Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

This camera is enough to make a seasoned DSLR user happy: excellent features, options, flexibility, and compact size that makes it easier to travel with. The primary reason I bought this camera was for travel. Previously, I brought my Canon 60D with me, but after awhile, it gets heavy, so I wanted something that would produce comparable photos. I spent several months researching and even spoke to several professional photographer friends and settled on the DMC-ZS100. The photos were sharp, it was compact and fit in my purse, it was easy to use - it worked great! When it worked. On a road trip from California to Florida, I started noticing a lens error whenever I zoomed. Turning it on and off was enough to get it to work again I was concerned it was humidity around the gulf, as it didn't have that issue in drier climates. Still, it worked and I brought it with me to Greece - where the promotional video for it was done. First day there and there is fatal "System Error". The lens zoomed out, got stuck, and wouldn't retract. I tried removing the battery, restarting it - nothing. The camera would not work the rest of the trip. The weather was mild and not humid. I was also very careful with the camera and kept it in a case when not in use. In the end, I ended up using my Galaxy S7 Edge to photograph my trip and upon return, send the DMC-ZS100 to be fixed as it was still under the 1 year limited warranty. To be fair, Panasonic was very good contacting me upon receipt of the item and even left a phone number and other information if I wanted to call and check up on the camera. Please keep in mind that they require that you send it in with all its parts: battery, usb cord, strap, etc. I made sure it was registered, contacted the website via the chat feature to get more information on what was needed to have it repaired, and buried it in shipping peanuts to protect it. I mailed it in for repair last month and received it back yesterday. It works again, but came with instructions not to use in places with humidity, dust, sand, water (including rain); not to drop it or bump it against anything - basically it was sensitive and easily damaged. If you want to use this as a travel camera, I don't recommend it. I feel guilty about having suggested it to a friend who ended up buying it and had lens errors while in Europe. It's a good camera, but it's not a durable one and depending on your travel style and location, the DMC-ZS100 won't cut it. It's far too fragile to be a good travel camera and if you plan to go to the tropics, deserts, beaches, or places where there is a strong possibility of rain, you risk severely damaging the camera. I highly suggest sticking to a mirrorless compact with interchangeable lenses or a water proof camera. Panasonic's waterproof cameras are great, actually! Dropped one on rocks in the Galapagos and it's fine. Overall, when it works, it's a solid 5 Stars. As far as durability, it's a fragile 1 Star. The fact that it did not work out for its intended purpose - as a compact alternative to taking DSLR quality photos - is what resulted in such a low rating. Had I known it was this delicate, I wouldn't have purchased it.