Panasonic Lumix® DMC-FZ3 Digital Camera

Pros: Powerful 12x optical zoom, excellent Leica optics, optical image stabilization, flexibility, AF assist
Cons: No manual focus

Does size matter? Depends on what size you are talking about. After you buy a digital camera, people ask you the most important question: "How many megapixels?" Unfortunately, the resolution (the number of megapixels) is pretty meaningless, if you ...

Pros: 12X zoom, OIS, AF lamp, relatively small, lightweight,
Cons: EVF delay, zoom disabled during movie mode, lots of red eye

I have wanted a digital camera for a very long time but had a tough time deciding on what features I wanted. . I had the good fortune of being able to borrow one of those small Canon Digital Elphs on a few occasions over the past couple of years. While I ...

Pros: Easy to use, great for beginners and intermediate users, zoom, IS, AF Assist.
Cons: I wish the video was captured at higher than 320x240.

Let me first start off by saying I'm not a pro photographer, I'm more of a point and shoot guy who likes some bells and whistles. This is my first digital camera...finally! I started looking into digital zoom cameras about a month ago. What I found ...

Pros: fantastic OIS, fast response, great pictures, easy to use
Cons: Camera strap to be improved, small LCD

This is a good time to change from film cameras to digital as prices have gone down and 3 Mega pixels and above produce good prints. I was sourcing for an antishake (OIS) camera and only Canon, Konica Minolta and Panasonic produced them at this point of ...

Pros: Photo Clarity, Zoom, Indoor Performance, FAST, Battery Life
Cons: Small LCD, 3 Megapixel

This is my fourth digital camera, and it is easily the best yet. Previously owned cameras include the Canon PowerShot S45, the Kodak LS753 and the Sony DSC-P100. The majority of my pictures are of my two year old, probably 70/30 indoors vs. outdoors. ...

Pros: 12x Zoom, manual shutter and aperture, great picture
Cons: Panasonic Battery, better strap needed

I would say that I shopped around for 1-2 months before buying this camera. Reading endless reviews on what is out there and then going to try it. In the end it was a toss between the FZ3 and Canon S1 IS. The only two things that the Canon had on the ...

Pros: Leica lens; 12x Optical zoom; Compact; Image stabilization
Cons: Battery life not the greatest

I finally converted to the digital world. So far, I have been extremely happy with my choice. I'm more of an amateur photographer who does this as a personal hobby. The Panasonic Lumix DMC FZ3 met all my expectations and more. First thing I noticed ...

Pros: 12x zoom, image stabilization, lightweight, easy to use
Cons: Prefer AA batteries, only 3 megapixels

This is my four digital camera, and the best one yet. This replaced my Minolta diMage Z10, which was overall a good camera, with lots of nice features, but no image stabilization. When the microphone went out (after less than a year), I traded it in for a Panasonic

The Panasonic DMC-FZ3 is new. I have used it for a month and have no real complaints. It is more lightweight than the Minolta and fits more comfortably in my hand (and in my carrying bag).

There is a 12X zoom, which is incredible. With image stabilization, even at full zoom, the pictures are crisp and clear.

It's only 3 megapixels, but I so most of my work--almost exclusively, in fact--for the web and the resolution is just fine for my uses.

The EVF is a bit small for one with glasses, but certainly usable. Battery life seems fine, though I admit to preferring the convenience of AA batteries used by the Minolta.

All things considered, based on only a month of usage, I'm very glad that I purchased this camera, and think it is a vast improvement over the Minolta in photo quality.

Pros: Lens, quick start-up, shutter lag, size, movie mode
Cons: proprietary battery

Don't get caught up in the megapixel race. How often are you going to need prints larger than 8x10? This 3MP camera is one of the best values out there, and once you use the 12x lens you'll wonder how you ever took pictures with out it.

I purchased this camera to take pictures in some pretty demanding situations. My kids are on their local high school swimming and water polo teams. The action is fast and the lighting is usually poor. The DMC-FZ3 lens is fantastic, I can zoom all the way across the pool and get great shots with available light.

I have also taken pictures while skiing and the scene mode for winter sports worked very well.

One of the reasons I selected the Z-3 is its compact size. My wife can put it in her purse and take it with her without having to take a separate bag. And it is easy for her to use, while giving me the manual features to experiment.

Pros: 12x Optical Zoom, Stabilization, 12x Optical Zoom
Cons: Proprietary battery

This is strictly a "me to" review. Others have given more details about the camera than I could even if I had time.

I've it for a month and am extremely happy with it. I could quibble about the button placement (I keep trying to push the mode dial) or the LCD but the fact is that this is an excellent camera. The zoom is fabulous, the stabilization is fabulous, the pictures are fabulous. I'm very happy with this camera.

Caveat: I'm moving up from a four year old 1.3 MP with 3x zoom so maybe I'm just easy.