Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ20S - Digital camera - prosumer - 5.0 Mpix - optical zoom: 12 x - supported memory: MMC, SD - silver

For $599, this is an unbelievable camera for an aspiring amateur or blooming professional. I was looking for something better than the average point and shoot but not as complicated as the digital SLR's. I wanted a nice optical zoom, not just some 3x optical with 4x digital.

I researched camera after camera for over a month. I looked at basically every camera out there including the newest and higher end cameras such as the Canon Powershot G6, Canon Powershot Pro1, Canon Digital Rebel SLR, Kodak DX7590, Nikon 8700, Olympus C-8080 and the Sony F828 among others. After much debate, it came down to the Canon Powershot Pro1 and the Panasonic Lumix FZ20. I didn't mind paying more for the Canon if it was really worth it, but I could not turn my attention away from the Lumix.

It had a much better optical zoom -- an unbelievable 12x!!! The higher end cameras only went to 8X (Canon Pro1) or 10x. Although I wanted a 6 - 8 megapixel, and the Canon had 8, I figured that I'd rarely blow up my images greater than 8 x 10, so when would I really need such high pixel resolution. See, in my research I found out that pixels aren't everything, believe it or not. It depends on what you're going to do with the images. If you just want to send e-mails, you only need a 3 megapixel. If you want to print out quality pics, you might go for a 4 or 5. You only need a high megapixel camera if you're going to do some really big layout stuff. For me, that wasn't the case and the only other thing I liked more about the Canon was the swivel screen. So I went with the Lumix.

After you hold this thing and take pics, you'll think this is an 8 megapixel!! The images are so sharp and clear it is unbelievable. I was told in reviews that I'd see some redeye in the pics, so just to be safe I purchased an external flash (yes, the camera has a hot shoe). The best part is, I took off the external flash and tried it with the standard pop-up flash and still -- NO RED EYE. I was amazed.

The menu is easy yet there are tons of options. The unit feels and shoots like a professional camera, yet with the ease of use for an aspiring amateur. I am SO VERY HAPPY that I purchased this camera. Do not pass it up. I'm telling you, if you want something affordable and better than the average compact point and shoot -- this is the way to go. If you're looking for small size, then go with something else. This is a big boy, but not extremely heavy or bulky by any means (like the F828). It just won't fit in your pocket.

Before you buy, I suggest you go to Circuit City and play with it. See how it feels. Don't just go in blind. In purchasing your next camera, really see which models out there have what you need. Every camera has its pros and cons. I have yet to see the flaws in this baby, but it may not be for you. Do your research. A great site to compare and see the newest reviews on the best cameras is www.dcresource.com. It really has some great info.

Good luck on finding your new camera. My vote goes to the Lumix FZ20 -- ALL THE WAY!

One complaint that I have about this camera is that the LCD screen cannot be moved for taking pictures at odd angles, or to protect the screen when you are done. Overall, it's a great camera. One of the lesser-known but very unique features of this camera is that it can maintain an F-stop of 2.8 throughout the entire zoom range. Most zoom lenses must reduce the aperture size, letting in less light, at full zoom. The top-notch Leica lens on this camera allows you to maintain the maximum aperture setting at full zoom, allowing you to use the zoom effectively in low light settings.

Here's my list of accessories that you may want to purchase in addition to this camera:

1. Bigger memory card (comes w/ 16MB SD card). If you want to take a series of photos in rapid succession (using the "burst" mode), a high speed (Ultra II) SD card works better. Otherwise, a regular SD card is fine. Also, several smaller memory cards may be safer, and cheaper, than one large memory card, in case a card goes bad.

2. Camera case. I just bought the Tamrac 5683. The fit inside is snug, but with a little room for a lens-extension. It's not quite the smallest bag for this camera, but it's very sturdy, waterproof and has a good deal of padding. It also has just enough room in the side pocket for extra cards and cables.

3. NC (no coating) or MC (multi-coated) clear filter. This is a filter that you can attach and leave on at all times to protect the lens. In order to use a filter, you must attach a lens hood. The camera comes with a hood that requires 72mm filters. You can also purchase a hood (e.g., made by Photosolve, Pemaraal, or Raynox) that fits 62mm filters. Why would you purchase a 62mm hood? Several reasons. First, 72mm filters are more expensive. Second, the 62mm hood is shorter and smaller than the Panasonic 72mm hood. Lastly, I don't think the Panasonic 72mm filter lets you cover it with a lens cap, though I'm not sure.

4. 62mm lens cap (for the filter in #3).

5. AC adaptor to power the camera directly. The camera does not come with this, but you might find it convenient to have.

6. Extra battery. The battery charge lasts for quite a while, but it never hurts to have a backup. CGA-S002 is the part number.

7. USB card reader for SD cards. The camera comes with a USB cable to transfer your pictures from the memory card to a computer. However, a USB card reader can be useful if you want to download pictures without turning on your camera.

8. LCD screen protectors (look for PDA screen protectors at an office supply store, and cut to size).

Finally, if you buy accessories online, just make sure you find a good price, because the online stores that sell really cheap cameras tend to overcharge for the accessories.

After owning this camera for a year and a half, I have more reservations about it. If I could, I would change the rating to three stars. I have found it difficult to get a sharp focus, and also difficult to get a clear image indoors. Granted, indoor shots have less lighting, so require a longer shutter speed with greater risk of blurring, but it is still frustrating to see only one picture in ten come out clearly, even with the motion stabilization. Turning up the ISO to 400 helps, but results in noisiness that I find unacceptable, so I rarely go beyond ISO 100. Also, this isn't the greatest camera for taking quick shots. The focusing speed, and picture-taking speed are frustratingly slow. If you want to get that perfect facial expression on your toddler at just the moment you see it, another camera will probably serve better. Granted, these are some of the prices you pay for a more complex camera with a higher-end lens (as opposed to a point-and-shoot). Also, don't mistake this for a full DSLR. My friend's Minolta DSLR focuses in a split second with a satisfying click of the lens body. The Lumix sometimes focuses over more than a second, going in and out of focus until it tries, and sometimes fails, to find the focus (again, in lower light conditions).

My wife now wants me to buy a Canon powershot. She gets frustrated with the Lumix because she can't figure out how to adjust all the right settings, and it looks like I'll have to give in on this one.

This camera is fantastic. It has a superior lens. The zoom is great and basically, the camera could be considered "the poor man's answer to a digital SLR". Except it isn't an SLR. The lens, made of very high quality by Lecia, is fixed mount. You can't remove it, but it has an incredible zoom of up to about 430mm. This makes it much more than a point and shoot, and gives you the flexibility of higher priced SLRs.

Overall, this camera has numerous features!!! Easy to use controls, great battery life. The camera is much larger than a point and shoot so know that going in. The battery is a Panasonic unit, not AA or AAA, so it will cost a bit to replace. It comes with the camera, along with an easy to use, compact charger.

Photo quality - great! For best results (lower noise) I set the ISO to 80 when possible. You can shoot at F2.8 throughout the zoom range (even Panasonic's new 8MP Lumix doesn't offer that, dropping to 3.7 toward the longer range).

You can shoot fully programmed or go manual if you are a camera buff. You can use all the modes in between - shutter preferred, apeture preferred, etc.

About all you give up versus a $1500-$2000 SLR is the ability to change lenses and a slightly lower shutter (some Canon SLRs fire at 1/8000 second). This camera also has a smaller CCD sensor than some of the Canons, but again - the Panasonic is less than $500. The CCD is what makes the photo quality on any digital cam, in the end. ISO can be set to auto, or from 80-400.

Stabilizer - helps keep shots sharp throughout a long focal length. You have two options for stablizing photos. One is throughtout the focus and one is at the time of the photo. I set mine for just the time of the photo and feel that provides better results for sports photos (soceer, lacrosse).

Bracketing - lets you bracket exposures, which works great when you are shooting on the beach, for example. You have sun off the water, or maybe behind your subject, so you can bracket the exposures automatically and shoot 3 shots with one click, so you get an over/normal/under exposure and one should be a great shot! This also helps with pictures of kids, as you essentially get a few different facial expressions (the bracket shots are after all in succession, not the same exact instant).

You can also set the camera to fire off multiple shots on one click of the shutter (bursts) and get 10-20 shots in rapid fire, capturing that one or two "perfect" photos. In addition there is a flip animation feature, which lets you create nice "flip page" features of your kids, pets, etc.

You have a decent flip up flash as well as a hot shoe for an external flash.

The camera has a built in video cam - just keep in mind that it locks the lens on whatever focal length you are at when you go to video mode, so this is not really for anything other than basic video.

The camera also has full audio, so you can record sound and/or add narration to your photos to refer to later.

Other features include numerous metering options, an auto focus "assist lamp" for low light, and histogram options. It even has several settings like "sports/snow/fireworks" and so on, so you can choose one of those for different photo scenarios. i've tried them all and they don't hurt the photos, although I'm not sure they enhance any given photo scenario. But I tend to chose my own shutter and other settings, shooting manually much of the time. if you prefer to shoot in auto mode, I doubt you'll be unhappy.

This camera is a must own for a family. It gives you great shots of the kids.

The included software works fine, so this camera easily connects and works on your PC.

The two downsides:

The lens cap is not clip on, so you might lose it. I use the included lens hood almost all the time so I don't worry too much about the cap. The other downside - you need a good memory card to use any 5 megapixel camera - Panasonic includes only a 16mb. You want at least 256mb, preferably 512mb and up. if you are going to shoot at lot of bursts, get a high speed, quality card.