Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I previously purchased the Canon SX20is and used 2 weeks. I found the images just a bit too soft for my taste. Too bad because all other facets of the camera was great. But, to me image quality is everything. If it can't produce a crisp image, I don't want it. Perhaps I was spoiled by the excellent SX10is I was switching from. Desperate for an inexpensive Hi Def video camera for a client project, I decided to give the dual Panasonic FZ35 a try. I had used a Panasonic LX2 for several years and liked it, so I figured why not even though Panasonic is not a manufacturer one would normally think of first for a high quality still camera. So far, I have been pleasantly surprised! What I like about the FZ35: 1. The super sharp Leica lens! Having 18x zoom in such a small package.(Sharper than SX20is) 2. Metal tripod mount 3. VERY Reasonable price for all the features included. Seems a bargain to me. 4. The fact you also get very nice HD video in one package is a bonus. 5. Excellent macro mode. If you like macrophotography you'll like this camera. 6. Relatively simple controls/interface once familiar. (You do have to read the manual) 7. Has 46mm filter threads for add ons. 8. Full time battery indicator. 9. Optional wide angle and telephoto lenses are available if desired. 10 Better than most image stabilization system. 11. Many focus & exposure options. What I'm not so crazy about: 1. Buttons & switches are quite small and seem rather delicate. 2. Manual as PDF (what a pain). I'll take mine paper, thank you. You might as well print it out right away. You're gonna need it! 3. Smallish Electronic ViewFinder (Not just this one either. They all leave me wanting.) 4. Construction and light weight give a slight feeling of cheapness. 5. Proprietary Panasonic battery. 6. Location of media card in battery compartment. Is it perfect? Nope. Are any of them? Even the $5,000 ones? What do I miss most when switching from my NIKON? That bright, super clear viewfinder. Will it clip highlights? Sure, if you don't set it up right. They all do. High dynamic range is not usually a feature on most consumer cameras. Can it take a sharp picture? You Bet! In macro especially, you'll love the clarity of the image. Newbies purchasing this ... make no mistake, this is a complex little piece of gear. Sure, you can use it on intelligent AUTO if you want, but what a waste. You have to LEARN this camera to get the most out of it. And don't expect to learn it in a day or even a week. Used properly it will yield beautiful, sharp images. Buy it and shoot, shoot, shoot and you'll get the hang of it. Why not? The "film" is cheap! By the way, purchase a Class 6 SD card right away. That way if you want to play with the HD movie function you can. Some cheap SD cards can't write fast enough for HD video use. If you have a hi def TV you'll love it. Beware though, HD video files get HUGE fast! Uploads to YouTube (or anywhere else) can take quite awhile. A 1 minute, 36 sec. clip equals 491 MB and over 4 hrs to upload via DSL. If you get serious about HD video, or enjoy doing critical focus photography, PLEASE, buy a decent tripod and USE it. Camera movement is the main enemy of sharpness. At the low ISO settings required to get the most out of these small sensors, keeping the camera still is extremely important. Don't expect stabilization systems to entirely solve "jitter" problems at very low shutter speeds! High end users take note: In the Custom controls there is an separate adjustment for contrast, saturation, noise reduction and sharpness. YEA ! Somebody is listening. Nov. 5, 2009. I've made nearly 1000 shots with this camera and I'm impressed and still very happy with it. October 2010, I've made thousands of images and still am impressed by its sharpness. The price has dropped to under $300 now and I consider this an excellent buy. The sharpness of this camera is the standard to which my next one will be held. Image quality is hard to beat for the money.