found that the other modes (Normal, ISO, Simple and Macro) are all pretty much `point and shoot' simple. I am sure they can be more complicated and I know, when I want to get into the more complicated side of this camera, it will be waiting for me. Meanwhile, it and I are quite content using the simplistic controls of this Panasonic LZ7 to get some really great shots.

If you are looking for a camera that is a little too big to stick in your shirt pocket or your cosmetic bag or your wallet but don't want something that requires a PhD to operate, consider the LZ7. I'm sure glad I did!

I am not a fan of Panasonic, but one day that changed my mind.
I bought this camera for myself to replace my Fuji S5000 which is a great camera but only 3.2 MP.
I was first a little concerned it write speed and between shots. My Fuji is very fast and responsive. But I was amazed how LUMIX can do. I set the resolution to its max 7.2 MP, HQ, change image preview off so as to test this feature. I put a 1 GB 60x SD card in it. The lag time between each shot is under a second! The image quality is very good, almost comparable to those pros.

Pros:
Fast start, Fast focus, supper fast write images.
Very easy to use if you use Simple mode and still get very decent pictures.
Stabilizer is amazing as I have compared with Canon optical stabilizer, Olympus digital stabilizer, Samsung anti shaking mechanism. This is the best.
EZ (Easy Zoom) works great, it is actually 9x optical zoom if you shoot 5MP and below.
Easy menu to set up. Func key is a good companion.
The on-off switch is really good thing, you know the status of your camera right away. It is off or it is in sleep.
Video works well. It has sound. I took a 2 minute on the highway recording cars passed by and the noice. Very vivid.
I see people commented its bulky size, but I think it is really a Pro because it holds 2 AA batteries plus 6X optical zoom in its little pocket-able body.

Cons.
No direct adjust shuttle speed, even it claims to range from 60 to 1/2000, but you have to be in different screen modes in order to get lower speed. Any low-speed under 1 second is almost impossible to set by yourself. You have take whatever the screen mode gives you.
The I-mode is really unnecessary feature, which stays for intelligent, but if you use it, it usually set to higher ISO sensitivity and faster speed. I understand doing so would reduce shaky pictures, but the picture notice is really increased as compare to standard or normal mode. Not worth it!
ISO above 400 has noticable noice. Above 800 unbearable.