Panasonic Lumix DMCZS3 10.1 MP Digital Camera with

Only need this camera now! No more camcorders.
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I’ve been shooting family videos for nearly 25 years now. I’ve always tried to get the best video quality in the smallest possible camcorder – so I’ve had VHS-C, S-VHS-C, Hi8, DV, and wide screen DV. I probably waited too long to go to HD because I’d gotten spoiled by the size of my latest DV camcorder, and didn’t want one of the fairly large HD camcorders. And all the latest flip-style HD camcorders just didn’t have the features I wanted.

My wife told me to get a new gadget for Christmas, so I started looking at pocket photo cameras with big lenses. And that’s when I found out I could at last get an HD video camera AND a great 25mm to 300mm 35mm equivalent zoom lens in one tiny package called the Panasonic ZS-3.

All I can say is that this is the coolest camera I’ve ever seen or owned. I’ve gotten to the point that for 99% of the time, I just want the camera to do the work at picking a great exposure, and the ZS-3 doesn’t let me down. Maybe there is some lighting situation, or creative focus that manual exposure control would let me do, but I just don’t care that much.

And of course, the days of carrying both a photo camera and a camcorder are over. Seriously, unless you are into shooting near pro level video (or perhaps need better than average audio – a mic input jack would have been nice), this camera will shoot videos that should please anyone who just wants to get nice family videos or even pretty spectacular vacation videos. My son has a high end pro HD video camera, and the quality of the video from this tiny camera truly rivals the videos taken on a pro level camera. (All except very low light, and as I mentioned, high quality audio.)

And it will always be with you. Not as tiny as one of the latest generation of very small pocket photo cameras, but those don’t have that very nice chunk of glass that gives you 12x optical zoom (or more at lower pixel resolutions). It does fit nicely into a pants pocket. In the past, even with a small camcorder, I would often just not want to take two cameras. And even the smallest video cameras with any kind of decent zoom capability won’t fit into a pocket.

As the old saying goes, you can’t take the picture (or video) if you don’t have your camera. With this great little camera, you’ll always have it along, and can take great photos or great videos.

If you read all the reviews around, and watch some youtube videos taken with the various similar cameras (search YouTube for camera models and you’ll find plenty of example videos), I think you too will conclude that the Panasonic ZS-3 is the best of its kind around. While my wife bought mine here on Amazon, what I don’t understand is why the Panasonic brand is not available in most of the big box stores. I could not find one to look at in Best Buy, CostCo, Target, Wal-mart, or any other stores of that kind in my vicinity. I ended up relying on the reviews, which in the end led me to the best camera/camcorder I’ve ever owned.

A Fantastic Little Camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I am a professional portrait photographer who is incredibly picky about cameras. I’ve owned 3 point-n-shoots in the last few years, because I am also a Mom and wanted something small to keep in my purse for the random moments when my DSLRs weren’t around. Every one of those cameras drove me batty and proved a waste of my money. I decided to give the pocket camera One More Try when I read about the ZS3, especially with its inclusion of HD Video. I LOVE this camera! Love it!!

On my family beach vacation, I only broke out the DSLR twice for some artistic shots of my kids. The ZS3 stayed in my beach bag the rest of the time, and I am thrilled with the shots it captured. The images are clear, crisp, with beautiful color and detail. The exposures have been excellent. The 12X zoom is a great reach, and the shots are still clear zoomed in. The shutter lag on this camera is better than any PNS I’ve ever used. It’s no SLR, but it’s darn good for what it is! The burst mode also works great for stopping the action. And the HD video is just as great. I don’t know that I’ll bother picking up my camcorder again now that I have this.

My only two minor negatives: the video record button is in an awkward spot, and I’ve accidentally hit it a few times just holding the camera. But it’s not bothersome enough that it would affect my 5-star rating for the camera. Negative #2 is the ACVHD Lite video/software which is not Mac compatible. All of my computers are Mac, so this hiccup is disappointing, but again not bothersome enough to alter my opinion of the camera. I just shoot regular HD video instead and the problem is solved for me. Ok, so maybe I’d give this camera 4.5 stars if I could, but 4 stars would be too low so I stuck with 5.

I never imagined I could like, much less LOVE, a point and shoot camera like I do this one. It’s fantastic.

STOP! Do NOT buy this camera before you read this!
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
In my journey to find a good P&S camera that also includes HD Quality video I have made two purchases. The first purchase was the Canon 960is. Please go check out my review on that camera if you are inclined.

NOTE: This review will evolve over time as I use the camera.

Before I get to any of the details I must inform any potential buyer of a problem that is absolutely infuriating and insulting. That being the fact that the ZS3′s firmware version of 1.2 forces you to utilize the OEM battery. Why is this so infuriating you might ask? Well because you can’t purchase this battery anywhere. I have gone to all of the vendor’s listed on the Panasonic website and they are all out of stock with no estimate of when stock will return.

Not letting this stop me I decided to call Panasonic, even though they indicate that you can not purchase the battery directly. Surprisingly this is a lie. The customer service representative has a battery for the camera, at a low low cost of $44.XX with a minimum $8.XX shipping charge. So at ~16% of the cost of the entire camera new, I can purchase 1 more battery for the camera. So be prepared to take your $300 purchase and jack it up to $400+ just so you can take the camera with you on a trip with sufficient backup batteries.

Needless to say, Panasonic is starting on the wrong foot by imposing a firmware change that makes no sense at all.

STRIKE 1.

On to my initial impressions after 5 days of use.

The camera itself has sturdy construction that I can’t really find any problems with. The weakest point would seem to be the battery/memory card cover. It has a locking device that I do worry about long term. One thing I find really nice is the placement of the flash in the middle of the unit itself rather than the the outside edge like my previous cameras. I found myself covering the flash on my other cameras all the time.

The screen quality is very nice; however, I do find that the display when you have the camera on lags badly during realtime display. This is not the case while playback of video however.

Pictures so far have been clear and I have not spent much time conducting tests in varied conditions. The dedicated video button is nice and I am off an running taking pictures and movies without much setup at all. Thus far, it’s all very easy to understand.

more to come later….

An Awesome Freakin’ Camera!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Wow, this camera is just freakin’ awesome. I bought it to do some amatuer photography and was really impressed at the quality of the pictures. The flash is very impressive, I took pictures in complete darkness to test it, and it did not disappoint. I love the video feature as well, it amazed me how well it recorded the video and audio, almost picture perfect. And when I uploaded the videos to my computer they came out so big, another surprise. I was expecting 320×120 picture quality but its more than double that size.

The intelligent picture mode it has, has the perfect settings for beginners who do not know how to configure the manuel mode settings. The only thing I would suggest to those beginners is to know when to turn on/off the flash. (because it can ruin some photos, it has nothing to do with this particular model but for instance, if you are shooting from behind a window at night and the flash is on the flash will reflect off the window and all you will get is a really bright picture and some of the window) I much prefer the manual settings because this mode has more options as to how to shoot each pphotograph.

Another feature I love about this camera is face tracking and AF tracking. In face tracking mode the camera can identify faces of the individuals in any particular photo. (Very handy for focus and illiminating blurry pictures) Also, the AF tracking is very useful when it comes to shooting moving subjects. (I tested this feature as a passenger in a car, I was once again very impressed, no blurriness at all!) One down side to this feature is it its almost too good, you must be ready in advance to take photos in this mode if you are using flash in manual settings)

All & all, I’m very impressed, Amazon has never disappointed me, I bought this camera based on its overwhelmingly positive reviews and looking at its basic features and available accessories. This camera has earned a place as my next portable buddy along with my cell phone and iPod.

Great Videos, Potrait photos no good
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
Pros:

Video awesome.

Cons:

Two deal breakers:

a) Tends to oversaturate skin tones.

Gives people an unnatural tanned look. If that’s what you’re after, this might work for you.

b) The Automatic white balancing feature doesn’t handle fluoroscent lighting. So if you’re trying to take photographs indoors with those light saving bulbs, the camera won’t really work. (Again, there’s a workaround, but it’s painful (involves scaning a white card and setting the AWB manually).

c) Flash doesn’t work very well. The whole AWB goes for a toss if you need to use the flash indoors. Combine that with b) and it’s really like having no flash inside.

d) Takes too long to take a photo: Everytime you take a photo, people start moving around before the photo is taken. Why? Because it uses two flashes, probably one for Red Eye Reduction, and the second for the actual photo.

Other Minor issue: Camera is too small for my hands. So I dropped it the day I bought it so I can’t return it.

In summary: This camera is just plain annoying. I could live with every other thing, if it captures skin tones ok. I’m going to sell this one. I’ve had better luck with the $150 Canon SD1200 IS.

Garbage pictures and panoramas, better have a good SD card
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
As I became dissatisfied over time with the jpeg artifacts in my images on my Canon cameras, I began looking for solid images on other point ‘n’ shoots. [...] and Steves Digicam websites gave very positive reviews and showed excellent images from the Lumix ZS3. I emailed Panasonic because of my concerns about creating panoramas and stitching images: most digitals put a limit on how many images you can take in a pano, and Canon does not. Panasonic assured me this camera had no limits, just like Canon cameras.

I’ll leave it to the other reviews on the shortfalls of this camera which are many. However, I found the build and the ergonomics to be overall pretty good compared to most such cameras at this level of capability.

Here come the reasons to not buy this dog:

1. Image quality: just awful. While it balances light well and the modes for various scene settings are really quite good, what difference does that make when all the images are buried in jpeg artifacts? Even in high lighting situations the noise is ridiculous! Neither Steves Digicams nor the [...] websites mentioned this, and their sample images don’t show it. Either they are in the employ of Panasonic or they were sent premium versions of the camera that do not reflect the mass produced item.

2. Panoramas: Limit to your pictures is about 5, then you have to start all over. Not good if you’re trying to do a 360 scene or a large montage. Panasonic outright lied to me. Not a good reflection on the company at all.

3. HD movie mode- it may indeed work, but if you don’t have a high speed SD memory card, you’ll get 3 seconds before it stops. Be prepared to upgrade whatever cards to you have to something better.

Panasonic is on a role…keeps getting better!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Last year the TZ5 took the market by storm and was the best in its class. Panasonic is back again this year, only better with the new ZS3.

Canon is now trying to catch up with the Canon SX200 IS, leave it to Panasonic to stay ahead of the competition with the new ZS3.

The benchmark has been raised, yet again!

Lumix DMC-ZS3
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Great experience. Amazon was exceptionally easy to negotiate with. The camera met all of my expectations.

nice camera,easy to operate but the HD video is only for windowa.
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
Good Camera easy to operate the only inconvenience for me is the HD video works only with windows,and for Mac the drivers are not available at this time maybe Iam wrong but i try several time the panasonic web site and this didn`t say much about it.

Good video, average still photos
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
This camera does very good job in creating HDTV videos (you will need VLC player to view them on your PC/Mac), but when it comes to still images — the quality isn’t great. There is a lot of noise and pixalization even when you shoot at very sunny/outdoor conditions, using ISO 80. The auto-focus also it’s not great, especially when you use the zoom and the subject is far away.

The flashlight is good – you get very realistic colors and it does not burn out the subject if it’s close.

The image stabilization (while shooting video) is also very good.

Also I’ve noticed a problem with the video when you have fast moving objects or sudden change in the light. It seems the coder does not have enough capacity, as the area where the object is moving fast becomes pixelized.

With buying the ZS3 I was hopping to stop caring around always two devices (one still and one video) and for sure I’ll replace my Sony HDTV MiniDV camcorder with it, but I’ll still have to keep one decent camera for still pictures.

I have the camera for already 2-3 weeks.

Camera exceeds expectations (from former Canon user)
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
For a long time, I assumed that Canon made the best cameras. I have had Canon ultra-zooms (and have posted good reviews of some of them) and Canon Elphs (with mixed reviews). Panasonic and Lumix were not even on my radar screen until I saw one that a friend had (a prior model with 10x zoom).

Being the rather impulsive person I sometimes am, I purchased both a Canon SD940IS and this Panasonic (DMC-ZS3). To me they are roughly in the same class, although to be fair the Canon SD940 is a lot smaller. However, for practical purposes, they are both “pocketable” point-and-shoot cameras.

The Panasonic surprised me and beat the Canon in every way except for size (see my Canon 940 review). I sold the Canon and kept the Panasonic.

What do I like about the Panasonic?

- Intelligent Auto almost always gets it right. If I want to take a picture but don’t want to think about the settings, Intelligent Auto works better than I have ever experienced on other cameras.

- The 12x zoom. I often forget that it has a 12x zoom because it is not as bulky as cameras that have a long zoom. The zoom is very nice, and even at full zoom the details are very clear.

- Very nice, high-resolution LCD. The resolution and size of the LCD makes it easy to compose pictures and a pleasure to review them. One downside is that when I took pictures on a sunny day the display was hard to see. There is a setting for the display that may help and I’ve ordered a protector that may cut down on glare. I don’t have enough experience with the camera yet to know if this is going to be much of an issue.

- Thoughtful and useful features throughout. Just one example (out of way too many to list) is multi-aspect bracketing. With wide-screen computer and HDTV displays, it’s hard to keep track of what aspect ratio to use, and depending on what a photo is used for, viewing on HDTV, wide computer screen, printed on certain sizes of photo paper, who wants to decide in advance whether to use 4:3, 3:2, or 16:9 aspect ratio? Even though I have a minor in math, there are just too many other details in life to try to keep track of. The multi-aspect function takes a single photo and saves it in all 3 aspects so that whatever aspect is later needed is available. This kind of thoughtfulness shows up in many other features.

- Very accessible menus for quickly applying settings.

- Great movie recording features — dedicated button, new format for longer videos as well as a more common format. Video quality is better than what I experienced on the Canon SD940IS — much more stable.

- 25mm wide angle. Recently cameras have been offering 28mm wide — this camera takes it a step further and goes even wider.

This is a camera that I can honestly say that I will probably be using for several years, rather than upgrading more frequently, that satisfies my need for both an “ultra zoom” as well as pocketable point and shoot, and that exceeds my expectations both in terms of features available as well as the consistently excellent pictures that it produces. Five stars from someone who is usually very critical of products I review.

Gotta keep loving the Lumix !!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I won’t get into details since other reviewers already did it.

I just want to say, this is my 4th Lumix and I totally love it, the first 3 were sold to friends of mine when new Lumix models came out to the market, not because I did not want them anymore or had problems with them.

My 3rd Lumix went down on SNOW in New York and nothing happened to it, this is HOW GOOD these cameras are. (NOTE: I’m not suggesting to put your cameras in water nor snow, this is just a detail I wanted to share with you).

I purchased the Fujifilm Finepix F70EXR over this camera for the “price” and the “size”… oooh how much I regret it!! Sold that piece of crap (go see my review on that one) and got back to Panasonic Lumix.

For sure you’ll love this camera, for point and shoot and to take great HD videos.

Wonderful product
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
i bought a sanddisk class 10 SD card.. so i am not sure whether to attribute my great experience to the card or to the camera….

but in either case, i was taking pictures on the highest quality setting and i enjoyed the fact that it loaded immediately and was ready to take another picture…

i took a picture when my little brother was running, maybe 5 feet away from me, and it had absolutely no blur….

zooming was very smooth

menus loaded very quickly

the video quality was very clear (not sure about the “HD” feature)

i would highly recommend this camera

Oh my goodness, what a camera!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I have a pro friend who got a review copy of this for a couple of days. He let me use it for one of them, as he hasn’t shot with a point and shoot in a long time. I ordered my own within the first hour. What a camera. The zoom on this baby is amazing. It has a true wide angle and a long reach. Photos on both ends of the reach are sharp and have good color and saturation. I almost drooled when I printed out the samples. They are flat out the best point and shoot jpegs that I’ve had the pleasure of taking. Raw files would be nice but aren’t available, nor is much in the way of manual exposure control. As a bit of a control freak, I thought that would be a problem but honestly, Panasonic’s smart mode selection is brilliant at getting good, sharp exposures. Focusing is fast, even in low light. Flash seems fine, neither superior nor awful. I took 400 images and a short movie on my first outing and the battery still had some juice. It also has fast and accurate face detection. Holding the camera in my hand, pointing it in the general direction of people on the street without being obvious got consistently good focus. Oh, the image stabilization works very well, too.

The camera is just small enough to fit in a shirt pocket but unless you’re wearing heavy denim it’s just to heavy to be comfortable there. It slips fine in a vest pocket or jacket, though. Point and shoots have definitely improved in low light performance since I bought my last one. I got perfectly usable shots at 400 ISO. A little noise touch up and they print fine at 11×14. At 1600 ISO you can still get a usable Flickr sized image, again with a run through a noise processor like Noise Ninja.

It has a new video mode that uses half the memory of the normal mov files that it also supports. But finding where they are on the card is a bit of a treasure hunt the first time. They are also a pain to process. I ran a conversion program to turn them into H.264 format. That makes editing much easier. Do that first thing. You can even run the optical zoom while shooting movies, though focus can be a bit slow. Videos are much better than those from the Flip that is all I own for movies.

Great zoom, great photos, great lens, reasonable size, scary accurate automatic mode switching, wow!. If it had a bit more manual control it might be better, then again, I’ve got a few hundred really nice images. So no complaints.

Changes regarding the color of the CAMERA
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I have a question, I want to buy this camera, DMC-ZS3, but in RED, and I want to know if the specifications are the same for all models disregarding the color one likes!!! when you check the data in details and manufacture description there are different stuff written for black and red…. but the price is the same… I wanted in RED can someone please tell me if I’ll get the same camera describe in the black online page of the product in amazon!

Thanks

Quite possilby the perfect point and shoot (at the moment)
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
If Canon were to ever be nervous about the competition in point and shoot camera’s, they are likely crapping themselves at this moment. I’ve owned 5 of the past Canon digital elph’s (the most recent the SD790is), and I just returned the Canon SD940is. I am blown away by the panasonic ZS3! It does everything the Canon does, and more. First, the response time of the camera is excellent: shutter lag is minimal, autofocus is very quick, flash recharge times are quick as well. I felt the Canon 940 was inferior to even the 790 in shutter lag and autofocus (I was missing shots waiting for the camera to fix on the subject). The Panasonic has more pleasing photo quality, albeit slightly softer than the Canon. Colors are more vibrant on the Panasonic, as is overall tone. I feel like I don’t have to mess with the image on the Panasonic like I did with the Canon. Overall, a great point and shoot.

Now for the true differentiating feature….. This camera doubles as an excellent video camera. I am blown away by the quality of the video captured in the AVCHD-lite format. Even in low light situations, the video blows away any other point and shoot, and rivals the super compact $1000 Sony TG-5. Where it surpasses the TG-5 is in the optical stabilization; the Panasonic shows far less handshake than the TG-5 (which is a huge issue for these ultra compact video cameras). Finally, there is a point and shoot camera that can capture excellent video for those times where you don’t want to drag along a larger video camera. I own the Sony CX-12 AVCHD camcorder, and the Panasonic is not in the same league as that camcorder. However, playing the files I shot with the Panasonic on western digital’s WDTV via HDMI, video looks fantastic: sharp, vibrant colors with smooth panning. I would not feel bad trading the portability of the Panasonic, and leaving the Sony camcorder at home (unless I was on a trip to Ireland or something of the like). The video is truly remarkable for the size of the camera.

Also worth noting; Panasonic was very smart to include HD motion JPEG as an option for video recording. So if AVCHD-lite isn’t your thing, you can capture HD video footage in the mp4 quicktime format. I will say, however, the video is cleaner and smoother when shot in AVCHD-lite.

Overall, for the cost of the camera, you cannot go wrong. It is an excellent point and shoot with very responsive shooting times, and a great portable HD camcorder to boot. I never thought I would own (or like) a Panasonic camera!

Pros:

Wide angle lense

Excellent image stabilization

Excellent AVCHD-lite video camera

Excellent shooting times

Great battery life

Full Zoom ability while video recording

Cons:

LCD screen resolution not the crispest I’ve seen

Some images could use sharpening

Menu system a bit cumbersome

Larger than most point and shoots

Manual exposure in video mode would be nice

Great camera!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
A superb camera in a small package. Great still photo quality and tons of pre-set variety. Excellent, sharp 24x zoom. Great night photos. Super-easy and high quality video. Macro function is very handy and excellent.

If you don’t want to carry around an SLR but demand high-end results, AND you want HD video, this is the camera for you. I love this camera!

Nice Camera; Amazon Cust Service aweful!!!!!!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I’ve only had this camera for a short time, and I’m still learning it’s features. So far, I love it! However, after I purchased the camera, the price kept falling, and falling. Amazon Customer Service would NOT refund the price difference! So buyer beware… I lost thirty bucks, and Amazon left a bad taste in my mouth. Don’t expect to plead your case; they won’t even write back! Get the camera, but watch the price for a while and shop around!

Great upgrade
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I have the Lumix TZ1, this is a great upgrade….

The ZS3 (TZ7) is slimmer than the Lumix TZ1 and weigth less.

I didnt like the switch of position between the shooter button and the mode button.

The battery is not compatible between this two models its a new design that aparently last longer (ZS3 one).

The Zoom was a incredible improvement. Also I like the Auto mode….

Face recognition helps to focus well pictures when many people is on the photo.

6 PROBLEMS 3 OF WHICH ARE IMPORTENT PROBLEMS,
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
2 of the 6 may Not be a problem for those who just take a picture or 2 here & there,

** However the other 3 Problems many have been up in arms ABOUT,

#1 owners know that this camera focus is varry slow, =minor problem?

#2 owners know this camera Shot to Shot is varry slow, =minor problem?

#3 firmware bug was updated by panasonic so you cant buy reasonably priced batterys?

#4 Design Flaw=the Zoom level return spring used is to weak & flimsy & level sticks,

#5 Design Flaw=NO Solid Click notches on the scene option wheel & moves to freely

#6 Design Flaw=The Scene option wheel has been allowed to freely move out of bounds

not allowing you to shoot missing your opertunity to catch that rare SHOT

Instead the Lumix gives you a ERROR Messege on the Screen display that tells you that yours Option Scene Wheel is Out of Bounds

************************************************************************************

[...]

THIS part of the Review was not written by me

but rather by Doctor Jerry,

you can find at the web address of this review i’v included for you above,

the messege at DP REVIEWS reads as follows,

Doctor Jerry wrote,

I recently ordered and then canceled the order for a Panasonic ZS3.

My reason for backing out of the order was a bunch of noise on the Panasonic forum site about batteries being unavailable for the ZS3.

I checked and sure enough no batteries for the Camera made after April 09.

No generic nor Brand batteries.

Apparently Panasonic did a firmware upgrade in April which rendered any generic battery useless for the ZS3.

And Panasonic can’t or will not supply brand batteries.

My point in this is if Panasonic can do that for a really fine camera

what might they have in store for their LX3? To my knowledge,

Canon has never done this with any of their cameras.

There may have been and probably were good reasons to disable generic batteries,

but one would think that in 4 or 5 months, replacement brand batteries would be available.

I, for one, always travel with a spare battery since the ability to recharge a battery when desired.

in some 3rd world country is always questionable.

as far as I Know the CGA-S005A battery used in the LX3 is not chipped and is used in many other Panasonic cameras

so there should never be a problem with third-party batteries being locked out with a firmware update.

The S90IS uses a NB-6L which is used in the SD770IS and SD1200IS

so it should be widely available from third party manufacturers and also isn’t chipped as far as I Know..

If that battery is so easily available then why all the complaints on the Panasonic Forum site?

The Panasonic battery for that camera is listed as out-of-stock

while all the generic batteries have the caution “not for cameras put into service after April 2009″.

People who own the ZS3 are complaining to Panasonic & have not received any answers about when spare batteries would be available.

Signed

Doctor Jerry,

********************************************************************************

AGIN The above part of this Review was Not done by me,

although I to am varry concerned about these compelling issues

as i to am or was Varry interested in buying the Lumix ZS3 till i read this

& I can only hope this saves others from making a huge mistake in buying Lumix ZS3 if this is indeed true i myself find it horrable that a company would do this?

2 things I myself will add to this is that iv confirmed as true are the 2 Problems everyone have been complaining about the Panasonic Lumix ZS3

#1 are the WEAK SPRING USED IN THE ZOOM LEVER CAUSING IT TO STICK & NOT AUTOMATICLY RETURN TO ITS PROPER POSITION,?

#2 PROBLEM,

IS WHERE PANASONIC GOT STUPIDLY LAZY

When Panasonic Noticed the Option scene Dial Wheel allowed to moves out of bounds beyond its intended Position & in return gives you an Error messege

causing you to mis that special one time rare shot.

instead of Limiting the dial from goiing out of bounds,

instead PANASONIC spent more time making the Camera A.I Smart to it will display this Error Messege instead of just limiting the dial,

HOW FOOLISHLY LAZY IS THAT?

Panasonic has still not Fixed either of these other additional Design Flaws

todate as this messege was Posted, NOVEMBER-15-2009

HAPPY CAMERA HUNTING TO YOU ALL

I HOPE YOU ALL GET A VARRY NICE CAMERA YOU ARE HAPPY WITH

HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO YOU ALL

Poor quality lcd screen that cracks for no known reason!!
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
I got the ZS3 for my wife as we have been very pleased with the quality of construction of the former models which we had (TZ3 and TZ4). However when i received it i noticed that that the construction quality was definitely not in the same league as our former TZ3 and TZ4 cameras The battery too was “MADE IN CHINA” compared to the former “Made in Japan” batteries

We have barely used it for 2 weeks and yes the picture quality was definitely better than the TZ4 by a mile. The video was also great and the stereo mics gave much better voice quality than the previous model. The custom mode also allowed you to tweak options that allowed some level of control for creative photography and non flash photography. The high ISO quality was also much improved over the former models.

However the saddest part was that the lcd screen just cracked, and the outside screen has no damage indicating that the quality of the lcd screen inside is very poor. Seems like Panasonic has dropped its legendary quality which has made it famous in the P&S superzoom market

I am hoping to send the unit back to amazon for replacement since this happened without any drop or misuse and there is no damage outside. Searching on the Internet showed that this was a common problem with the ZS3 (also called TZ7) and the problem seems to be in the lower part of the lcd unit. Many users have got the screen replaced based on the fact that its an issue with the construction quality as the outside glass like cover has no damages, though Panasonic has in some cases refused to honor the warranty and asked over 150$ to replace the lcd!!! which is ridiculous. Check flickr for images of damaged units posted by other customers of the same camera.

The issue is not with the external cover outside, so pasting a screen protector is of no use since the crack come in the lcd panel that is inside! Once this happens the screen also has vertical purple/pink bars that completely shuts of any photography capability since you only have the lcd to focus (as there is no viewfinder in this camera).

I contacted Panasonic support and seems they do not respond to customer issues, and will now have to depend on Amazon’s customer support (whom i am told are much better thankfully) to get a replacement since i am still within the return window.

Very good camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
It took me about a month to make up my mind on buying this DMC-ZS3. I even bought a Nikon first, but digging the DMC-ZS3. First let me qualify my opinion. I consider myself a hobby photographer, but close friends call me semi-pro. Been shooting film since 1984, my first digital camera was a Sony Mavica, and I’ve made numerous upgrades since then. I stopped using film altogether when I got my big gun is a Konica-Minolta Maxxum 7D. About 2 years ago I bought a Coolpix S550 and it has been in pocket nearly every day since then. It has held up well – but I wanted more. I tried the new Coolpix S570, and was mostly pleased, but the recycle time was a HUGE downer. From the moment I pressed the shutter button to when it was ready for the next shot, it was nearly 6 seconds. Almost 3 times that of the S550.

So I get ready to buy a new camera, and I narrow it down to the DMC-ZS3 and the Canon SX200IS. If you have done any researching, you’ll find these two models are almost always compared against one another. I went with the DMC-ZS3 only because the price was good – but I was fully prepared to buy the Canon as well, and send back the one I liked the least.

The Canon has the manual settings, but after some soul searching I realized that I wanted a point and shoot, like the S550. If I want the manual controls and the full creativity that goes with them, I have the Maxxum.

Size was important. I wanted something to fit in my pocket like the S550 and would always be there when I wanted it. The DMC-ZS3 is only slightly larger than S550, which was downright tiny. I think anyone who who calls the DMC-ZS3 big and bulky is not being fair. It really is small and portable, when you consider the fat lens and huge screen on the back.

Recycle time is as good if not slightly faster than my old S550. Push button, take shot, its ready for another shot in just over 2 seconds. And that is not using the multi-shot burst mode. Startup time is about 2 seconds, too.

Lots have critiqued the non-metal housing. The finish makes it feel like metal. Its quality and feels pretty solid. Many say the main function control on the top is loose. Yeah, it does occasionally switch positions on you if you rub against it, but I wouldn’t call it loose. Its no big deal at all to flip it back where it belongs.

The images are very good. Marco is awesome. You can just about touch the lens to what you are looking at and it will focus. The wide angle is also a big plus. Take a few pictures inside a small room and you’ll see what you have been missing with the standard issue point and shoot cameras. The images are great.

All in all, I’m very pleased with the DMC-ZS3 and will not seek out the Canon to see if I would like it better. Its fast, takes great pictures, its small yet more then enough lens. I have no gripes about it at all so far.

Great portable digital camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This is the best portable digital camera I have had the pleasure to use. Very user friendly. Great 12x’s zoom. I have a Nikon D300s and D300 and love the Nikon, but many times my photos on this little camera do a better job. It’s nice to have it in the pocket. Especially great for group photos. With a discount price you just can’t pass having this as a backup.

Great point and shoot
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I am impressed with this DMC-ZS3 LUMIX CAMERA.

I have a nikon point and shoot and was impressed 3 yrs ago with it .

For the price of the panasonic i did look at the nikon and thought the panasonic superior .The lumix takes great pics and video and works well indoors and lower light situations.I gave coolpix 1st crack at my hard earned cash and felt lumix was better for me..

Not that great for indoors
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
This camera had all the features I wanted such as mega-zoom in still & video, stereo in video recording, hdmi output, etc and not to mention the 4.5 average buyer rating. But, unfortunately did not perform very well in indoors. Tried all AWB settings, still could only get subject within 3 to 4 feet in good clarity, the background always ended up dark. After doing some reading, noticed that some users have complained about a weak flash being a cause for this. Indoor photography is important to me, so had to return the camera. Beware if you are buying from non-amazon vendors, you might be charged with 15% restocking fee even though I found the product to be defective for the above reason!

best in class
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I got this camera a month ago and I have used it since. pics are very nice when taken in ISO 80 to 100 good in ISO 100 to 400.

the only problem that I found was that the lens is very sensitive to flare in picture mode and in movie mode.

all in all it’s excellent, highly recommended.

A great product
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
A lot has been said about this camera so I don’t have much to add. The pictures this thing takes is truly awesome. I tried it with the digital zoom and the pictures aren’t half bad there either. In order to get the digital zoom to work, you must turn the ISO off.

What I do want to say is this. The camera is currently shipping with Firmware Version 1.2. What version 1.2 does is make any battery not a Panasonic battery unuseable. Right now Panasonic Batteries are extremely hard to find and very expensive. Version 1.1 doesn’t have that limitation. Version 1.1 is available for download on the net and can be downloaded to the camera enabling any aftermarket battery to be used. You will have to do a search on the internet for Panasonic Firmware 1.1 for DMC-ZS3, to get to the information. I now have version 1.1 in my camera and am able to use aftermarket batteries.

EASY to use, GREAT quality pics and video
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
If you’re looking for a camera that gives you great quality pictures, yet is easy to use, this is your camera. This is my second Lumix (I loved my first one so much, I upgraded to this one) and it proves to be easier to use than the first. The video feature is great and with the push of one button, you’re taking video pictures. The pictures are great and the video is HD!

It’s very functional, portable, stylish and most of all affordable. For the money, this is a great buy.

Great compact camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Bought this camera for my wife for Christmas. She loves it and brings it everywhere. Camera is very easy to use, takes great pictures

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 – 6th Avenue Electronics
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I purchased the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 in November 2009 and absolutely love this camera. The reason why I am writing this review is I would like the readers to know that I highly recommend the store I purchased my camera from – 6th Avenue Electronics. My husband, Bryan had a few inquiries about the camera and called the customer service department and talked with a lady by the name of Rose. She was extremely helpful and courteous to his questions about the camera.

This morning my daughter wanted to purchase a Cool Pix camera and we decided to give our business again to 6th Avenue Electronics due to their customer loyalty and competitive prices.

Thank you again for your service and look forward to working with you again in the future.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3 inch LCD (Black)

WOW…and I’ve just been using it for 2 weeks!!!!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I always wanted a real serious camera. Was thinking of getting into professional photography and so was seriously thinking of getting one of those photographer-type camera and lens, but with the prices of them bad-boys and my loss of interest in lugging something so big around me, I opted to just get want I always wanted (a compact camera with ALOT of Optical zoom!) and this is what I found!

PROS*******PROS*******PROS**********PROS

1) ZOOM-ZOOM-ZOOM: 12X Optical Zoom! It’s range is 25mm wide-angle to 12x telephoto.

Now I’ve just had this camera for 2 weeks, but I took it on my vacation recently and was able to get amazing pics from the airplane as I flew over (what I believe is) the Grand Canyon and Colorado River…(plus I always read reviews on CNET.com and is STILL #3 from THE TOP 5 BEST ALL-AROUND CAMERAS – and that’s good enough for me! [http://reviews.cnet.com/best-digital-cameras/?tag=leftColumnArea1.0]

2) AMAZING MOVIE OPTIONS:

- It records in HD (Formats are Motion-JPEG or AVCHD)

- Digital Video Format (QuickTime & AVCHD Lite)

- You can zoom while recording!

- Has a dedicated button for recording movies

3) MANY, MANY Scene modes for great photos:

- Portrait, Soft Skin, Self-Portrait, Scenery, Sports, Night Portrait, Night Scenery, etc…(plus I especially love the ‘Aerial Photo’ Mode since I am always flying)

[there is even a scene that distorts a portrait so the camera actually does make you 'lose' 10 pounds, lol.

4) LARGE 3-inch LCD window: My last camera had a 1.5 inch LCD, so YOU KNOW this is a huge jump for me!!!

5) Shooting Modes: There are six:

- Intelligent AUTO (which does all the hard work for ya!)

- Normal Picture (which is like the one before)

- MS1 & MS2 (they stand for My-Scene-1 and 2):so can quickly pick scenes you used frequently

- SCN (stands for Scene) and allows quick access to changing to a new scene

- Clipboard: this is a neat one: it ONLY saves pics on the camera memora, but its for pics or documents you may always need access to (AKA, a train schedule, or your itinerary, etc..)

6) BRIGHT, AMAZING PICS/ VIBRANT COLOR

7) USES SD & SDHD cards (My memory card of choice!)

RECHARGEABLE AND AMAZING BATTERY LIFE: (plus, the battery charges MUCH faster than it losses charge, so a big plus there! even when taking video!)

9) Surprisingly great night pictures!

10) COMPACT!

11) SOooooo many more……..(plus you can get it in other colors than the typical silver color. I purposely got the black one, and its a beaut!)

CONS********CONS*********CONS*******CONS

1) No Memory card – Yeah, not even a 32MD one…which wouldn’t do anything anyway. I have a 2GB card with mine!

2) Few Manuel Controls – Now this is a big set-back for this camera, one of the biggest I heard, but hey, I am no professional, I still don’t mess with the ISO’s and the exposures and such, so if the camera is already set to do its own hard work, then let it. THIS IS NOT A ‘CON’ for me, but just want you to know since it may be for you

3) No camera case – but that’s not too much of a big deal

4) Can’t think of anything else actually….

Hope this helps…I am SO glad I got this camera. I am still playing with it, so if you have any questions, ask away…I am SO glad I got it! It is worth every buck!!!

Chose this over the Casio H10 – Nice video, sharp (but a tad dark) pictures
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I ended up returning the Casio EX-H10 (a great camera but not great HD video) after seeing the examples of this camera’s HD video on YouTube. I spent a lot of time comparing and testing this camera alongside the Casio.

VIDEO:

Great HD Video quality with a good modern codec (AVCHD), but I would have preferred the more-accessible H.264 codec (i can open AVCHD files with Windows 7′s Media Player, but they don’t scale to the right size? VLC manages to play them only part of the time). There are good examples of the movie quality on YouTube, although the videos I shot fell just a tad short of what I expected being a tad grainy and dark. Very nice that the camera can zoom while shooting video – the sound just barely gets picked up in the recording. Stereo audio is also a great feature, as well as the mini-HDMI port.

PICTURES:

The pictures are grainier than the Casio H10 I was also testing and the camera doesn’t handle low-light as well, but they come out extremely sharp and really capture the details (I can shoot my bookshelf from across the room and read most of the titles on the photo). The 12x zoom is amazing for the compact size.

BATTERY LIFE:

This camera’s battery life is one of its greater shortcomings. The camera I tested along with this one, the Casio EX-H10, gets 1000 shots/charge and this Panasonic only gets 300 or so.

OTHER:

It’s a minor thing but I am glad this camera is flat on the bottom so you can take stable non-flash shots off a table without a tripod. I also wish there were more manual controls but most people won’t miss that. The interface is pretty good but could be more descriptive, and I’m not a huge fan of the mode-dial at the top. I wish this camera used mini-usb instead of a proprietary jack.

Love this new camera.
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
This new camera is well made and offers very fine digital still images and video including HD. Image stabilization for both is great and the zoom lens range is super. Very wide angle to

very long telephoto. I can hand hold the camera and zoom all the way out and still come up with sharp images that I could not do with my old non stabilized camera. The controls

are logically placed and easy to use. However, as with may do- everything- camera’s, there are way to many options that just confuse me. I like the fully automatic mode and the not quite completely manual mode. Most of the other options are way to complicated to make use of.

I am quite pleased with my new point and shoot and would highly recommend it.

Norm Plate

excellent product
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
very good camera, great image quality complemented by an excellent zoom and very easy to use with all the advantages of both image quality and video.

My experience with Panasonic
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
I got this camera and really liked it but in less than three months, it developed a severe problem (A dark crescent on every image).

I returned it and said I wanted them to either fix MY camera or give me a new one. I did not want a refurbished one. They have changed their policy. They do not replace your camera for a new one even if you have used it less than three months. I really didn’t want a camera someone else had used. That is why I paid for a new one when I bought it. I spent considerable time trying to get Panasonic to change their policy for me. Not possible.

I will not buy another Panasonic camera.

Remember when you could buy refurbished cameras for less?

Their policy is about Panasonic’s bottom line, not about being fair to consumers. I am guessing that they are having manufacturing problems if they needed to change to this policy. Buyers should be aware.

Really, A Terrific Little Camera!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Let me start by saying that I did quite a bit of research before I bought this camera. Prior to buying the Panny ZS3, my other digital camera buys had all been been Canons (Rebel XT and XTi, various lenses/flashes, and a Powershot SD700IS Elph — all fine digital cameras). My background: I’m a retired/recovered lawyer, who now runs a small web/print/”new media”design and technology consulting shop for other small businesses. I’m a reasonably competent (largely self-taught, not a true expert) Adobe Photoshop, Premiere Pro, and After Effects CS4 (Windows) user. I also consider myself a semi-advanced amateur photographer (but who doesn’t?).

The motivation for making this purchase is that I succumbed to my adult daughter’s admiration (and constant use) of my Canon SD700IS and finally I just gave it to her. My wife would undoubtedly say that I engineered the whole thing so that I could buy a new, more advanced point and shoot with a longer zoom and better video quality/capability and that giving the SD700IS to our daughter was simply a vehicle for assuaging my own guilt about spending the money and getting her (my wife of 30+ years) to approve the transaction. Can you believe that anybody could be that cynical?

To me, the camera is a little gem of compact, useful technology/engineering. The fit and finish are very nice (the equivalent of the SD700IS). I have not encountered the “too loose” problem with the mode-selection knob/wheel that others have mentioned; however, I bought a “recent shipment” model from a well-known, reputable photo equipment reseller (BH), which may account for the improved fit/action of that item. I am a long-time, reasonably loyal Amazon buyer, but I was able to get a better price from the other vendor at the particular time I was ready to buy.

The 25-300mm (35mm equivalent) 12x Leica zoom lens is just amazing for such a compact form. Subjectively, it’s great little piece of glass that, coupled with effective auto-focus, consistently produces very sharp, well-exposed images with surprisingly little distortion for a such a compact, wide-tele zoom lens (there are always trade-offs). There’s a nice review of the camera and lens at DigitalCameraReview, which you may find helpful. As noted by others, the camera lacks manual shutter-speed and aperture settings/control; however, in the “Normal” mode, you are able to manipulate various parameters of the camera’s automatic functions, which I thought were fairly useful/intelligent. The no-brainer iA (intelligent Auto) mode seems quite effective as a fully automatic shooting mode, but I’ll leave the full assessment of that to others who have used that mode under more/different conditions than I. If you like scene-oriented automation, other modes provide a veritable s**tload of scene models to choose from. The camera has a macro capability and other goodies too numerous to get into here.

The 1280×720 HD video capabilities of this compact camera are almost sure to bring a smile to your face. Although, certainly not the equivalent of a dedicated, high-end consumer video camera like the Canon Vixia HFS100, the ZS3 produces sharp 720p HD videos with surprisingly good color balance and stereo sound (for such a compact camera). Trust me, you won’t be embarrassed to put your ZS3-HD videos up on YT or on a widescreen dvd. There’s been much discussion about the compatibility of the AVCHD-Lite video recording format with various editing packages. I can speak from first-hand experience that Adobe Premiere Pro CS4 (with the 4.1 update installed) WILL edit the AVCHD-Lite format natively. The non-RAM preview function is a little choppy (even on a pretty powerful computer), but the Premiere Pro editing function is more than serviceable and produces nice, smooth results at AVCHD 30fps/progressive sequence settings and comparable h.264/.mp4 output. I haven’t tried the other available AVCHD settings/outputs, so I can’t comment on them at this point. My understanding is that Sony Vegas Pro 9, too, natively handles the AVCHD-Lite format (others may as well). If your software doesn’t handle that format natively, take a look at VoltaicHD by ShedWorx and/or HandBrake (open source), which claim to convert AVCHD-Lite files (the .mts files located in the AVCHD>BDMV>STREAM folder) to other, more editing-friendly formats. I can’t comment on the included Panasonic software, because I haven’t installed/used it. Also, there is a camera firmware update (ver 1.2) currently available at Panasonic’s update site, which, apparently, prevents non-compliant batteries from being used in the camera.

Wish-list: a little faster zoom and focusing speed while shooting video (I’m not sure, but at this time the ZS3 may be the only compact point&shoot/HD camera that zooms/focuses while shooting HD video). More manual controls would be nice (not a deal-killer by any means). The battery life (subjectively) doesn’t seem all that fantastic, although DigitalCameraReview places it in the top-tier of comparable battery-camera combinations. All-in-all, this is a very nicely made, super-zoom, compact p&s camera that produces great images and surprisingly good HD video that, taken together, seem well worth the purchase price.

UPDATE: Thanks to commentator, Matt Eye, for pointing out that the Samsung HZ10W and HZ15W, like the ZS3, also allow zooming (and presumably focusing) on the fly while while shooting HD video.

Lumix zs3 – review
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Great camera. I have had it for about 3 weeks and it’s been everything I wanted and more. I used to have to carry my Nikon D70 with a 35-70mm lens and a 70-200mm zoom, and my high def video camera. All this required a large back pack which made me not want to bother with it.

The lumix zs3 is the answer to all this. It does everything my old set up does but in a nice tiny little package. The optical zoom with image stability, the super wide angle, the hd video….. it does everything very well. Takes great photos and video clips. The size makes it extra convenient so there’s no excuse not to bring it along with you.

It links up easy to a MAC or PC and the video clips automatically are viewed with quicktime player.

No regrets… very happy with my new purchase.

Very good camera, although I expected a little bit more…
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
As has been said, it’s a really good camera. With a powerful zoom, little bit uncomfortable to handle if you are used to super compacts, but you know that (or you should know) when you buy it.

The video is very good, I’d say that it’s the best that I have ever seen or I would expect from a still camera.

I haven’t noticed too much lose of focus when I zomm in and zoom out during video. But the AVCHD format isn’t very common. Other pro is that the slow speed of zoom during video make transitions very soft being more slow when you start and finish zooming than in the middle.

The part that I expected much better was the face recognition, which is like play to Lotto.

And although reviews say that it hasn’t manual focus, there’s an option to follow objects. You have to put the object on the center of the screen, click a button, and then the camera will automatically focus that object although it or you move, or zoom, etc. Not very accurate, but good enough!

The battery life deppends on some options. If autofocus is working all the time instead of just when you click the button to take the photo, then your battery will have a shorter life. But the performance average is normal for this type of camera.

The best of the point and shoots
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I honestly believe that this is the best point and shoot zoom camera on the market today.

My wife and I own about 5 cameras…. and we love this one.

Great camera, small price
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I ‘ve purchased my Lumix ZS3 from Amazon, a few days ago, and I can’t really say what a good camera this is. I consider myself a “serious” user, having worked my way from Reflex cameras, then to the Finepix S5000 ( DSLR look a like) and finally with the Lumix ZS3. It might sound that I have been downgrading ever since, but what I was looking was a portable P&S with an “obscene” zoom, ease of use and excellent picture quality. Look no further, this IS the camera of the year. If you want a small camera who works fine under all conditions and you don’t want to wrestle with camera lags, or any obnoxiuos settings, I would strongly recommend this one.

The so far “cons” i have found ( but was aware of) are:

1.- NO MANUAL USE ( for this I have my good ol’ Finepix S5000)

2.- Battery life ( I could not say this out loud, since I ‘ve been playing with all the menus, and all the functions, and battery starts to deplete a little to early (in my honest opinion)

The pros…. just look any other review or DPReviews ( there’s a special comparison test against ALL “superzoom” cameras…

Everyone loves it
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
It took me about a month choosing a camera. My last camera was small and slim, but it took really bad quality pictures with lots of noises – I hated it. HATED IT… and it broke too. with no apparent reason.

So i was looking for a camera with better quality, and i didn’t mind if it was a little costly or bulky. I wanted a good camera. I was actually looking for high-end cameras, actually debating over two of them, saving up money. Then i found this one.

OMG this camera seemed so good. it can zoom like crazy and takes super quality pictures, videos are awesome (zoom-able too), and not as big or expensive as a high-end camera. I read almost all the reviews out there on this camera – in two languages that i know

And this camera is GOOD. It met my expectations and did everything that all the reviews promised, it’s just awesome. I love my camera.

All my aunts love my camera, and one of them actually bought the same one after me, and today i just ordered another one for my mom – she wanted one too.

Some pros and cons:

-pros: takes really good pictures, image stabilization actually works unlike many other cameras, wide angle, great video with zoom, 12x(or more) zooming depending on the picture size, long battery life, you can delete multiple pics at a same time, etc.

-cons: cannot make panorama pics directly in the camera (comes with a program in a CD in the box so you can make one in the computer; never tried), zooming knob seems little loose (not to worry too much), and it’s NOT A SLIM & SKINNY camera.

If you’re looking for a case for this camera, here’s one that I recommend:Built E-SSC-MDT Soft-Shell Camera Case (Micro Dot)

I’m using this and it fits perfect.

I bought this camera when it was $300 and I don’t regret

I’m not a pro photographer or anything, I’m just a student who likes to take pictures a lot but can’t afford DSLR cameras, and if you have any questions about this camera please feel free to comment on this review.

Great all-in-one portable camera & camcorder
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I was pleasantly surprised with the quality packed into this small camera. I have a Nikon D300 but it’s nice to have something with a smaller form factor to carry along and this automated little camera seems to do it all pretty well. The video it shoots didn’t look bad at all at 720p on my 58″ Sony HD LCD DLP. Has relatively good low light video capability too. No camera works well at near non-existent light levels. Low light levels will show a little more noise and compression artifacts but it isn’t horrible. Still pictures look great too though as you might expect my D300 has a more powerful flash and so carries a bit further. But the 12X zoom is really great and the camera’s focusing in still and video modes works well. Seems as a hybrid camera it’s one of the best choices out there with satisfaction from both media types. Go for it. The red anodized model looks really attractive I might add!

Worst Image Quality Ever
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
I am an imaging person and I know what to expect when it comes to a point and shoot camera. After reading so many good review I decide to go for it as it is too much pain to carry my SLR all the time. Yet it turns out to be a nightmare in terms of image quality.

I did not test the extreme case. I simply want it to be able to take good image with normal room lighting. Yet it failed HARD. The images are full of granule of noises. It is unbearable. Even the picture I took for my husband when he was sitting in the living room during the day, where the camera decide to turn on the flash contains a lot of terrible noise for the background and some on his FACE!!!

I returned it immediately the next day. What a dissappointment.

Blown away.
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
This camera is simply awesome. I owned two panasonic DC (FX7 and TZ3) and was disappointed at their performance under low-light condition. And the color of the pictures is always a bit washed out compared to my Sony and Nikon DCs. I bought this one as a gift to my boyfriend (he has a DSLR, just wants a cheap p&s as a back-up), and we brought this camera to a festival this weekend. The result blown us away. This is a much much appreciated upgrade to my TZ3. The picture and video quality is superb. Yes, the AVCHD video file is rare, but luckily I’ve had some video-editing softwares which can handle that. For just watching the videos, VLC player does a good job. Low-light performance is fair, definitely much better than my previous panasonic models. A tripod is still strongly recommended.

Good Price/ Good Camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I looked some time for the perfect camera with point/ shoot +features for my wife. We’ve had the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 10MP Digital Camera < a month and I am pleased with the performance of this camera as compared with several other brand models in the same price bracket (within +/- $70 difference in price). In addition to function, which is really what you're looking to buy!, this camera feels solid and has a good 'feel' or weight to it.

I find the controls easy to access/ operate. The size of the view screen is great. Onscreen menu navigation is quick and predictable for the most part. The video feature works really well also.

Read the other more thorough reviews – they speak for this great camera!

Camera was delivered on time without any problems.

Very Nice Camera with amazing Video
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I always have the camera with me and love the ease of taking video. The stability of the video is amazing. The 12X optical zoom was the selling point for me as well. I really don’t use my digital SLR anymore. I have owned pocket sized digital cameras for many years and this is the one that makes me happiest.

Great Camera but missing feature
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I’ve really enjoyed the shirt pocket size and coupled with the extended zoom features of the ZS3. From the reviews I’ve read, it seems like it is the best available in its class as a compact camera with high zoom capability. But I really miss the ability to control the lens opening.

Things I like:

..Shirt pocket size.

..Exposure control, color balance, and focus are excellent.

..Stabilization works fine.

..Extra Wide angle lens very nice for taking group photos, often use.

..12X zoom is quite adequate even with the wide angle starting point, can go beyond optical in some settings.

..Time to focus predictable and short

..Movies are high resolution and the software included allows extracting still images from a movie. Resulting picture is about 400 Kbytes.

..In camera editing to clip picture a nice feature to optimize framing.

..Automatic focus tracking to a targeted object is a very advanced feature, need to experiment with it more, expect to use in underwater movies but should also work for active children, animals that do not stay in the center of the frame. Also has an underwater setting for color balance. To use underwater you must have a water proof case.

Wish it had:

..Depth of field control – the camera lens seems to always be wide open minimizing depth of field. There seems to be no way to control lens opening. This feature is sorely missed from other cameras.

Panasonic Lumix Digital Camera, DMC-ZS3
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This is the second Panasonic Lumix camera that I have owned. I liked the first one, a DMC-TZ1 very much and recommended it to various camera toting friends. Thie new Lumix is even better. It has a 12X optical zoom, compared to the 10X of the previous model; also a wider angle lens at 25mm. The HD video recording is superb. The camera, despite its many features is small and light. I highly recommend it.

Outstanding “Point n Shoot”
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
For sometime now I have been in the market for a “point n shoot” replacement for my wife’s Sony Cybershot DSC-W30 which turned out to be a complete lemon! Two thirds of the photos made with the sony were out of focus. Also the standard default 50mm angle of view is just plain boring. So after looking around for one with ultra wide angle capability I selected the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3.

The wide angle capability (25mm) is spectacular. It opens a a whole new perspective on the point and shoot camera. The images just have a spacious quality to them that really grabs your attention. And the wide angle allows for and extra creative element to your photos. The LCD is very high quality. It’s a generous 3 inches and is absolutely outstanding in it’s color and clarity.

The camera is small and compact but has a very solid and quality feel to it. Seems to be all metal with exception of the battery/SD chip cover.

The photos I have taken so far have turned out excellent,super clear and sharp.

Best point and shoot you can buy
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Disclaimer: I have used this camera for about two months now, but didn;t read the manual… so some of the features I don’t like, might be available, but not to the casual user.

What I like about the camera:

1/ Excellent low light performance. One can take pictures in a room (at night, with normal lighting on) without using the flash – this is how good the camera lens system is. Great feature when trying to shoot a sunset/sunrise too.

2/ Great wide angle (26 mm equivalent) capture capability. I didn’t know what I was missing before I got this camera. The best way I can describe the difference against that of a (normal) 35 mm equivalent lens, is this: standard vs. HD images. I don’t care that you can get a 10 MP image with a 35 mm camera, you are still missing too much of what’s in front of you.

3/ excellent for inexperienced users (like myself). I like to point and shoot… and this camera does a great job, no matter what you through at it. I am not interested in manual controls, and with this camera I don’t miss them.

4/ good integration with the Panasonic TVs – I thought that I will look at all my pictures on the PC monitor, but I tried Viera Link and it worked beautifully. The only downside is that I didn’t figure out how to play the movies with sound (I didn’t open the manual so far).

5/ Excellent LCD screen, a pleasure to use in all but the most intense sunlight.

6/ good zoom. The 12X zoom is one of the reasons I decided to buy the camera for, and I’ve used it quite a bit. I’ve learned that the more zoom you have the more you want. Please note that for movies, the focus isn’t fast enough, but in my experience this is not a big thing.

7/ Unbelievable photo and video quality.

What I don’t like:

1/ battery life – while the battery life is good for any camera, I found out that I need two batteries to get me through a day – 3-400 pictures and a few minutes of video. Buy a spare, you’ll need it.

2/ AVCHD Lite movie format. HD video from a camera is a great idea, and I have nothing but good words about the quality of HD video on this camera. However, I think that Panasonic should have included a format converter – and made the software ask if you want to convert the movies when syncing to the PC. I have trouble sharing the movies with my friends because of the format. I am thinking of using the other, less sophisticated format (a 16 GB card is only $40) to avoid the hassle, but want to make a comparison between the outcome before doing this.

3/ The scene selection button is flimsy – quite frequently the camera is asking you to properly select the scene mode). This is an annoyance, with no effect on the camera’s performance.

4/ I would love to have all the options available under iA for pictures shot in wide angle format… (then again, maybe I should read the manual).

3rd lumix, Cannot buy anything else but Panasonic
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
The best Lumix and best camera in its class.!This is my 3rd lumix. I lost my fx500 and needed a replacment. I have had it for a couple of days, but it beats my expectations. Previous lumix had had dark pictures indoors, but I dont see any issue with this one. No blurry images even when I shook. Awesome zoom and strong build. Defintely better than canon sx2000.

Trust me, for the price and specs you cannot find anything better.

ALso video quality is good, much better than the flips and it also zooms video unlike the pocket camcorders or any other digital camera in its class.

You cannot beat panasonic with their wide angle and you get the best here!!!

I WOULD NEVER BUY ANY CAMERA FOR MYSELF UNLESS ITS A PANASONIC!!!!

Five stars if you forgive the chipped battery
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
To get the best photos, you obviously need an SLR and some great lenses. Hmm. Well, I have an SLR and some great lenses, but I tend to leave them at home when I go on a trip.

So I bought this TZ7 (which is what it’s called in the UK where I got mine – the ZS3 is exactly the same camera) to take with me when I can’t be bothered to take my SLR, which is nearly all the time. The TZ7 (ZS3) is small enough to go in a jacket pocket, or to hang unobtrusively from your belt. But is it good enough for anyone used to the quality of an SLR?

For me it is good enough, as long as you adjust your expectations. Which you have to do when you have such a small camera with a 25 to 300 zoom. Try getting a 25 to 300 zoom for an SLR! Even more amazing is that it’s a very decently sharp lens. It’s a little bit less than razor sharp at the extremes of the zoom range, but almost all my shots came out nice and sharp (but not too sharp, meaning the camera isn’t over-processing things).

So the lens is good, and since the lens is the TZ7′s party piece, that’s a good thing.

Next on the list of killer features is HD video. This is 720p video, not `full’ HD, but what do you expect? The great thing is that you can use the optical zoom while taking video, which is rare in these cameras. It zooms slowly so the noise of the zoom isn’t picked up by the microphone but works very well. You get stereo sound too, and the quality of the sound is way ahead of any camera like this I’ve tried before. You might think that you wouldn’t get proper stereo with microphones so close together, but it does a decent impersonation of it. Videos look pretty good, with the image stabiliser smoothing things out even at full zoom. Hold it carefully and it looks like you’re using a tripod. You will need a decent computer and graphics card to play HD video though, or a compatible HD TV. You may need to buy an HDMI cable since you don’t get one in the box.

The next great thing is the LCD. It has 460,000 pixels and looks fantastic. It even brightens and dims automatically depending on the ambient light.

If you know what you’re doing you can use the good smattering of `manual’ features to good effect. I’m not talking about changing the aperture or shutter speed, but you can adjust exposure compensation, bracketing, white balance, ISO etc. You can set auto ISO to not go higher than 400 or 800, which is useful since things look less than great above ISO400.

If you can’t be bothered with all that, set the mode dial to iA (intelligent auto) and leave everything to the camera. It works remarkably well, and you’ll see the symbol change in the top corner of the LCD to tell you what scene it thinks you’re taking. It even automatically goes into macro mode when set to iA.

But I use mine mostly in standard mode, and I keep the ISO to 80 for the very best results.

One of the best things about the TZ7 is the superb auto exposure system that gets the exposure spot on in an amazing variety of challenging situations that would completely fool my other cameras. Reliable auto-exposure, top-notch image stabilisation, really quick and accurate autofocus, a great LCD… these are the things that give you the confidence to pack the TZ7 as your only camera on a trip.

There must be downsides though… mustn’t there? Not many, to be honest, unless you expect the unreasonable, like good performance at ISO1600, or in very low light. The TZ7 doesn’t overcome the laws of physics.

But minor niggles for me are that there’s a physical switch between record and playback mode, so unlike some cameras, you can’t just half-press the shutter to get to record mode if you’re in playback mode. Also, I’d prefer to have the metering options in the quick menu, which is otherwise very useful for changing settings.

Actually, there is one other thing, and it’s the battery. The TZ7 uses a battey with a Panasonic microchip in it. If you want a spare battery, and you probably will, since battery life is just average (HD video seems to sap battery life quite quickly), you’ll have to buy a proper Panasonic one, and they’re quite expensive. Third party batteries won’t work, at least for now. I nearly knocked off the fifth star because of this.

But the bottom line is that the TZ7 captures sharp, well-exposed images pretty much all the time with the minimum of fuss. I like mine very much indeed.

Panasonic Customer Service / Warranty
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
It is really hard to rate this item, without discussing customer service / warranty issues as well. For the first week the camera worked well, but after two usages the LCD screen became pixilated and the camera was sent to Panasonic for warranty repair. The warranty department stated that NO EXTERNAL DAMAGE IS COVERED AT ALL. Regardless of the fact that my camera was clearly brand new, and that this was obviously some defect in the camera or screen, Panasonic was unwilling to stand by their product. Instead Panasonic stated “We can replace your unit with a factory reconditioned unit. This product, its operation and its appearance is like that of a new unit and it carries a 90 day warranty.” The cost would be an additional $135.50 for this reconditioned unit. So basically I would pay $535.50 for a reconditioned camera with a 90 day warranty. I have asked for my unrepaired, defective camera back and have been waiting for a week for the tracking number. Panasonic has not responded to my email requests and their 800 number is busy for hours at a time. I am very disappointed with Panasonic and their ownership towards their products. I caution others towards buying Panasonic products.

Very nice camera!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
It’s a great camera. Compact yet very powerful. My wife and I used it during our trip to Rocky Mountains and Arches National Park. The camera took perfect pictures. 12x zoom is very powerful (we could take close pictures of Delicate Arch in the Arches without hiking 3 miles to the Arch itself ). It took great close-up pictures of flowers, plants etc.

The “iA mode” is smart and correctly detects the mode to be used (although at a few times we used some manual setting like turning off flash etc). Great movie mode as well!

Overall, it’s a very nice camera if you want compact yet powerful camera with not too many manual settings.

Perfect Camera for Travel!
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I bought this camera for a trip to Europe. My SLR was simply too large to lug around, and my tiny Canon took horrible low light pictures.

Pros: The Lumix’s wide-angle lens is amazing because it allows you to capture so much of a scene, and in low light situations the pictures are spectacular. The anti-shake feature works like gold (I tend to be a little shaky), and it focuses wonderfully. The IA (intelligent auto) feature is great – it almost always selects the right scene mode. You can turn off flash and it recalls that setting. The 12X OPTICAL zoom allows you to take detail pictures from a distance. Best of all, the camera is small enough to throw in a bag or a jacket pocket.

Cons: In bright situations, sometimes the lighting is a little wonky and it is impossible to specifically adjust. In fact, the colors overall are a lot less saturated than a typical camera takes (probably more natural, in reality, but I like saturation). There is basically no manual control. It’s too big to fit in a woman’s jeans pocket.

I will admit it was an investment on my part, but I would definitely say it was worthwhile. It allowed me to take 2,000 pictures of my trip, the battery lasted for 2 to 3 days at a time (constantly turning the camera on and off), and let me capture scenes I never would have been able to otherwise. If you have the money, go for it!

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 – A Great Find!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This camera has it all! To start with, there is a 12X optical zoom lens along with 10.1 megapixels. There is also a 25mm wide angle lens that is great for taking group shots. The camera is compact, easy to use, and takes high quality photos and great video. There are other worthwhile options on this model including Intelligent Auto Mode and Face Recognition. There is a lot of bang for the buck with this compact and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a small camera that can accommodate many different settings and purposes!

Good So Far….
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I just upgraded from my old SD630 (which I just managed to repair the LCD on) and I was looking something with a great optical zoom, high quality video capabilities and something that wasn’t too small or too big.

I did alot of research and was considering the G10 but at that price point, I would just go DSLR. The Panasonic Lumix DMC ZS3 was a perfect fit and hit all the criteria I needed. So far, I’ve taken about 100 photos, and admittedly, under indoor lights, the photos look a bit desaturated but outside the photos look fantastic. Granted, I haven’t played with all the settings but so far, the images look great and for about the 5-6 minutes of video I shot, it is better than some of the miniDV camcorders from a few years ago. The speaker on the camera itself is pretty loud on playback and the mic does a decent job of capturing sound during video.

So far, battery life is so-so. With about 100 photos (50/50 indoor and out) I have one bar left. I cant compare it to my old SD630 but that was a ultra-compact with a lot fewer features.

Overall, the 3″ LCD, HD video, and good fit in my hand makes it a great upgrade.

BEST CAMERA FOR PRICE
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
After doing some extensive research, and even purchasing a camera a week earlier, I still went ahead and purchase this camera. Boy, did I miss out on getting this one earlier in the year. It has to be one of the best compact point and shoot out there. I was looking for something that was capable of taking good quality pictures but at the same time take high quality videos. I was very impressed. Get this camera and you won’t be disappointed.

A++ all the way!

Great Camera I would recommend it.
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This is an excellent camera, only possible issues are battery life you need two to make sure you don’t run out on a days shoot and Picture quality seemed a bit blurred when editing a photo at full size. Both very minor issues and I would recommend this camera to anybody. HD Movie mode is fantastic.

Nice camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This camera is easy to use and it takes great pictures and movies with good sound.

Super HD Video!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This review addresses only the HD video capabilities of this camera.

The picture quality of HD video from this camera on my 60 inch HDTV as played on a AVCHD-capable Blu-ray dvd player is simply amazing.

You can use ordinary dvds and an ordinary dvd burner to create your dvds – no blu-ray disks or burner are required – just an AVCHD-capable blu-ray player. All Sony and Panasonic and most other blu-ray players have this capability.

Just be sure to USE THE SOFTWARE INCLUDED with the camera to download to your computer AND use this SAME SOFTWARE to burn the dvd. I tried using Nero and other means of burning the video files to dvd and they just don’t play.

So for AVC HD video, install the software supplied with the camera. Make your own High Definition dvds and be prepared to be amazed!

Great camera ..over canon sx200is
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
Scale of 1 to 10 I’ll give this camera a 9.2, a week before I purchased the Canon SX200is and have to return because of the problem with lens jam twice and the pop up and location of the flash is so STUPID, don’t get me wrong I’ve own 5 differences Canon cameras over the years. But the SX200IS gone wrong big time at canon design team.

Go back to Lumix ZS3, picture quality are great, easy to use handle comfortable in your hand …yes lack of manual control, hey but this is a POINT AND SHOOT ……..

Best Compact Camera with HD Video and Super Optical Zoom
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
UPDATED REVIEW 09/27/2009

3 months after purchase, I still love this camera…

PROS’s

- Easy to carry (compact).

- Easy to use (excellent results from Intelligent Auto mode).

- Great photo quality (for a compact camera).

- Amazing 720p Hi-Def video recordings, with good sound quality.

- 12x optical zoom allows shots most compact cameras would miss (with only 3x-5x zoom).

- Optical Image Stabilization for both photo’s and video’s.

- High resolution LCD (Easier to spot and immediately re-shoot blurry photo’s).

CON’s

- Expensive camera (MSRP $399).

- No Optical Viewfinder (bracing camera against face would help stabilize video recordings).

- Need to slide a mechanical switch to return from photo review to photo taking mode.

- No RAW output.

- Need to purchase SDHC memory (Minimum 8GB class 6 SDHC for HD video).

- Consider extra battery for more than 90 minutes of combined shooting and review activity.

- Consider additional software. Included software (Photofun Studio HD) is poor.

Most video editing software older than 2009 cannot edit AVCHD Lite (I use Vegas Movie Studio 9 Platinum).

Older versions of Adobe Photoshop Elements are fine for photo editing.

=================================

DMC-ZS3 COMPARED TO OTHER CAMERAS

Like many people on this site, I read alot of reviews. The major competitors in the compact superzoom category are Canon SX200, Olympus 9000, Panasonic DMC-ZS1, DMC-ZS3, Samsung HZ10W and Sony DSC-H20. The most helpful review I found was from the DPREVIEW website: dpreview com / reviews / q209grouplongzoom

MANUAL CONTROLS

None on DMC-ZS3, but various web reviews indicate manual controls not critical on compact cameras:

- Aperture Control: Compact sensor chips are too small for significant Depth Of Field adjustments (which can make subjects “pop” from background on dSLR’s with larger sensors).

- Shutter Control: Might have been useful.

My pictures are mostly of our young children (be fast or miss the shot). The Intelligent Auto mode on the DMC-ZS3 makes good decisions in a fraction of the time I need. The lack of manual camera settings has not been a problem.

VIDEO

The video is the reason I purchased this camera over competing models.

The 720p AVC HD video is amazing, the audio is good.

Recommend downloading a free copy of Splash Lite (Mirillis website)for playback of “.m2ts” videos.

Splash video player uses only 0 to 5% of my computer CPU, vs 25 to 50% for Photofun Studio HD player.

COMPARED TO PREVIOUS EQUIPMENT

- My last digital photo camera was a Canon S50 (purchased 2003/deceased 2009).

- My last camcorder was a Sony TRV-17 miniDV (purchased 2001/still functioning).

The DMC-ZS3 is a definite upgrade (better quality results) over the older products listed above.

I (thankfully) no longer drag the Sony TRV-17 camcorder to family events.

WISH LIST

Add RAW capability to next firmware release.

Add optical viewfinder to next generation replacement.

Forget adding more Megapixels to the next generation replacement(10 megapixels is plenty).

Add a larger sensor (ie from the DMC-LX3) to the DMC-ZS3 body to improve the low light capability.

A terrific camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
We just returned from Zambia Africa, and I could not have asked for a more perfect camera, both stills and video.

We were in Zambia on a missions trip, part of which was a dedication service for a church. I had not used the video feature, but found myself using it to record most of the service, including much beautiful praise music in English and Tonga. I brought 1x4GB and 2x8GB SD cards, and a spare battery. This combination proved up to the task, and I was able to cover the high spots of what turned out to be a 6 hour event. Additionally, we visited Victoria Falls and the Chobe National Park in Botswana, and again was able to get a good combination of video and stills.

Now that I am home and able to look at the results, I am very pleased. Video, stills and audio are very good.

Bottom line! A great camera, and one I highly recommend.

Date stamping problem
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
The usage of the camera and the manual are too complicated. Tha date stamping needs additional operations after the pictures are taken and the image gets resized.

this camera was A ok
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I will be able to tell you more about this camera after we come back from our cruise. So far it seems to be okay. My old camera took pictures of sky divers with ease and I got beautiful pictures. It had a viewer on it that you could look into. This camera only has the screen. I miss the viewer and would not have ordered this camera if I knew that it did not have one.

Outstanding camera indoors and out.
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I have owned the ZS3 for a couple of months and could not be happier. Its portable. I carry it in a little lowepro case on my belt but its also quite pocketable. Its quick to start, focuses quickly and writes reasonably quickly to the 8 GB SDHC III card. There is a delay between the picture and writing. I don’t find it an issue, the cycle is very brief. The menus are easy to use and most needed functions can be accessed through the quick menu associated with a particular mode. Flash photography is easy enough and its easy to select the flash mode for auto, fill flash, red eye reduction, or forced off etc. with the simple push of a couple of buttons button. Equally easy to access is the self timer mode, macro AF and exposure compensation. Image quality has been outstanding both indoors and outdoors, I am pleased with the tonal balance. Outside in bright daylight I like to force it to 80 ISO and I love the shots that turned up with that particular setting. Those pictures that turn up slightly underexposed indoors because of flash range issues, are easily fixed with the supplied panasonic software as is red eye. Autofocus works well and rapidly even in very dark conditions. The camera has a AF assist lamp. Practically speaking pictures print beautifully at 4×6 and I have printed pictures at 8×10 that I am very pleased with. Most images in 4×3 mode when shot at 10 Mp come in between 4.5 to 5 Mb. It also has options for 16×9 and 3×2 mode. Burst shooting mode is useful even with the reduced MP count. I have taken night shots of city scapes that have worked quite well but I need to get back home, upload and print just to be sure. I wrote this from my hotel room in Lima, Peru.

I love the 12x zoom from 25 mm to 300mm. The video is useful in a pinch and I like the ability to capture it on a single small portable unit. Its a bit difficult with such a small unit to keep on the subject but I expect this will work itself out in time as I get used to it.

The mode dial does move easily but its not a big nuisance for me. The camera tells you if its in the wrong position, its fixed within a fraction of a second. I have never knocked it out of position while shooting. Its only when I stuff it in the camera bag that it gets knocked out of position.

Pratically I got what I paid for, its a great PS. I purchased it for its pocketabiltiy, its zoom lens, 10 MP (on the right sized sensor) to get good pics, the built in IS and ease of use. I got all of that and am quie pleased.

ONLY works with Panasonic Batteries
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
Let me start off by saying the camera itself is quite good. HOWEVER, I was absolutely appalled when (after I bought it) I learned that Panasonic decided to include a restriction in their latest firmware version (1.2) that only allows the camera to operate with one of their $50 batteries. Of course I didn’t know this when I bought the camera and I also purchased a generic spare WHICH DOESN’T WORK. So now I’m out $30 on a useless battery and will need to spend another $50 if I want to have a spare (which you need to have). If I had know about this, I would have purchased the Cannon 970is for the same price (and yes, they allow you to use generic batteries).

Very great! Just a couple downsides
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
We bought this camera because we wanted to take HD Video but not have to carry around two different cameras (one for video and one for still shots). This camera has exceeded our expectations, only a couple things that could be improved on: 1) the mode wheel is on the far right of the camera when you’re holding it and it is easily bumped and switches positions, meanwhile the button to actually take a picture is further on the inside… it just isn’t as ergonomic as other cameras I have used; 2) the audio pick-up is not very good, but is about what we expected from this size of camera; 3) the zoom is EXTREMELY slow and if there isn’t a lot of background noise you can actually hear the motor zooming in and out when you review the video.

Otherwise, like I said, this camera exceeded our expectations as far as the quality of video and pictures. I have particularly enjoyed playing with all the different modes that are possible.

Great camera — I would definitely recommend it!

Best point and shoot camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I bought this camera after a friend showed me the pictures taken from it. Amazing picture and HD video for the size. Looking to buy another, but in Red when it goes on sale.

Great Camera for when you don’t want to lug around the SLR & Camcorder
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
Best camera in it’s class.

Pros:

Great image quality for a point-in-shoot

12X optical zoom

Wide angle lens 25mm equivalent

Crisp, large, high-resolution 230k dot display

Smooth high quality HD video

AVCHD lite compression with out loss in video quality

Rare availability of optical zooming while recording video

Very good image stabilization

HDMI output

Cons:

Just decent noise performance, about average in it’s class

Just average compactness

Face recognition does not work well

Lack of manual controls such as shutter speed, aperture etc..

Record/Playback switch means that you can’t quickly take a picture

or record with pressing the video or shutter button

Closest thing to perfect in a P & S
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
After going through about 4, P&S cameras and returning them, I finally settled on this camera. I tried Canon, other Pannys, Sony, Nikon and none had features or quality that I want. This camera is not perfect but it is the next best thing to lugging around my Nikon D700 for casual events. What I like: 1) size 2) price) 3) nice wide angle lens 4) great zoom capability 5) Amazing HD quality for recording videos and ability to zoom while recording 6) stereo mode in video recording 7) great battery life 9) auto lens cap (unlike the expensive LX3)

What I don’t like: 1) noise in ISO above 400 2) LCD monitor not bright enough in the sun – almost unusable 3) LCD monitor almost unusable in very dark rooms – especially when you want to zoom in 4) image stabilizer not that great (Sony is much better)

I could nit pik forever but these are just the main good and bad points about the camera. Even my $2500 Nikon D700 has it’s good and bad points. I’m not sure there will ever be a camera out there that will please everyone. I kind of compare digital cameras to cellphones. There are a number of cellphones I like but none are perfect. If they could combine all the good features and roll them up into one good cellphone or camera, I think I might be close to giving alot of products 5 stars.

Great package
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This camera has proven to be a great purchase. Easy to use, great photo and video quality, and the zoom/wide angle lens is exactly what I was hoping for from this portable. Great flexibility without the need for multiple cameras or lenses. Only negative, if you like to manage your pic taking with a lot of manual adjustments, this is not your camera.

Don’t waste your money…Worst camera..Go for CANON
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
I own this camera from about 2.5 months now. I am very disappointed with my purchase. Here is why.

1. PICTURES – I tried all the modes and none of them gave me crisp pics. They are blurry when compared to my previous 5MP Canon camera SD450. Taking NIGHT snapshot is a nightmare. They WERE NEVER BRIGHT.

2. VIDEOS – One main reason to buy this camera is HD movie capture. If I try to play a movie on the camera it freezes and I would need to remove the battery to fix it. When I play the videos on my laptop (Ofcourse they won’t play directly I have to convert them to MP4) movie play is sticky..freezes in between.

Overall its a very bad experience. I would NEVER buy Panasonic digital camera or camcorders (I own 30GB camcorder, which is again a waste of money too..)

Rather large, but features make up for size
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I think this is probably the best camera out there for taking high-def videos at 30fps, great still photos of course, and an incredible lens that ranges from 25mm wide angle (very wide!) to a 12x optical zoom.

There just isn’t any other camera with these features at this size — perfect for a family vacation where you want stills and high quality video, with an outstanding lens.

The closest competitor is the outdated Canon PowerShot TX-1 — which is also a great camera, but somewhat outdated as it is thicker, and the lens doesn’t get as wide nor as long (it’s a 10x optical.)

My only gripe is that it’s definitely hefty for a pocket camera — but the features are worth the cost in size and weight. A decent incremental improvement over the Canon TX-1.

Definitely recommended!

Lumix DMC-ZS3 amazes
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This camera is awesome. It is my second Lumix. Love the HD video. I wish amazon had given options to purchase a second battery with the camera to have a spare. The ones listed said “compatible with speciic Panasonic Lumix cameras” but didn’t list the product number. So I ended up with 2 batteries that don’t fit my camera and I have to send them back.

video recording
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Bought camera because my wife has shaky hands.The pictures still turn out great but she seems to hit the video record button by mistake a lot. Overall the best digital we ever owned for picture quality.

Returned it and bought the Canon SX200is
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
I’m a longtime owner of Canon cameras (both film and digital) and waffled between this Panasonic and the Canon SX200is for quite a while. Since they were so closely matched, I finally decided on the Panasonic for two reasons; I thought I would dislike the Canon’s automatically deployed flash, and I liked the “one-button” movie shooting of the Panasonic.

I used the Panasonic for about a week before sending it back for the Canon. I wasn’t satisfied with the picture quality, came to dislike the lack of manual controls, and really resented Panasonic’s proprietary (chipped) battery. While I knew about the automation in the Panasonic before I bought it, and was aware I could “hack” the camera’s firmware to allow it to use aftermarket batteries, those negative qualities finally overwhelmed any appreciation I had for the camera’s good qualities. Panasonic should be ashamed of themselves for their transparent ploy to force users to buy their $50.00 OEM battery, when aftermarket batteries are available for a third of that price.

The movie features of the Panasonic were very convenient and I suppose the stereo sound was an important feature (hear the *but* coming?), but I wanted a little camera primarily for shooting still pictures. If movies were that important to me, there are plenty of video cameras which take good still pictures.

The Panasonic is a very solid little camera which feels like a quality item – it just didn’t meet my needs.

This is a not a review of the Canon SX200is, but I have to say I’m glad I finally decided against the Panasonic.

Dave

Great Camera! Returned my SX200
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I have been a Canon fan for years. I have an elph and Rebel XTi, as well as a Canon Video camera… I am a Canon fan. I wanted a new camera so I naturally went towards the Canon SX200IS. I did lots of reading and found out that in the Super Zoom class, you have Panasonic and Canon for the most part. Great… now I just have to decide on which camera. Panasonic has better overall reviews, but the Canon certainly is not bad and it has full manual control… Done. I bought the Canon SX200IS.

I received from Amazon just in time for our annual Tulip Festival. Lots of pictures and video to be taken. I’ll start by saying the pictures were great from this camera. I wish you could zoom while taking video, but it wasn’t bad. The flash popping up wasn’t bad either. It only got in the way during the first few ‘shoots’.

The bad… the interface. I did not like the interface. It was too hard to choose scenes. Some scenes are easy to get too, and some not. The auto mode did not do as well as I wanted. My wife took it to a Red Wings Hockey game and she turned it off easy mode.

Finally, after a few days I noticed I would turn the camera off and the pop up flash would stay up. Not good as the camera is small enough to out in your pocket. I easily saw myself turning off and popping the camera in my pocket without looking… there goes the flash! I didn’t, but if I wasn’t paying attention, I may have. I also thought that I would never use the manual controls with all of the scenes on the camera.

I then went to Amazon and ordered the Panasonic ZS3. I got it and within 5 days I returned the Canon. The form factor is much nicer. Both camera are about the same size, but the ZS3 seems smaller. I don’t know what Panasonic did, but the camera just ‘felt’ better in my hands.

The interface… Panasonic did there homework! Quick menu and easy access to all scenes. Separate button to take video. Nice! Love the interface. Within a couple clicks you can choose size, ISO, max film speed, auto white balance and more. Or you can leave it in automatic and let the camera decide. Most of the time, the camera will make the right choice. The ZS3 made better choices than the SX200is most of the time. The automatic mode seemed to be more intelligent than Canon’s. I am not going to miss the full manual control.

Photos are as good as the Canon in my opinion.

Live histogram.

High speed burst… it get’s about 10 frames a second when you shoot 3 megapixel photos.

Video… can zoom while shooting. Not needed, but when you have it… nice! Shoots in AVCHD Lite. Mac OS X and iMovie 09 supports this now.

The Panasonic ZS3 is a nice camera. Highly recommended. Pricey, but nice.

great point and shoot camera for those who aren’t trying to be pro’s
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
the only downfall of this product is the fact that you can’t timestamp the pics as you are taking them. You need to take the pictures then insert a timestamp while they make a copy of the picture. I’ve called Panasonic and they were friendly and quick to call back with the tech support. Pictures are really clear and crisp. The 12x zoom is really useful.

The best megazoom camera out there
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I got everything and more I ever wanted in this tiny package. I just ordered another two batteries, a screen protector, carrying case and I’ll never need another camera again. It’s sturdy yet light. It’s a little thick but it zooms beyond expected. I love this camera. It’s worth every penny!!!!!

love it!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I really like the camera. haven’t read all directions yet. alot to read. the pictures i have taken have all turned out great. have 2 vacations coming up and can’t wait to get great pix of the scenery.

Stunning HD video
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I purchased this camera as an upgrade to my aging Canon A520 camera. 2 things that were prompting me to upgrade – pictures taken of my daughter’s basketball games in the dimly lit gym were not very good (either too dark and grainy or a streak of blur instead of a clear action shot). Second was video capabilities – the Canon just took 30 sec. max of small grainy video.

I got this camera a week ago and have to say I am very impressed with it! For issue #1, I took it to my daughter’s ball game on Saturday and tried it out. The pictures were definately an improvement. I will say that this scenario is very difficult for any point and shoot (low light – fast action – needing to zoom to get a close enough shot – not a good combo for a small lens). So, I wasn’t expecting miracles, just an improvement over the Canon and that is exactly what I got. The pictures were brighter and sharper – very usable. There was still some blur in extreme situations – shooting the basketball. There just isn’t enough light to completely stop the action. And if you look closely at the brighter shots, they are a little grainy due to higher ISO settings. But, unless you blow the picture way up, you don’t see it at all and it is still a huge improvement over the aging Canon.

The part that I didn’t expect was issue number 2. I expected longer recording times and better video quality. But what I got was nothing short of absolutely stunning video. I took video of my daughter’s choir concert. The stage is well lit with spotlights and I expected good video. What I got was razer sharp wide screen video that looks so good on my 50″ 1080p Plasma (Panasonic – so I can play the AVCHD video right from the card) it was hard to believe. Next I tried the basketball game – much less light. Again the video was nothing short of amazing. The picture looked just as good as it did with the well lit stage. Absolutely no noise or grain – just bright, colorful, beautiful video. I even compared it to my older Canon true camcorder (digital, but not HD) and the picture is better by far in bright light. In dim light, it is even more pronounced – the camcorder has a washed out grainy look – the ZS3 looks stunning. I always hated finding a tape with room, getting it to the right spot, charging the battery and lugging the camcorder along with a normal camera. Now, I don’t have to and I can still get stunning video. Condition 2 met wonderfully.

I haven’t tried all the features and modes yet, but with the auto mode working so well, I probably won’t use them much. A few thoughts:

- The mode wheel isn’t super stiff like on the Canon, but it’s tight enough that it doesn’t move on its own.

- The battery lasted for about 45 min. of video, about 30 flash pictures and a whole lot of playing around with menus, settings, etc. It charged in just under 2 hours.

- If you look around you can find a couple batteries that do work with firmware 1.2. I ordered on from Amazon for $25 that should arrive soon. The two hour charge time compared to my old 15 min. AA charger has me wanting the second battery for backup.

- The AVCHD plays wonderfully (no additional software) on my Windows 7 Core2 Quad machine. I had to install the included software and it still plays a little jerky on my Core2 Duo laptop. So I’m thinking you may need a decent machine to play the native video. However, I believe the included software can convert it to a less demanding format (with probably some quality loss) – I haven’t tried it.

- The zooming works well in video mode – it is plenty fast and while I did notice an occassional tiny amount of refocusing during the ball game while zooming, it was very slight and nothing more than my old camcorder did – especially in the low light.

- It appears to be very solidly built. I haven’t dropped it – yet, but even the controls and doors are hinged and solidly built – unlike the rubber covers on my Canon.

- The record button for video is a little awkwardly placed – I have to hunt to find it to stop recording and I think I will probably end up hitting it accidentally a few times when I don’t mean to.

For now, I am very happy with the still picture quality (understanding the limits of a compact point and shoot) and am totally amazed by the AVCHD video quality. I can see I’ll be purchasing a 1 TB drive soon to house all the video I’ll be taking now that it is much more convenient than my dedicated camcorder.

Edit – Since my last review I have used the camera a little more and have a couple minor complaints:

- The video I just took using the AI mode was a little overexposed – a band concert on a spotlit stage. Same stage as the Choir concert so I’m a little surprised by the different results. There is probably a better setting to have used, but I didn’t try. That leads to one of my minor gripes. Because you can’t see what the video mode will look like until you press the button and start recording, it’s kind of hard to tell if you need a different mode. It would be nice to be able to preview (and see how much time is left) before starting the video recording. If there is a way to do that I haven’t found it yet.

- I still don’t find the zoom too slow in video recording (like some other reviewers), but I did find it a little touchy. It was a little difficult to get just the zoom I wanted. I found myself zooming in and out too much trying to get just right framing. Might just be a getting used to it thing.

These are minor quibbles and don’t do anything to reduce my love of the camera. Just something to be aware of…

One final thing – I am using a class 4 8GB SD card and it is works fine for AVCHD video – not sure about Motion JPEG, but the AVCHD works fine with class 4.

Lumix DMC-ZS3
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
A very good point & shoot camera for the money. It takes surprisingly clear shots under darker lighting conditions, contrary to a few of the claims made by others in their reviews. Although this camera packs many features, I am disappointed at the fact that I cannot remove red-eye conditions through the unit itself without having to rely on software removal after the fact. Unfortunately, the red-eye control option does not always prevent the red-eye effect, and it would be nice to correct this problem with the click of a button.

The amazing Panasonic Lumix ZS3!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R30WIVTGL5TCSK Here is an unboxing & review of my new (blue) Panasonic Lumix ZS3 — I love it!

Well Done Panasonic
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
My family has had a DSLR for the past 4 years. It is a great Canon EOS Rebel, but portability and taking a spontaneous photo is not a strong suit. We have purchased two different great HDTVs from Panasonic and really didn’t consider them for this purchase initially, as they are not what I consider to be a “real” camera company.

We did a lot of research before making this purchase. We looked at Best Buy, Target, Sam’s Club, HH Gregg, and looked throughout 4 different online resellers (including Amazon). After finding the top 5 cameras, we did more research on ratings of each at Amazon, plus many other sites. We also went to independent websites focused on camera reviews. CNet was another that was very helpful of seeing videos on each camera. After looking at a specific website, they mentioned this Panasonic as a great camera. We were able to eliminate one of our top 5 and added this to the list. CNet gave a lukewarm review of this, but most of the smaller independent sites loved it. I wasn’t particularly impressed by the CNet reviewer as all of her reviews took a negative tone (this was more positive a review).

We were able to find every camera at a local retailer, but this Panasonic. Ease of use is important, but let’s face it, picture quality is more important than anything else. Most digital cameras come out grainy or, in some cases, so clear that people look nearly transparent (and really require a little softening). The only camera we found in the $250 – $400 price range with great picture quality was the Sony Cybershot DSC-HX1. It is a point-and-shoot, but it is a hybrid between a DSLR and point-and-shoot. Really what this means is it isn’t something you can easily slip into your pocket. It also relies on Sony’s proprietary “memory stick” technology which doesn’t fit into a computer without an adapter (easy to lose), not something sold at all retailers, and tends to be a bit more expensive. We really liked the camera, but these are concerns.

Now to this camera. We decided to take the leap based purely on suggestions online. A big leap. The camera is small, functional, lightweight, and also takes digital video. It has to auto picture-taking settings (standard and intelligent auto) with 3 additional settings that you can set (shutter speeds, etc. for specific types of settings). We have yet to use the manual settings, but have found the other two settings to be quite good. The pictures are clear, but soft enough where the pictures look great and print well. The videos have a great quality, can zoom during recording (most can’t), and taking multiple photos in a row wasn’t a problem. More than 90% of the photos turned out great, but we suspect the only photos needed for manual settings are extreme low-light (but even concerts look great) and for true close-up action photos. Overall, this is definitely superior to most, if not all point-and-shoots in the price range, and definitely worth the risk.

Brick and mortar stores are foolish not to carry this camera, but I would suspect this camera would raise the bar for most of the horrible point-and-shoots they carry on the low cost side. If you are considering a camera for under $200, do yourself a favor and wait another couple weeks for the money to purchase this one.

The ZS3 has no competition!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
After much research and use I have concluded that as of the date this is posted there is no camera that offers such wide angle and zoom combination in such a small form factor. I am also unaware of any camera that captures HD video in stereo AND can zoom during capture. I have compared the HD video taken with this camera to the video taken with my Sony HD video camera (a 1080i camera) and can’t appreciate much difference in the quality until there is very fast motion–ie balls thrown etc. I leave my camcorder at home now and have captured more moments with my kids than ever because I take the ZS3 everywhere. I have a Nikon D200 with a very nice nice fast lens (AF-S DX Zoom-NIKKOR 17-55mm f/2.8G IF-ED). I hardly break out that camera anymore because the ZS3 gives me such very fine results. The battery life is the best I have ever had in a small camera. My only gripe is that the video format AVCHD-Lite is not yet adopted by editing software.

ZS3 – Great overall camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
While I haven’t used it heavily yet I am very impressed with this camera. The zoom capabilities and lense clarity are amazing. I took a picture (no zoom used) of one of my kids from over 10 feet away with them standing in front of some badges they have earned. After taking the picture I was able to zoom on the picture and actually read the words on the badges. The badges are about 1.5 inches in diameter with letters that are less than 1/4 inches high! That is clarity

The video is amazing for such a small camera and does quite well. Haven’t played too much with that yet.

Overall construction is very good. Metal rather than plastic. It is fairly heavy and slightly larger than most compacts, but when you consider what they have put into this camera it’s size and weight are impressive.

Overall fit and handling when you are holding it is quite intuitive.

I would definitely recommend this camera.

Very impressed
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I considered this and the Canon SC200IS. I went with the Panasonic and am convinced that I made the right choice. Couple of things that I had issues with. Make sure the SD card is Class 6. Shooting full quality HD video quit because the older cards I had could not keep up. Older cards are great for pictures.

Biggest thing I did not care for on the Canon was the pop up flash.

The Panasonic is a very solid offering.

Very dissapointed!
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
I brought the DMC-ZS3 based on the rave reviews that I read on Amazon and other sites. Well I was very disappointed. The colors were artificial, washed out, and positively ghastly and the video was fuzzy. The sound on the video was tinny, muffled, and quiet. As for indoor shots with the flash, they were very poor. I used auto mode and program mode and tried every setting, but nothing really made much difference. The camera was totally unacceptable.

I should point out that pictures and videos looked and sounded great on the LCD screen, no problem there, but not when downloaded to my PC.

There is nothing wrong with my PC. I used QuickTime and Windows Media Player (with the right CODEC installed) to view the videos. I also tried them on my wife’s PC. The videos looked better on Windows Media Player, but not good enough.

Incidentally, I loved the 12x zoom and the great menus. But that doesn’t make up for the lousy images, video and sound.

In comparison, my old Canon SD1100 colors and resolution were excellent. The Canon video was great, even though it is not HD, and the sound was excellent. The Canon was superior in every respect, except for the ability to zoom while shooting a video. But who cares about the 12x optical zoom if the results are awful?

So I returned the DMC-ZS3 and I’m glad to be rid of it.

Then I bought a new Canon SD970 with HD video and wow what a difference! I took pictures and videos of the same scenes for comparison purposes. The new Canon DESTROYS the DSC-ZS3. I asked my wife and kids to compare the pictures and they agreed. The Canon pictures and videos are gorgeous. And the Canon’s sound is lovely. (But I wish I could optical zoom while shooting video.)

So I am truly baffled by the rave reviews of the Panasonic. I don’t think that my Panasonic was a lemon, but I suppose it’s possible. But then why would so many aspects of the camera be so poor? I didn’t compare it with another DMC-ZS3.

Buyer beware.

Great with some minor details
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Basically i’m impressed and happy about the Lumix camera. It takes really good pictures, even with zoom and some movement. It’s quite easy to use, my wife is quite happy about that, just using the iA and click to take her pictures. Of course the wide angle has proven useful in some situations and though I’ve only done some HD video test it seems perfect for what I’ll be suing it at work. The size is something tat at the beginning seemed like a problem, but after using it and getting to know all the advantages it offers then you forget about the size. The 3 inch LCD is perfect to have a look at your pictures. The face recognition part is not that great. It tends to mix people and you are only allowed to save up to 6 faces. So for me it’s just something to talk and merchandise about but nothing useful. In general is a really good camera and with and overall good price.

Excellent zoom and features, chose this over the Canon PowerShot SX200 IS
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Although I have a Nikon D80 DSLR, I needed a more compact point and shoot camera replacement for my aging Canon S60 with dying batteries. After reading a couple of reviews and a visit to a local camera store I decided to choose the ZS3 over the competing Canon SX200 IS with very similar features. Although the Canon is more familiar to me and has more manual features, the compact size of the Panasonic with better battery life, robust video functions and the fact that it’s still made in Japan (versus the Canon which is now manufactured in China) edged out the Canon for me personally (you may want to try both to decide for yourself). So far I have been very happy with this versatile camera – screen is big and bright, facial recognition is neat, zoom is remarkable for a camera of its size and the video quality is excellent for a camera. Only downside is that like the camera store employee said – the autofocus motors inside the Panasonics do seem to be quite loud – i.e. if you are aiming the camera around randomly you can hear the motors whirling away as it refocuses at different potential targets. I enjoyed this purchase and I would recommend this camera to anyone who is looking for a easy-to-use, high quality point and shoot with 12x optical zoom.

Great compact camera – Wide angle is the best!
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I used to have the TZ4 but lost it on a trip and I didnt know how much I missed the great ability to shoot wider angle shots! So when it came to looking for a new camera and found out a new model of the TZ/ZS series was coming out with even greater wide-angle ability I had to get it. The wide angle lens(~24mm) and 12X zoom gives this point and shoot camera the great ability to shoot all types of pictures in different situations (indoor/outdoor/sweeping landscapes, etc…) and some manual controls for flexibility. Has the ability to shoot 720p movies and zoom in/out during shooting. It also has a pretty big LCD screen. While certainly not a subcompact camera, this will still fit comfortably in a jacket pocket or even shorts pockets. The main drawback I’ve seen on this camera after a month is that the flash on the camera isnt the greatest and indoor shots can come out a bit dark in larger rooms.

Love my Lumix DMC-ZS3!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This ia an amazing camera. Very easy to learn to use, small enough to easily carry in my purse and I am very happy with the picture and video quality. Great product!

A Great Camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
My cousin’s husband was shooting pictures at a family gathering. I was very impressed with the clarity of the photos as well the ease of use.

It took great pictures in low lighting which has been difficult for me using another make and model “Point and Shoot” camera. I have been using it whenever we see our young grandchildren and I am very pleased with the results. I would highly recommend this camera to everyone.

Pretty decent ultra zoom pocket camera
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I bought this camera for my recent two-weeks vacation trip. Previously I was using Canon A510 and I loved that camera, thinking, that I’d be Canon’s fan for many future models. At the time I wanted to upgrade I made several-month-investigation looking forward to seeing Canon releasing a perfect camera for me. Perfect for my requirements would be small sized, a nice 10x+ zoom, around 10Mpx matrix, good picture quality and good video quality (preferably HD). Months were passing and nothing new apart of IS SX200 appeared on the market. The latter after summarizing all pros and cons lost the fight with Lumix ZS3.

I’ve chosen ZS3 for its compact size, nice zoom, optical zoom capabilities while filming, wide angle and HD movies. I have to admit, that lumix did a pretty good job with my pictures I was taking for the last month. I regret though that it tends to change colors completely where my old Canon very adequately transferred real-world colors into the digital pictures. During the day I think ZS3 did very well easily leaving A510 behind because of the zoom capabilities and ultra-wide angle (25mm) view. It’s amazing how many objects can now fit into the picture compared to my previous photos. During the night however or at the sunrise I’d say I liked the Canon better. The reason for that is the sky, although looking pretty warm, had totally different color at the picture compared to what I saw with my eyes. Beach during the night in ‘starry night’ mode (15/30/60 s exposure time) ended up in being GREEN !!! That is not acceptable for me. Other pictures in night light also had mangled colors, which could only be fixed with manual ‘white balance’ set (you can set it with ZS3). I was expecting from Intelligent Auto present at ZS3 something more accurate. I also cannot understand why iA mode can’t take pictures in 16:9 format in higher resolution than 2.5MB !??? Shooting a fullmoon was also hard to do. Using all possible tricks I finally managed to take its picture after doing 30+ pictures earlier. With my previous Canon it only took few to make a nice sharp photo (with worse zoom though of course). One advantage of the new ZS3 is ability to do pretty sharp night photos without using flash – Optical Image Stabilization is doing a great job, allowing to catch more of the background behind the object sharply.

Overall I would recommend this camera to people who want to do nice wide-angle pictures during the day and don’t expect doing any artistic photography. Camera is small taking into consideration it’s 12x zoom and has a nice large LCD screen with excellent resolution (460K pixels). When I look at movies on a regular TV (no-HD) motion picture looks much better on the small screen of the camera, than the big tube; On a HD-ready 16:9 screen – movies are excellent!

What I’m missing in the camera are manual settings I had in my simple Canon. I don’t think that will come as a firmware upgrade though, cause they want to you to buy even more expensive model to have that. Weird thing is that cheaper models tend to have manual settings available.

As for battery – I thought my batteries would do a little better than what I have observed. I managed to do around 200 pictures mixed with video shooting + some reviewing. For that reason I have bought 2 additional batteries and degraded firmware to 1.1 to allow third-party manufacturer savings.

At the end I wish Amazon hasn’t changed their price a couple of days after I ordered my product, which would save me around 25$. Customer service didn’t want to hear about that refund :////

To sum up here are Pros:

- 12x optical zoom (also while filming)

- 460K pixels LCD bright screen

- stereo microphone

- ultra wide angle (25mm)

- pretty decent small size compared to functions

- AVCHD (makes great quality movies with less storage needed)

Cons:

- No manual controls

- Some colors tend to be changed during evening/sunrise

- I think I had smoother pictures with Canon earlier

- menu changes depending on the mode you’re shooting in, which tends to be confusing (like economy options not available in iA)

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 vs Canon SX200i
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
I previously owned a Canon SX200i and I was not fully satisfied with it, and after I read all these great reviews about the Panasonic ZS3 I decided to give it a shot. First of all the ZS3 has advantages on portability, and its ability to zoom while recording video. But that’s about it! Images are blurry when you zoom in to take shots; the video is more like SD quality, other than HD 720P; pictures are very grainy and noisy in night shootings. In my view the Canon SX200i delivers better image and video quality; it doesn’t get as much noise as the ZS3. Manual setting can sometimes help to minimize the noise or lighting issues but the ZS3 just can’t do it. It is your call to decide which is a better camera but I am going back to my Canon.

Great Camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Great camera for almost everything a family would need. The only thing this is not great at is low light shots. This is a problem with most or all digital cameras .

Would buy again, will recommend to a friend.

FYI and 8 gig card holds 1300 pics… a bit overkill .. A 4 gig would have been enough.

The most shots on an outing was around 150. After shooting and downloading to my PC, the battery was still 1/2 full. An extra battery is needed for a multi day outing , but I haven’t needed one yet.

The video this shoots is very good. This is where the 8 gig card comes in handy.

I have nothing bad to say other that the low light issue.

Hope this helps.

Fred

ZS3 and ME
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
After doing a lot of research, I decided the ZS3 was the camera for me. I needed the wide angle for indoor home pix for real estate listings. This camera is so easy to use but does have more fun features to change the look of images. The 12X zoom and video set it apart from other cameras.

Very pleased with camera, not with lack of memory
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I am very pleased with this camera as a whole. I was disappointed when I opened it to find it did not include a memory card or an HDMI mini-cable. This was not pointed out in the description of the product and I am not familiar with buying electronics so I didn’t even think about it prior to the purchase. With that said, I am pleased with the camera itself.

Indeed! Par excellence….
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
Got my ZS3, few days ago and I tried taking picture in Central Park NY, then I went to time square to get a shots of the square with mesmerizing neon lights.

The pictures were great, even my night shots of the Time Square, I love this camera…… I own several cameras from the past like

Canon Elf , Sony cyber shots, Samsung, Nikon but this one blows me away. The colour is so vivid and its easy to use. The video is great!

Disappointed
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
Expert reviews raved about picture quality, I even downloaded their test pics which were great. Real life use of 2 months & my test pics are not great. Pictures are quite noisy (when zoomed in to 100% size the picture is full of blurry colored little blots) and only sharp in very bright light. In real use my pics from 4 year old 7 MPX Sony H5 are better

Lumix DMC-ZS3
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Great product, pictures are awsome, the Big LCD is very helpful for some of us that need reading glasses to see things well, I find with this camera I don’t need to search for the reading glasses. The on screen menus are intuative and easy to follow. Love the real small battery charger! I would highly recommend this camera for anyone looking for an easy to use, high quality point and shoot digital camera.

I NEED HELP! How to get MAC Preview to render clear images of ZS3 10 MP shots
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I am making some simple mistake – please help! I have a MAC G5/OS 10.5.8/2 GB dram running Preview 4.2 (all software up to date). Previously I had a 2 MP Fuji 2650 and its jpegs looked fine with this setup. Now with the ZS3 the 10 MP photos looked muddy and ill-focused, 5 MP and 3 MP of the same subject look much better. I think it must be some issue with how the Preview program is set to display the photos. When I change the jpegs to actual size, and zoom subjects in the 10 MP shot to the same size as the 5&3 MP shots they look almost identical (so I think the camera is focusing correctly) – but when I simply double-click on the jpegs the 10 MP shots look awful. Is this because the 10 MP shots are downsampled more? How can I get all the jpegs to render well? Am I supposed to use some Preference setting like “respect image and screen DPI for scale”? Could this be a setup issue (haven’t read the manual much)? Could this be because I haven’t imported into iPhoto with which I am not that familiar?

As for the ZS3 the dedicated movie button is awesome, the zoom is quite nice to have but uses so much juice that the battery shuts down pronto! I actually find the wideangle annoying, have to read to see if I can defeat that default state. Haven’t tried to view the AVCHD lite video yet, sounds like getting it to work will be a lot of work. I really like the package as seemingly the best you can get and still carry in your pocket but man the battery issues are a serious problem if you zoom much; not to mention the price and availability problems of the OEM battery and the 1.2 software shutdown of non-OEM batteries that sell for much less!

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 – great camera for the price
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Coming from an older Sony digital point & shoot (p&s) camera that was very compact but limited in features compared to the latest p&s digital cameras that are available, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 (Silver) is a major improvement. Yes, I’ve read many of the other reviews and some of the negative comments about short battery life and not great in low light situations but, come on, for the price of admission this camera packs a lot of punch. Great 10MP and 12X zoom along with wide angle capability makes this camera worth the wait. It came down to a few Canons and the Panasonic Lumix DMX-ZS3 and after reading several professional reviews I have to say the Panasonic wins in my opinion. It’s everything I expected and more (stereo recording, able to zoom in and out when in the video mode, etc.) I recommend this camera for anyone interested in the latest state of the art p&s digital camera.

Finally, an excellent pocket camera!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I have owned several different cameras including a couple Sony’s, both of which completely underperformed and left me upset in a variety of situations (low light, poor zoom, etc.). This camera comes through on all fronts. I recently took some group photos along with some other friends who used their cameras including another brand pocket camera and a nicer 35mm (we all used our automatic point and shoot settings). The shots with my camera were the ones everyone wanted a copy of – say no more.

Great Point & Shoot Camera, Excellent Video! But flash is too strong.
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
This is an excellent point and shoot camera. Great picture quality. The video is incredible…HD and it allows you to zoom while recording. My only complaint is that the flash is so strong that it can wash out the pictures, especially in low light (thus the 4 star rating instead of 5). Otherwise, I couldn’t ask for a better camera.

Not bad, but could be better OR cheaper
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
Pros:

1. Made in Japan (NOT in China) !!!

2. Zoom range.

3. 3″ High resolution screen.

4. HD videos with zoom.

Cons:

1. The sensor is too small for such a camera -> granulation in low light. Less expensive Fujifilm Finepix F70EXR has bigger sensor and better quality photos in low light.

2. Buggy software in the camera – sometimes some modes get frozen.

3. Bundled Software on included CD – a piece of junk, as usual for digital cameras, a bunch of useless extras. DOESN’T OPEN OWN AVCHD VIDEOS from a camera (.MTS format) for editing. A BUMMER! It’s a must for such an expensive top-line camera to have full editing package included. So use/buy 3rd party video editing software.

4. Original battery goes down pretty fast, buy spare one (not cheap – $50).

5. Default Intelligent Auto (iA) mode sometimes is not intelligent enough, doesn’t provide best quality.

6. Be careful with wide angle lenses – bent lines, etc. Other cameras make better pics from the same point/distance with the same frame.

Overall not bad camera, but price should be about $200 (not 300) because of a small sensor, quality and installed/included software. Disappointed. Overpaid.

Awesome Combo Camera!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I went from Canon SD1100 to Panasonic ZS3 because I was look for 2-in-1 camera with HD video and 10 mega pixels or more still photo. Yet it is small enough to carry around to get frequent use out of it. The bonus is 12x zoom that works in video and still modes. Everything about the camera is great, simple to use, vivid clear video and still photo, terrific auto shot modes, wide screen shot, etc… I got my last week for $374 included shipping. The AVCHD video mode is awesome!

ZS3 Meets My Needs and Expectations
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
The Panasonic ZS3 is doing just what I expected it would. Its performance on “automatic” while indoors produces very good photos. I’ve tried tinkering with the few adjustments that are available indoors (flash on, flash off, etc.) and I’ve decided that the camera should be the boss.

Some reviews have commented on the lack of excitement in the colors the camera produces. Again, without having played with the options (white balance, etc.) on previous cameras, I haven’t done anything with the ZS3. I use Photoshop Elements v.3 on most every photo I’ve taken with my two previous Canon’s and the ZS3, using the automatic “lighting” and “color” fixes. The Canon shots sometimes came out quite a bit zippier after the software played with them. But the ZS3 shots don’t change much. Perhaps they are a tiny bit dull…or perhaps the ZS3 is getting it right the first time around and PS Elements likes what it is seeing. Sorry. I don’t know “color” very much, but I’m very happy with what I’m getting.

My optical zoom has gone from 3x with the two Canons to 12x with the ZS3. BIG difference. But I have to be extremely careful with the zoom. I depend on it too much, the end up with blurring, especially indoors. Gotta stop being a Couch Potato. Gotta get up and get closer to the subjects and not depend on the zoom to take me across the room.

I’m happy with the camera. I’d buy it again. And here I thought that only Nikon and Canon could make cameras….

Great compact digital camera!!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
After a lot of research and reading countless reviews I decided to go with the Panasonic Lumix ZS3. I have never owned a Panasonic camera before and am very pleased with my purchase. I have always bought Canon or Sony cameras with no major complaints. Last Dec (2008) I purchased a Casio Elixim when the button broke on my Sony. Mainly because of it’s small size. This was a major mistake…I have never owned a worse camera!! This time around I decided to check professional and private reviews and saw the Lumix ZS3 pop up on the majority of top 10 lists. I was between this camera and the Canon IS990. The Lumix however has a 12x optical zoom which I did not find on any other compact digital. This is a huge plus when traveling. It has only been about 1 month since I’ve owned the camera but I have nothing bad to say about it. We bought it for our trip to Barcelona and took 600+ photos which came out great. The HD video is amazing but the software is a little tricky. Also, the “burst mode” allows you to take continuous shots for moving objects. The only down side is that there is obviously no flash so make sure you have good lighting.

This works for me!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I wanted a nice camera to replace an older Panasonic that I bought at Target on sale for 100 bucks three years ago. The old one was okay but I was never able to get great pics and the optical zoom was only 3x so I decided to look for something better. I wanted something that did not need me to make decisions so manual controls were not important. I wanted lots of zoom and the best video capabilities for vacations and family events coming up. And I wanted something that could fit into my purse when going on the town. I landed on the Cannon, Samsung and Panasonic Superzooms, as cnet calls them. I really liked what I heard about the Sony H20 but the size was just too much. After knocking out the Cannon based on reviews and that pop up flash it has, I got the Samsung because it was cheaper than the Panasonic. It was fine but bulky and I just didn’t like it for purely unexplainable subjective reasons. I didn’t like the size and the menus didn’t feel intuitive, to me. Returned it and got the Panasonic and I love it.

The size, feel, menus and features all fit what I wanted. I have used it outside and indoors and it works well for me. Much better than my older camera but I guess that is to be expected. I have trouble with purples but I have been told by a photographer friend of mine that it is a very difficult color for any camera to capture. Indoor low light isn’t the best but I think that is just something to be expected with point and shoots. Macro shots are really great. I can really see the difference in details between this and my older camera. I took it to a body building show and was able to zoom up close and get great shots. The camera was quick enough to get a shot as the competitors moved through their poses. I took about 300 shots that night and used 1 of three bars of battery energy. I use the flash very rarely because I seem to get the best results without it. I keep this camera in my purse and it goes everywhere i do. i take so many more pictures now and they much better. Mission accomplished.

There is a well talked about problem with sourcing extra batteries. I know some people find the situation to be highly irritating but I really couldn’t care less. This is not a problem for me as I have not yet depleted the battery during use (300 shots at bodybuilding show is about as much as I would use it in a day) and am close enough to electrical outlets each night to recharge if needs be. Were I to lose my battery I would start to care very quickly about this problem:)

Great Amateur Camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Great value, easy to use, good quality pictures. The Leica lens is a plus and the zoom works great! I’m happy I decided to buy this camera and not the Canon.

Don’t Buy for HD video
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
When I got this camera, I had high expections. All the reviews point to it being a great camera: Great pictures, mainly automated, and HD video. WOW!! However, my wow soon changed to this thing %^$&%^$ sucks!! The pictures are OK, nothing special. But the HD is a disaster. I am trying to figure out who’s the moron, and I am being nice, who thought of using HD as a selling point, without the ability to get the HD video off of the FREAKIN’ camera!! Yes. You read right. It is very very difficult, if not impossible to get your high definitions off the camera and onto a CD or DVD. Call tech support you say. Forget it!! Talking to them is like talking to a wall. I will never buy another Panasonic anything again. They have total ticked me off. If for some stupid reason you still think you want this product and do not beleive me, just do a google search on someothing like “Getting ZS3 HD video to DVD”. I am sure you will see a list of people with the same complaint I have.

Quite splendid
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Relatively inexpensive digital cameras have now progressed to the point that there is very little reason to use 35 mm film cameras. I previously had a Canon S70 digital camera. That was a good camera at the time, but slightly lower quality than film cameras I’ve used. The ZS3 is a substantial step forward. It’s a great camera. And fun. And pretty easy to use.

Amazing camera and superb lens = very satisfied
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I have been following this camera and reviews of it ever since it debuted in late spring 2009. I’m going to Europe in September and knew I needed something to live up to its grandeur. I didn’t want to be “that typical tourist with their 3 pound dSLR”. The ZS3, although not compact, is much more versatile than an SLR in terms of grabbing it and going somewhere on a whim. You also don’t have to make a scene if you just want to take a simple photo during dinner. It fits easily in a jacket pocket or sweatshirt but still packs a lot of features. The lens is AMAZING – there is no other point and shoot on the market with a 25mm wide angle to 12x optical range. The intelligent auto mode works very well, I love not having to worry about tweaking small flash or iso settings. The HD video is also very good. They claim 720p video, but it is not like watching a blockbuster dvd. However, it is still very good quality video and the sound it picks up is terrific (used it at a concert and it sounded just like I was there, no fuzz). Battery life is good, although Panasonic seems to have sold out of the replacement battery, I hope they get on that soon. Overall, I’m so glad I bought this camera, way better than other compacts on the market.

LCD screen broke ridiculously quickly
Rating:1 out of 5 stars

Great camera. I liked it a lot – it took really nice photos and movies, looks nice, easy to use, good. Or at least, that was my initial impression until after having it for about 8 days, the lcd screen developed a whole bunch of blurred, distorted lines and a black section. Making the lcd screen, and hence the camera, useless.

And i have not dropped it, or really manhandled it in any way – unless keeping the camera in a bag with just itself is manhandling when i took it down to the park for some photos, or leaving it on a shelf is somehow manhandling it. And that’s pretty weak if so. I don’t know what the camera problem is, the lcd screen itself isn’t cracked in any way, but whatever is under it is very very broken.

[Aside] Called amazon, and they put me through to jewellery repairs team, who weren’t there. So that was… um, not very useful?

Very impressive device
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I think for the money, this camera cannot be beat.

It takes extraordinarily good photographs for a P&S.

And, it takes better video than my couple of years old DV recorder, thanks to its HD capability.

Basically, I can carry this one camera and do everything that I was doing AND MORE than with two cameras by my side.

At first, my wife complained that it was not a good replacement for our slim 3x zoom camera.

She has since changed her tune as well, because it is very flexible — it is as close to all-in-one that I know.

(I have not seen sample photographs from the Canon Vixia HFS100, but that video camera is twice or more the cost.)

Wide or zoom, photo or video, the Panasonic ZS3 has it and does it all pretty well.

Note: you will not like the video if you do not use a memory card, because it only does QVGA (320×240) internally.

BEST ON THE MARKET!! COST VERY INEXPENSIVE!!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
WOW!!! PURCHASE Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 $239 FREEE SHIPPING!!!!!!!!!!!

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 meets all the positive reveiws written. Expert reweiw from [...]. Video was great! But use indoors have enough lighting to bring out colors and clarity. If you shoot with low or normal lighting video appears dark. ENJOY AND HAVE FUN !!!!

Suggestion: 1. Transcend 16 GB Class 6 SDHC Flash Memory Card TS16GSDHC6E fast and penty of storage.

2. Tripp Lite Mini-HDMI to HDMI Cable (6 feet) $1.96 plus shipping works great!

3. Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 ClearTouch Crystal Screen Protector (Single Pack) $6.95 plus shipping Fits perfect had no trouble with bubbles or dust clean surface and lcd completely will do the job.

4. Joby GP1-D1EN Gorillapod Flexible Tripod (Grey) What a great tripod! mini and flexible $21.95 free shipping.

5.[...] I kept wondering about reveiws on battery purchase and worry about 1.2 version firmware. No problem! went to bestbattery website found DMW-BCG10 Li-Ion Rechargeable Digital Camera Battery (For All Firmware Versions) for Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1 DMC-ZS1 DMC-ZS3. Battery cost $16.75 plus shipping $4.78 fast delivery. I put this battery in camera first and work fine!!!

6. SqaureTrade 3-Year Camera Warranty: Cameras/Camcorders $250-$300

Well organized website. $34.95

7. Lowepro Rezo 30 (Black) Carring case useful $11.18 free shipping

Super compact travelling camera!!
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
Great camera that takes fantastics photos and videos.

A few irritating things are related to the video mode:

1) The ‘video record bottom’ is placed so I sometimes start recording video when not expected. I would prefer a seperate video mode on the dial-selector like in previous models!

2) you max can take 8 min HD video due to the 2 GB record limit (due to the eFAT32 format) – tried to reformat my 16 GB card to NTFS, but that is not supported by the camera.

But overall a GREAT camera that I only can recommend you to purchase!!

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
Why, oh why did I not read the negative reviews on this camera before I bought it? I got so wrapped up on the camera’s “capabilities” and all the positive reviews I was sure it was the ideal camera for me. I take a lot of photos, just novice but am able to get decent shots out of my old Sony Cybershot DSC-W80. I was looking for a bigger zoom and the HD video feature stood out on the Panasonic.

First, the camera is not intuitive. Second, it is bigger and bulkier than I expected. There are a lot of non user-friendly features that I was unhappy with and the camera just didn’t seem to fit well in my hand — always bumped the dial to a different setting. I used the camera for two weeks with no real increase in picture quality compared to the old Sony.

Then, all of a sudden, my LCD screen went bezerk. It had a rainbow of vertical lines that made the screen worthless and camera worthless since there isn’t a viewfinder. I then went to the negative reviews and noticed that another user had the same problem and contacted Panasonic for warranty repair. After reading what happened to the other user though, I had very low expectations: “The warranty department stated that NO EXTERNAL DAMAGE IS COVERED AT ALL. Regardless of the fact that my camera was clearly brand new, and that this was obviously some defect in the camera or screen, Panasonic was unwilling to stand by their product. Instead Panasonic stated “We can replace your unit with a factory reconditioned unit. This product, its operation and its appearance is like that of a new unit and it carries a 90 day warranty.” The cost would be an additional $135.50 for this reconditioned unit. So basically I would pay $535.50 for a reconditioned camera with a 90 day warranty.” This is verbatim what happened to my camera. There was NO damage whatsoever to the camera but they claimed it was “ABUSED” and therefore not covered under warranty. I am completely outraged and have asked for my camera just to be sent back without repair. I told Panasonic I would rather spend the additional money on a new Canon SD800IS (which is the one I was considering) than to give a company with such poor customer service more money. I know a lot of people like this camera but BUYER BEWARE…you are screwed if you get a lemon camera. $400 down the drain…

both worlds
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
i was looking for a good camera that can take HD video as well and this Panasonic is doing a great job in both. Highly recommanded

Good Camera but very poor Battery Life
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
Have been using the camera for 2 weeks now. The camera works great, great zoom, easy to handle, video quality much improved, but the battery goes dead very quickly. On top of that you need to be an engineer to be able to buy a replacement battery unless you want to wait for 2 months and buy the original Panasonic battery for US$ 59. Still the camera is good, just do not plan on shooting a lot with just one battery.

Fantastic Camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I love the new Lumix ZX3. This camera has an amazing 12x zoom lens and a fantastic 3″ upgraded display. For the price and the size of the camera, I don’t think there’s a better choice. Using HD video (720p) is a snap with the dedicated video button. The AVHCD lite format integrates perfectly with iMovie on the Mac. Even the higher ISO pictures (up to ISO800) are usable, which is a far cry from other cameras this size.

There are some negatives with the camera. While operation speed is decently quick, it is not class-leading. Takes a second or two to start up and there is a bit of shutter lag. Also, the face identification system is mostly inaccurate. The camera thinks that my 5 year old daughter and her friend who has a significantly darker complexion are both me, a man in his 30′s with glasses and facial hair. The battery life is decent, but for shooting a full day likely will need a recharge or second battery.

My primary camera is a Nikon D90 but for a second camera that’s highly portable, takes great pictures, has a massive zoom, and terrific HD video, the Lumix ZX3 stands above the crowd. I highly recommend buying this model if you are in the market for something in its class.

WOW!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I got this camera for Christmas. The camera I had previously was a Canon Coolpix. I’m big into snapping, but strictly novice and can’t be bothered with manual settings. So I helped pick out the Lumix based on most of the reviews on Amazon. However, I never think I’m going to be as lucky or excited as others when it comes to total camera satisfaction. But I really love this camera! I live about a mile away from the Empire State Bldg, so I used the zoom on a few snaps just to test it out. WOW!! I cannot believe the clarity of the bldgs with max zoom. I was also able to zoom in on helicopters, birds and the moon with ease. The camera works well in low light and I love that the red video button stands alone for quick video capture, instead of frantically spinning the dial to find video mode. I really can’t think of anything I don’t like about this camera. I do wish it had WiFi capabilities, but there are other cameras for that. Actually, this is the first camera I chose for picture quality over some gimmicky function. I would higly recommend this camera to everyone!

Best Point & Shoot
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
We had to replace a broken Sony DSC W1. It was an early model with 3 megapixels. One thing I learned early was that megapixels over 3 or 5 are meaningless without a good glass lens like the Zeiss in the Sony. The Panasonic Lumix has 10 megapixels and a Leicha glass lens. The picture quality is beautiful. The battery lasts a long time and you can get bigger ones on eBay for $20. The charger is great. The best part is the zoom. It has 12X zoom. Compared to my olod Sony with 3X, the Lumix is light years better for the zoom alone. The Lumix alos has some sort of image stabilization which is a noticible improvement over the old Sony.

I don’t give a darn about all the high res video with stereo sound capabilities. I wanted a camera for taking pictures. The Lumix takes great pictures, zooms in like a telescope, steadies the image, and still manages to fit in the same small case as my old Sony point and shoot. For compact performance, you just can’t beat it.

First impressions
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I’ve had the ZS3 for about 12 hours and have barely scratched the surface (not literally of course). My initial impression is of a high-quality build and feel (lens zooming is way quieter than my Canon A570, for example), detailed photos, and LOTS of functionality. Of course I love the zoom range, LCD image quality, and HD video. I just shot a little AVCHD lite, put it on my laptop using the Panasonic software, and watched it on TV over HDMI. Worked like a charm. I may not bother buying the HDMI cable for camera-to-TV, since it was so easy transferring to my laptop.

I read so many reports of loose mode dials on this model that I expected it. But the mode dial is NOT loose at all on my camera. It is exactly as tight and notchy as I would want. Apparently it’s not endemic to the camera.

I may add to this review when I have more experience with the camera.

Most versatile point and shoot available
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
There are many reviews that discuss the overall merits of this camera quite well. I would like to highlight just a few that I think haven’t been emphasized enough.

* The 3″ hi resolution screen is a delight. I did not think it would make that much difference but it does. This is the first camera that I felt I could examine the quality of the picture using the on board screen. Playback is wonderful.

* They seem to have fixed the loose mode dial. The dial on my camera (bought in December 2009) is quite snug.

* The slide switches for power and camera/playback are preferable to the push button switches in my mind. The power on is quicker since it does not require a built in delay that the push buttons need (to avoid accidental turn on). You can also turn the power on by feel which is handy when you are trying to avoid disturbing a scene. The slide switch on playback mode is convenient for review and downloading since the lens is not popping out in your hand when you turn the camera on. The downside, as pointed out elsewhere, is that you may forget to switch back to camera mode and miss a shot. Again, after a while, you get in the habit of checking the switch, which you can do by feel.

* The separate movie record button is brilliant. Why this isn’t a standard feature on all cameras, I do not know. It is not difficult to push, and it is not too easy to push (i.e. making accidental movies).

* The quick menu feature is excellent. This is the first camera I have had with this feature and it helps tremendously in making the advanced features of the camera much more accessible and therefor more likely to be utilized.

* The camera feels lighter than I expected which is nice because I like to keep it in a shirt pocket. It fits quite easily in Men’s shirt pockets. Doesn’t sag my shirt as much as my Rollei 35, which is my longtime standard 35mm.

* The frame of the camera is clearly quite rugged and gives it a solid feel. I am sure the internals are well anchored to this frame, however the plastic doors and front and back panels seem a bit fragile. This is one area that Canon clearly has the edge – their exterior panels and doors are beautifully designed and give their cameras a bit more of a quality feel in the hand.

* The movie modes of this camera make it probably the first true dual mode camera on the market. I think this form factor will dominate as opposed to the video cam form factor (that also takes stills). I will certainly be retiring the old DV cam.

Overall, this is the most well thought out and feature-rich point and shoot camera I have seen. I think I will be using it for a long time.

Proprietary Battery and Average inside picture quality
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
This camera replaced my Canon Powershot. After about 6 weeks of usage, the inside pictures are just not measuring up to my Canon. What attracted me to the camera was its wide angle and zoom features – after the first week we were going to return it, but chose to give it some more time – now its really too late to return it, but over all this is going to be more of an outdoor camera. Also, you should know that this camera now has firmware that prevents any battery other then a Panasonic battery from working, so all the generic brands that are sold on Amazon will not work. What is most disturbing about this is Panasonic made this decision without ensuring adequate supply. The battery is not available on Panasonic’s own web site, my local camera stores, and its very difficult to find on the web. Amazon will have it in stock the end of December, for $50.00, a mark up over Panasonic’s list price of 40.

Be aware of Panasonic’s Warranty Terms!
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
The Lumix DMC-ZS3 is a point and shoot camera (no manual controls) which performs very well and produces a very good picture quality in good light while it is working. The low light performance is less impressive, pictures appear to be a bit grainy. Overall, I liked the camera.

The LCD of my red Lumix failed after six weeks and I then experienced the poor quality of their customer support. They promised to send me a new camera. Instead they shipped a refurbished one (the sticker on it said 90 days warranty and that tells you in how far they stand behind their product) in black. It had escaped their quality control (if existing) that this camera looked more like a ZS1 than a ZS3 as the AVCHDlite HD letters on the front were missing. The accompanying letter, however, stated that it had been “refurbished to exact factory specifications”. I contacted customer support again and was told that under their warranty terms I could claim a refurbished camera only. They would check, however, the availability of a different color. Later I was told to return the refurbished camera, they would send a new one. This “new” camera had the correct color and came in the original box. The box, however, showed signs of extended use and the enclosed invoice stated that the camera was “factory reconditioned”. The firmware version was outdated. Would you trust their oral statement that this camera was brand new? However, what else could I claim for a 6 weeks old camera under their warranty terms?

If you decide to buy the DMC-ZS3 you are lucky if it fails during the first four weeks of use because you then can return it without problems to most stores. Thereafter you have to deal with broken promises and additional shipping costs and you may end up with something which is not identical to what you sent in, with a sticker on it “Refurbished in Mexico for Panasonic”.

A $3,500 lens – For Under $400
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Leica is famous for the quality of their lens designs. A 24mm super-wide angle lens provides a much greater field of view than the more common 35mm wide angle lens. A 24mm ultra-wide lens makes it possible to take interior photos that show a large portion of a room, or to take architectural photos of entire buildings, even in tightly packed urban areas.

The problem is that Leica’s famous 24mm super-wide angle lens costs about $3,500. But, now Leica has designed a 25mm to 300mm zoom lens for the Panasonic ZS1 and ZS3 which has even LESS visible distortion (bowing of straight lines, such as doors and window frames) and vignetting (darkening of the photo’s corners) than does Leica’s famous 24mm lens.

The Panasonic DMC-ZS1 and DMC-ZS3 share a superb Leica-designed zoom that provides outstanding performance from the super-wide 25mm range, through to the 50mm “normal” range waaay up to very long telephoto zoom of 300mm…and the lens provides excellent color and contrast in every part of that very long range.

There are NO zoom lenses or digital cameras available at ANY price level that will outperform the Panasonic ZS series for ultra-low distortion, rich colors and excellent contrast throughout the entire ultra-wide to long telephoto range of the ZS cameras.

The Panasonic ZS series cameras are designed to be easy to use. Putting them in the “intelligent auto” mode enables the camera to make all of the decisions. You simply zoom in on your subject, press the shutter very slightly to pre-focus, wait a second to see the focus confirmation “dot”, then press the shutter to take your photo.

The camera will automatically switch to the “macro” mode if you are taking a photo of something a few inches from your lens, it will recognize a person’s face and switch to the “portrait” mode for natural skin tones, and it re-adjusts the ISO level and shutter speed to match the lighting conditions for each photo.

Outdoors, the “intelligent auto” mode delivers consistently fine photos with natural color tones and contrast. The photos are “sharp” due to Panasonic’s auto stabilization mode, which makes it possible to get hand-held photos that are tack sharp, even at the full telephoto range of 300mm.

WARNING: Flash photos tend to be mediocre unless you are careful. The “intelligent auto” mode is most effective in with subjects that are very close…about three feet to six feet from the camera. Beyond six feet, many flash photos are darker than most people would prefer. The solution is to switch to the manual mode, and select a higher ISO of 200 or 400. The flash results are best in a well lighted room. However, the tiny flash, and a mediocre indoor “white balance” results in flash photos that are too dark, and with skin tones that are “off”. As a indoor flash camera, the Panasonic is average…or even less than average.

Panasonic provides many “scene” options, including a “night mode” that takes beautiful time exposures in dim lighting. I took some “night mode” shots in a dark coffee shop without flash that perfectly recreate the mood of the dimly lighted room. Also, in the manual mode, users can set the maximum ISO they want to use, and set the minimum shutter speed they prefer. So, for a sports photo, you can chose to use ONLY shutter speeds of 1/250 of a second or faster to “freeze” the action. Or, you can switch to the “sports” mode, and the camera will select a fast shutter speed, and lock the focus to keep subjects beyond about 16 feet away in sharp focus.

The manual options give users dozens of ways to tailor their photos, including ways of fine-tuning the color balance. The instruction book uses 140 pages to detail all of the options for every type of photo. It is worth an owner’s time to work page by page through the entire 140 pages to learn everything this camera can do.

But, MOST people will be happy to simply put the camera in “intelligent auto” mode and let the camera make all of the decisions. With just a hour or two of practice, anyone should be able to obtain fine photos consistently.

Digital “noise” is always an issue with pocket sized compact digital cameras. However, with the ZS cameras the digital “noise” is well controlled. In an 8 x 10 inch enlargement, it would take a very keen eye to see any “noise” in the ISO 80 to ISO 200 range. At ISO 400, a small amount of noise be visible in an enlargement, but only if you are looking for it.

For people who are “fanatics” about reducing digital “noise”, the ZS enables you to select an “auto” mode that “locks” the ISO to the 80 ISO to 400 ISO range, or you can “lock” the ISO at 80, 100, or 200 for low “noise” photos. In bright sunlight, locking exposure at ISO 80 results in photos that can match up well with those from $3,000 pro DSLR cameras.

The battery will last about 300 photos without using the flash, depending on how much time you spend reviewing and editing them, and about 200 photos if you use the flash for half your photos. The battery gauge tell you how much power is remaining with three segments followed by a flashing red warning. The battery charges in two hours or less.

WARNING: The size and shape of the LS cameras make them VERY easy cameras to drop. It would be wise to ALWAYS wrap the strap around your wrist BEFORE you pull the camera out of its case. The LS will fit into a jacket pocket, but it would be better protected in a case. Cameras this nice, with such an astounding zoom lens deserve being treated with care, and a padded case is an inexpensive way to protect your investment.

Decent camera with lot to offer!!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I was desperately looking for a camera with wider zoom in smaller size.. and this camera was an answer to my requirements but what really impressed me was its decent night time photographs with and without flash!!

Just came back from my Vegas trip and managed to capture night pics of comparable quality with my previous camera (panasonic FZ5) and a camera stand minus half weight, half size and stand.

Most of the people have already gone over the technical details so no point in reiterating it.

So far I am happy with my purchase and would highly recommend it!

Fabulous!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Simply an amazing camera. Amazing pics, especially in low light (where so many digitals fail). Can’t go wrong with Leica lens. Lighting-fast start up. Shutter lag??? What shutter lag??? There is none – the first digital camera I have used that feels like a film camera – point at the subject, press the button, take a picture. Why does that seem so hard? Intuative controls – pretty much no reason to read the manual. Compact size.

Things I love:

a)amazing pics – true to life color and light and beautiful resolution

b) easy to use right out of the box

c) can take stills in 16:9 aspect ration for beautiful scenery pics

d) video in HD AND zoom while videoing (very few cameras offer this option)

I am a former pro-photog (many years ago, during film age), exclusively used Nikon F2 and Leica M4. I have owned a variety of digital Nikon, Olympus, Canon, as well as sampling friends’ digital cameras. I had gotten to the point where I expected never to be impressed by a digital camera – as convenient as they are, they just don’t render images with the detail that film does. I am now admitting I was wrong – this camera renders images so true in color and resolution, I would have thought I took them with my Leica.

I have been reading some of the negative reviews about grainy indoor shots and poor low-light shots. I think I have an idea why some users have experienced this. No pics are going to look good or be free of grain or noise above 400 ISO. DO NOT USE IA (intelligent auto) feature – in low light it will automatically use higher ISO and you will end up with grainy, noisy pics. Instead, use normal mode and go to menu – intelligent ISO and select ISO 400 max. I just tried both modes side by side – with IA and flash off in a semi-dark room, the ISO was 1250. Using Normal mode and ISO 400 max, the aperature and shutter speed adjusted and the resulting pic was much sharper – incredible difference. User error will get you every time!

A bit more expensive than your average digital camera, but so worth it. If you are looking for a simple camera for pics of kids and vacations, you can spend less, but you will not find better image quality. If you are a frustrated digital user who can’t understand why a digital can’t seem to take a decent picture in extreme conditions (low-light, for example), or want digital images that rival film images – you have found your nirvana.

I would wager that this compact camera stacks up to the digital SLRs costing many hundreds more.

Beautiful Camera, but about the battery…
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
My wife had purchased a Panasonic point-and-shoot in the past, and frankly, the image quality was fantastic.

Now, truth be told, I have too many digital cameras; I have some very nice DSLR’s and some standard Canon point and shoot, and a tiny little Casio that is so portable.

But what I was looking for was a point and shoot with an extreme telephoto to wide angle, reasonable size and HD movie capability. I was traveling to a race, and I wanted to take all the kinds of shots my DSLR would take, but without the bulk.

And this camera does all of that. Whatever processing Panasonic applies to the pictures, things really “pop” on the screen. It’s almost hard to take a bad picture. It’s beautifully made, and you can set up modes that can be customized to what you need. It’s well thought out enough that you can actually get “deep” into the camera without a manual.

Is it perfect? Oh no.

First of all there are two major flaws that detracts from the camera significantly: first the battery life is poor. You get about 100 photo taken and you can see you’re running out of juice. I’ve tried all kinds of tricks, reducing the view-screen time to minimal, have it shut off very aggressively; there’s simply no way to have the battery last the entire day. Normally, you’d just buy another battery, but this actually has some sort of “chip” in the battery which will not accept anything other than Panasonic batteries. And what’s worse, original batteries are hard to find and expensive when you do.

The other flaw is that shutter lag is long for a camera in 2009. This will affect action shots (like races).

You should also realize that unlike other high end cameras, the Panasonic does not let you set either shutter speed or aperture; instead you choose from many modes and adjust specific parameters. I don’t think this is “worse” for just snapshots, but it’s a mind-set change.

The good outweighs the bad however. Unlike the Canon line, this actually has a very usable 720p video mode, and it has stereo microphones. The pictures are fantastic when you stay within the parameters the camera was designed for, and physically, the camera is rugged and solid feeling.

It’s good at what it does, but the battery issue (both life and availability) should be considered in your choice.

Great things in a small package
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This litle camera takes great photos — expecially the 12x zoom, where most cameras this size only offer a 2x zoom. Easy to use – automatic settings do it all. Very portable and great for travel. This camera was out of stock everywhere (including the manufacturer), but Amamzon came through with prompt delivery and a great price.

Great Camera
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
Having a great time with it and saving lots of memories. Easy to use right out of box. love the great wide angles.

Good luck with Panasonic!!! Battery/Charger problems take a LONG TIME.
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
Great camera, excellent picture quality, ok video functions – TERRIBLE CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WARANTEE! I purchased my camera and when I plugged in the charger it would not stop blinking – with or without the battery inserted. After a day of “charging” the battery was still dead.

When I called customer service, they insisted that I send the the batter and charger (at my expense) then wait for the technical verdict (7 to 14 days) THEN they would send me another battery/charger in 7 to 14 days after the problem. That means that I would have to wait approximately 1 month to resolve this problem – ON A NEW CAMERA.

The representative stated, ” that they have had several calls in refrence to this problem.” When I requested a supervisor to assist me, the supervisor OMAR, stated that this was the first time he had heard of this problem and then requested that I FAX him the receipt, then they would analyze the situation and get back to me in 2 business days.”

Save yourself the potential headaches and go with CANNON, their service is 10x better and they resolve issues immediately.

I am reporting them to the Better Business Bearue.

panasonic lumix dmc zs3
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
excellent camera, easy to use, takes amazing pic’s, zoom is great. HDMI connection to HD TV is a great feature. Plugged into my Samsung TV and the TV remote controlled the camera. (wasn’t expecting that. Camera has a side presentation “with it’s own background music”. Wasn’t expecting that either. Indoor pic’s with low light are a little yellow, but expected that. Night pic’s from top of Stratosphere casino to down town Las Vegas came out excellent.

A fine camera
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I wanted to write this review in part to counteract the reviews that complain about Panasonic’s customer service.

I bought this camera in Sept 2009. I love it! Used it to lakes lots of photos in many different conditions. The menus are pretty easy to use, and in general the camera has good ergonomics. I was very happy with the image quality, although at very high ISO the noise in the images is pretty bad. The zoom is really great for a camera this size.

Immediately after a trip during winter break, the camera failed, having the “bad lcd” syndrome that others have described. (Actually, my wife’s FZ30 had the same thing happen, but after three years of pretty hard use. We got that one fixed — required new lens unit and new circuit board.) As soon at the ZS3 failed, I packed it up and sent it off to the Panasonic Service Center. I received the replacement refurbished unit today, just two weeks after sending the camera in. No muss, no fuss. I ended up with a silver camera instead of a blue one, but that I can stand. And they also included a very nice leather case.

So I can’t give the camera a top rating on construction. But I can report that the Panasonic Service Center did exactly what they said they would do, and they did it in a reasonable time frame.

It’s a shame that the Panasonic cameras seem prone to this kind of failure. But I still like the camera!

“FANTASTIC” Camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I took the Panasonic and a Olympus on a trip two week trip Uganda — the clarity and richness of the pictures from the Panasonic, both still and movies, are unbelievable! The camera is easy to use, particularly in rough jungle atmosphere. When in the movie mode, the HD pictures are clear and true, with the sound bring the shots back to life. At this price, you cannot beat this camera. Next time we travel, I am leaving my Olympus at home!

Best point and shoot ever
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Title says it all! The camera takes unbelievable pictures that can only be matched with highend SLR’s. definitely my best purchase from Amazon.

Lumix DMC-ZS3 is fantastic value
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Camera has many extra features, Fast button press to actual image capture, movie mode works like a camcorder, battery life was good, the 3.5 inch screen was bright and visible in sunlight. There’s a small 50Mb internal memory, no SDHC card is included in the purchase price. I bought a 16BG Sandisk, holds >2500 pictures. I took it on a month long trip to Europe, no problems with constant use. I haven’t dropped it yet.

Has a nice feature of playing a little music jingle when playing back a slideshow directly from the camera to a TV. I recommend this camera for anybody who wants a point and shoot with the capability to do much more if you want exploit it’s many options.

LCD Monitor died after 3 weeks
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
Bought this because I had the 8 MP 10 X zoom model and loved it. Got this 10 MP 12 X zoom partially becaus of the panoramic potential. Looks almost identical. Thought I could use same batteries. Not true. Extra batter is $60. Received camera on Dec 2nd and used until Dec 24. LCD monitor died on Christmas day. Bummer. Took to camera store. They said return it to Panasonic quickly. That is what I am doing. Battery from Maximal Power did not work with this camera, though it was advertised that it would.

Love It
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Just back from Australia. The pictures seem to be very good. In low light the pictures are sometimes blurred from motion. Overall, the picts are great. I really like the intelligent mode. Very happy with this camera. The video mode is wonderful and easy to use. Very sharp films.

very good camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
The zs3 is very good camera. The pictures are so good. The video also very clear. Plus, it is portable. I like it very much. My wife brought to business trip, my son took video for school project, I took photos when I went fishing, playing chess or other activities. Wonderful!

great camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
this is a great camera, i bought it to take pictures of my new and only grandson and it really takes beautiful pictures and it is very easy to operate, my daughter loves the pictures of her son and she is going to buy the same camera. the only problem i have found is trying to buy an extra battery for it, it takes model # BCG10PP,,,,,, good luck finding it. but it is a really,really, great camera. ///////thanks////

very pleased
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
my wife and i bought this camera to take to las vegas for our wedding. we are very impressed with the ease of use and quality of pictures we have taken. just put it on intellegent auto and let it do the work

Smart camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Great camera, what I mostly appreciate is its AI mode, it’s easy to use and very precise adjusting the camera’s light and colors controls for each situation. I must say great lenses and the optical zooming works quite nice.

Ideal to take to a trip, portraits pictures and some landscape pictures. If you don’t need the features of an SLR I think is the best compact you can buy at reasonable price.

As good as it gets for the price
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I was a professional photographer for seventeen years so I know a little about the subject….I will be short, all things considered this is the best digital camers on the market in it’s price range.

Unbelievable capability in a small package
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I am an old 35mm and 6x6cm shooter, plus did my own darkroom work years ago. In 2002 I entered the digital age and purchased an Olympus C2020?, then last year a Canon A570. The Olympus gave very good images, however, the Canon has become my favorite ‘carry everywhere’ camera due to it’s small size, many features and relatively low cost. However, I have never been completely happy with the image quality of the Canon and feel the old Olympus yielded better images.

My youngest son was married in October and I wanted to do a video of the wedding, as his grandmother was unable to attend. The video capabilities of the Canon are resolution limited so I decided to look for a camera with HD capability. I also decided a camera with flash memory would be the most rugged and after some searching found that the Lumix DMC-ZS3 has 720P HD video capability and well as full zoom capability in video mode (this is the only regular digital camera in this price range to offer full zoom capability in the video mode).

Many regular flash memory video cameras have a file size limit in HD mode (2GB). This limits recordings to less than 15 minutes. To continue recording one must then start another file. Not so with the Lumix. Using AVCHDlite recording mode allows uninterrupted video recording (until the SD card is full). So a 16GB card yields 2hours of continuous 720P HD recording using the AVCHD lite mode. The latest version of iMovie (Mac app) can read AVCHDlite files so I’m in business.

The Lumix does an excellent job with video, yielding superb images (even from the back of a large church) and stereo sound. Plus the still images are absolutely superb! Over the last several weeks I have taken quite a few available light shots with the Lumix and the images are noticeably sharper than most other digital images that I’ve seen. Plus the color balance is excellent. I’m guessing that this is primarily a function of the Leica optics and the image processing algorithms.

My only negative is the lack of a viewfinder. I find a viewfinder necessary for fast framing. I may attempt to design a framing device to attach to the tripod socket.

Awesome
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Great camera need to learn to use all of the options but so far great camera

Excellent little camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This was Christmas present. I’m so impressed with the quality of the pictures in any light. It’s easy to use and you can take it anywhere. I’d highly recommend this camera to anyone.

PANASONIC LUMIX DMC-ZS3 DIGITAL CAMERA
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
The camera has worked well for point and shoot. I am very pleased with both the video and still pictures. One problem is Picaso 3 does not recognize the video clips to download. However the supplies program with the camera does

Joseph’s photo guide
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
The product, in my openion was fair priced for its quality,very easy to use and considering that most of us that take family pictures we do better when not frustrated by a lot of features that are difficult to find and use. I like my camera.

The best compact digital camera so far
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I am a long time photo enthusiast and even worked at it professionally for a while. My “main” camera is a pro-level Nikon with lots of lenses. I love that camera and use it whenever I can, but there are times and places where it’s just too much to carry. I just finished a week long bicycle trip and kept the DMC-ZS3 in my jersey’s back pocket for over 400 miles. It performed flawlessly.

I have had the camera for several months now and can’t find much to fault. The stills are the best ever out of a point-and-shoot, and the HD video is incredible. The video uses a codec which is still not widely recognized, but there are several video editing programs out there that handle it. For viewing, I use VLC media player which is free, fast, and solid. You may find that you need to upgrade your computer, or at least your video card, to handle HD video. My video card was only two years old, but it would drop frames and leave lots of digital artifacts. Plan on spending an extra $100 for that upgrade.

As for shortcomings, the battery life is not as good as some other small cameras I have owned. Low light performance is iffy and the flash is pretty anemic, but I have never seen good low light or strong flash performance from any compact. I think the menus and controls could be more intuitive too.

Features have been well covered by other reviews, but I can’t overstate the usefulness of the extremely wide angle to long telephoto zoom on this camera. You will be able to get shots that other cameras simply can’t make.

Point and shoot camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
The camera worked very well. We are not sophisticated camera users and the point and shoot function (IA or intellignent assist) on this camera works very well. The pictures are good and easy to take. I have not noted much problem with the low light, indoor pictures others have noted. I am happy with the product and would recommend it to a friend.

Excellent Camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This camera does quite a bit and exceeds my expectations. Great pics, very easy to use. In fact, it’s easier to use than I originally thought.

Crazy Good!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I am an electronics geek. I have to search every review page and check things out for days before committing to a purchase. This camera has exceeded my expectations. It’s got everything that a non-professional photographer could want. The movies are really great quality with decent sound. The battery life was amazing– I never got close to running out during my recent trip to Europe, despite a mix of photos and video. If you are looking for a camera that can do it all in a small package– this is for you.

You’ll fall in love — right out of the box…
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Hands down the best small ‘auto’ camera I’ve ever owned. I won’t go on and on, and just say: you won’t be disappointed. Gorgeous pics, with lots of options for various lighting too (which is rare for auto flash). JUST GET IT.

HD is great; photos not so much
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
Full disclosure: I bought this unit and returned it.

I bought this camera primarily for the HD video capabilities. In this regard, it’s spectacular. No disappointments there. I had a first generation Flip Video unit, so the ZS3 was a huge leap forward.

Coupled with the excellent stereo microphones (mounted on top so be mindful not to cover the mics), the video quality is top-notch, provided there’s decent light. Battery life seemed to be very good. Anyone familiar with today’s point and shoot cameras won’t have a problem using this camera after playing with it for a day or two.

If you search for the words “chapman” “school” “christmas” at vimeo DOT com, you’ll find a HD video I shot.

(I was about 50-75 feet away from the stage. People with slower machines/connections might get a lot of stutter unless they turn off the “HD” setting.)

But despite the video quality, I was less than pleased with the photo capabilities. I tried a many of the quality settings, but unless you use the flash or have plenty of available light, photos at ISO 400 and up have too much noise for my taste. I have a DSLR (Canon Digital Rebel 300D) so I’m used to better photo quality.

While photo taking was a small reason why I got the camera, it nagged at me that the quality wasn’t better, so I decided to return the unit. When the price drops over the next year, I may get a used one at a lower price because the HD quality is that good.

camera ok … no tech support
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
I bought this camera two weeks ago. Used it for one day. I am a professional videographer. Won’t go into the still quality as I didn’t use it long enough to comment. The HD quality is adequate for utube HD but don’t expect HD quality for blue ray.

I used the camera one day when multi-colored lines started to appear on the LCD screen. Now I can only see a shadow of a picture on the screen. Now the real frustration begins. After 4 days and hours on hold with PANASONIC, I have not spoken with a tech support human. Once I got an administrative person but they are in the phillipines and sent me to the same cue and I hung up after another hour. When you call tech support, they say an agent will be with you in 8-10 minutes. An hour later after listening to the recording over and over no one ever comes. It is like they are torturing you!! This is the tech support number listed on the manual that comes with the camera.

I approve professional camera purchases for our company. I not only won’t recommend PANASONIC, I don’t even want to hear the name PANASONIC after this!!

Very Happy!
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I wanted a simple camera that I could use in my home staging business to take good wide angle shots of the homes I stage, primarily for use on the internet. This fit the bill perfectly! Wouldn’t be so good if I needed the wide angle to be hi res – but I don’t. Recommended for real estate agents and stagers for internet use. I haven’t used the regular high resolution yet.

Great consistently sharp pix
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
Pix are excellent with great clarity & Sharpness. 12x zoom is sweet.

Video quality not as great as It’s hyped up to be. It’s good, but not any better than my previous Canon 780is. ( Pix are much better though).

Seen raves about the HD AVCHD video mode, but I expected an upgrade in Vid Quality over my Canon 780is. I copy the video straight to my PS 3 via a class 6 card and a USB card reader.

Highly recommended piece of equipment.

Love this camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Unbelievable camera, wonderful quality pictures, I-auto is amazing. I had SX-200 for 2 months and returned it, this camera blows it away.

Disappointed Given the Glowing Reviews
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
I own a Canon G7 and have been pleased with it, but I am tired of having to add attachments for wide angle and telephoto. (I also use DSLRs at where I work for professional photo shoots.) Canon’s G-series cameras are great, but bulky and I wanted a smaller camera that would easily fit into a jacket or shirt pocket. I always research my purchases thoroughly and so having read at least a half dozen or more reviews of the Panasonic ZS3 and the Canon SX200, including comparison reviews, I decided on the ZS3. The optical zoom in video feature, and sharpness of the detail of the sample photos on the review sites, are what swung my decision. I ordered the camera from Amazon and waited a month for it to be delivered.

Once I got the camera I tested it for several days. My first tests were indoor portraits and stills. These came out comparatively poor to what I was used to with my Canon, and the shots were just plain bad if they were done in low-light even with the “night portrait” setting enabled. The camera does not do well in low-light conditions, a problem compounded by a VERY weak flash. For example, if you are trying to take a photo in a room that is not well-lit, unless you get within a few feet of the subject, the camera’s auto-settings will jack up the ISO and shutter speed to compensate for the weak flash and you will get a dark, noisy photo. I tried adjusting the limited manual overrides so it would not adjust the ISO above 400, but the photos continued to come out noisy. I then broke out my monopod to help stabilize the camera. This helped quite a bit as the camera was able to lower the ISO and shutter speed significantly and the photos came out much brighter, but still not nearly as good as any Canon I had used. From what I can tell, the optical image stabilization on this camera is not as good as what Canon uses. I figure what Panasonic is doing is simply increasing the ISO and shutter speed to compensate for hand movement, rather than using “optical” stabilization. The result being dark, noisy photos in low light. As I had my old G7 at hand. I was able to take comparison photos from the exact same position and lighting and they all came out looking much better.

OK, low-light interior shots are not great, but what about outdoor day shots? I took the camera for a stride through downtown Dallas about lunchtime, and took a variety of shots, including some interior shots at a brightly lit restaurant. These all came out looking great. In particular, the sharpness of detail was excellent. However, late in the day (about 7pm in late June) I took some shots when the sun was lower in the sky, certainly not twilight by any means, but simply not direct sunlight. Now the shots looked like they had a blue film on them to me. The skintones of my subjects (my family swimming in the pool) were way off, contrast was low. Generally the shots look flat and lifeless compared to what I was used to with my old Canon. So I took out my Canon and in the same light conditions took some photos. They looked superb compared to the Panasonic. That sealed it for me and I decided to send the Panasonic back to Amazon.

The next day I bought a Canon SX200 and was pleased with every aspect of the camera. Color balance of the photos is much better, contrast, powerful flash, good low-light performance (for a point-and-shoot), and better build quality than the Panasonic. The video on the Panasonic was better than the Canon, not only could you optically zoom, but I think the video may be just a little sharper. So if video is the most important feature to you, then the Panasonic would be the better choice. I would also say that, if your subject is very well light, you may be able to get better detail out of the Panasonic lens on at least some shots. But in general in my opinion it is so difficult to get a really high-quality photo out of the ZS3 that I don’t think this is a good enough reason to recommend it over the Canon.

Summation:

Pros:

Excellent video quality

Optical zoom in video

Excellent photo detail in well-lit conditions

Small and light (fits easily in a shirt pocket)

Cons:

Poor low-light performance

Weak flash

Relatively slow zoom (the SX200 is faster)

On-camera software is primitive looking

Color balance and contrast lacking

Expensive considering the photo quality

Amazing AVCHD Low-Light Performance
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I purchased my Panasonic ZS3 about a month ago. It is a really great camera. Everything good what I’ve read about it before is true. And even better – it seems I’ve got an updated version because on my instance the mode dial is not as loose as it was complained by many earlier reviewers but is accuratly fixed in each distinct position.

The real wonder is the AVCHD-codec. It’s a miracle – there is almost no noise on the video clips taken in the low light conditions. If you switch to MPEG mode you will see as the same decent level on noise as on other good P&S cameras with HD movie feature, but Panasonic’s AVCHD-codec does something really incredible – almost no noise at all. On the other hand I did not see any noticable compression artifacts which could appear as a result of a stronger compression (if any). Just a nice clear picture with no sacrifice.

When I compare the quality of the video-clips taken by ZS3 on a sunny day with the ones taken by my other Panasonic camera ZR1 they look pretty similar. But shooting in the low light reveals the difference – while ZR1 shows pretty much noise with it’s MPEG coding in HD mode, ZS3 shines with its almost noiseless quality provided by AVCHD codec. I’m only wondering if that great noise reduction is an idependent algorithm added to AVCHD-codec or it’s an inner quality of the AVCHD compression algorithm itself. Anyway the result is very good.

Replaced my DMC-FZ10
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I just love this camera. I was looking for a smaller camera with equivalent features to replace my DMC-FZ10. I take a lot of action shots of my kids with their sports and activities. They really didn’t like dad dragging around his large camera case to all their events. With this camera I can stick it in my pocket and pull it out without “embarrassing” them. The quality is awesome and the HD video is fantastic. My 8th grade son was on the track team and high jumped, 6’0″. I was able to take some camera shots with the burst mode that were awesome. Then at the higher heights I switched to HD video to capture unbelievable details of his jumps. I get it all with this camera and very pleased I was an early adopter of this model.

DMC-ZS3 or SX200 IS?
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
After ten years of digital photography with four different cameras, I was tired of lugging around a bag with a camera and its auxiliary lenses so I purchased a Canon PowerShot SD850 IS Elph and a Samsonite case that handily fits in my pants pocket. The SD850 takes stunning photos that far exceed what I expected from a subcompact before I bought one; however it has three major limitations: its lens is not wide angle; its maximum optical zoom is x4; and its manual controls are restricted. My “ideal” camera would be as small as my Elph, would have a wide angle lens with x10 or greater optical zoom, automatic and full manual controls, produce quality 8×10 images at as high an ISO as possible, and have an LCD screen bright enough to be used in full sunlight. (I seldom use flash and never use video so they are not important considerations.)

Some of the latest compact ultra-zoom cameras come close to my ideal. After extensive research, I narrowed my choice to the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 and the Canon PowerShot SX200 IS. No doubt about it, reviews indicate that the DMC-ZS3 is the better point-and-shoot camera. What’s more it comes closer to meeting most of the specifications of my “ideal” camera: the DMC-ZS3 has a 25mm. wide angle lens compared with 28mm. for the SX200; it produces slightly better pictures at ISO 400 and higher; also the DMC-ZS3 has a brighter LCD screen with twice as many pixels; and it is 0.2 in. slimmer and ½ oz. lighter. Reviewers’ reservations about the DMC-ZS3 include the ease with which the mode selection wheel can slip accidentally to an unwanted setting and Panasonic’s mediocre image handling software.

I decided to purchase a DMC-ZS3 because, even though it lacks manual controls, it is superior to the SX200 on three factors that are very important to me–wider angle lens, smaller size, and superb LCD–but before placing my order, I looked at the properties of a sample of photos taken with my Elph over the past 12 months. Much to my surprise, many of my best shots were taken in manual mode at ISO 200; and most automatic shots of flowers, trees, and landscapes were taken with the foliage special scene setting, which is unique to Canon cameras. It gave me second thoughts about selecting the DMC-ZS3 rather than the SX200 so I looked at even more reviews and rankings.

When reading reviews, especially those of customers on vendor’s Websites such as Amazon.com, it is often difficult to separate a reviewer’s objectivity from subjectivity. Perhaps the most objective appraisals and rankings are found in Consumer Reports, but it has not yet examined either the DMC-ZS3 or the SX200. However, the July 2009 edition of Consumer Reports evaluated their immediate predecessors, the DMC-TZ5 and the SX110 IS; it ranked them equal in overall performance and awarded its coveted “best buy” rating to the SX110 as it was $60 cheaper than the DMC-TZ5. Granted, the DMC-ZS3 and the SX200 have new lenses, the SX200 body is a radical new design, and both models have other improvements, but it is probably not a big leap of faith to believe that their overall performance relative to each other is similar to that of preceding models, which means they are about equal.

I changed my decision and stayed with the Canon brand. The clinchers were the full manual controls of the SX200 and my familiarity with the controls and menus of Canon digital cameras and with Canon’s image handling and editing software; after all, there is a steep learning curve to mastery of digital cameras and photos. The DMC-ZS3 is the better choice for someone who is indifferent about manual controls and is willing to pay $100 (Amazon prices 6/19/09) more for a very intelligent compact point-and-shoot ultra-zoom camera that also delivers very good videos. My review of the SX200 was posted on Amazon on June 15.

November 5, 2009. The December 2009 ConsumerReports ranked the SX200IS #7 and the DMC-ZS3 #16 in its evaluation of Superzooms. In the CR tests, the SX200IS outperformed the DMC-ZS3 on dymanic range and highest ISO for a quality image without flash (ISO400 for the IS200IS and ISO200 for the DMC-ZS3), and the IS200IS has a complete set of manual controls.

Great camera!
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
PROS: Camera is very good, it takes very nice high quality pictures and excellent HD video for that type of camera, it has easy access to the quick menu to select auto Exposure, burst mode, light, enviroment, Auto ISO, mega pixels, pic format and more just with the click of one buton. Scenes PIC are great and fun, I love the panorama one, with the software you can make a 360 degress picture.

The zoom is incredible, it can zoom nice and fast and will do it on video mode too.

16gb Mem card will give you about 2 hr of HD video, and/or over 3K pictures depending Pic res.

CONS: Well, the Mode Dial is very loose, it can move off easy and can stay off position by accident, the lense auto cap is very fragile, the auto focus is not that great, some times it focus on the wrong objects, but I am not sure if I am missing someting on the focus setting, battery life is not too good even setting the screen bright low it does not last long.

Over all the camera is excellent in pictures and video. I will recomend it.

DO NOT buy the mctz5 waterproof case
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
A large reason I decided to buy the ZS3 over some other manufacturers was the waterproof diving case.

BOHICA

The linked case, MCTZ5, does NOT work with the ZS3 (I’m now eating amazon’s return fee).

And now I’m trying to find something to fill the need.

Partly my fault. I didn’t read the VERY fine print.

Definitely Amazon’s fault, the ZS3 has at least 2 different product designations.

“people who bought this, also bought:”

I suspect amazon had quite a few pissed of customers for this item

PANASONIC LUMIX DMC-ZS3
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I owned this cameras predecessor & got it primarily because of the zoom & price. It’s was & still is a GREAT Camera … But I travel overseas & when I saw this camera & it’s features with the same size zoom & the new Small Size & Weight, I couldn’t wait to get it. I was not disappointed!

My only complaint is that it is a little difficult to find things on the menus … & batteries … Panisonic has put some kind of chip so you must buy their batteries & not the cheaper knock offs. Other than that this camera is a must have for any one that wants a High Quality Picture & HD Video + that Great Zoom feature in a small package.

I LOVE IT !

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
My Canon died. Fortunately, I have a dear friend who is a pro (award winning) shooter in NYC (Gregor Halenda). I asked for his advice. He said buy this exact camera out of all out there. Neither he nor I have any vested interest. Now I have used the camera in many settings. The macro feature is AMAZING. Most helpful selling my 40 year old Porsche where potential buyers need details like stampings on the antique automotive parts. Flowers (my wife is president of our local garden club)are so brilliant with this camera. The Leica lens is superb. The battery lasts and lasts. The screen is magnificant. Another wonderful unexpected feature is the thinness, half as FAT as my Canon. Ideal for hiking, motorcycle riding. It fits in my old Canon case with room for the Lumix charger! The charger design is a model of simplification and utility. For years I dragged around an SLR with a bag of lens and filters. Never more.

I Would Buy Again
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Great camera. Finally, a camera with buttons placed where they make sense and can be quickly accessed. I love the zoom and wide angle features. Both indoor and outdoor shots are clear and sharp. Motion picture capture and play back is extremely simple. The few issues I had with the camera were solved by reading the manual and playing with the various modes and their settings. I have no regrets buying the ZS3.

I should add that the above is based on using the built in internal 40 GB memory because Amazon hasn’t sent my 8GB class 6 SDHD card yet.

VERY IMPRESSIVE!!!
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
My wife and I were looking at cameras last year and could not find anything. We even looked at last year’s version of this camera and were not impressed with it at all. It was slow, could not focus properly with the zoom out, and the picture quality was not good. But I have to say that this year’s version (ZS3) is one terrific little camera.

After taking our Disney Vacation and staying with our old camera (Sony DSC-V1), we really wish this camera would have been around last year. The Sony is actually a great camera for its time but just doesn’t cut it anymore. I considered the Fuji EXR, Canon PowerShot SX200IS, and a few Casio & Sony models.

I refuse to purchase anything from Sony that requires me to buy their useless memory sticks, Casio picture quality needs a lot of work, and Fuji was too slow in simple things like deleting a photo. THE FUJI EXR TAKES AMAZING PICTURES!!! But after looking around I preferred a bigger zoom and nice video recording. Video does not replace a quality camcorder but does quite nicely. Plus I like the mini-HDMI out the Panasonice has.

Panasonic took last years model and improved or corrected almost everything. The sport mode captures action images better than some dSLR cameras. The burst functions are incredible. The zoom works really well and focuses nicely. Picture quality is great as well. I was trying to choose between this camera and the Canon. Both great cameras for sure. The one thing that made me go with the Panasonic was the ease of use. My wife can not be bothered with making settings changes. The menu and navigation with this camera is a snap. Although, if you are somebody that wants manual settings controls, this is not the camera for you.

No camera this size is going to do everything; but this is a perfect little camera that is easy to carry anywhere and can catch a number of different pictures in a number of different settings.

It is what it is; a great and easy to use point & shoot that has a great lens and zoom that will take great auto pictures in most conditions.

Great camera
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
This camera takes excellent pictures. The colors are vibrant and crisp. It is easy to use and for the amount of zoom, it is rather compact. It fits easily into my back pocket. One downfall is the shutter button is to the left of the settings dial so you have to reach over that to take pictures, but you get used to it. The settings dial moves out of place easily, but it’s minor. My biggest complaint is that you aren’t able to upload video files directly from the camera. I found online that you have to put your memory card into a memory card reader to transfer video files. I don’t know why Panasonic did this. When it comes down to it, I am extremely pleased with the camera overall. The zoom is the main reason why I wanted a new camera and even when zoomed all the way, the pictures are still fantastic.

We love this camera!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
We’ve had other digital (Canon, Kodak) and non-digital SLR cameras before (Nikon, Pentax, Leica), and we wouldn’t trade the Lumix for the world. We wanted a point and click that has all the latest bells and whistles but without having to manage them. I mean, we’re not trying to sell sunsets or polar bear shots with this camera – just something that’s small, that’s easy to use, and that still takes great pictures. We found it all in this camera. 12x zoom is beyond belief. Took some video, hooked it up to the HDTV in the living room, and watched the HD videos we shot. It’s got a totally trustworthy AI mode that just *knows* what to do for you. And it’s easy enough to use to show someone who’s never used it how to truly point and click it. Can you tell how very, very happy we are with this purchase?!

great camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I am an amature with cameras.I stumbled through the instruction book and to my utter amazement every thing actually came out fine!No complaints on the camera. However it is impossible to buy an extra battery that works.

Excellent Camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R2TG5SF6EZEFO I read a lot of reviews and have to say the camera exceeded my expectations. In multiple reviews everyone complained about the battery life. In summary the camera is fantastic, and the battery life is not an issue for me. Here is an example of a real life usage.

Using a fully charged battery, which had been sitting in the camera for a couple weeks. I took my daughter to a pop concert, Miley Cyrus, with a 2 gig SD card. I was able to shoot 10 videos of different length as was over 100 pictures. Since this was my first time to push the camera’s limits, I was doing alot of zooming, digital zooming, checking this, and that. Of course the digital zooming required me to be real steady, for a long time, while I waite for a good shot. So for a little less than 3 hours I never shut the camera off, zoomed constantly, and shot a lot of pictures, as well as reviewed, deleted shots/videos I did not need.

The videos & pictures came out fantastic even when I went into digital zoom, since the seats we had were just below the nose bleed section at the opposite end of the 20,000+ concert. The next day when I turned the camera I got the battery low alert and the camera turned off, so I recharged it, etc.. From what I read, using all rechargable batties, waiting until you get a low battery message will assist in maintaining a proper charge amount.

I transferred the Videos to the mpg format and took them to work. The people in the office were in shock at the quality, the distance, since I would zoom back to the actual seat point of view, as compared to the size of the camera. There were very impressed by the camera, and no one cared including myself that the battery only lasted for this concert.

The ability to put an 720P HD video camera, with 12x optical, and a clear 40x digital in your pocket worth the cost of buying a second battery. I attached a video to this review using a MPEG-2 format, .mpg, if you are running WinXP or Vista yo may need to fix the sound on your system, otherwise in Win7 it runs perfectly. This video demonstrates the video as well as the sound quality for this little pocket camera.

Great Small Camera
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 10MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3 inch LCD (Black) The pictures using this camera are good and the movie clips astounding. The wide angle of 25mm equivalent allows great scenic and inside building shots while the telephoto range is better than average. The camera is relatively small and light so it is easy to carry everywhere with you. If I could I would add an optical viewfinder – the LCD can be unusable in the sun. Also I would have placed the control for zooming on the back so you can control it with your thumb while having your finger on the shutter button. Putting it on the front almost forces you into a two step process and you could miss the shot while all that is going on. The really bad ergonomic feature is that the movie control button is on the back right where you want to put your thumb. I have taken several inadvertent movie clips of my feet walking. Panasonic – fix this!

TIME TO MOVE OVER FOR THE NEW *KING*
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
I just purchased the DMC-ZS3 and it’s clearly the best point and shoot (i.e. compact) digital still camera available today… until this week.

Sony just announced the DSC-HX5V which will be available in March 2010. It is similar to the DMC-ZS3 except that it has full HD video (1080i at 60i fps instead of 720p), enhanced low light performance, high speed shooting at 10 fps, GPS, and more.

I’ll be returning my DMC-ZS3 unopened.

amazing little camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This is an amazing little camera: it basicaly takes the place of my still and video cameras and is small enough to carry easily on my belt. Viewing stills no problem but viewing movies might be depending on your equipment. I have no problem viewing video on the TV but am unable to use on my Gateway computer with Windows XP. Also the processing machines in Walmart, etc. are unable to process the video although stills do fine. I wish batteries for this camera were more readily available. Cable connections for TV and computer are proprietary and will not fit other Panasonic models. The camera itself is little short of fantistic with quality of both video including sound and stills quite high.

DMC-ZS3
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Absolutely fabulous camera, sharp pictures, sharp video’s, great zoom-lens and macro, basically everything I wanted and got!

a great camera with battery issue
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I like every aspect of this camera. It takes sharper pictures than some of the hybrid cameras and even DSLRs. The video quality is also fantastic with the camera. It is better than many stand-alone video cameras. I am very amazed at the quality and features packed into the compact body of ZS3. It is my favorite camera now. I would give it 5 if Panasonic can solve the battery problem right.

The camera is a battery drainer, especially when shooting videos. However, it is almost impossible to find a backup battery for ZS3 right now without any firmware change. I downgraded the firmware from 1.2 to 1.1 following the online googled-out instructions. The main reason is to downgrade is to use 3 party batteries. ZS3 batteries are sold out everywhere in US right now. And it is said that the Panasonic brand batteries won’t be available till the end of Sept 2009 or even mid-Oct 2009. Even it is available, the MSRP is $60. The downgrading process took me 5 minutes and allowed to use 3rd party batteries.

Good but auto setting not perfect
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
In general I like this camera. My only gripe is with the auto mode. I find I need to manually adjust the setting modes to take the best pictures for each scene. Still I recommend this camera!

Panasonic ZS3 quality for stills and video
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
Today I compared side by side shots with the ZS3 and TZ5, and while I expected a large gain in resolution for small objects at maximum zoom, due to the ZS3′s greater zoom and more pixels, the difference was actually very slight. Video OTOH was exceptional – clean and clear, and the sound superb, with little or no camera noise noticeable when playing back over a good headphone. The stereo really works – you won’t get a wide soundstage, but the richness and depth it adds to the sound is just amazing compared to the mono-sound cameras.

This camera would be a lot better with a 35-420 mm lens. Why buy a thick, heavy pocket camera for wide angle when you can get much slimmer, lighter cameras with wide angle lenses?

Poor camera with many flaws
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
I bought this camera from Costco, while on a trip to Las Vegas and Utah. I used to have a canon Powershot A85 and it was good for my needs. But unfortunately it stopped working right in the middle of the trip.

I do not take too many pictures and have little knowledge about photography. I was told by the representative at Costco that this is a great camera for people like me (who just want to click a photo). The higher optical Zoom and the HD video was kind of a bonus. In all, I paid around $300 dollars for it. But to my utter disappointment, the photos were not great (not even as good as my old Canon A85 – which I had bought for $150 four years ago).

Here are some of the problems that I found:

1. Picture quality was bad. I took photos in Zion national park on a sunny day (with the automatic settings) and the photos were below average.

2. Pictures taken in places with lesser lighting were much worse.

3. I like to have my pictures with date and time stamped on them but this camera requires that you manually stamp the date/time on each photo (it does not provide an option to enable date/time such that all future photos are automatically stamped). Furthermore, while putting the date/time stamp manually on a photograph, the camera tries to save the old (unstamped) photo in the new format. This means that if you are running low on space then it may not work unless you clear some of the photos. Also, stamping a photo automatically reduces the resolution for the photo to < 3Megapixel

4. The video quality seemed good but then again the software that came along with it sucked. The videos are stored using the AVCHD format (which is proprietary of Sony/Panasonic) and the accompanied software does not allow it be stored in the more popular formats such as “mp4″ or “avi”. It allows you to burn it to a DVD though.. but that is an extra step that I do not like (and did not try).

To conclude, I was not happy with the camera at all (especially given its price and in comparison to other cameras that I have used) and so I returned it back.

can’t use in bright sun light
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
There are several significant problems with this camera.

In bright sun light the screen becomes a mirror and I can’t see anything in front of me, only my face and things behind me.

Long shutter lag, by the time I take the picture of my grandchildren they have already moved off the screen.

Very sharp pictures if subect is stationary and not moving.

early report
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
The DMZ-ZS3 is all the camera I need to digest as an older neophyte picture taker.

The zoom features are fun and clear and it will be some time before, (if I ever can fully appreciate the camera’s capabilities).

I need to sit down and study the ‘book’, and then experiment more widely with the actual settings, to see what they produce.

This is time consuming and the use of the camera is pretty much on vacation, so that is why it is great to let it go on auto-pilot, which it is so good and dependable at doing.

Panasonic lumix ZS3
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This is a very nice camera in this price class. It takes consistently better photos than my Canon or Kodak point and shoot models. The bright 3 inch screen is very nice and the cameras metal body feels very well made. The only negative I have found is that the mode wheel on top is near the shoot button and will get moved by accident. You will know when this happens as it will say “mode wheel in wrong position” on the view screen when it happens. Not a deal breaker as this is minor and overall the camera is far above average. I also own the ZS1. It is very similar without the fancy movie mode and it has a slightly smaller LCD screen. It is also a very nice camera. Don’t hesitate to buy the ZS3 as there is nothing better at this price.

Excellent Camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This camera is just excellent. I have a Cannon Rebl Xsi (Digital SLR) and a Panasonic Camcorder (both cost around $700 when I bought them) and also excellent products. But this camera’s pictures and video is just as good as those other 2 cameras. The HD video works really well. The best is the huge wide angle and zoom that the camera has. I can’t believe such asmall camera can do such a great job. Good job Panasonic!

In Love With This Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I was shocked when I started taking pictures because they were so clear and true to color.

I’m pretty familiar with point and shoots as I’ve had several Canon’s and while they did a good job of taking clear pictures, I think the Panisonic come out crystal clear, with more realistic color than the Canon’s.

I just returned a Canon T1i to Costco for a refund because while it took great picures, I didn’t want to lug it around with me on my touring bike or fly to Portland to take pictures of my new grandson. So far, I’ve only shot about 100 pictures and a short movie. I just love my results and I’m pretty picky. No they were not all perfect but it was not the camera’s fault…I hate reading instruction manuals so it was learn as you go.

I will ad a few on the picture site within. One in particular is a morning sunrise of orange clouds outside my window, looking through the shutters…absolutely stunning color.

The only slight complaint I have is the location of the picture taking button itself, I think it should be on the end where the zoom is but it’s not a big deal.

I love all the different settings especially night scenes and snow settings. Snow has always been difficult for me with DSLR’s and while I have not shot anything in snow yet, I’m expecting geat results.

In many ways it is not fair to compare this to a DSLR especially one of Canon’s fame and it’s a good product and I would recommend any Canon product but I just love this camera and can not find any faults with it or the movies which by the way are as good as if not better than the ones on my Canon discussed above.

If you’re looking for a great small point and shoot with a 3″ screen this is the only way to go with a Lecia Lens.

Almost returned it after few days of use, now i like it
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I am not a pro, don’t own a SLR. I have been using Canon Point and Shoot Cameras last 10 years or so. I wanted a new small camera with HD capability and picked Panasonic ZR1. After few weeks of use, i was not satisfied so returned it. I ordered ZS3 based on the reputation and all the customer/editor reviews and technical specs.

I used the ZS3 at current vacation and took around 1h motion picture and around 200 photos with “IA mode”. Was i happy with photo quality? Not really.. Photos did not have good saturation or exposure. They did not look sharp as well compared to my old Canon SD850 which i had for few years. I thought about returning the camera based on photo quality, noise at indoor photos especially.

I ended up reading the manual twice and found some useful videos at youtube which explains Aperture, ISO and Shutter Speed. After experimenting for a day, took around 100 photos indoors and outdoors with different settings, finally managed to get photos to my personal taste from the ZS3.

Overall, once you learn the basics and set the camera correctly you will get great photos. I am now using normal mode and scenes when needed. I try to avoid “IA mode”, colors are not to my taste and sometimes ISO set seems to be incorrect by camera (causing noise). With normal mode you can set the ISO, shutter speed, focus mode, color mode (i like vivid) and few other parameters and with correct settings photos will turn out great.

IA mode seems to best to go when taking motion pictures as camera adjusts to correct scene automatically.

If you are only using IA mode for photos, you might not get the best shot in all cases. This is the issue i had at first which was frustrating. Now i know more about the camera , what it can do and i am quiet happy with it.

I like : 12x zoom, Wide lens, Size of camera (portable),Lcd screen quality,Scene options,optical stabilization works very good

I don’t like: Location of dedicated movie button, battery life is average, very few manual control, no vivid color option with IA mode

Overall, this is a very good camera in my opinion and i recommend it.

Lumix DMC-ZS3 is a great camera!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
After reading reviews and features of compact cameras, I selected the ZS3 because I liked the 12x wide angle optical zoom, the zoom capability during wide angle HD movie making, high resolution viewer, and stereo sound recording. I would have liked to know that you need a high speed write capability in the flash card to use the movie feature. I bought a standard SDHC Memory Card that writes at 2 MB/sec (Class 2), whereas for the HD movie to record you need a least a Class 4 Card, or, better yet, a Class 6 SDHC Memory Card. I was unaware that the SDHC cards had introduced the writing speed options. [I would have known this if I had read the manual.] I like the placement of the movie on/off button because it is a practical and convenient feature. Using the movie zoom gave me a smooth, seamless transition to or from the object of interest. The ZS3 is truly a high-tech point and shoot camera with its 12x optical zoom, stereo sound, 3 inch higher resolution LCD screen, memory card capability up to 32 Gb, and other automatic features. I also appreciate its metal case. I take it with me everywhere I go.

Worthless Warranty and Support for a Cheap Camera
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
Buyer beware!! This camera does not even survive the warranty period and Panasonic does not honor its warranty for the Lumix ZS3. If you have to send something to Panasonic be sure to completely document it – 3-D pictures of the item, serial number, … This camera was a big waste of money – Panasonic has lost a customer for life. For the first couple of months the camera took excellent pictures no complaints. One day walking through a park I pulled it out to take some animal pictures and the image was fuzzy / blurred. I’d done nothing different, weather was clear, no reason for it not to work… I called about the warranty and after being put on hold for over 20 minutes I finally got a live being who told me to send the camera in. They said they would call or email me once the camera arrived and they examined it. After waiting three weeks I finally called to see 1) if the camera arrived and 2) how long the under warranty repair would take. Surprise it was there but they never contacted me! The warranty company told me I damaged the camera because there was a scratch on the side. There was no physical damage on the camera when I mailed it – I packed it in bubble wrap in peanuts in a cardboard box. No way was that camera scratched when I sent it to them – my word against theirs of course and I did not take a picture of the camera before I sent it in so I lose. But it was clear from speaking to the warranty customer support that Panasonic had no intention of honoring the warranty no matter what. A camera at this price should function properly for more than three months. By the way I own a larger Cannon Powershot that I’ve had for 2 years and taken hiking and it still works perfectly – it was a little big for a pocket camera and I thought the Panasonic Lumix would be the answer – NOT! I do not recommend this camera or any Panasonic photographic product based on the complete farce of a warranty for a defective product.

excellent product, great seller
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
the camera is excellent, great picture, nice video recorder. It only took 3 days to receive the package even I choose standard shipping. enjoy it very much.

great camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Great camera for travel. Got this for a recent trip to Europe and was very happy with it. Great pictures, very nice to have the 12x zoom. I took a lot of shots on 5mp instead of 10mp and they turned out fine. Battery lasted all day, even in Rome. Nice size, fit in my pocket well. Only complaint is that the mode selector dial turns easily and often was in the wrong position when I pulled it out of my pocket.

Awesome Point and Shoot Digital Camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
My girlfriend loves to take pictures when we go out whether it be in dark places like the night clubs or bright outside during picnics are at the beach. I have owned Canon and Sonys in the past but this is my first Lumix(Panasonic) and it totally blows them away. The flash is really bright in the clubs making the nightclub pictures really clear. I had problems with Cannon and Sony in the past where the clubbing pictures were blurry or too dark. She also uses it to record video of my basketball adult league games and they are very good also. The only downside it is pricier than the Sonys and Cannons I had in the past but you get what you pay for! Now why I see why it’s getting good reviews. You can’t beat this unless you go out and buy one of those expensive SLR cameras, which is a pain if you want something more portable.

An amazing point and shoot — probably the best you can get
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
First, I want to preface this by saying I mostly shoot with a professional dSLR, so to me, Image Quality is the most important aspect of photography — but I will be the first to say that there are times that I would never lug around a dSLR — to an amusement park, a family picnic, a night out with friends, a weekend at the beach, a walk with the dog…

I had been using a Canon G9 as my backup camera for point-and-shoot situations, but over the last couple years I have had many situations where it has been just too heavy and as cumbersome as bringing along my dSLR…I looked at the G10, which was even heavier and even bigger!. Hm….

Having played around with several top of the line compact point-and-shoots, and having even bought a few of them and returned them, there was nothing that I deemed high Image Quality until I read all the reviews on the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 coming out of Europe and Asia (who had it before we did under a different name)…I couldn’t want to try it – and BOY was the wait worth it.

This camera produces far and away the best Image Quality I have ever seen on a small point-and-shoot that is lightweight, small, and has an amazing 12x zoom. It’s 1/2 the size of the Canon G10. But the real test came when I took the camera to a weekend at Cedar Point and got daytime as well as nighttime shots that were simply stunning. While you can’t really set any of the manual settings, there are plenty of shooting modes, but right out of the box, the camera has the “smarts” to just take great photos – auto setting the ISO, auto setting the shutter and aperture settings as needed, and just having a “knack” to produce sharp and brilliant jpg photos (there is no Raw setting for those who want it — I don’t so I am perfectly happy). Photos of neon lit roller coasters and LED light strewn trees at night just looked amazing, all hand-held, all just a snap. Putzing a bit with the scene modes gives you a little bit of creativity with flash — but it’s hardly necessary.

This camera now stays in my work messenger bag 24/7 for photos on the fly. It simply has stunning IQ, photos are sharp and well exposed, and I can not recommend it more.

Re-reading this starts to sound like an advertisement for the camera! You can read through my reviews and see that I primarily shoot only with Nikon equipment, occasional Canon equipment. This Panasonic camera is just a total surprise. It shouldn’t be – since people have been touting how great Panasonic’s point and shoots have been for years to me, but seeing is believing.

I wish I could give it 6 stars. Nothing else compares. One word of warning: the camera is massively underproduced so it is out of stock most places — look around and you should be able to find it – don’t pay the over-inflated prices that some people are gauging because they know how popular this camera now is, and are asking 4 – 5x the asking price. The list price is 399.99 — anything over that is price gauging.

I got mine through pre-order, and paid about 349.00 for it through a reputable dealer.

great little camera
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I couldn’t decide which to buy, the Canon G 10 or the Panasonic. Chose Panasonic because of size, zoom and online recommendations. Like the camera, but it is so compact that it doesn’t fit my hand all that well and I sometime hit buttons unintentionally. LCD is very clear, but occasionally have some glitch where I can’t see anything when I try to take a vertical picture. The zoom is great and gives a good clear shot. Downside is the short battery life. I was shocked the first time it gave up the ghost and I missed many great shots of the wedding I was attending. My suggestion is to order a second battery from the get-go. All in all it’s a great ‘second’ camera to carry in your handbag or backpack.

Excellent point and shoot camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I used this camera on a 3 week honeymoon to South Africa and it performed very well on safari, hiking, sightseeing, etc.

Pros:

- Wide angle lens is a must for scenery shots, and makes it easier to take photos of yourself if you’re a traveling couple

- 12x optical zoom is amazing in such a small package. Good image stabilization means it’s actually usable, too!

- Very good battery life and a great compact charger design

- HD video (720p) with stereo sound! Many of the comparable Canons don’t offer that yet.

- Zoom works during video recording. Again, many competitors lock the zoom during recording

- It’s an attractive piece of equipment and fit in a big pants pocket

- Accepts my 32gb SD card (SDHC class 6). That’s a ridiculous 5.5 hours of HD video or 5000 10mp photos!

Cons:

- Autofocus is a little tricky–but I probably just need to read the manual more thoroughly

- Still not very good in low light

- The zoom in/out mechanism is a little loud. I can sometimes hear it in a totally silent video

- The included wrist strap doesn’t have a movable cinch, so you can’t make it tight around your wrist

I really tried to like this camer but…
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
I’ve had the camera for a little over a month. I bought it as a backup for when I didn’t feel like lugging my DSLR around. On paper it’s great. 12x zoom, image stabilization, HD video, cool look and feel and compact for all it offers.

The problem for me is image quality. I didn’t expect it to be incredible. Even with somewhat low expectations I was still disappointed. Noise is the main issue. Even in daylight with low ISO some shots seem to have some serious noise and graininess. It’s not just in the shadows either. There is color noise, especially with yellows and greens.

I also found the exposure and white balance to be hit and miss. I played around with all the settings and modes and took hundred of pictures. It just doesn’t cut it for me. There’s just a certain grainy look to all the pictures. I’m really surprised at all the rave reviews.

The image quality of my 4 year old Canon A620 (which I sold to get this) blows the ZS3 away.

I have to admit that I am probably more critical of image quality than most. It is a point and shoot camera geared towards using the auto settings. It may be that the consumer this is targeted at is not as critical as I am, although I have seen even some casual users mention some of the same things that bothered me.

I will be selling the camera and replacing it with something that has better image quality.

On a side note, the battery situation is riduculous. The software only allows for a genuine Panasonic battery to be used and it was very challenging to find any in stock. It chews through a battery pretty quick and it’s a necessity to have a second as backup.

Excellent
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This small-sized camera is all a semi-professional needs. Leika super wide angle, 12x zoom, lots of presets, *excellent* quality HD video with excellent sound and you see nothing more.

If you are looking for a DSLR camera that matches the features of this one, then you are about to spend more than 1000e.

Oh, and do NOT install firmware 1.2, or your 3rd party batteries will stop working.

Highly recommended.

Great for stills and videos…Leave Camcorder at home and travel light
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I have DSLR’s, but in many cases prefer not to lug them around. Also, I wanted the flexibility of having a wide zoom range, and ability to shoot good pictures or good video from the same unit. Research led me to the ZS3 and I couldn’t be happier with its combined performance!

Other reviews have hit on the strengths and a few shortcomings in great detail, so I will keep my review short and sweet and just say that it fully met my needs and expectations, and for a great price.

I LOVE this camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I am a point and shoot kind of guy. Don’t want to touch any button or dial but the ‘take the picture’ button. I have had the TZ1, TZ3, TZ5 and now the TZ7/ZS3. After one days experience with the ZS3 I am in love with the Intelligent Assist computer in the ZS3. It makes my pictures look great – even under difficult lighting conditions.

And a bonus: I have never been tempted to even try video before but with it being so simple on this camera I found myself taking video of my father’s 94th birthday and the video looks damn good, especially since I hand held the camera and shot inside under less than perfect lighting.

Another bonus: The 21.5x zoom. This is going to get a lot of use.

Color me VERY satisfied.

PS: I am using Total Video Converter program to convert the video files to WMV format.

Great camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
So far i really love this camera..I am still learning what all it does..but screen is large..camera is small and pictures are great..just what I was looking for..

Nice walk-around camera with excellent HD Video of its class
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I looked for a economical camcorder to record my daughter’s piano recitals and ball games. Most of the low to mid price camcorders is not capable to take still picture of acceptable quality. Their widest focus is typically 40-45mm only, which is not wide enough for volleyball games in a school gym. I read the DCRP review of the ZS3 and turned out that I bought it instead.

This camera is very easy to use, those who have experience with digital cameras may even skip the instruction manual. The monitor is of high resolution and bright enough even under sunlight. Light and small in size considers its 12X zoom. The zoom range is fantastic but noticeable distortion in wide zoom. Lack of color accuracy when using flash. The flash itself is weak. ZS3 has many functionable settings like Intelligent Auto Mode, Intelligent exposure, Intelligent ISO, Face Recognition etc. In generally is a very big step forward comparing with Panasonic’s older TZ3 & FX30 I used before. The photo quality is quite nice but never as good as my year 2003 Olympus C740 which is 3MP.

As a compact camera, it produces excellent video. I used AVCHD format with Super high quality, and watch with the 52″ LCD TV. The result(my HDMI connection cable from amazon.com cost me $2.10)is more than satisfactory. The professional reviews say AVCHD format is difficult to edit. I wonder how many compact cameras/camcorders users care to spend time to edit their video. Theoretically, 16GB records continuously 2 hrs+ video in AVCHD format. Actually, it is not possible. The battery runs dry in 45 minutes. Unlike most of the camcorders, extra capacity battery can be used to prolong recording time. This is the drawback of using the ZS3 instead of camcorder. The wide 25mm zoom is very useful both for still picture and video recording.

I enjoy this ZS3 as general purpose traveling camera when I am lazy to bring along the heavier DSLR.

Great all around camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-Z23 10 MP with 12X Wide Angle Zoom is a true performer. This was the 3rd camera in the $180 to $280 price range we have purchased in the last year trying to replace an older digital camera that we had been very happy with. After 2 expensive disapointments we were hesitant to try again but very happy with the result. Heading out for a family vacation we wanted an easy to use camera. Battery life far exceeded expectation. Vibrant color. Took over 3,000 pictures in one week with only 2 that were fuzzy and were operator error. The camera is a bit heavy compared to many small ones these days, but easily carried in a pants pocket or purse. The camera body fits easily in one hand. This camera dosn’t require 2 hands to take great pictures. The movie mode is awesome as well and fills our need for any video capability we would need. The view finder screen is large, crisp and clear. We bought a 16 gig class 6 card to go with it. Popped the card (with 3,000 pictures on it) into our Panasonic DVD-VHS digital recorder-player and enjoyed automatic turning of the pictures and a great recap our our family fall vacation. Highly Recommend

Awesome 21x zoom camera and HD camcorder that fits in my pocket!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
PROS:

I’m usually the camera and camcorder guy and my wife never takes out our old camera and camcorder before but with this new Panasonic camera, she takes it everywhere to shoot closeups of my kid’s soccer games and snaps pictures from afar with action shots with kids that are airborn and limbs/ball flying in midair. Although the camera is rated at 12x zoom at 10 megapixels, if you lower the megapixels down to 5 then you’d get 17x zoom. If you lower the megapixels down to 3 then you’d get 21x zoom.

The HD camcorder has unbelievable clarity and the microphone is clear. Be sure to buy SDHC memory card (not SD) with speed rated at Class 6 or higher or it won’t keep up with recording video. Also, your pc’s SD card reader slot will NOT read SDHC memory card so remember to buy an external SDHC card reader.

The included HD camcorder software figures out what your pc’s cpu is and adjusts the framerate. Turns out my 6 year old HP Pentium 4 2.5ghz pc is too slow so I went out and bought the new HP p6120f (AMD Quad 4 processor at 2.6Ghz, 6gigs RAM, 640gigs hard drive) from Staples for $[...] and the HD animation is smoooth. The software suggests a pc with at least a processor of 2 Core Duo 2.6Ghz to edit HD video.

The real test to determine if I were going to keep the camera came when I developed a photo onto paper to assess the picture quality. The picture was sharp so I decided to keep it and bought a spare Panasonic battery from Amazon for $[...].

This Panasonic’s twin is the German-made Leica D-lux4 camera that sells for $[...] (that’s $400 more than the Panasonic twin) which has a classic look and saves raw format with more manual adjustment features. So, you’re getting a very high-end camera. See Leica:[...]

Back in 2001, I bought a 3.3 megapixels Panasonic DMC-LC33 camera and it still works great today after 8 years (considering how many times I dropped it and my kid has fallen on it with while the lens were still out but the lens retracted just fine) so I know that it’s a quality dependable product, and that was with a plastic body.

CONS:

Only included an RCA cable to connect to my tv. Too bad it didn’t include an HDMI cable (mini to standard) so I ordered one from [...] for $[...] (ROSE RCW-H9039 6″ HDMI-MINI CABLE – Retail)

The included PhotoStudioFunHD software manual says that you should use this software to copy your AVCHD LITE format files to the pc and NOT use Windows Explorer to copy your files over or it will not be able to read it. I found out the hard way… however, all is not lost, you can download free trial of Sony Vega or other softwares at [...] then edit all your files and it doesn’t matter how you copied the files to your pc. When I opened Task Manager to see how much work my processors were doing, I noticed that the included PhotoStudioHD software was only using 1 processor whereas the Sony Vega software took full advantage of all 4 processors.

Super-awesome camera for travelers
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I was skeptical when the girl in Best Buy strong-armed me into buying this camera. To me, Panasonic meant crappy electronics from the early ’90s,however I took her word for it, and four years later, my first Lumix finally broke. Oh, this is after I dragged it all over SE Asia, fell into flooded rivers, got caught in downpours, had children spill grape soda in it, and it got squished while I was tumbling off of a small hill in Spain. I’m buying another one from Amazon – this is truly the best little point and shoot digital for it’s price range. The metal body and low profile make it perfect for travelers, and for the size, you can’t beat the photo quality. The manual controls leave a little to be desired, but not all of us need that fancy stuff Plus, there’s still something really sexy about Leica lenses…

Lumix ZS3
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I bought this camera for my wife, and she has been completely happy with it. The only complaint she has had was with flash photos at ten or more feet in poor lighting. The ability to zoom while recording video has been a great enhancement over the other point and shoot cameras we have had. Picture quality is great. The only other issue so far has been the video format. Once I loaded the software from panasonic no problem.

Clearing up some misinformation
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
There are plenty of well-written reviews about this camera on Amazon and elsewhere. I wanted to clear up two bits of common misinformation:

First, this camera works quite well with Macs. As long as you have ILife 09, IMovie imports video perfectly and you can edit it without problem. Photos of course work fine with IPhoto.

Second, there are now third-party batteries that work just fine in the camera, even with the latest firmware update. For example, search amazon for B002O12LPA, a POWWER-brand battery.

Overall, this camera works great! We’ve had four canon powershot’s in a row before this one, but their plastic bodies didn’t hold up to regular use – the one we bought just six months ago has crapped out again. This panasonic has a metal body and should hold up better. The picture quality is outstanding too. The HD video is very good and now we only need to tote around one device to disney instead of two!

Importing Video Into a Mac
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I am intimidated by all I read here and elsewhere about the problems of importing video clips from a ZS3 into a Mac. Many people who seem to be very tech-savvy (unlike me) are frustrated. I have yet to find a step-by-step description, anywhere on the internet, written by someone who has mastered this. I would like to read such a description, so I can know exactly how complicated it is. I would be willing to set the camera to MPEG instead of AVCHD, and sacrifice memory and quality, if the process is simplified. Currently, with my old Canon, it is a no-brainer: iPhoto opens, and the clips arrive there… along with the stills. Then I drop the clips into iMovie and begin editing. It would be nice if a Mac user did not have to go outside his Mac applications to use this camera. Does anyone know of a detailed description for importing and storing clips from this camera? (I do not want to buy the Canon competitor camera because it will not zoom while shooting video.) Thank you.

Great Camera, Terrible video software
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
This camera is great, except that the software to work with the mts video (AVCHD) files is terrible, so I bumped it down to only 3 stars. Shame on panasonic for making such as great camera and then giving a half-wit piece of software to download videos. The video is not easy to upload using Windows XP using Panasonic’s supplied software – PhotoFunStudio. I still cannot figure out how to delete videos off the storage card – when I try to do it, the it screws up the imbedded index and I cannot access the videos again. It’s more like Photo-”not fun or easy”-Studio. I paid extra to get the good video quality, but like others – have not been able to enjoy it for the problems and challenges that this software creates when trying to retrieve the files. I recommend the camera, but now need to find a solution for the videos stuck on the storage card.

Happy recipient
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Son, a camera buff, and owner of many cameras and camera accessories, requested this particular camera for his birthday. He tried it out right away – and loves it. He took a portrait photo of me – notorious for awful pictures that I make people delete – and it was so good, namely accurate, that I used it for a newspaper article about me. That’s really a compliment to the camera as well as the photographer.

Photos look like a pro took them….but it was only me!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This is a truly amazing camera. I got it as a gift this summer and the price has already dropped…a bonus for any of you who don’t yet own one.

I have always been a canon user, but this camera blows my old canon 800 series away. It does EVERYTHING. It takes movies that look like they were shot with a fancy camcorder, it has a zoom that let you photograph faces from enough distance that the subject doesn’t know they’re being photographed, it has a continuous shooting mode that let’s you capture sports and running pets, it has a macro zoom that captures the dew drop on a flower petal, etc. It’s also amazingly easy to learn…and to use. I am an amateur and even I am venturing beyond the brilliant “idiot” settings. My serious photographer family members are using it as well….with stellar results.

Please note that while many reviewers comment on the size of the camera [a bit larger than my old canon elf], it doesn’t seem a problem to me. I can fit in in my jeans pocket easily, and in the pocket of a lightweight jacket. In fact, I have a bad back and seldom even carry a purse, but I managed to keep this camera with me for an entire week of sightseeing in Europe and never felt it was bulky or heavy.

It may cost a bit more than some comparable compacts, but it’s well worth it. My only complaint is that it is not compatable with batteries that are not made by Panasonic….and these are not only expensive, but hard to find. Hopefully, this will change soon.

best camera for photo and video.
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
there have been a lot of outstanding reviews about this Lumix ZS3 as anyone can read on Amazon.com.I read all of them several times and decided to purchase one from Amazon.com.All I can say from my point of view is that all these reviews are true after I tested the camera out.From the astounding pictures and videos to the ease of use.I surely saw that The ZS3 outperforms my others cameras/camcorders ,those costing twice as much and built by more well known brands.Certainly this ZS3 has answered my needs and I am very happy with it.Amazon.com was the only place I can get this camera since none of my local stores would have it at the time.

High Quality Hybrid Type
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
As a previous owner of two Canon SD’s (SD600 and SD850), the ZS3 offers some improvements that are worth noting. If you are looking for an change from a PowerShot, here are my pros and cons:

PROS:

- Beautiful color 3″ LCD display

- Tremendous build quality

- Solid video, especially in good lighting

- Smooth 12x OPTICAL zoom for stills and vids!

- Crisp pictures

- AI setting makes camera easy to use; yes, you just point and shoot.

- Easy navigation

- Good battery life; comparable to the Canons I’ve owned

- Excellent for close-ups with wonderful Leica lens

- Exclusive video button nice to have as you don’t have to fuss with the dial, but see cons on this one too

CONS:

- IMO, pictures tend to be oversaturated with color at times

- Video has slight delay when starting it; slower than either aforementioned Canon

- The exclusive video button on back makes for shaky start/stop because of its location (just need to get used to it, but wish it also had it on the dial as well)

- As mentioned many times, AVCHD Lite just not mainstreamed yet, but JPEG videos work well for me so far

- Video has vertical lines coming from lights when the scenery is dark; no way thus far to eliminate them

- Proprietary battery issue is ridiculous, almost a deal breaker for me. Yes, I know, I can download reverse firmare and so on. But should a consumer really have to do that? My Canon batteries were under 10 bucks and of good quality. C’mon Panasonic, your stupid 1.2 firmware idea is not helping your reputation

I was concerned about switching from the Canons because I was so used to their quality, software, and inner-workings. But after owning the Panny now for a couple of months I can safely say, the switch was worth it. It’s true when reviewers of the ZS3 state that you can have a videocamera and a snapshot in one. I don’t need to take anything other than a ZS3 to an event and I get the best of both worlds. A few improvements in the “Cons” department and this camera would have easily earned the 5 Star rating here.

I love this camera, I take it everywhere…
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I’ve never had a camera that makes it so easy to take great pictures. In addition to the photo quality and ease of use, what I like about it is that I finally have in a compact, pocketable camera all the features I’ve been wanting– and they are all well implemented. Including– great movie mode, the wide angle and 12x zoom, anti-shake, and automatic red-eye removal to name a few. I usually don’t need manual controls, and frankly, this camera’s “intelligent auto mode” is VERY intelligent, making the manual controls less needed. I guess if you need manual, this camera isn’t for you, but it suits my needs perfectly– I find that I’m taking more pictures than I ever have before, including some beautiful nature scenes.

Neat Stuff
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Best thing about this camera is the wide angle zoom lense packaged in a small size case. I feel that I don’t need a SLRs now.

Another excellent feature is the ability to use zooming feature while recording videos.

Picture quality is excellent. I have done wedding pictures/videos in day and night. I have captured snow covered scenes and shared with friends. They all are amazed.

I have done slide show on Samsung 1080P High def TV directly from the camera. They look fablous.

In a nutshell, I am happy with my choice. My brother-in-law bought the same camera after looking at my photography.

Great result
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I was very excited to receive my camera it was what i expected, outdoor, indoor result is not that good specially in regular lighting in IA mode flash makes it goldish pic, manually it’s good overall it’s a great camera you have to play with it.

underwhelmed, and back in the market for a camera
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
We replaced an old digital elph with this about 6 months ago. We expected a significant upgrade in photo quality from the reviews. No such luck. We have the same problems that we had with the elph, except we paid more and the camera is bigger: many pics are blurry, despite pains taken with face recognition, selecting from the various settings, etc. We are not skilled photographers, by any means — but that’s why we got this instead of an SLR. Is it too much to ask to get a crisp, well-lit, posed photo of my kids, when taken in decent light conditions, without use of zoom? Oh — and we started having problems with the lens aperture sticking, almost immediately.

The camera I’ve been waiting for.
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
It seems like I get a new digital camera every year or so… and I can finally say this is the one I’ve been trying to buy for years. For years I’ve been trying to find a digital camera that is: small, fast, long optical zoom, good video quality, small enough to fit in a pocket, has great lens quality, and has image noise patterns I can live with. This camera has all of that and more.

Some of the pluses to my list above include the Intelligent Auto mode that does a frighteningly good job of choosing the best settings for the scene, face recognition (something I thought I’d never use, but does make popping off snapshots a breeze), and the wide angle lens. I’ve just started house-hunting, and a wide angle lens is crucial when photographing interiors of houses.

The ZS3 doesn’t have many manual settings, but it sure makes up for it with automatic Scene settings, and there are so many that you’re sure to find one or two that will work for almost any circumstance – especially when this camera is used for snapshots and on vacations.

I’m a graphic designer & illustrator and have worked with all the major camera formats since the 1980′s, so I have some basic standards I look for in both professional grade cameras and snapshot cameras – and the Panasonic DMC-ZS3 comes in a clear winner for snapshot cameras.

Panasonic ZS3 vs Canon SX200IS – LCD in Direct Sunlight?
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I need to choose between two models for my Grandson concerned about viewing LCD in Direct Sunlight.

Canon Powershot SX200 IS, which is said to possess an anti-reflective coating.

Panasonic Lumix DMC ZS3, which I would prefer because of the Leica lens and metal body.

I would greatly appreciate if you anyone would tell me whether the SX200 coating actually does result in better viewing in direct sunlight than does the ZS3? And also, whether anyone can recommend an after-market screen that can be attached to the LCD screen and effectively reduce glare?

Also, any hints for improving viewing LCD Screens in Direct Sunlight?

Sincerely,

Dr. Kermit J. Halperin

Panasonic Lumix DMC-Zs3 — great point and shoot
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
My wife and I like everything about this camera. Great picture quality, long-range zoom and decent battery life. I have played around a little bit with the HD video, and it is super simple to use. I am not keen about the format that videos are stored in — makes transfer to video editing programs a hassle.

It’s All About Expectations
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
We were upgrading from a camera that was at least 5 years old and did **lots** of research both online and in stores. We wanted a megazoom camera that would take good video, and we wanted one that performed well in low light. We are adventurous but still amateur photographers, so we needed a camera with a good automatic setting but also plenty of manual options. After an extensive search in the $200-$300 price range we came down to just a few cameras, and this one won out. We’d read about the ACVHD video problem – that you can only play it on TV and can’t post it online – but were encouraged by the fact that there was an alternative (non-HD) mode and that there was a zoom option during video recording. We knew it was a little larger than the ultracompact cameras but were satisfied that it was smaller than our old camera. We knew there was at least one other camera out there that probably had better low-light performance but we figured it would be much better than what we were dealing with at the time. (We were right.) And we were excited about the awesome viewfinder on the Lumix DMC-ZS3. It was crucial to read the reviews on websites like this – they all brought up good points. Some people gave the camera only 1 star because of the HD video issue; some mentioned the same problem and gave it 5 stars. This is not a standardized system; these are people’s opinions (and this is mine). Because we knew what to expect and what ‘imperfections’ to anticipate, we have been completely satisfied. There have been no surprises. This camera delivers the kind of quality and performance you should expect to get from a $200-$300 gadget in 2009. I obviously haven’t owned any of its competitors, but I cannot imagine they would be significantly better.

In summary, if you go looking for problems you’ll always find them. If that’s the kind of consumer you are then you won’t be satisfied unless you spend at least twice what this camera costs. But if you have realistic expectations this camera will easily surpass them.

Very pleased
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Took the camera out first day to a local florist shop and a nursery to test it on flowers. Very pleased with the result. Auto focus worked perfectly, images are sharp, high in detail, well saturated, true greens, reds, blues; no color cast problem, no fringing. The tele macro pulls in flowers from 15 feet away, or longer if you go down to 3 mp, as if they were inches from the lens. Can’t complain. Next day took it to the local produce market to test macro, and was again very pleased with focus, sharpness, color, everything. Last night put it to its real work at an art opening doing casual posed shots with celebs and video of speakers. Flash worked fine for the posed shots. The high-speed burst mode is great for doing talking heads; just hold down the button and out of 20 shots you can pick the good ones. The best is the video. You can zoom to the full 12x and fill the frame with the head from 18 feet away, and the sound is excellent for a built in mike. The MPEG video mode yields sharp, clear images. The multi-layer menu structure lets you pick from a simple menu, a medium menu, and a full menu with zillions of options. I have a big 35mm digital with a stack of lenses from 12 to 1000 mm, and it can make fine pictures, but it weighs a ton. I also have a little Kodak V1003 10mp pocket digital that takes good pictures within its range. But the ZS3 runs rings around the Kodak, and still fits in a shirt pocket. Both the Kodak and the big 35 mm are going to be gathering dust, I’m afraid, now that I have this talented little performer. The downside is the software. The Panasonic Photo Fun app crashed on Win RC7 so many times in so many different ways that I uninstalled it after 48 hours. Google’s Picasa3 does so much more, and it works. But the ArcSoft video utility and the panorama stitcher, separate programs supplied with the Lumix, are OK. Bottom line, great camera, five stars from me.

Best Point N’ Shoot I’ve Had So Far
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
As a geek who spends way to much time and money on tech stuff, I’d have to say that this camera is the best “point and shoot” camera I’ve had thus far (and I’ve had many, many digital cameras). This is a great find and now Panasonic has my attention.

First day with camera, lots of extras to do!…now updated
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
Not going to go over the well touted good points of this camera, but will state some surprises I have encountered on first day’s use.

I bought an 8 gig SDCH card, “class 6″ 150X was recommended for video work. My computer wouldn’t read the 8 gig card, and I got an I/O error. On Craigslist computer forum, found people had trouble with PC reading their high capacity SD cards; there was a Windows patch I had to download. (The name of the exe file is WindowsXP-KB934428-v3-x86-ENU.exe) Then the PC at least read it, but the single frame ID photo wouldn’t show up. What next…

Others said I’d need also a dedicated SCHC READER (a regular SD card reader may be too antiquated), so back to the computer store and got one. Oh, don’t forget to format the SD card.

I did need a Lumix firmware update as my version was 1.0. The latest is Version 1.1, as of May 9, 09. Google “Lumix DMC-ZS3 firmware” to get to the Panasonic page. This will help reduce the autofocus motor noise, it says, and do a few other things. Complete instructions as well as download files for the TZ7 & FZ3 are on that page. Use a blank formatted SD card, and you should format after as well.

Tested video mode to see what causes noises…that slight sharp clicking when zooming is the clicking of the tele/WA lever when it “hit” both extreme sides. I believe the more recent versions of this camera had adjustments by Panasonic to slow down the zoom speed, which was causing a lot of noise (see some samples of the TZ7 on YouTube…almost grinding). So the zoom’s a little slow getting going, and one may tend to really slap the lever to kick start it. After a few weeks, I am used to the zoom and rarely make noise.

All in all, I’d love the next version of this camera to have an external mic jack, and maybe even an external headphone jack. Or a way to swing the mics away from the camera body.

The interesting thing on using AVCHD Lite on Vegas Movie Studio Platinum 9, was the double-image ghosting. I got suggestion from a camera forum regarding “resampling.” Please look at my CarolJWright YouTube channel for examples and exact solution.

Also, I tried out a few things to help with this camera. The Cokin filter rack for Digital Cameras had several issues. Check out that review here on Amazon. One accessory that WILL work is the Hoodman Loupe, a black rubbery funnel with fine lens to view the LCD screen as a viewfinder. Whew! No more sun glare! Costly but will get one. It fits the 3″ screen of this camera and can be held on snugly with eye socket pressure with guidance from fingers. There’s an accessory to hold it onto a camera, but most just hang it from the neck and use it when needed.

Super camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Was expecting an expensive yet a good product, after using the still picture and video features I realized that I made a very good deal. Quality of pictures is still not as you get with SLR cameras like my old yet favorite Nikon 5700, but over all I am very impressed with the quality for such a compact camera.

In addition, this one can be used easily by all family members

Easy and Powerful
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I bought this camera for our recent trip to Italy. I wanted a camera that was very easy to use and took good photos. I don’t know anything about photography, it’s not a hobby of mine at all, and I wasn’t interested in learning. I just wanted photos to remember our trip and share with friends. I also wanted to avoid the huge wait between pictures that our old digital camera had.

This camera is very easy to use. I never took it off of the iA mode. The only thing I adjusted was turning off and back on the auto-flash option when in places that allowed non-flash photography only. It’s really easy to toggle it … two button presses.

The pictures of ruins in Rome, art and buildings in Florence and landscapes everywhere look great. I purchased an 8GB card to go with it and that was plenty of space for our pictures (I think it would have held about 1200). I took perhaps a thousand over the two-week trip (but we uploaded them to a computer periodically and subsequently deleted them from the memory card, which is very easy to do).

The iA mode does really well with varying lighting conditions. Only the very darkest corners of churches disallowing flash photography were a problem for the camera. I was very pleasantly surprised that it was able to take such good photos of some very dark places without flash. The only caveat here was I had to hold my hand pretty steady to avoid blurring.

My largest criticism is that the battery does not charge via the USB connection. There is also still some pause between pictures, but I don’t know if this is adjustable … I never tried to find out because the pause showed me the previous picture, which is what I wanted (and may be it’s only function). The battery lasted a full day, but not much more. I turned the camera on and off depending on what we were doing. I didn’t try to adjust the power-saving options because the battery never ran out if I started the day with a full charge (at the end of one day it ran out because I hadn’t charged it the previous night).

We didn’t use the software that came with it, just imported the photos into iPhoto.

I am very happy with the camera. It is almost exactly what I wanted and worked great throughout the trip.

Truly Advanced Point and Shoot
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I’ve purchased two Sony Cybershots in the past for the features and portability. the Carl Zeiss lens was also something I looked for. This is my first Lumix and I love the build quality and can’t wait to play around with all the additional camera features. This is definitely an upgrade from my Sony’s. The face recognition, Leica lens, wide angle format, and AVHD video won me over. It is a serious point and shoot digital, with plenty of room for customization.

Electronics Expo is also a great store, I’ve had no problems with my previous orders. This particular camera was a dealer demo only used for display, it was on sale for a significant discount, with full warranty. The sales rep was very knowledgeable about the camera on Amazon. I was very happy with the customer service, I will go to these guys again.

Great camera!!!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
The zs3 is the perfect camera for me. I wanted a good quality camera with a lot of zoom, HD video and small size. It is also very affordable considering the amazing leica lens, the slick looks and the sturdy construction .

I had it for a few days and I have been playing with it quite a lot. The movie recording mode is outstanding, great quality. It takes great pictures in low light and I was even able to get good clear shots of my two very active and jumpy boys.

I think the menus could be simplified a bit, but maybe I just need some more time to play with it and get the hang of it.

Overall I am very happy with it.

Best Travel Camera in the World!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Extremely satisfied with the quality of this feature-packed camera. Small and portable but with 12X Optical zoom it can compete with the big boys! At 10 MegaPixels, these pictures can be blown up as big as you want. I can’t believe the detail that it captures even when you zoom way in. I was very impressed with the battery-saving features that allow you to take pictures all day long with only two batteries! Very user friendly and the automatic setting is extremely intelligent. It also has the ability to tweak the ISO settings, the shutter speed, and the color mode just to mention a few of them. I highly recommend it!

Amazing camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I purchased this camera to replace my slowly dieing canon powershot SD550. I was very familiar with the canon interface and was hesitant to change brands. However, after reading multiple reviews i decided to get the Panasonic Lumix ZS3. I can tell you that it was completely worth it! This camera has amazing picture quality, and for those who say it lacks manual controls i will say that this contains enough controls to make me happy. I love manual controls and i frequently use a Nikon d30 for specific shots, but this camera will be taken with me 90% of the time. This camera allows a selectable max 1/250 shutter(any shot) to a min of 60 seconds(starry sky mode) or 1 second for any shot. The interface is different from canon but the quick menu makes changing settings very easy. The camera is fast and has great features, what more could you ask for? To sum it up: The picture quality is comparable and even better to DSLR’s in some sitations, the 12x zoom allows for wide angle shots all the way into 300mm distant shots! Did i mention 720p video? Great quality with some of the best audio recording i have heard from a digital camera. I cant stress this enough, this is the best camera to get right now hands down.

ZS3 vs ZR1
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I spent a lot of time lately reviewing compact digital cameras. I knew that zoom was one of my highest priorities so I ended up settling on the panasonics. I have now owned both the ZR1 and ZS3 and I prefer and will keep the ZS3, although it is a very close call. Both cameras are pretty much the exact same as far as operation and menus go. They each have iA and normal modes, to go along with twenty something scene modes like high sensitivity, high speed burst, portrait, starry sky, fireworks, etc… There is definitely the most control in Normal Picture mode, and that is the mode I take almost all of my pictures in. I never use the iA (intelligent auto) mode. While they are billed as fully automatic cameras with no manual controls, you can choose the sensitivity (ISO 80-1600, auto), adjust the exposure (-2 to +2 eV), choose a minimum shutter speed (1 to 1/125 for ZR1, 1 to 1/250 for ZS3), which , while it is not capable of extremely long exposures, it is effective at forcing a very fast shutter speed if you are trying to get action shots. You can also set the white balance. Both cameras also have a button for a quick menu which brings up relevant parameters you might want to alter in that mode so you don’t have to scroll through the menus. For instance, in normal mode, if you press the quick menu button, Auto focus mode, white balance selection, ISO, picture size, aspect ratio, burst mode, LCD power all pop up on the top of the screen for easy access. I only wish that the minimum shutter speed control would also pop up with the quick menu, Each camera also comes with an extended optical zoom, where you can get an extra zoom by reducing the picture size. With this feature, the ZR1 moves from a 8x zoom to 15.6x, and ZS3 goes from 12x to 21.4x. Here I must give a point to the ZR1. The ZS3 puts a much greater emphasis on video, and I really don’t care about video. There is a little red button on the back of the ZS3 that automatically records video, you don’t have to be in motion picture mode. In its place on the ZR1 is an E. zoom button. This button automatically zooms the camera to full tele (8x) and if you press it twice it automatically extends the lens to its full capabilities, 15.6x. On the ZS3, you have to go to the menus and manually lower the picture size to attain your extended zoom, rather than just press a button. I like the ZR1′s take on this much better, but if you care about video, yo might like this part of the ZS3 better. The ZS3 is supposed to have much better video quality, but I don’t really care about that so I haven’t really checked it out. I do wish that the ZS3 recorded in AVCHD instead of AVCHD lite so I could use the same program as I use for my panasonic camcorder, but oh well.

The main reason I chose the ZS3 over the ZR1 is that it is hard to get a clear shot (not blurry) with the ZR1 at low light conditions when the lens is in any position besides the widest one. From what I understand this comes from the aperture of the two cameras. Aperture, the hole in the diaphragm that controls how much light hits the sensor, is given as reciprocal numbers, so larger numbers, ie f10, is a smaller aperture than say, f2.8. The ZS3 goes from f3.3 to f4.9 ( max of f6.3) and the ZR1 goes from f3.3 to f5.9( max of f18) I’m not really sure when the camera chooses f18 over f5.9, but at any rate, the ZR1 has a much smaller aperture at zoom than the ZS3, and neither has an aperture control setting so you use the minimum aperture. This means that the ZS3 can let in much more light at the same zoom setting as the ZR1. This allows you to use faster shutter speeds which reduces blur. Overall the ZS3 just has a much easier time taking pictures in low light because of the bigger aperture (also referred to as a faster lens). Because it is letting in more light, you can also take pictures with the ZS3 at lower ISO levels than you need to use with the ZR1 to get the same exposure, which will result in a higher image quality for the ZS3. The faster aperture also has an effect when taking pictures outside at full zoom, but not as bad because the image stabilization for both cameras seems to do better in good light. I also didn’t notice any difference in the Power O.I.S. vs the older Mega O.I.S. With the Power O.I.S. the ZR1 has a default minimum shutter of ¼ of a second, where the ZS3 (Mega O.I.S) has a default of 1/8 of a second. This might be where the “two times faster than previous models” claim comes from. Anyhow, I found that the ZS3 actually took clearer pictures with a shutter speed of ¼ of a second than the ZR1. Part of this is probably because the ZS3 doesn’t have to use stabilization as much because of the wider aperture, but at any rate, a greater percentage of my shots with the ZR1 were blurry than the ZS3. Interestingly enough, the newest panasonic models, introduced in January 2010, are equipped with Mega O.I.S. and not Power O.I.S. Since I never use a tripod and am always taking handheld shots, many with zoom engaged, this was a huge point for the ZS3. Also, the 12x zoom is significantly more than 8x, and I think it will really come in handy in the mountains. For me the 50% more zoom is more important than the 50% less weight.

ZR1

Pros

- SMALLER SIZE AND WEIGHT!

- Feels more comfortable in hand, looks sleeker, more attractive

- E. zoom button in place of movie record button

- Better battery life

- Slightly faster focusing, especially when zoomed in under low light

- Faster response in general (very slightly)

- Has two additional scene modes that ZS3 doesn’t have

ZS3

Pros

- Wider minimum aperture lets it take much CLEARER HANDHELD PICTURES

- EXTRA ZOOM

- BETTER LOW LIGHT PERFORMANCE

- Better HD video, with an HDMI out port

- Better overall image quality

- Shutter control down to 1/250 second instead of 1/125

- I believe the ZS3 burst mode is a little better

- Higher resolution screen

For me it was a really hard decision which one to keep for one reason, size. While the specs make it look like the zr1 is not much smaller than the zs3, when you are actually holding them, it is clearly noticeable. The ZS3 actually weighs as much as one and a half zr1′s and the ZR1 feels much more comfortable and natural in the hand at first. After using them both for a couple of days I got more used to the feel of the ZS3 so the weight didn’t make as much of a difference, but the difference is still there. The ZS3 just takes more consistent pictures, especially when zoomed, or indoors, and has a much greater reach. Since both fit in my pocket, I can get over the extra weight in order to gain these mentioned tradeoffs. The ZS3 takes good pictures, has intuitive menus and is very easy to operate, and I believe it has a good amount of features for a camera with no real manual controls. And of course it has that awesome zoom for a camera this small. If you really must have a super compact camera, go with the ZR1, it takes just as good of pictures in good light and is faster to respond, but if not, the extra reach, clearer shots, and better indoor performance make the ZS3 well worth it to me, especially if they are close in price.

Great Camera… BUT…. Panasonic has a “gotcha!!”
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
The camera is new for me so I have not had a lot of time to delve into the intricacies but so far the camera seems to be really nice. The purpose of my early review is to warn customers that Panasonic has made it that you cannot use any 3rd party battery. (Almost always less expensive and with more power.) They claim it is under the guise of “safety”. I think we all know it is probably because of money. I would have looked at other cameras had I known that Panasonic practiced sabotaging their customers and am considering returning my ZS3. Maybe if enough people complain to them….

love love love this camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I love this camera.. I had to return it the first time because the screen was damaged but amazon replaced my camera. Even my DSLR-loving friends cannot praise this camera enough for its super-fantastic 12x zoom which is really great for concerts and shows (if you’re sitting far far away). The night modes are really good because even with a flash the photos look naturally lit. The iA (intelligent auto) detects virtually any kind of scenery automatically and adjusts settings automatically. In short, I love this camera – it takes beautiful pictures with very little effort required.

Very Nice Camera
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I purchased this camera for my wife. She is very pleased with it so far. Fairly easy to use, she loves the one button video and the ability to zoom while taking the video. Picture quality is quite good. This is our second Lumix, and I’m pleased with the brand.

Captures Action Better than I’d Hoped; Almost No Shutter Lag
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I’ve had the camera for only 22 hours, so I can’t yet provide a thorough review, but I am thrilled to say that it has almost no shutter lag, which was one of my most important criteria; I hate missing a picture because the camera is too slow to take it. Last night, I took the DMC-ZS3 to an NBA game (not as my date — my wife was there) and even on full zoom, the lag was minimal. I was able to capture the players taking shots, going for rebounds, and blocking the ball almost as well as I would have with an SLR. Press the shutter button halfway to get the camera to focus, wait for the right moment, and voila, you get the picture you were hoping for!

Since the digital photography epoch began, we’ve owned one camera, and it collected dust because it couldn’t do the job we wanted. We were waiting for a modestly priced, fit-in-your-pocket, mega-optical-zoom, point-and-shoot that would stop the action as we wanted it to. I think we have a winner.

Okay but did not meet expectations
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
I was disappointed by this camera. I read a gazillion reviews before purchasing and expected to be impressed. I was hoping that it would take beautiful pictures indoors and of my pets. It did not do either of these things. I had an issue with my previous camera with redeye indoors, and hoped with the technology in this camera that it would correct that. It did not, and I actually had more pictures with red eye than I did before! The pictures indoors were no better than my 3 year old cheapo Kodak EasyShare. The zoom was nice and pictures at a distance did come in clear but it did not zoom as far as I thought a 12x zoom would. There were several little things that bugged me about this camera, one being that I had to move a switch to go from picture mode to review mode. My biggest complaint is the time it took to take a picture. The delay caused me to miss shots. I kept the camera for a few days and played with the different settings, but still was not satisfied. I am sending this camera back.

The button to immediately go to video mode was GREAT, and the videos I took were really good quality. If video quality is important than this may be a good choice for you, but since I already have a really nice camcorder it did not factor into my choice of buying this camera. I think this camera took high quality photos, but the advanced features and intelligent auto that I thought would help me to take great photos did not meet my expectations. IMHO I think a cheaper camera would be just as good. The feel of the camera was nice and sturdy as well, and the screen was beautiful.

My DSLR alternative, amazing camera!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I waited everyday until it’s release, then purchased as soon as it became available. I believe it sold out in about a day and I am so very happy I purchased this camera. I really love the Nikon D90, but for the active person/everyday camera, this camera is the one to get. When I go backpacking, go to work, wherever, I take this camera with me everyday. If I want the shot of all shots, I will use a SLR. But most often, I want to take home some pretty photos and memories.

I am not going to write a technical review here, because they are everywhere on the web. The purpose of this review is to inform people who may be considering to purchase this camera is that they will not regret the purchase.

I was tired of my other point and shoot camera as the 5x zoom was inadequate for any close up (Casio Exilim 7.1MP). It is a nice slim pocket camera, but the photo quality was satisfactory at best. This panasonic camera has the best selection of variability for a point and shoot camera as far as wide:zoom ratio with optical lenses, and good MP. This 10 MP takes more clear/pristine photos than my girlfriends 12MP camera. She loves my camera and would like one for herself. I find the auto selection plenty adequate. So look, if you want a camera that can produce excellent photo quality for clarity and color and you just want to have fun and not overthink every shot, this is your camera. If you want a camera with the manual controls and have the ability to control every aspect of your photo, go with a DSLR.

Of course it is ridiculous I would compare the two. What I am saying, is if you want great photos without having to go to the expense of a Nikon DSLR, you want ease, functionality, and practicality, this is a great choice and one I researched for many months before it’s anticipated release.

Excellent camera and value!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
If you want a great camera with a very good video option, this is the best value on the market. The LCD is huge and makes taking pictures a breeze. I am a Panasonic fan, and I am not disappointed.

Missing digital monitor, abysmal support
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
First off, for what it does, this is a great camera. So, I may keep it, even if it doesn’t do what I bought it for. I wanted a replacement for my Sony DCR-HC90, which has live firewire output. The ZS3 has live composit output that monitors what you see on the LCD display. But, it doesn’t send out live HDMI output. Why is this important? Well, if you want a higher quality source for video conferencing, the ZS3 won’t work! As for me, I VJ at concerts, so need a digital input into my laptop to tweak live video. Both use cases are not your typical point-and-shoot fare, so I can understand why Panasonic would leave it out. But, I suspect this could be fix in firmware, which make the ZS3 a must-have for VJs. On the plus side, is that recording off a computer screen with Motion JPEG (not AVCHD) is a dream, even when handheld. This is a great little product!

Tech support, on the other hand, is the pits! After waiting for 21 minutes on the phone, I get an agent who was very please with himself, would used acronyms like VOC (voice of the customer), would answer questions with absolute certainty, yet was absolutely wrong! First question: will the ZS3 send out monitor on HDMI? His answer: yes. Real answer: no. Second question: the meter bars clutter up the live signal when sending out via composit, is there a way to get rid of it? His answer: no. Real answer: change metering to average mode and the meter bars will go away. After his answers I asked him to forward my suggestion to Panasonic. That is when he starts in with the “VOC” nonsense. Sorry but, I really don’t want learn how to speak in Pana-pep-talk, just forward the suggestion. Two days later, the mini-HDMI cable came. So, I hooked up the ZS3 to my HDMI projector to confirm that: no, there is no HDMI output and, yes, the support agent was BS’ing his way through a support call.

Friken Awesome
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Amazing camera! I bought it just before a vacation to Europe and almost every picture (of the 600 I took) was a good one. This camera captures images just as you see them (Eg. [...]) and the zoom is amazing. It has a wide angle lens, so I almost always choose to zoom in to capture things even a few feet away. But the wide angle is awesome ([...]) when you are trying to capture the complete essence of something as big as the sunset or St. Peter’s Square.

Generally I don’t use the IA setting as some previous reviewers suggested against it. I just have it on auto, and that works for almost every scene.

PROs & CONSs:

1. The start-up is speedy from “On” to “Ready”.

2. The battery longevity is only decent. I try to minimize using the playback when I’m traveling.

3. The camera is kind of heavy, but it fits in purses and pants pockets just fine. I just think of the weight as being indicative of the quality.

4. And the menu and settings are somewhat complicated. However, I haven’t messed around with it too much, and I still got great pictures. If I put some more time into studying the functions, I’m sure I’d just end up with even greater photos.

5. The picture file size is quite big so downloading onto a computer can take a while.

Overall, everyone I traveled with including myself was really impressed with this camera. I found it by searching for a list of the “Best Cameras of 2009.” ([...]) Obviously, I’m not the only one who thinks quite highly of this machine.

Called Lowepro to get camera case recommendations.
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
OK. After reading the reviews I was totally unsure which camera case to buy for my Panasonic Lumix ZS3. Many of the reviews indicated the cases were tight (Rezo30 for eg) and not able to hold extra card and battery. Amazon does recommend fitment off acouple cases that defitnitely seem too small.

Since I don’t like to return things, I decided to call the pro’s at Lowenpro in California to get their take on it. Here it is: For the Lumix ZS3. Lowenpro product specialist recommended to me today:

Rezo 50

Apex 20AW

Apex 30AW

The AW stands for all weather. They said the rezo is a lighter less weather proof case. I think any of these would suffice. If you take it outdoors, maybe the AW models would be the way to go. Hope this helps….

My Second Lumix
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This is a great little camera, and I say “little” as compared to the SLR styles. Some of the pocket models are getting down right tiny. This camera is a bit smaller than previous models and can be carried in a pocket easily. It his well made and feels like a high priced camera, which it is. The main reason I favored this camera over other models capable of taking really good pictures too is the Optical Telephoto 12x Zoom. As with the older model the pictures taken with the zoom are unbelievable. To really appreciate what Panasonic has done one has to be old enough to remember taking Telephoto pictures with the 35MM SLR. Canon and Nikon are scrambling to come up with a comparable model to compete with the success of the Panasonic. Yes, like others, I miss having the backup eye piece for those times the lighting conditions make it difficult to compose a shot with the LCD back screen. I have an older Kodak with a through the lens eye piece and it still takes good pics but boy is it slow and it is like the SLR in size so does not slip into a coat pocket so easy. The menu on the SZ3 Lumix is easy to use and looks great. some menus on other cameras just look cheap — picky, I know, but this camera is not cheap. Battery life is really good, I have a backup battery but hardly need it. The second battery is handy, however. The camera comes with a Charger and it is an improvement over the older model as it is a quick charge type. I think the flash has been improved also as it has better range than before and it is not as prone to washing our a flash picture. Another improvement is the ability to use the zoom while filming in video. Okay, so what don’t I like? The The software is crap. It comes with two types of software, Media Impressions from ArcSoft which is okay but it will not play the new AVCHD video format — you will still have HD JPEG, thank god, but the software they give you to play the new format AVCHD is junk, it does not work, and I’m not the only one to have this problem. The title to this software is PhotoFunStudios and it is anything but fun. Without the ability to play back the AVCHD format on you PCor Laptop you are not going to be able to do any editing, so my advice is to set you new camera on the HD JPEG format and be happy. The Advantage of the AVCHD is it is supposed to give you HD in a smaller foot print saving you space on you little SD card — just buy a bigger card 8GB or bigger and forget about AVCHD. You can go online and purchase AVCHD software that works but that is another $40. Yes, I know, Panasonic should fix this and to tell the truth had I known about this earlier I might not have bought this camera as I originally thought this new format would be a cool feature have. So, if video is an important part of you purchase I would think twice before shelling our the big buck for the Panasonic. Here is another caveat concerns the battery. Panasonic decided to upgrade the firmware for the camera from the original production to a version 2, which comes preloaded on the new cameras, and this version will not allow you to use a third party battery — that’s right, you are locked into paying top dollar for the LUMIX only battery, usually around $40. You can get batteries that will work in the Panasonic camera for half that price on Amazon and even less if you go to a Hong Kong distributor. the way around this form of holdup is to download firmware version 1.1 and reverse version 2 back. The camera will then accept third party batteries. From what I could tell the battery limitation was the only reason for the upgrade to version 2. You can still get the older version originally used on this camera and all of the older models from the Panasonic web site support, but for how long? It is a great camera and the zoom is super and the menu easy to use and the battery life really good and it is easy to handle but for the Firmware problem and software that will not function properly I would seriously check out their competitors. If you buy, then get one at CostCo, try it and if it is not too much trouble and you don’t care about the Firmware version and the video format isn’t a big deal then I would say keep it, otherwise take it back to CostCo and go for the Canon or the Nikon. Peace, to you and yours — I hope this may have been of some help to someone looking. I bought my camera at Amazon, they have always been fast and fair and CostCo did not have this camera in when I made my purchase. Peace and good bye.

Another small-sensor camera
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
Sadly, as we demand smaller cameras with greater pixel counts and zooms and thus even smaller CCDs, Nyquist rears his ugly head and gives us pictures which aren’t as good as our “old” pocket-sized cameras took. I have a Canon PowerShot A610 and at only 5MP it takes better pictures in low light conditions. I don’t mean candle-light, I mean just about any indoor or slightly dim setting. Granted, my old A610 doesn’t zoom as far or take HD video, but I’d gladly have traded the super-zoom for a larger CCD so that I could have a pocket camera that took nice pictures and HD video, but wasn’t microchip-sized with an over-zealous zoom. (Indeed, though, Leica can make a fantastic lense! Over-fantastic for this camera, sadly.)

I’ve never before written reviews on my purchases, (new year’s resolution to write more, perhaps?), but this camera overly underimpressed me. Indeed, the HD movies are pretty impressive, and with great stereo sound, to boot!, and in the right lighting and set to the right setting, it can take very nice pictures. Nevertheless. The dozens of scene modes are slow to sift through and don’t always give the best picture for the setting (I took a picture of some candles in various scene modes, and no, not “night” nor “starry sky” nor any of the other appropriate scene modes worked best; rather, the “underwater” scene was the best fit for that candle shot! If only I was able to set ISO, aperture, and shutter myself…). Not much exists, out there, that is very satisfying in this way; I’ve begun to look at DSLRs and now the new micro-4/3 cameras just to get the bigger CCD, though it’s harder to find something that takes nice HD video with stereo sound. So you can see that I’m not really the best candidate for this camera (or to review this camera). But I didn’t realize how bad the problem would be until I started taking pictures with the camera. Ug, the noise is bad at nearly all ISO levels.

However, Amazon is really pretty fantastic. My zero-trouble return completed without a hitch. Fantastic, Amazon, thank you for being so customer-centric.

Best point and shoot camera I’ve ever had
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I find myself taking this camera with me everywhere to snap pictures of whatever interests me, spur of the moment. I mostly take pictures of my pets and things that interest me in my neighborhood. I usually see things and want to shoot them immediately, without waiting to fiddle with the camera. This camera powers on fast, and for most situations leaving it set to automatic everything produces a clear shot with true colors. This is just what I need to catch my pets “in the act”. The pictures are so sharp I can see every little hair in their fur. The flash is bright enough that I can get a sharp picture 10 feet away in dim light. The zoom is impressive – it’s very fast and produces really sharp pictures. I tried one HD video, and played it on my computer. It was very sharp on my 24″ LCD screen.

very bad picture quality
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
i was impressed by the positive reviews about this camera, and i decided to pay more to get the best , i was shocked with the picture quality in different light conditions, i took most of the pictures in wedding ceremony for one of my relatives, im disappointed with the grainy appearance of the pictures, and the blurr around the light , i tried different modes , with the same bad pic quality .

to get good quality with this camera u should : be outdoor , stand still with no movement at all , and take 4-5 pictures hoping one will be good .

im not a professional photographer , but im regular user of dig. cameras , this camera failed to meet my basic needs for taking family pictures indoor . it does not worth 5$ even , and if panasonic decided to give it free to me i will pay the shipment back to them , thats how much im frustrated from this camera.

i sent it back to amazon , waiting the refund .

DONT BE FOOLED BY POSITIVE REVIEWS , i decided to spend 5 minutes to write this review bcs of my frustration , many people send it back and dont document their negative experience

Panasonic Lunix DMC-ZS3
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Camera is excellent! Picture quality is sharp. Zoom lens is excellent for close ups without losing picture quality due to blurring. Outstanding camera for the price!

excellent point and shoot camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I don’t often get around to doing reviews – never enough time – but have to do one on this. I’ve always loved amateur photography and remember my Minolta X700 SLR days fondly. For the last few years just been using point and shoot digitals – still not quite ready for a nice D-SLR.

But what a GREAT little camera is this Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3. It has a little bit of manual-ish-ness to it with some not too hard to get at menu settings, but you really can let it do its thing in the various automatic modes, and it comes out great.

I got it a few weeks back for a trip to Chile, and I am not disappointed in the least.

Also, I’ve never been into taking video, just love classic still shots, but with this camera have discovered the value and fun of taking short video shots (editing out the boring parts later and capturing that other dimension of action and interaction that works great for certain settings – again in full auto mode, the video mode is of very nice quality. I can see now that in future camera, I’ll be want to concern myself with this capability.

All in all, a point and shoot digital of this caliber will always be part of my life, even when I decide I’ve found a D-SLR that I like.

One of the best compact
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
The Lumix ZS3 / TZ7 is easily one of the best compact camera to date, maybe the best.

Things that other compacts don’t have : HD video (very good come out), zoom 12x !, very nice pics at night !

Horrendous flash
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
I hardly ever write reviews but with all the positive reviews this camera had, I thought I’d put my two cents in.

I bought this camera to replace my aging Canon sd800. I wanted something small with a better zoom for capturing images of my two kids with the added capability of video thrown in for good measure. To make a long story short, I’m sending this back to Amazon because my SD800 does a better job in two key areas.

1) focus. If you are taking pictures with this camera of kids be prepared to be disappointed. THe autofocus is awful and by the time it finally does focus, you’ve lost the shot. I’m talking a good 2-3 seconds before the camera focuses and another second to snap the picture. It’s really depressing.

2) The flash. If you’re using this indoors, you have to use the flash (I expect this to be true of any P&S). The flash on this is so strong, it washes out any contrast in the faces you’re taking pictures of. It also creates pretty great shadows in the background.

When I went back to the SD800, it was like a breath of fresh air.

Go for it!
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I was looking for a point and shoot camera with a wide angle and this one fits the requirements to the t. I read many reviews and settled on this camera and am glad i bought it.

Some of the pros:

1. It takes great pictures in low light conditions e.g. a resturant setting with no flash. using flash darkens the background with the best of camera, so its good the pics come great in low light.

2. You can keep the camera is your pocket.

3. Wide angle really helps in small settings and compares close to SLR.

4. Very easy to use, straight out of the box.

5. Non-panasonic battery i bought from Amazon works perfectly, no compatibility issues with the newer software version on this camera.

Cons:

1. I saw very slight blur when objects are moving in auto mode, may be i need to read the manual to figure it out.

2. The default HD vedio is in a format that is hard to play back on PC unless you have the proper software.

Bottom line is, if you are looking for a pocket camera for casual pictures, which we most often take, this is a good match and you will not be dissapointed. I bought this after several reviews and never thought i will buy a pana, but i did and am keeping it!

Thanks.

On Great Camera!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This is the perfect camera for me! Very easy to use and take the best photos and video! So true that “people in the know” know that Panasonic makes great cameras, I found this out and won;t go back to canon anytime soon. Worth buying!

Great pics when things go right….
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
***Update 9/9/09– Got the Canon SX200IS today and this camera is what I was looking for in the ZS3. I’ve been taking pics all day with it and hardly ANY bad pics so far. This Canon far exceeds all of my expectations. The only thing better in the ZS3 was the HD camcorder fxn (it really took great, clear video–better sound too), but I already have an excellent HD camcorder so that wasn’t necessary to me. Picture quality/colors were really about the same when the ZS3 was focused so the Canon gets the nod here for focusing ability. Macro pics were even. Flash is MUCH better in the Canon. Zoom seems faster to focus with the Canon but still not the greatest–but I’ll take the improvement over the ZS3. Hopefully I don’t get the lens issue others have gotten with the Canon–if I don’t it was money totally well spent. Adios Panasonic ZS3. Wish I could say it was great, but….

I received the Panasonic DMC-ZS3 from Amazon yesterday. I took it back to UPS to return after several hours.

Good: The camera when spot on takes amazing, colorful pictures.

The zoom is great.

Macro fxn may even be better.

Bad: 75% of my shots had tons of NOISE or outright out of focus– and no, I do not have Parkinson’s. I’m no professional, but even I can

see how bad the focus fxn is on this camera. I tried all different settings on this to no avail. I consider my house to be bright

(live in Phoenix) esp my living room. Still the camera fought to find the correct picture. Outside did better, but still had an

unacceptable amount of noisy pics. Also, if your subject even moves and inch, the focus is blown. I could maybe see if the pics were

taken in a darker setting, but not the case.

Not many adjustable fxns compared to others.

Flash is HORRENDOUS…..way underpowered..

I could live with the flash and really with a camera that has hiccups once in a while, but the pics that this one took were totally

unacceptable. After reading all of the review before buying, I really wanted this camera to be mine– I could deal with all of the cons except for the fact that I couldn’t get a proper pic.

Maybe I got a defunct camera but I’m not buying another to find out….

Great camera for nonprofessionals
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I chose this digital camera because it had great reviews about the high quality of indoor images and video features. I have had it for two months and it is wonderful. I am not a professional so I am using all the preset scene and exposure modes. I could not be happier. You have the manual option, but have not ventured into this yet. I read you can increase the image quality even more when properly setting the camera manually. I gave it 4 stars for ease of use, rather than 5, only because there were features that I could not intuitively figure out. I was used to the Nikon Coolpix cameras, which are very intuitive. With the Panasonic, I had to spend the time reading the manual and figuring out how to do somethings like cropping an image, using the red eye correction, choosing the movie format for computer downloads, etc. Not difficult though, just requiring the extra time. Another thing I like about the camera is that it is quite ergonomic and reasonably light. Also, the objective is protected when the camera is off so you can keep it in your purse without the fear of scratching the lens. The large LCD screen is awesome and the overall look of the camera is trendy and chic. By far, the best, most complete digital camera I have ever had.

Just do it!!!!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 10MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3 inch LCD (Blue)

I am so in love with this camera, it’s not even funny. I am NOT a pro, nor want to be, just wanted a camera which I could point and shoot and get a good quality photo and video.

I love that the video has zoom, that is what I was waiting for. Took some videos and pictures of my son and they came out excellent.

No more out of focus or too far of a image that you cannot identify the person in the picture.

Since it’s small, you can have it in your purse or in your pocket. I have mine with me at all times now.

This is my 3rd Lumix and hope to be like that for a long while. It’s expensive, no doubt, but I looked at it as an investment and I am confident I did the right thing.

I was debating between the ZS3 and the SX200 Canon, after lots of research I went with the ZS3. The 3 major reason were:

1) Canon has the flash were your finger goes.

2) The Lumix can produce a HD “light” video (which I can keep and show on TV with very high quality or convert it to a good youtube video and upload for others).

3) The zoom on the video. Ahhhh what a bless!!! Finally we can have a video with the zoom.

So for all the above reason I say, the ZS3 is the camera to have.

Best All Around Camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
The combination of size and capability is impossible to match. The iA setting does an incredible job of choosing the right settings for you.

Video Recording is great! You need a Class 6 or faster SD card for video- make sure you don’t get stuck with a class 2 or 4. I got a 16G class 10 for $40 and can now take 2 hours of hi def video!

Good battery life. Nothing bad to say about this camera!

Very strong performer
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
Purchased this recently for both work and non-work purposes, with the following observations:

Pros:

1) Outdoors, in daylight, amazingly good photos

2) Excellent battery life

3) Pretty user friendly

4) Compact, easy to carry around in a coat pocket

5) HD video from such a small camera is a major plus

6) Zoom great for pictures of screen from distance, either standard outdoors photo or rear of conference hall

7) Wide angle works very well

fast focus, even in low light (see other low light comments below, however)

Cons:

1) Flash is good for about 5 to 8 feet, if you’re expecting to see the same quality for indoor images as you will see for outdoor photography. If used beyond 10 feet or so, it will illuminate subjects, image on camera LCD will look GREAT, but image and subjects will look grainy on your computer due to high ISO setting (400, 800, etc) made by camera. While this graininess is to be expected at these settings, it is easy to be fooled by how good image looks on camera LCD right after photo is taken. Another reviewer commented earlier on these same issues with flash. Message to Panasonic: more power to flash in future versions. Message to user: indoor flash use will produce excellent, detailed photos if subject < 6 to 8 feet; ok photos that are acceptable, if somewhat grainy if beyond this.

2) As others have mentioned, the dial on top right portion of camera that selects shooting mode is very loose, and will change settings on its own going into/coming out of your pocket. The camera is so good overall, that this is a minor nuisance, and one learns to check this as camera is turned on for use.

3) Extra batteries, cables, are hard to come by. DO NOT buy spare batteries listed with product as accessories on Amazon or other web sites without checking battery # and ensuring a match: there are some listed on the ZC3′s product page that do not work with this camera. Save yourself expense/hassle of return. Panasonic web site lists correct battery product number. (BCG10PP is correct battery number at the time of this writing).

4) Need to remember to reset white balance. If you take photos indoors in NORMAL mode and set WB for indoor lighting, put camera away for the night, then turn camera on the next day, it will still be set for indoor lighting. Would be nice if there was an option to retain this setting/auto return to default when camera is turned off/on (the camera has this feature to retain current zoom level/reset to default setting when camera turned on/off)

5) It is possible some casual users may find it a bit of a challenge to take advantage of all the pre-set exposure options, while some experienced users will find it frustrating that there is not more control.

6) Found it difficult to get as good results with night shots as the camera seemed to over-ride my manual attempts to open shutter by 1 to 2 stops.

7) Also with regard to night shots, low light photos, etc… For taking pictures in low light setting, a few adjustments are needed to NORMAL mode. In low light, the camera will not use settings below ISO 200 (i.e. ISO 100, 80, etc..) unless you specify that. This accounts for part of the graininess of low light photos. This is partly necessary because the shutter speed “default” setting will not allow exposures beyond 1/8 second. So, if one wants to take higher quality picture in low light with longer shutter speed, both the ISO SENSITIVITY and the SHUTTER speed need to be manually adjusted in NORMAL mode (as best I can tell, to set ISO below 200, and use longer exposure [maximum exposure I found in NORMAL mode is 1 second]). While longer exposures are available in the pre-set modes (such as “Starry sky” mode), these are still somewhat grainy, I believe, due to high ISO setting used by camera. These are good precautions for casual photographer who is OK with modest quality low light photo, may have shaky hand, or does not use tripod, but an obstacle for more experienced user with a tripod, steady hand, etc…who want really high quality pictures. Perhaps I’ve missed something in instructions, but this is best I understand things at this time.

Overall, I am very happy with the camera and glad I made the purchase. Would have given it 4.5 stars if had the chance, except for the low light issues.

THE POINT AND SHOOT OF 2009
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This is the point and shoot to get if you want the highest zoom, great io features, in BOTH still and moving pictures! Wide angle lens and video compression that will allow you to record video until the memory is full!! It will change settings to allow for the best video, changing for low light, indoors, outdoors . .manually or automatically!! A true HD camcorder and digicam in one. I thought the Samsung hz15w / wb550 was going to be the one for me this year, but they have restricted recording times. This Panasonic rules. Just Add video LED and manual exposure control and we would be looking at 6 stars!

Note for Mac Users
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Quick note for Macintosh users: The best way to get the AVCHD Lite video files off the camera and into your iMovie editing program is as follows:

(1) Get a card reader for the SDHC flash card.

(2) Use the card reader to copy the buried AVCHD Lite files to your Desktop from the following folder path on the card: /PRIVATE/AVCHD/BDMV/STREAM

(3) Use a third-party software program called VoltaicHD to convert the AVCHD Lite files to Mac-friendly QuickTime files

Those QT files — such as .MPG or .MP4 — will work directly in iMovie, QuickTime Player or really any Mac program.

This all works best with an Intel-based Mac computer.

Oh yes, if you just want to view AVCHD Lite files and don’t need to edit them, use steps #1 and #2 to copy them to your Desktop, and then use the free VLC video player to watch them.

O’wise, I love this camera. Great pix and video, rare wide angle, strong zoom, clear menus, nice size.

ZS3 and PS3 work well together…
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
First day checking out my new ZS3, and so far i’m impressed. To get the photos/avchd movies off the camera I just pop out the memory card and put it in my Acer One netbook’s multicard slot, and transfer the movies and pics direct to a usb drive. I can then stick that in my PS3 and copy the pics and movies to my PS3′s 250 gig hard drive, and also plug the usb drive into my regular pc to back-up. I won’t even use any of the software supplied with the camera. The pics look great and the movies play great on the PS3, hooked up to my 1080 tv. No conversion needed, the PS3 can play the avchd lite files natively. I also can burn the AVC’s to a dvd for back up, and play those in the ps3′s blu-ray drive. The easiest and best pic/movie taking and displaying setup I ever had.

AWESOME CAMERA
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
We have owned quite a few point and shoot cameras; This one is in a class by itself. Picture quality is wonderful. Zoom feature impresses others at our kid’s sporting events, and the HD video is crisp and clear. I rave about this camera to anyone who asks about it. We bought a 16 GB SD card for it and can easily record a 2 hour soccer game. ++Plus, it is very simple to use; even the custom settings are easy to activate and take advantage of. HIGHLY reccomended.

I will ignore the baying dogs at my feet!
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
Added 11/20/09:

On impulse, I bought the zs3. I was swayed by the many 5-star reviews. As I said before, I want RAW, but I figured I would live with the jpeg until the manufacturers get their trip together.

But then something happened I find disturbing.

Amazon shipped it without any packing, and the unpadded camera box was just thrown into the Amazon ship box. The camera rattled around inside the bigger shipping box.

I see a number of reviews of defective cameras on this site, and I wonder what the packing was like – or wasn’t.

Now, this has become all too common a practice in careless sweat shop operations. I once bought a $800 Nikon lens from Adorama that was shipped like this – toss and forget.

I am sure these items are too fragile to be treated like this. If I bought this camera at a Radio Shack, and the sales person just tossed it on the floor rather than handing it to me, I would blow my stack. After all, I just paid for this item, it is now my property, and you are treating it in a destructive and careless manner. And this is exactly what Amazon is doing with my purchase.

Jeff Bezos built a great company, Amazon, and unfortunately obviously incompetent managers are busily undermining it. sad. Score one for the Lilliputs.

Added 11/23:

HaHa I have to laugh at the snarling Besenjis of mediocrity! Just kidding. Everyone has potential, so have hope. About the camera:

The lcd is good, and the depth of field for close shots is excellent, if you want that. One commenter, a rare observer not suffering from a tightie, said that a Nikon is gonna be like hauling a big load around. I agree totally.

But then I noticed something disturbing about the pictures of the zs3.

When I zoomed a pic all the way, the edges were not “tack sharp.”

So I shot the same thing (a fern plant) with a $3000 Nikon. Same result.

Why? The explanation I come to is that the lcd screen can’t track the higher magnifications. The check on this will be to print out the pic even at 8.5×11 size and see how sharp it looks. That’s critical, because people notice subconsciously whether a photo is not sharp, and photographers have a bag of tricks to get sharpness. First, pics in low light suffer most from this, since the shutter is open longest, and hand-shake introduces blur. Ways to get sharp photos: hold your elbows tightly to your body, exhale and hold your breath, easily, squeeeze slowly the button like a sniper, if possible, brace the camera against anything solid (not your dog), use flash can help.

I offer these tips in case a reader has not heard them. I mean, while any reader is whining and spending time thinking how to censor my reviews, they may learn something, besides amusing me. Any substantive thoughts? (Look that one up)

Great Pics!
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
The picture quality and features of the camera definately rate very high. Images were very clear in many types of light and the zoom was impressive. You can’t rely on the auto mode to select the best setup for every shot so you do need to select the proper shooting mode from time to time… especially in low light. This is pretty easy though since the dial has a few programmable settings for your more frequently used modes. Battery life was so-so. I was only getting about 160 shots compared to Panasonic’s claim of 300. This is probably not an issue for most, but it definately caused me issues on my vacation where the wife and I were taking photos all day long. I think I’m going to buy an extra battery next time.

Great video + still camera.
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
We bought this camera to serve as both a digital camera and camcorder to capture moments where an SLR or Video camera was not available. We looked at buying the Flip or other cameras in that category before settling on this one. Would recommend to others looking for combined functionality.

The video & sound quality are great. Two small microphones do a good job picking up sound & voice. Indoor shooting quality is great, zoom works well and the videos are in HD. In very low light the video quality suffers but this is to be expected with a product in this bracket.

The still images are high quality. We havent figured out a good setting for indoor photographs yet. Under the same lighting we are getting better video than stills which ran contrary to our expectations.

Simple, Easy, Fast
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
The Lumix ZS3 is a GREAT camera. New and hard to find either locally or on-line. OnCall had the item and got it to me fast, just as I desired. The correct item at a competitive price. Packaged well and arrived in time. Very pleased and would order from OnCall again.

Amazing Camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
All the other reviews already rave about the camera enough but I’d like to address 3 small concerns.

1. A previous reviewer said “speed too fast to write to memory” error was appearing when recording a movie. This will happen if your flash memory card isn’t fast enough. SDHC memory cards are rated based on how fast they can transfer data, Class 6 is the fastest and is recommended for this camera. Any lower class would probably cause writing problems when recording HD video.

2. The mode knob is a bit loose, it’ll roll out of position once in a while but it’s not terribly inconvenient.

3. The LCD screen protrudes a bit on the back. DO NOT lay the camera down on the LCD side! I learned the hard way by placing it in a center console in my car, the rocking motion back and forth has scratched the screen already.

Best cameral ever!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I can’t even describe how much I love my Lumix Zs3. It’s so easy to use and takes amazing pictures. I’ve never had such a powerful zoom before and can’t believe I ever had to live without it. The added bonus is the HD movies. I posted some of the videos I took a recent concerts to youtube and have gotten some nice comments on the quality of the vieos. I also love that everyone that sees my camera drools over it. Definitely the best camera for someone that doesnt want to deal with the manual settings. I just point and shoot and pictures look amazing. Seems to me that most people that don’t like this camereara or complain about it want the manual settings. But if you are like me and just want to take good pictures without putting much thought into it, then this could be the camera for you.

Great Video camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
If, like me, you’re coming from the dark ages of non-converged devices, any device with good convergence seems like a godsend, and the ZS3 is kind of like that. I haven’t seen many reviewers comment on the 720P HD Video, and I’m just pretty impressed with what I’ve been able to take (esp. really good low-light videos). Also the one-touch recording thing is pretty sweet. Just turn on, push the REC button and in less than a second, you’re recording. This is one reason I prefer this device to my iPhone 3GS… by the time I get the camera ready on the iPhone I often lose the moment.

There’s a lot of things about this device that are a bit lacking: the colors can sometimes be washed out in flourescent lighting (even with the iA), the lens at it’s widest does exhibit some distortion at the edges (to be expected I guess from wide-angle… so I make sure it’s set to “not as wide” for most pix), also the video audio can be a bit quiet (not sure if it’s some setting… I just do post-processing and amp up the volume on all my movies).

The interface is not plainly obvious (took me several attempts to find the playback button for videos), but it grows on you and it becomes relatively handy (two user-customized settings are great… I use candle-light and sports, both with flash disabled, and go auto (iA) on all others).

Despite all this, I will give it a 5 stars for it’s video. I could have got a flip video, but this one does the job simply and with the 12x zoom lens, iA auto mode and copious manual settings, it’s more versatile and hey, it also takes pictures.

Worthy, but don’t expect miracles if you’re a DSLR user
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I’ve had this camera for 4 months now, and overall I’m very happy I purchased it (even at the time for $369). But, though it takes respectable photos, I think I might have had higher expectations than I should have. I also own a Nikon D40 DSLR and the ZS3′s photo quality and versatility really doesn’t compare, especially in low light.

But, I can’t fit the D40 in my coat pocket. I can’t shoot HD video with my D40. And, I can’t match the convenience and portibility of the ZS3 with the D40. Essentially, these two cameras compliment each other nicely.

The PROS of the ZS3:

- Small. Not miraculously small, but small enough for a coat pocket or little bag.

- Solid Construction. A nice weight and sturdiness. It feels really nice in the hand.

- Excellent photo quality in daylight. Really nice looking photos up to 200 film speed.

- Optical Range. 25-300mm equivilent. Honestly, 300 is more than enough for me (I’ll break out the DSLR if I’m doing some nature stuff that requires 300mm). But, every once in a while it’s handy. It’s the 25mm that is vital, especially for small rooms or spaces. Or, if you have a toddler coming at you really fast. I find it’s a huge advantage compared to the other super-zooms.

- HD video. The quality is exceptional for a camera. Additionally, it does relatively well in low light conditions – or indoors. The ability to zoom optically is very useful. It’s extremely convenient. I absolutely love this feature. I’d almost be happy with this camera if it only took video!

- Impressive iA/AUTO feature, if you don’t want to think or are handing the camera to anyone who hasn’t used it before.

The CONS of the ZS3

- Very few manual settings. No setting Apeture. No setting Shutter. Though, you can set Film Speed which is nice (I tend to set mine to 80 – or max 200 – when I’m concerned about noise). It feels like the dslr “Program” setting in that sense.

- Really confusing menu. My wife (who’s an excellent photographer, but doesn’t use this camera much) still can’t figure this thing out. Heck, I still get disoriented figuring out where things are and when to press what. It’s FAR from an intuitive camera if your not just using iA for everything.

- Really bad low light color photo quality (though I should note that low light video is pretty impressive). Lot of yellow fringing at high ISO’s. But, more respectable (and usable) low light results when set to BW.

- Really annoying toggling between Photo and Playback settings. Basically, after you take a photo you can only review the one photo that you just took (without being able to zoom). If you want to review further, you have to switch out of Photo and toggle to Playback which closes up and shuts down the lens. It can be tedious and make you miss some shots.

- Slippy Menu Dial on top. I read other people’s complaints about this and thought them silly, but having owned the camera, I’ve discovered it is more than annoying. I’ve taken dozens of photos not realizing I slipped my camera onto a night setting by mistake because the dial is so loosy-goosy. How did I not notice? See above – I didn’t bother going to Playback to review because it’s tedious and I didn’t want to miss any action.

- Battery life – even when not shooting video, this thing eats through batteries. If you are on a day trip, you’ll have to be cognizant of your battery power. As of now it’s hard to find affordable back up batteries.

To review: The ZS3 is pocketable and can take some fantastic photos, especially in good light. Just don’t expect photo miracles – It’s still a point and shooter, though a better than average one with pleasing results overall. The miracle on this camera is in the video. I love the video on this camera and find it easy, convenient and excellent in quality.

Lumiz TZ7
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I was looking for a Camera that gave me a nice crisp picture quality,using one of the best lenses in the market (Leica). Also I was looking for a Camera that gave me dissent Video options.After comparing cameras that cost $500-700 I came across the Lumix. The lumix at first it seem like one of them other cameras that look sharp but din’t have the technology to back it up. This camera camera is Jam packed with Amazing features. It has face recognition that allows you register someones face(up to 6 people). It also has iA mode which is amazing. This feature automatically decides the best mode of picture to take. Also what brought me to buying this camera the most was the fact that it promised HD video. The HD video looks amazing in this camera,not to mention the Left and Right Stereo Mic that it brings. the best part about shooting Videos with this camera is the fact that you can zoom in while recording.(other Cameras don’t have this feature).The camera has a 12X zoom capacity and honestly I think that it takes better pictures zoomed than any other camera I’ve owned. The only negative thing about the camera would be the fact that the Video output is AVCHD which is a pain to edit in AE or Other programs. (Use Sony Vegas to Convert to Mp4). Over all this camera has been the best camera I’ve had. For the price, you cannot beat this product.

Fine Camera that doubles as a video camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Pictures excellent. Flash does a good job not washing out picture. GOod videos. Good skin tones. great night scenery setting.

Great Camera but Annoying
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
Solid camera with lots of features but Panasonic needs to stop being annoying about locking this down.

Annoyances:

Non standard USB cable

Can only use Panasonic battery (this should be illegal)

Mode select turns way to easily and is in the wrong spot

Inconsistent picture quality (seems to be from flash)

Otherwise fast great camera with good video quality.

Excellent Point and shoot
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I was looking for a good point and shoot one..good fast camera that takes pictures right away as i clicked..good video recording capabilities..And iam happy to say this is a perfect one..at 240 dollar it is very well priced..although there are cameras at 120 dollars or so this beats them down handily..you get high definition video recording..one of the long zooms..you will not be disappointed ..

Very, Very Pleased
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I’ve had several P&S cameras over the years, and this camera finally meets all of my needs. I’m not interested in learning all of the features of an SLR so for me “less is more”. I love, love, love the wide angle lens (that I’ve missed in previous camera’s) and a fabulous zoom. I’m completely amazed at the quality of the pictures. For one of my tests, I went to my garden, got close to a flower and the mode instantly changed to macro mode. Some of those shots made my jaw drop – they were incredibly crystal clear. One picture I’ve sent out to print in a large 20 x 30 poster that I intend to frame.

I haven’t even tried the video yet, but with one grandson and hopefully more on the way, I know that this feature will be used too. I love the face recognition, the scenery mode, and the macro mode which is unbelievable. The colors are perfect, too.

I’ll be traveling in a few weeks, and this is the camera that I know will be at my side throughout. Overall A+++

Very nice camera for the money…
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I received my camera today and have used it so much I have already had to recharge the battery. The picture quality is very good and the camera is of incredible quality considering all of the features built into such a compact size. After reading the worst reviews on amazon.com (with the exception of the mechanical malfunctions), I believe the issues with picture quality and focusing have to do with user inexperience and lack of understanding on how to best use the features given the conditions they are taking the pictures. I really like this camera and decided to purchase it after comparing it to the equally rated Canon SX200-IS.

An excellent choice
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
A great camera. We travel a great deal and the size and flexibility are just about perfect. It fits in your pocket, but will do just about anything my much larger camera will do. Get the non-glare film for the LCD. It works very well and protects the unit in your pocket.

love it.
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
this camera has met all my expectations. takes quality, super sharp pictures even when using substantial zoom shots of my son playing tennis. intuitively easy use of functions. video capabilities were easy to use and also happy with results. i think that I made a good choice.

I bought both the Canon SX200IS and the ZS3 but……
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I’m returing the Canon. I’ve historically enjoyed Canon camera’s (I owned an S3 IS). I completely agree that the Canon is capable of taking great pictures by tweaking the settings but I needed something that I could hand off to my wife or a friend to snap a quick picture and have it turn out well. For some reason, in auto mode, the Cannon SX200 jacks the ISO to 800 for an indoor picture. In addition, I found the pop up flash to be a neat concept, but in the end, annoying. I agree with the other reviews about build and video quality of the ZS3. This is a nice, versatile camera and it seems noticeably smaller than the TZ5. I print many 4×6 pictures out on my Epson printer so print quality is important to me. The ZS3 has not disappointed me.

Great for photos, mediocre for movies at lower settings
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
Update 2010/1/3: Bought the Panasonic DMC-FZ35 a few days ago. Will write my review on that camera eventually. As always, thanks for your comments!

Update 2009/11/17: I am noting this at the top of the review to make something clear. A few days ago, I dropped my ZS3 on the concrete (while photographing construction site) about five feet up and it doesn’t power on anymore. Now I am looking for a new camera in the meantime. Having said that, if you can’t power it on, you can’t get the data off the SD or SDHC card, right? If you have a photo printer, for instance, that can read SDHC cards, just put the card in and you can get the data off the card pronto! Transfer may be a bit slow. Hope this helps in case you think you may be stuck for a while… Now on to my original review (May 2009)…

This review is long, but will be useful to the more tech-savvy (I guess as the saying goes, “Buyer beware”)… (Notice I rated this camera 4/5 stars–after all, it is ‘primarily’ a high-MP camera, not a HD camcorder, although some HD camcorders probably aren’t better than the Panasonic DMC-ZS3.)

The Panasonic DMC-ZS3 could literally serve as a paperweight and what it is intended for (unless it stops working by popular terminology). It feels solid and heavy (made of metal), but lest its screen can easily be scratched (does fingerprint easily), and if dropped, may be damaged. This camera has a wrist strap, no neck strap like some cameras have. Buy a camera case such as Lowepro–inexpensive and durable, e.g. if you would rather carry it securely looped through your belt.

I bring up a few other cameras in this review (either have them or have compared their features/reviews on other sites).

Start with memory cards–you can’t use MultiMedia for movies, just photos. Standard SD cards work in this camera but will take several seconds to write photos or movies. You can’t record but the lowest MJPEG movie res on internal memory. High-speed SD cards can’t be read on older and some newer card readers (surprised the local Best Buy did not carry high-speed card readers). You can always copy directly from the camera via USB cable. You don’t need the software CD to read on Mac and PC, unlike some cameras that need the drivers from it for Plug-in-Play (at least on XP and Tiger).

Received this new Panasonic camera yesterday (May 11). The small included battery out-of-the-box had enough power to change settings and try it out before the full charge (about two hours) for its firmware update.

I’d not recommend updating the firmware unless you enjoy updating anything (some people can’t stand updating, but it’s my favorite thing aside from productivity on a computer). If you don’t feel comfortable updating the firmware, heed your instinct. I went ahead and updated the firmware without a problem (read the instructions several times, easier than it looks), but it did not change the behavior of the AVCHD readability, and the ‘noise’ during zoom while recording movies was as noticeable–updater beware!

Zooming is noisy and somewhat fast taking photos, but very slow recording movies. Most, if not all compact cameras zoom slower than larger cameras would to compensate for size–it is common sense!

Taking pictures and motion pictures is a breeze, and best of all, as in my old Panasonic camcorder (which is much too intolerant in cold and humid environments, causing the tape not to play/record properly, and nearly damaged the unit), the camera will tell you which mode you have changed, if using internal memory, and if the card is full (but all cameras do that to my knowledge). It reads three bars on its battery level meter, unlike some cameras like the Canon PowerShot S1 IS with only a blinking low battery icon.

Disclaimer the following explanations: I am basing the following on my experience only. I’d not bother to enable sound recording (warning–don’t confuse with the Canon PowerShot that creates a separate WAV file) while taking photos. It takes the photo then creates a still video file from whatever setting the camera’s movie recording happens to be set to, and will record the few seconds. In other words, it uses the picture you shot and turns it into a video file that plays back still with the audio. It takes up little disk space and clutters the media card. Not too annoying for me, but don’t expect individual voice memos with the DMC-ZS3. The default setting is off anyway. Memo-taker beware!

To find the AVCHD Lite files quickly, memorize where to go (there may be more folders/files on the card than on the internal media): LUMIX (ROOT) > PRIVATE > AVCHD > BDMV > STREAM > #####.MTS (MTS the file extension of the AVCHD Lite file). The following may be helpful for Mac users…

If you have Roxio Toast (probably version 9 or later recommended) installed, double-click on the AVCHD file, choose to open with Roxio (or Roxio Toast) Video Player, and it will then play for you. It won’t show the time (at least by default settings).

Another but free option is VLC you can download (its icon the white & orange striped cone). Its interface is like simplified iTunes. To associate the AVCHD Lite (MTS extension) in the future so that VLC will always play (show terminal-like icon with ‘exec’ in small print on the icon – Toast Video Player won’t change the white generic icon, usually files not associated with any known program on the OS). Select the file, Get Info, choose Other to select which application to open with, choose application (navigate to where VLC located and will be unavailable – to make it available, drop-down where it reads Recommended Applications and choose All Applications). Select VLC program (with the cone icon), choose, and then make default and confirm (changing to the terminal exec icon). Double-click on the file and enjoy watching AVCHD Lite!

Low-quality AVCHD Lite is very good quality and will save substantial memory card space, but not suitable for zooming and fast motion, as the colors and compression artifacts appear patchy, making the video look cruddy. I have not tried the high-quality setting, but for fast motion or zooming (very slow, and it does not matter how slow–you can still hear the motor–this is not a professional $25,000 camera for the big screen, so you get what you pay for). Use MJPEG for smooth playback and compatibility with most software, but use the HD quality setting. Actually, the VGA and QVGA modes look very pixilated compared to other cameras in the league of Canon PowerShot S series–my old 2004 S1 IS takes better VGA movies and much smoother than this new Panasonic (especially the 320 X 240 on the PowerShot is somewhat better). In addition, the Canon’s movie mode is better (at saving disk space) because you can choose 15 or 30 fps for 320 X 240 and 640 X 480/Fine, unlike this Panasonic 30 fps (well, it is the standard anyway). Overall movie recording feature on the DMC-ZS3 = 4/5 for stereo recording and HD, but substandard quality on VGA settings to Canon PowerShot S series and possibly the new Samsung HZ10W or HZ15W models. On the other hand, of all the cameras mentioned, this Panasonic has the best photo quality IMO–maybe better than some entry-level SLRs!

The picture quality on this Panasonic given 5/5, better than most cameras in its price range (checked Google Image Search and YouTube for samples). Even some SLR cameras don’t take quite as clear photos. JPEG compression is quite low on the DMC-ZS3, but probably due to the high MP for its small lens, graininess appears in low lighting on any ISO setting, but subtle, and even ISO 1600 is not bad in well-lit outdoor environments. Indoors, yes, color artifacts and noise are apparent, but probably just good enough for printing at ISO 800. ISO 1600 might be decent for printing on bright, sunny days, i.e. if you want a perfect shot of a water sprinkler in action. Let the automatic ‘intelligent’ setting(s) do the rest. I have not done extensive testing yet (duh, have had it one day now), but believed to work very well. Sometimes I had to set the flash not/to fire manually, a minor annoyance.

If minor grain/noise in any ISO setting for pictures, very low JPEG compression artifacts (no RAW support), any random photo in moderate to ambient lighting is almost free from blur, and to expect decent movie recordings in HD only, this camera is for you. If you want any movie recording to look decent at any resolution/quality setting but can do with more grain, noise, and some blurry photos, Canon or Samsung might be your ticket. Do keep in mind that the settings and environment will yield results for better or for worse. (In fact, I ordered the Samsung HZ15W at first sight, but then canceled as it was not yet available, and felt the reviews on the DMC-ZS3 were better received. Happy with my alternated decision! Who knows, the HZ10W/HZ15W may be just as capable–you can pause and resume movies without starting a new movie file, you can’t do on the Panasonic and any camera as of current, but I am not sure if MJPEG is available on the HZ15W.)

Keep in mind that neither the Canon PowerShot S1 IS nor the Panasonic DMC-ZS3 focus well in low lighting in movie mode, but does fine for photos in my experience.

Battery life is very good, but if you are planning on recording at a ball game or an amusement park, consider purchasing a spare battery (expensive but any proprietary battery of such will be), a couple of 16 GB or 32 GB memory cards, record in HD, and transfer to PC via high-speed card reader or the camera (with sufficient battery life) for best performance. (Just one hour of HD video may be enough to fill a Dual Layer recordable DVD.)

Despite its minor shortcomings, this camera is one of the best in its class. Very well worth the wait (at least a week for free shipping in my case). Happy Panasonicking, Samsunging, or Canoning!

Hope this helps other reviewers and others who have this model or ready to purchase one. Most say this camera competes with the Canon PowerShot SX200 IS, but IMO its closest competitor (because of optical zooming unlike the Canon) is the Samsung HZ15W (HZ10W its predecessor).

P.S. This review took a few hours of careful writing and proofreading. Thank you for your time.

A huge leap in point & shoot cameras!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I bought a Nikon Cool Pix last summer and was not happy with the picture quality or performance. I work for a motorcycle shop and sell their vintage bikes and NOS parts inventory. I take tons of photos and need for them to look excellent and be able to show tiny imperfections and detail, as people rely heavily on the quality of the photo’s when buying over the internet and from around the world. I receive many compliments on the photo quality and am asked often of what camera I am using. This camera is so user friendly and has a automatic mode that will not let you down. If taking video, you need to invest around $75 to $100 in a high speed card for best results. All I can say is; I love the camera and wished I would have stepped up to the plate and spent $260 for it, instead of paying $130 for the Nikon Cool Pix that I ended up giving away! I would also highly recommend purchasing from Amazon.com, as they are excellent to deal with, never any problems!

THINK TWICE BEFORE BUYING the PANASONIC DMC-ZS3!!!
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
THINK TWICE BEFORE BUYING the PANASONIC DMC-ZS3!!!

It CAN take FANTASTIC photos (and video), BUT…

(1) YOU *MUST* USE at least “CLASS 6″ or higher media to get a good quality photo at 10 MP. I did not realize that when I bought it, except that I noticed at the store that photos looked FAR BETTER at 5 MP than 10 MP! It is even better to opt for the “Class 10″ media. I bought one Panasonic 16 GB “Class 10″ media when I bought the camera. I WISH I had bought more and used THEM instead of the 8 GB, “Class 4″ or “Class 6″ that I had brought with me from home. If you’re going to spend the money for the camera, use the BEST media you can get!

(2) YOU CANNOT GET EXTRA OEM *PROPRIETARY* BATTERIES, CHARGER or POWER SUPPLY!!!

I have been reading that the “over-the-counter” batteries will not work with the ZS3 due to a “Firm Ware” upgrade, so, since I spent what I did for the ZS3, I wanted to get OEM Panasonic batteries, charger and power supply. I had also heard that the “over-the-counter” batteries would overheat and cause problems.

Unfortunately, because of ONLY having ONE battery (DMW-BCG10PP), and having to carry the OEM charger (DE-A65B) around with me every time I want to take photos, I lost my OEM charger and have not been able to charge the ONLY battery supplied for several weeks.

After an EXHAUSTIVE, but unsuccessful search since then, and because I could not find another OEM charger (DE-A65B) ANYWHERE locally or online, last night, I ordered an OEM PROPRIETARY power supply (DMW-AC5PP) that was SUPPOSED to fit the ZS3, and got it overnighted. It DID NOT fit!!! It wasn’t even close!!!

The fitting on the power supply I received looks like what you would plug into a portable hard drive (sort of a small trapazoid shape). The receptacle on the camera is about 50% larger and more rectangular with slight extensions on the bottom at the left and right edges. There is NO comparison in size or shape.

The ZS3′s instructions say/show that DMW-AC5PP is the correct part number, and the DMW-AC5PP power supply itself says/shows that it is a DMW-AC5PP (as do its instructions), but the BOX says/shows it is a DMW-AC5 (i.e. without the PP) and it DOES NOT FIT!!!

I WANT to order a couple of extra batteries and OEM charger, but I am VERY leery now. Even Panasonic said THEY don’t even have extra batteries or another charger, and that it would take 3+ weeks for THEM to get any. Interestingly, they told me I needed to order a DMW-BCG10 (i.e. without the PP at the end), but suggested I order it from a local dealer. They don’t have either the DMW-BCG10PP or the DMW-BCG10, and after my experience, I don’t TRUST what Panasonic says is the correct size!

My daughter’s 10 year old birthday party is THIS coming Sunday (four days from now) and I CAN’T GET ANY MORE BATTERIES and I CAN’T GET ANYTHING to charge the ONLY battery I have!!!

I had bought the ZS3 on the first day of our vacation in Vancouver on 05/30/2009, because I had accidentally left my camera in my car at the airport in the US.

I tried buying a couple of extra batteries and another charger when I bought the ZS3, but Panasonic had not even made them available at all yet!

Since they ONLY supply ONE battery, and you can’t even BUY spares, and I was going on an Alaskan cruise (and wanting to take LOTS of photos), I had to keep charging my ONLY battery every time I stopped to eat, then make sure I remembered to retrieve it before leaving the restaurant. Thankfully, it only happened twice, and there were only so many places I would have had to go to to retrace my steps to find it.

Unfortunately, I have now lost the charger and have no idea where. It wouldn’t be so bad if you could just easily BUY another one—that FITS!

And, of course, I would NOT have lost it at all had I been ABLE to buy extra PANASONIC OEM *PROPRIETARY* batteries and charger (and/or power supply) when I bought the ZS3, so I could leave the charger AT HOME.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I like most of the features is the ability to take decent quality videos along with your photos. Instead of tucking both my video and separate Canon camera on vacations sprees, I now only bring the DMC. Nice piece of hardware!

So far, so good
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I’ve had this camera for only a few days, but so far I really like it. I’m very impressed with the range of features and the picture quality is excellent. Prior to purchasing this camera, I had another digital camera with a resolution of 3.2 megapixels. I could immediately tell the difference in picture quality between my old camera and this one.

I would recommend this camera to those who want one that’s easy to use, is packed full of features and provides high-quality pictures without a lot of fuss.

Disapointed!
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
I got the red version of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 10MP 12x Zoom and loved the way the camera looked but I must have gotten a lemon because this camera took horrible pictures of flesh tones and off whites in medium to low light. My husband and I both read the manual from front to back and tested the camera’s white balance, blue/red color distortions, ISO, etc to get the camera to make better pictures. Regardless of what we did, either photos of my 4 month old daughter turned out grey or photos of me turned out orange. All test photos were taken indoors in lower light (our apartment does not provide a lot of natural light) because that is where I will be using my camera the most for a while. Photos of our living room area, with the floor lamps on, produced photos where the light in the room looked orange and the images were dark. Again, my husband and I played altered the camera’s settings and were able to reduce the orange color a little bit but the photos were still not true to color or vibrant.

Additionally, when I took a photo of my daughter at a 2ft distance indoors with a flash when the living room lights were on, she washed out and everything behind her went black. I took photos at a higher ISO (800), which reduced the blackness behind her but the colors were not true.

The video’s are difficult to find on the camera and the format is hard to play for the layman user due to the video files not being in MPEG or another easy format for Windows media player to read. I changed the video setting to MOV, which requires Apple Quick Time. The video quality in MOV setting was poor. Very, very, frustrating for the layman/average user. I did not like the software provided with the camera.

I gave this camera two stars because the zoom is incredible. A close up photo I took of my black cat indoors in the middle of the day with as much natural lighting as possible was amazing – sharp and clear – I could see each whisker in extraordinary detail. Excellent zoom.

Either I got a lemon or this camera does not produce true colors in low light. Human tones in low light are either grey or orange. This camera is too expensive to accept such poor picture quality and the inability to play videos on standard windows media programs.

This is an amazing Camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I purchased this camera here on Amazon. All I have to say is this is an amazing camera. Wanted to get a compact camera which took great video and pictures. This camera does both. Yes Camcorders take better video and yes SLR’s take better picture but this camera does both with amazing quality. If I had a complaint about this camera would be the battery life. I plan on buying an extra batter and bring the battery charger with me if I plan on taking a lot of pictures.

This is a must have, don’t hesitate and just buy it.

A workhorse camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
As an appraiser I needed a wide angle camera sometimes. This one fits my bill neatly and more. Its optical and digital zoom is just awesome. Although not an SLR camera, it has several features that let me have control over the picture quality. For instance, auto bracketing let me take 3 photos in a row without using flash, even in low light. 25 mm wide angle, solid build and feel, 3″ LCD display screen, supports up to 16GB HD card (which I am using), HD movie capable, what else can I ask for?

Mine is black now, very “manly”. If the budget allows, I’d purchase another one in red or blue.

A+ Panasonic!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Short and simple review. Took over 480 pictures, only a few were out of focus, still had a small portion of battery left as well! Takes pictures pretty quick, focus is very quick for this type of camera, neat design, sturdy casing, neat/professional small packaging by Panasonic. This point-and-shoot hybrid is one of the best out on the market! I’ve tested numerous point-and-shoot based cameras and have to say this is just simply worth every single penny! I recommend getting a nice case, a spare battery, and a 8 GB memory card for endless fun! Trust me, you won’t be sorry with your purchase.

Just great except for one thing
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This Camera is the best I’ve seen there is only one thing I don’t like about it. You have to put the date on each picture it has no setting for dates to be put on as you take the picture or Video. Other than that the pictures are the best I’ve seen.

High quality feature-rich camera with HD video, pictures are a bit noisy
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
This camera is great and I’m glad I bought it.

It is very small, but equipped with good lens which includes a x12 zoom.

The camera is easy to use so it’s great for older people too who just want to use the auto mode most of the time.

The HD video is what made me buy this camera over its competitors becuase it is very useful and it also saves to AVCHD format.

The only thing I find problematic with this camera is the high noise level in pictures, even in rather low ISO. Some pictures look very grainy and noisy and I fear it will damage the overall quality of the images I’m taking.

Outstanding for the price
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
If you want a small camera that fits in your pocket and has all the features, this is the one. It is easy to operate and the 12x optical zoom brings objects, and people, close up for that special photo. Also love the motion picture capability.

ZS3 VS TZ5 vs ZS1
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I’ll compare ZS3 with TZ5 in this review if you want full review about ZS3 read other reviews, I wanted to buy new camera and TZ5 was already available for 210$ and ZS3 sold out and costs 399$, since ZS3 is an upgraded TZ5 from last year i was thinking if its worth the wait and the extra 200$~ to get the ZS3 (Been trying to get it for weeks but couldn’t find it anywhere)

Anyway here we go

ZS3 got everything that TZ5 have with extra stuff which is

* ZS3 is slimmer/smaller/lighter and the battery is a little bit better

* ZS3 got brighter screen (Good when you shoot during sunlight)

* ZS3 record HD 1280X720p in AVCHD high quality 17mpbs format

* Better placed microphone,in the TZ5 your hands end up on the microphone

* ZS3 record in High Quality Stereo,TZ5 record in low quality mono sound

* better cleaner picture and less noise thanks to the newer Sensor/tech

* ZS3 got Extra 2x Zoom and better 25mm wide angle instead of 28mm

* New Auto mode is so smart even the inexperienced gets good pictures

* Faster and stronger auto focus with face Recognition and Face Detection

* Dedicated recording button for videos (Take videos during photo mode)

* 10MP without any quality loss thanks to the newer sensor

* HDMI Output that can be used for both videos and pictures

In the other hand ZS3 VS ZS1 (ZS1 is cheaper by 100-150$ right now)

* ZS1 lacks the HDMI output that can be found in the ZS3

* ZS1 Can not record in HD at all and AVCHD format not available

* ZS1 record in low quality mono sound

* ZS1 got no dedicated button for fast access to video recording

* ZS1 LCD is smaller (2.7 vs ZS3 3.0) and less resolution

* ZS1 got 1/2.5 CCD vs 1/2.33 CCD on the ZS3 (ZS3 a little better)

* ZS1 Image stabilization is not great during video capture unlike ZS3

* ZS1 Does not have the wind noise reduction option unlike the ZS3

So after my research i decided that i want the ZS3 and it was worth it because i care a lot about high quality HD videos with High quality Stereo sound so it was no brainier to me specially the fact its smaller even when they added more zoom and extra wide angle lens with more MP and less noise

I hope this was helpful

Love this camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Camera arrived quickly and was easy to set up. Make sure you get a large memory card for this as a 10MP camera creates large files. I work on a MAC and the camera was recognized automatically. The zoom is incredible and the video works fine. Very impressed with this camera.

Perfect
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I was looking for an easily portable camera that takes good quality photos primarily of pets and nature settings with some family events thrown in. A minimum of 10X zoom and 10 mega pixel were the other criteria. After a great deal of research this camera was the winner, and it is everything I’d hoped for and more.

The camera menus are intuitive and for the most part easily interpreted. A read through the well written owner’s manual (yes, a real manual, not a disk!) quickly clarified any questions.

The outdoor photos are sharp with beautiful color (and this time of year they have all been taken in the snow). I haven’t tried to capture fast motion, but the normal movements of pets are stopped without blur. The indoor, low light photos do show some yellowing but no better or worse than other digitals we’ve owned. For the most part I have left the camera in auto-intelligence mode (where it automatically picks the settings) and let it do it’s thing, but last night I did override and set it to “sunset” for the best sunset photos I have ever taken. Someday I might gather enough experience to worry about manual settings, but at this time the reported limited availability of manual settings isn’t an issue for me.

For any other casual photographers wondering if the wide angle zoom lens is an important feature, the answer is a resounding “yes!” I am continuously amazed at what a difference the wide angle makes, and the Lumix ZS3 provides wide angle in a relatively thin, easily portable camera. Wide angle will be a required feature for any of my future camera purchases.

I am absolutely in love with this camera and wouldn’t change a thing!

Best camera I’ve ever had
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I’m still amazed at what this (not so) little camera can do. Read any of about dozen of different review of this cam out there and you will see its the best bang for the buck you can get. Absolutely recommended.

Best Camera, Period.
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
It’s not too expensive, it’s excellent at point and shoot, and has great features, including back light compensation. Oh, did I mention it shoots in 720p video? Even on a 1080p scree the video looks awesome, of course my my 3400ES upconverting might have had something to do with that. Anyway, I was always a Canon fan, but I couldn’t find a 720p or 1080p Digital Camera in the range until I found this one. I’d go for it if I were you.

ZS3 is a work of Art
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
The only reason I give the ZS3 four stars is because of it’s low-light performance. If they could fix that… The 25mm-300mm equivilent lens is absolutely awsome! I used to have to carry a Nikon D80 with 3 lenses to cover this range, and it didn’t have digital zoom. The Motion-picture feature is way handier than I figured, the only problem is their proprietary AVHC compression, but you can also record the same quality in JPEG4, it just takes more space. Also, there is some minor aspherical distortion at the widest zoom, but given this cameras portability, it’s acceptable. Awesome Job, Panasonic!

very weak flash and battery
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I going to return this camera after 2 weeks using because the flash is too weak that only works withing 2 feet and the battery is underpowered that only can take less than 200 pictures that is not enough for one day trip. The spare battery costs $60 !

ZS3
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I have numerous film and digital cameras, plus camcorders, waterproof housings and lenses out the wazoo. But since I got the ZS3 about 6 months ago, it’s known as “the camera” around my house. I bought it for the wide angle lense and the large screen, but have fallen in love with it for so many more reasons. I absolutely love how you can go from stills to video with the touch of just on button. The photos and video aren’t the highest quality,(give it an 8.5 or so for both), but considering the ease of use and small package it’s great.

I dive, and on some drive trips I may haul 20-30 lbs of equipment. Last trip, it was more like 5 lbs. Best thing is that I don’t have to decide on video or stills for a particular dive, this camera does both with ease. Underwater is where the wide angle lens really shins.

Now after raving about, it does have have a few issues. The mode dial is pretty flimsy and it’s too easy to chage settings accidentially while shooting. There really should be a lock for AI mode (my wife has problems with this). If you want much manual control, this camera not for you. I print up 11″x17″ and the quality is not great there. The lens is good, but the compression is not so great. And the 720p video is good, but doesn’t compare to my 1080p camcorder. But all in all, I give it a 9.5.

You’d be hard pressed to find a wide angle camera with this zoom range for this price that does so many things so well.

ZS3…ok but could be much better
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
great little camera if you’re taking casual OUTDOOR photos of your kids. Color are rich and vibrant; however, moving indoors into low light situations, the images turn noisy and the camera has major issues focusing especially at full zoom (+low light). I definitely would have bought the Canon SX200 if it had the ability to optically zoom while shooting HD video like the ZS3 does. Another downside — there’s no spare batteries available from Panasonic right now. WHY!?!?!?!?!?! I’ve never heard of anything like this!!

Great camera at a good price!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
We decided to purchase this camera after getting advice from your son who is becoming quite an expert on digital cameras. I grew up with Panasonic products and have always thought generally highly of the name. I received the camera just in time to take it on an overseas trip. The manual was easy enough to read and digest and even though the camera is loaded with features I was able to quickly learn how to take good pictures as well as a nighttime video.

For the price this camera is easy enough for beginners to learn use well in short order and for more experienced users it offers enough features to make them happy as well.

nice camera
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
An old (2002) Canon A70 needed to be replaced. I have been quite satisfied with the old camera – mostly using it for documenting a variety of professional skills training exercises: indoor with and without flash. I did like the manual control for the relatively rare moments where I needed to “push” the standard automated settings (e.g. low light no flash). … but the sensor was apparently malfunctioning….

So, considered Canon’s SX series, Fuji F200EXR….

I chose the ZS3 on a few main features

* Form factor — not too small for my big hands, but compact

* Wide angle — wider field than some competitors useful for capturing indoor scenes

* Zoom — flexible for framing more scenes without having to physically reposition

* 720p — flexible movie modes up to 720p

* picture quality — especially noticeable to me with minimal fringing in high contrast.

— the lack of manual control was a concern.

* after “playing” with friend’s camera, I discovered that many situations could be handled with the appropriate scene selection — the automation was pretty good

* looking back on the past few years, the number of times I really needed full control were just a handful

On balance the positives outweighed the negatives

With a month of usage, the camera is working well. I don’t always agree with the automated setting combination of shutter speed/fstop/asa, but have found ways to get pretty much what I want (and am getting to a point of being able to anticipate rather than fiddle around).

Sound pickup in movies is not great, but is useful enough for its intended use. (way better than phone cams)

My only unresolved issue is that it is too small in my “meaty” hand. I’m getting used to it, but there were times when I partially blocked the flash.

Very good value for me.

Recommended
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
Was well reviewed and lives up to the raves. Especially like the 10 MegaPixel format and the 12x optical zoom. Also takes HD video!

Focus Problems
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
Typical tourist shots of people and buildings in full sunlight turned out well but shots under less than optimal lighting, i.e. late afternoon, sunset, etc., or with no dominent focal point turned out poorly. Also Christmas group pictures taken with a tripod and using the timer where not in focus. I haven’t used the video mode. After the intial realization this was not a simple point and shoot camera, I’ve experimented with many combinations of the AF modes, preset scene modes, and Intelligent Auto mode with limited success. At a minimum you must press the shutter release half way to lock focus or, in too many cases, be warned the camera can’t find focus. At this point you can recompose your picture and try again, assuming the scene is still available, but in too many cases for me the camera just can’t find focus, at which point you’re out of luck since there is no manual focus. The camera has many fine features but if I can’t rely on it to take a focused picture, it’s essentially worthless.

Somewhat disappointed, especially when compared to Sony DSC-H20
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
I’ve had a variety of great digital cameras, but recently found myself wanting/needing a compact, super-zoom, HD video camera. The choices came down to the Panasonic ZS3 and the Sony CyberShot DSC-H20. Hands on is the only real way of determining which is best for a person, so I bought both to do a direct comparison. After a week of comparing these two cameras in daylight, low light, night shots, and video here is MY conclusion (individual mileage may vary…):

I’m keeping the Sony H20; it has to be one of the most underated cameras being sold today. I’ll only summarize at the end of this review why it is so much better for me than the Panasonic. But now for some specifics about the Panasonic ZS3.

Pros:

Great screen

Optical zoom while video recording

Small size

Wide angle lens (25-300mm)

Excellent IA mode

High quality video

Cons:

Terrible low light and night shot capability

Very poor strength flash

Inability to alter shutter speed/aperature

Poor color reproduction (compared to Canon and Sony)

Focus when zooming during video not very accurate or rapid…even when continuous AF and Pre-AF have been turned off (or on for that matter)

Excessive noise at telephoto end unless bright sunshine

Can’t use 3rd party batteries as a backup with the 1.2 firmware update which my model came with

No fluorescent light white balance

The Panasonic ZS3 is not a bad camera (It was better in some ways…video primarily, than the Canon SX200is), but it’s picture quality is not up to some of the Canon and Sony models I’ve used. I’ve also owned the Panasonic TZ5 and came to the same conclusions. The biggest problem for me however, was the dismal low light capabilities. I’m not trying to shoot in the dark, but I’m also not always in a small room and close to the subjects where the flash MIGHT work. I like to use the camera at concerts and in cities using the ambient street/sign lighting.

The Sony H20 on the other hand has EXCELLENT low light and night shot capabilities! Also the video is just as high quality, you can optically zoom during video recording, and the focus seems quicker during zooming. You have an abundance of manual controls in addition to an IA mode that seems just as smart as the Panasonic ZS3. And the final point in favor of the Sony is the image quality comparing identical pictures taken under the same lighting, time, zoom, etc. conditions was much better with the Sony, especially at the 5-10X zoom level. The noise level was much less even at ISO 800 with the Sony.

The cons for the Sony would be the lens cap, slightly larger camera “thickness”, and the “not so wide-angle lens”. However for me, the wide-angle lens issue did not bother me as I rarely take any type of group pictures needing a super wide-angle lens. Remember, that’s how I use a camera; this may not work for you, but don’t count out the Sony because of that.

Control responsiveness and shot to shot speed was similar in both cameras. Both cameras have excellent build quality. Battery life was similar…around 250 pictures with 30% of that using the flash and 30 minutes worth of video.

Hope this has been helpful and at least gives you some things to consider about you camera needs.

Fantastic zoom photos & Videos
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
In December, I took it to my daughter’s choir concert in a large cathederal. The lighting was spotty, and my daughter was over 150 feet away. I could catch the entire 300 member choir on wide angle, and zoom into just my daughter’s face with acceptable jitter-control while handholding the camera. The video and sound quality was excellent. The zoom is operative while shooting video, and there was no noticable mechanical noise when doing so. The low-light performance was noticably better than my 2-year old Canon point and shoot.

Finally I have one easy-to-carry camera that I can depend upon for both video and photographs. The only significant downside to this camera that I can think of is the proprietary battery. I did not buy a spare, but I might go ahead and get one.

Zooming in on the giraffes…
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Finally realized it was time to upgrade from the 2 meg. Kodak DC280 I paid an incredible $600+ for a decade ago, when I saw my sister taking pics AND video with a new camera the size of half a deck of cards, and doing so for like a week on a single charge. The old DC280 took many 1000s of good pics for me and is still so reliable, but gotta change batteries after just every 10 or 15 pics.

So I searched and searched and the DMC ZS3 finally emerged as the clear choice for me. This model is heavily reviewed here by much better photographers than me, so I’ll just provide a few low-tech observations:

1) Bought it a week ago from Amazon for $290, and they came through with overnight delivery. Good job.

2) Also, since the ZS3 has little built in memory, got the Transcend 16GB SDHC Class 6 Flash Memory Card with Reader. Card works fine, and reader works great with no hassles and allows me to avoid screwing around with a cord.

3) Loading the PhotoFunStudio software that comes with camera was a breeze and I’ve used it to view videos and photos on my laptop. I like the software and find it easy to use.

4) The camera has a ton of features, and the hardcopy manual is thus extensive. Unlike some reviewers, I find the ZS3 menus and controls pretty intuitive and the manual helpful. Also, the mode dial on top of camera is ‘tight’, so either Panasonic has corrected the ‘looseness’ issue, or I got lucky.

5) Camera case – It was harder to settle on a case than it was to settle on the ZS3. Most cases seem made to fit the ridiculously dinky half-deck-of-cards sized cameras, whereas the ZS3 is a bit bigger, which is one of the main reasons I bought it – it fits the hand nicely. I recommend the Norazza “Ape Case” AC165 for around $9. It is affordable, well-built, has a good shoulder/neck strap with anti-slip stuff on it, and has room for some extras like battery charger with extra battery pack in it (gotta get an extra and rotate battery packs – that is a no-brainer), extra card, and even my Ipod Nano. Plus, I fold the manual into a U shape and stick that snugly in the case (bound edge out) as well, and place the camera within the U, and that serves beautifully to protect the amazing 3″ screen. Sounds weird, works great! Plus, the manual will be there when you need some help.

6) So far have snapped a handful of pics, and video in both the Panasonic format and mpeg format. The vids in mpeg format load up to my newly established youtube account no problemo. And they look great, even those shot in low light. And the stereo audio is excellent. I think I’m going to have a whole lot of fun on youtube….

So for like $450 all-in I got a really good looking (black-color), solid camera with great range, that is easy to use and takes excellent photos, a really, really good camcorder, plenty of battery power, and ample memory (two 16GB Transcend cards), all stuffed into a slick little nylon case. I am now all set to head off on an African safari, where I expect the ZS3 will shine….

What a deal!

I like it better than the FujiFilm F200EXR
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
After using the FujiFilm F200EXR for over a month I was a bit envious of the video and all of the automatic features on the ZS3. I loved the shots the F200EXR took in Dynamic Range mode. They are probably the best for any point and shoot, however I simply found the F200EXR to be “dumb” in automatic mode. I was always having to adjust the ISO manually because it took the approach the everything was moving in lower light situations. If you are willing to use manual settings all the time, which gets old for me, the F200EXR will take some of the best photos of any point and shoot, if of course you can get the settings changed before the shot is gone.

The ZS3 is much different. It is smart. It can detect if the subject and/or the camera is moving and will increase the ISO only as needed. I’ve taken shots indoors and out and it does pretty well at choosing the right settings. It even chose night scenery mode automatically one night when I set the camera on a table and used the timer. It detected that both it and subject were not moving and used a slow shutter speed. Who needs manual settings with a camera this smart. I was afraid I might miss them, but not yet.

I also enjoyed the burst function this weekend watching BMX stunt riders at an outdoor Fair. I just couldn’t time it right to capture them in the air and I turned on full resolution burst mode and got some incredible 10MP shots of stunts in the air.

It also works well with my Panasonic Blu-Ray player since I can put the card directly into the player to view video or images on my LCD TV.

The video is not bad either. I’m thinking about getting a Elgato H.264HD dongle for my Mac to deal with the AVCHD feature. You won’t regret buying this camera.

great camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I’ve only had it for 3 weeks now, but from what I can tell … this camera is everything I thought it would be. I’m totally smitten. I’m still playing around with all the manual features, but the intelligent auto is pretty good if you’re not into that. So far, so good!

Finally have found the *perfect* hybrid!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I’ve been searching for quite a while for the perfect hybrid camera/camcorder. And I think I’ve finally found it. I’ve had a countless number of cameras, yet I think the ZS3 finally excels at not only taking great photos but video with stereo sound as well. My most recent camera before this was it’s predecessor the TZ5, while it took great pictures the audio on the HD video mode was pure crap. The ZS3/TZ7 definitely improves upon the TZ5. The Intelligent Auto mode is pretty impressive, and I also like the dedicated movie camera button on the back. Overall, this camera is perfect those looking for a great “all-in-one” device. With the 12x 25mm Leica lens, Great photo and video quality you’ll definitely be pleased with this camera, just beware of it’s limitations that it’s still a “point and shoot” camera. Enjoy!

very disappointed
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
I received my brand new ZS3 from amazon a few days ago.

I had a TZ5 before, liked the performance overall but couldn’t bear its horrible sound quality. So I decided to pay an extra $100 to exchange to ZS3 hoping I can get the same overall performance on ZS3 with much better sound quality. I was so disappointed.

1. the sound is tiny and as bad as TZ5, although I admit I can tell the “stereo”. I took videos on my TV with above comfortable sound volume setting, I could barely tell if there any sound recorded on ZS3. I transferred the file to my PC and turn the volume to the highest, it was a little better but still not even close with that on my 5-year old canon S400 replayed on itself.

2. i had many more out of focusing pictures on ZS3 than TZ5, especially in tele mode.

3. as to the videos, TZ5 can show full LCD screen both in shooting and reviewing. ZS3 only shows about 80% of the screen.

4. low light picture quality, ZS3 sounds even more grainy.

Overall rating combining performance and price, TZ5: 4.0, ZS3: 2.0.

I wish the ZS3 I received is a defective one, although I really doubt it.

While most of the reviews are very positive, I totally agreed with the earlier comments made by “Fred Blogg”. The sad thing is I have to have zoom function shooting videos, so canon won’t be an option either.

Very nice little camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
After years of Canon IXUs I’ve jumped ship to Panasonic – no regrets

Don’t have any serious downsides (price of a spare battery is high) to report

Great Point and Shoot Camera!!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I used it for 4days now. This camera is awesome!! Especially the zoom and the video quality is amazing. It is bigger than my cannon camera but the size really doesn’t bother me.

Awesome Camera packed with features
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I love my ZS3. First of all, I am not a camera person. I don’t want to have to go to school to learn how to operate a camera. I want a point and shoot that takes great pictures with only a push of the button from me. I want a camera that forgives my shaky hands. I want a camera that can figure out the best way to to take the picture without me going through a ton of menus trying to figure out what they mean–and missing the perfect shot. AND, I want a camera I can throw in my purse and not really know it is there.

I began my pursuit of the perfect camera in February of this year. I started with a bias towards sony as I have always had a sony. So, I purchased the top of the line sony point and shoot that wasn’t a touch screen. Let’s just say, I was horribly, horribly, horribly disappointed and would rather have a 35 mm disposable than that camera. Panasonic had great reviews and camera people that I spoke to spoke highly of it. But at that time, the tz5 was out and not this. I found out about this and waited and waited. I was holding out for this camera over the tz5 because the zoom was greater and the video allowed you to zoom while you were taking it. So, I can’t compare this to the TZ5 in real life–just from what I read.

I haven’t had this camera very long so I can’t give tons of detail. But one thing that struck me was that I was able to take a beautiful picture of my family about 15 feet away when the lights were very dim in the room. The sony couldn’t even do that when the lights were bright in the room. I didn’t expect that of this camera–after all, it is just a point and shoot with a simple flash. I was blown away.

The other thing that I loved is that I took shot after shot, close up, far away, zoom, and macro. I left the camera on the intelligent setting and it took each picture great. I had one picture that was slightly blurry but i think it was my dogs fault because he was moving some. Although it is quite possible that someone with better picture taking skills would have gotten a fine shot.

I hooked the camera up to my mac via the included cable and effortlessly downloaded the pictures into iphoto. I have not yet figured out the process for downloading video to the mac–although based on other reviews here, it can be done. I am looking forward to being able to do that. the video this camera took seemed superior to my camcorder (but it is about 5 years old). More importantly, for me, is the fact that I don’t have to miss video shots because i didn’t lug my camcorder around.

Another thing to note is that if you change the size of the MP, you can increase the optical zoom. With 10MP it zooms 12X but with 3 MP (i think), it zooms 21 times. Since I don’t take pictures so that I can blow them up to poster size, reducing the MP isn’t a problem for me. And I can see great benefit to having 21X OPTICAL zoom.

Over the last few months of searching for the perfect camera I have read many reviews, talked to many people and I certainly feel that I have made a wise decision. I also think it is worth every penny–even if you have to pay full retail price.

I did choose to get the extended warranty because with the TZ5 there were some reports of the shutter not always opening or the zoom breaking. I never got the impression it was a large amount of cameras with the problem but I didn’t want to risk it. I haven’t heard those same reports with the ZS3, but it is still very new so I wanted to be cautious.

UPDATE: after playing with the camera another day, we discovered the AF locking feature. I don’t know what that means and don’t care to look in the manual–but what it does is astounding. you push the button to lock in on the subject object you want to get a picture of. the subject can be moving–i moved my head around in circles nonstop, rocked back and forth, etc. and the picture took a clear picture of me–how did that happen? I didn’t stop moving. Then we tried it while making the camera go in circles but the object stayed in place. we also bounced the camera–again, clear pictures—-WOW. You could take great pictures while riding a bumpy train! I didn’t know about this feature when I bought the camera and I have to say that this is an awesome, exciting surprise!! I can’t wait to find out if there are any more!

Also, I was able to turn off the sound through the menu and I don’t notice the motor motor noise zooming in and out since then. I also turned off the sound effect of it clicking when taking a picture. Some people complained about the zooming sound and it was loud out of the box. Instructions for turning off the noise is in the instruction booklet in an easy to understand way.

After using this camera, I have discovered how much I was missing by not having a wide angle lens. this is the widest angle lens that I could find on point and shoot cameras. I didn’t realize how much of the shot I missed with just a regular lens until I compared it to this.

This is such an awesome camera, I wish everyone could have one.

Everything Expected
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
It took me a while to research point and shoot cameras to replace my canon and I was concerned about moving to a Panasonic. But clearly I made a great decision with this camera. It was easy to operate right out of the box. I recently took it to a NY Yankee game (the ALCS vs the Angels) and took some great nighttime shots inside and outside of the stadium as well as a video. Everyone who looked at these thought they were great, especially the video. Once I actually read the manual and figure out everything this camera can do I expect even better results. While it is a bit larger than my old canon, I absolutely love the bigger zoom range which I think is a major selling point on this little beauty (at least it is for me).

Panasonic DMC-ZS3
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
The lens is the strongest asset of this camera. The battery will last around 200-250 images. I would recommend you carry at least one extra. I had 2 extra non oem and the latest firmware prevents you from using them,so that is a deal killer if I had not been able to reset to the prior firmware. The images are very good from this unit, only wish it had a raw format available. Also the self timer has to be set each time,very inconvienent. Wish it had a viewfinder but the screen is very good.

Video is very good and easy. Overall I would recommend this unit albeit a bit pricy, it is fairly easy to use with a GREAT lens!

Bells and Whistles But Little Else
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
After spending a huge amount of time going through countless reviews I finally bought the ZS3 from a wholesaler with a 3 month return policy. Glad I did. It’s going back tomorrow. Although the zoom was nice, Panasonic missed the boat on basics like clean focusing and noise in most iso settings.

Today I took the ZS3 and my seven year old Fuji 3800 to a local park and spent about 2 hours shooting the same scenes with both cameras. No contest. The aging Fuji’s shots were clean and well focused. With the ZS3 it was a crap shoot. Sometimes it was almost equal to the Fuji, but on most shots it was very disappointing. Also found the lens took too much time to retract, often hesitating and then finally retracting. Yes, the Fuji is bulky,and has trouble focusing in low light, but it runs quite nicely on four AA batteries (which unfortunately must be removed between sessions).

Next on the hit parade will be the Canon G11. Should be better in low light, and the fold out LCD screen is very seductive. My recommendation is to pass on this ZS3.

Panasonic Lumix ZS3 an Amazing Camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
With the Leica lens/glass (outstanding optics) and HD Video of excellent quality plus 12X optical zoom and 10.1 MP makes this an outstanding camera. The problem comes in the software, especially Apple’s Quicktime which is the ONLY playback possibility for your HD video. Either they have bundled a lesser/older version of Quicktime, or their software just simply “stinks”. How I wish they would have wedded it to Windows Media because other than that, this is one fantastic camera. Be prepared to keep your eye on battery strength because it does use a good deal of power – the charger is the best I have seen, no cables, just a simple plug-in at an available outlet. Image stabilization is a super plus especially at the 12X optical zoom. Put alot of study into 2 cameras, the other being the Fujifilm F70EXR, another super compact digital – was a difficult decision, Amazon’s reduction in price of the Panasonic sealed the deal. You cannot miss with either camera, but gotta tell you this DMC-ZS3 is one heck of a camera.

FANTASTIC LITTLE CAMERA!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This is a terrific little camera. Small enough to fit in my quad glove box but it is very sturdily built. Takes great pictures and the anti-shake works very well. It’s easy to learn (easier than my both my Sony cameras) and the screen is absolutely gorgeous. My only trouble with it has been finding a way to watch the videos I’ve taken. So far, the only way I’ve been able to watch the videos is via QuickTime and since I am not an Apple lover, would like to figure a different way. I will work on that in the future.

I will be buying a second battery before we go on any extended vacation. The camera is terrific and does everything I need it to, but it does use up the small battery pretty quickly. However, the nifty little battery charger is small and efficient. It takes only about 2 hours to charge the battery!

All in all, I’d give it an A minus.

Really nice compact, but picture quality still doesn’t compare to DSLR
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I have had this camera for about a month. Overall, I like it a lot, especially the video functionality. I am using the AVCHD codec and it works flawlessly. Maybe that’s because my Plasma TV is a recent model from Panasonic also, it support this format by default. I just pop the card in the TV and it starts playing. Neat!

Picture quality wise, they are nice when the light is good. In low light situation, I have to limit ISO to 200, otherwise, noises are everywhere. The auto white balance is inaccurate under florescent, and I can’t figure out how to set WB manually. I have gone through the manual many times and followed the instructions, but it just doesn’t seem to do anything. Could anyone provide a step by step walk through of how to do this?

I wish camera makers would have put a cap on the megapixel to around 8 on the compacts. Small sensor coupled with high resolution is a recipe for a lot of noise. Pictures taken at broad daylight, even at ISO80, show film grain like noise. This doesn’t happen on my “vintage” 4MB Canon A80. ISO 80 on this camera looks equivalent to ISO 400 on my DSLR (Canon Rebel XT).

Good Camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This camera has a good zoom and is very portable, you can carry it to anywhere. The video quality is impressive.

Great camera w/ great zoom!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Great camera, with easily usable controls, and a great zoom as advertised (the zoom was the main reason I choose this item). I am happy with this purchase so far.

Great camera, great price!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I usually use DSLR, but I need a pocket camera for “1-click” shooting. This one is exactly what I needed! Of course you can’t compare its picture quality to a DSLR, but for a point-and-shoot, this is good enough for me.

Very good camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
It has amazing zoom when you record or capture pictures, fist time i confuse with nightscene mode because i can’t capture nice picture with whole light in the night, and clue is shutter speed, this is the best camera i ever used.

Best camera I had, camshort of a SLR
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I just came back from a trip on which I took hundreds of pictures. I love the pictures made with this camera, especially when viewed on a large screen. I have been a devoted Canon fan (I own 4 Canon cameras) but the Canon 200SX does not come close to the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3.

I wanted quality and portability. SLRs have much larger sensors and will take better images. But they are bulky, and they are expensive. While this camera is not the smallest, it packs a great 12x zoom along with a 28mm wide angle in a pocketable size and weight. You won’t hesitate to take it along.

What I like about this camera:

The Leica lens on my camera is very sharp, from 28mm to full 12x zoom. (Note: quality varies in a masss-produced lens. Test you camera after purchase)

Intelligent automated settings that work well in virtually all conditions.

The processsor provides excellent noise reduction at larger ISO, meaning you can take pictures indoors without flash. Fewer and fewer places (castles, churches, museums) allow flash pictures these days and with the Lumix DZS3 you can do without.

The shake compensation really helps keep pictures sharp. It also works very well at 12x zoom, with pictures acceptable even without tripod. Furthermore, the small residual amount of graininess or low-light noise is easily eliminated with a tool like Photoshop. Not a requirement unless you print a huge poster.

The camera also compensates in scenes with very bright and very dark areas.

All the above points are where my Canon cameras fall short. The Canons do take outstanding pictures in bright light.

I did not make movies so I can’t comment on those features.

What I don’t like about this camera:

A little bulkier and heavier than ideal, but it is the best compromise compared to SLRs.

Time lag when shooting, a result of the otherwise excellent intelligent detection technology (which evaluates motion, light, scene, face, subject tracking, etc.)

There are limited manual controls if automation is turned off.

No viewfinder.

It may be hard to see the LCD image when shooting in bright light. I found it is best, when in doubt about coverage, to take slightly wider pictures and to reframe/crop the picture later. The huge resolution means no loss in quality.

No sound comment option. Canon allows to attach a short sound recording to shots, handy to identify people and places in the picture.

Anti-competitive feature: Panasonic Rev1.2 firmware disallows non-Panasonic replacement batteries which cost 1/3rd of Panasonic brand. If you downgrade to firmware Rev1.1 they all work.

Good but not great.
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
This Panasonic is my 3rd digital camera. I am definitely not a camera expert, so this review is from a novice point of view. I will be comparing this camera to my previous camera, the Canon A610. That camera’s LCD broke after 3 years, but in my mind, was a great camera.

What I like about this camera. It is well built, feels very solid in your hands. It is not tiny, but still fits in a larger pocket. Just the size I like. Not too big or too small. The LCD screen is excellent. It is responsive and very visible in most situations. In direct sunlight, you can’t see what is displayed, but I imagine all other cameras are the same way. And when it is particularly dark, it doesn’t gain as much as I’d like, but it’s good enough. Just in case your are curious, you can still see the LCD if you use polarized sunglasses. Unless you turn it to the vertical position. Which if you know anything about that, it’s really the best way it can be. I guess they could make it go dark on a 45 degree angle instead, but this is good anyway. The lens on the camera is amazing. I can zoom all the way out or all the way in, and I don’t notice any barrel distortion.

The outdoor photos are amazing. Scenery shots and scenery macro shots are crystal clear.

The camera is fairly fast at focusing and taking the photos. Not as fast as I want, but probably no point and shoot camera would be.

The video is excellent. I haven’t used the AVCHD lite format, because I heard it was a pain to deal with. All it really does is save space on the memory card. But with how cheap memory and hard drives are, who cares about that. The video looks good and being able to use the optical zoom while filming it great. The sound recording is good if you are close enough, but when the target is far away, you can’t really hear what is going on.

What I don’t like.

Double flash for redeye reduction. I always have to tell people to wait for the second flash. But it is instinctual to blink after a flash, so a lot of the times people will have their eyes closed for the second flash. I guess the best way to have no red-eye is to have your eyes closed . Also, I have a 3 year old and a 1 year old. Most of the pictures they are looking at me strangely due to the double flash. I prefer the Canon method of putting out the orange light and keeping it on.

The color reproduction with the flash is not great. I took several identical photos with my Canon using the flash indoors. Then I compared the photos. In every case, the colors looked more realistic on the Canon. Every Panasonic shot was dull or muted compared to the Canon.

Also, the low-light photos have much more noise than the Canon. The Canon trumps the Panny in every indoor shot, flash or no flash.

The intelligent auto is hit or miss on this thing. I can take the same photo twice and get different results. Shots in well lit situations are always good, but when you have high-contrasting shots, sometimes the camera compensates much differently than other times. You never really know if you are going to get a good shot.

When you set the camera to continuous auto-focus, you can hear it constantly trying to gain focus. It can be annoying, and you just know it is killing the battery.

Which is a good segue into my next point. The battery life is not what I’m used to. My Canon’s 4 rechargeable AA batteries seemed to last forever. I would take hundreds of pictures over a period of 5 months before they needed to be charged. This camera, I got about 100 pictures. I took about 10 minutes of video. I played back the videos and pictures about once or twice each. I had to charge the battery after 1 or 2 days. Obviously I was using the camera more than my old one, but the difference was a lot. Panny claims 300 shots, but it just doesn’t seem to last that long. I would strongly recommend a backup battery, if you can find one. But they are $50 a pop, so consider that in the cost.

I haven’t tried all of the features out on the camera, but I generally don’t use anything else. I buy point and shoot cameras because I want to “point” and “shoot”. I don’t want to have to worry about settings and scene modes. So maybe I’d get some better results if I messed with the different modes, but I don’t know. I’m using the camera exactly the same way as my Canon. The Canon wins in indoor and flash situations. The Canon is more consistent and has better battery life. The Panasonic wins outdoors photos and for video recording. Also, the lens is better, great range from wide angle to telephoto.

All in all the Panasonic is a good camera, but not great. I’m giving it 4 stars. I think 3 seems to harsh. Some people may think 4 is too harsh, but I was spoiled with my Canon. Which was cheaper and now is a 4 year old model. I was hoping things would get better. Some aspects did get better, but others got worse. And this camera is much more expensive. So I’m not thrilled with it, like I was my Canon.

The bottom line is, if you want a big zoom in a little camera (relatively) and hi-def video, I would recommend this camera. If you can live without some of that zoom, I’d look for something else. The Fuji F200EXR was my second choice. After using the Panasonic, I’m thinking the Fuji may have been a better choice. I haven’t used that camera though, so I’m not sure.

I hope this helps.

Dont Expect Too Much From It
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
Been using it for 3 weeeks. Some points from me.

(If you’ve ever used any DSLR camera, please skip this review, as u will be disappointed by the image quality of this camera)

Hardware:

1. Wide Leica Lens – Big Eye!! Cant love it more (5 star)

2. Panasonic Body – Quite disappointing one, esp the dial, very loose fit. (3 stars)

3. Body size – bulkier than expected, can be classified as (semi compact) (4 stars)

Performance:

1. Good Image presents only under ISO 100 (3 and a half stars)

Any picture taken using iso 100 and above proved to be coarse.

Reason: Small cheap CCD sensor. This CCD sensor cant match the lens, I reckon this as a design flaw. I think Panasonic probably had to cut down the overall building cost to ensure profit. FUJIFILM’s 200EX has a better sensor.

2. Reliable Face Detection (5 stars)

Makes point-and-shoot more enjoyable. Even in some very dark environments, it still works!! yes, very dark, I mean it!)

3. Very Underpowered Flash (BE VERY AWARE OF THIS) (2 stars)

One very obvious FLAW of this model!! For most of the indoor lighting conditions, pictures would incline to be underexposed.

4. Clear Large Screen (resolution can be larger…) (4 starts)

5. Speed (4 stars)

Start up in 2 secs, focusing getting slow and inaccurate in poor lighting condition. Electronic Shutter could be faster…)

Overall (3 stars with reservation)

Its been over-hyped. Thought this camera is a good attempt from Panasonic, but still cant beat some of Canon’s premium wide angle compact models(such as SD850 IS).

I am a journalist and probably will stick with Canon as my 2nd camera (expecting S90)

Good Video capability, but photo is not impressive
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
The Panasonic DMC-ZS3 (also called TZ7) is the 5th digital camera I have owned. I have been using Panasonic TZ1 for last 2.5 years and I am quite happy with TZ1 for its optical image stabilization and 10X telecope capability. However, the TZ1 is 5MP with standard Video (SD) only. So, I think it’s time to upgrade.

Though DMC-ZS3 has 12X power, but I think the practical maximum range is 8X-10X zoom, as the shooting object need to have clear edge for the camera to focus, when in 12X, most of time, the camera will not be able to find an edge for focus. This is a common limitation for most cameras. If the 12X is one of key reason for you to pick this camera, then think again.

I was hopping that TZ7 can have better picture-to-picture lag time. But it’s still around 2 sec delay time. Kind of slow for taking kid’s pictures.

The DMC-ZS3 (or TZ7) has an IA mode that automatically adjusts the speed, ISO…,etc for you. In outdoor, well-light conditions, this IA mode is good. However, when shooting indoor, the IA mode tends to pick up ISO above 400. And you will be very very disappointed with the photos taken with ISO >= 400 by this camera, as the photos show very significant noise. My recommendation: stay away from the IA mode for all indoor shootings. Also, the flash light is on the weak side. So, stay closer to your object if you plan to use flash for indoor shooting. Overall, comparing with my old TZ1, I don’t see better photo quality taken by DMC-ZS3 (or TZ1), especially for the indoor pictures.

DMC-SZ3 has good video capability, you can zoom while taking video (same as TZ1), it also records stereo audio. It supports both standard video (SD) and AVCHD-lite (or 1280×720 HD). Quite some softwares can handle AVCHD editing, like AVS video editor, Corel VideoStudio Pro X2, Cyberlink PowerDVD Director Ultra 8, Nero 9…, etc. Window media player 12 (free) can play AVCHD video clips on you PC also. The AVCHD video clips from the camera can be uploaded into YouTube directly. That makes the video sharing captured by this camera more easier.

You should use the IA mode when taking video in any low-light condition, the camera automatically adjusts the ISO sensitive, shutter speed to accomodate the low-light environment. Due to low-light, the video will be somewhat grainy (quite common for consumer level cameras or camcorders), but acceptable (remember, this is a camera, not a camcorder). In outdoor, well light conditons, it produces satisfactory video clips.

In video taking mode, the camera will recognize face and try to focus on the face. However, if taking scenery video without clear objects (or edges) for the camera to focus, the video clips do not seem to be sharp.

Battery life is on the short side, so, don’t forget to charge it before your trip (you won’t over-charge the Li-Ion battery).

Overall, I like the 1280×720 AVCHD video function and the wide/telo zoom capability, but the photo quality is not very impressive (especially the indoor photos). I will return my DMC-ZS3 and keep my TZ1.

Save your money
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
I purchased this at a large membership store and returned in within 2 weeks. If you attempt to judge this camera by its specs (like I did) you believe that you are getting an extremely versitile camera. This is not the case, unless all of your shots are in the style of Mathew Brady (where people sit perfectly still for a long time for the lense to capture the image). I have never seen a camera with a slower lense, almost every photo I took suffers from motion blur (not the whole picture, just perhaps one individual in the group). In some cases the person was walking slowly towards the camera and instead of freezing their image I have a ghost image of them covering the entire frame). Also the color it captured appeared to shift from picture to picture, sometimes the image would appear in the yellow fringe at other times a grey-blue shift. To see if it was me or the camera I took side by side pictures with an older Canon A530 (with both cameras on tripods to eliminate any human interferance) and the ZS3 still had the same issues. As my title says, save your money and chose a different camera.

Best Bang for your Buck
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Best zoom in a small package! Love the HD video and stereo sound. Like the big screen. Is shows you mode selection on the screen in case it’s at night and you can’t see the dial on top.

a compact good pair with you SLR
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I have a SLR already, but really need a camera when not taking very seriously and travel with. This is a good one with long range of zoom so when i was in Grand Canyon it helped me a lot with both wide and tele zoom.

The video is great, it’s just like a video camera. I don’t think i need to buy another video camera for my future baby.

A not so pleased thing is that its night shot is really not good and the picture quality at night is really bad, so if you want to buy one for mostly night shots, you may want to skip this one.

Gererally i like this one a lot. Build is good and handy to take with.

Fantastic Camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Just Received the camera and visited the Grand Canyon. The zoom is unbelievable! As is the wide angle lens! The picture quality and video quality are both great! Just be sure NOT to use the AVCHD lite video mode, because most video editing programs won’t recognize it. Use the Quicktime HD mode to edit and make movies. Be sure to get a high speed card for the movies, like the Sandisk Extreme III. This is the best point and shoot camera available, according to all the camera review sites and in my experience with it so far.

Fantastic camera and video camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I got this camera for my wife who knows little about photography and loves taking video. It’s dedicated video button has been so convenient and it’s 720p resolution fantastic. Many people can’t believe the video she gets out of this little thing. Sound is fantastic with its stereo mics. We just pop the SD card into our PS3 and can immediately play everything we just shot.

As for the camera side, she loves that too. She doesn’t like to fiddle with settings so it’s automatic everything suits her style just fine. It is a little larger than most compact cameras but she always carries around a cavernous purse in which it has no problems hiding in. She does love the extra zoom that also works with the video as well as it having one of the best wide angle settings so she doesn’t have to get up from the restaurant booth to fit everybody in the shot. Button layout is intuitive and she hasn’t even touched the instruction manual. Finally, she loves taking this thing on trips so the miniature battery charger is a godsend to pack.

So all in all this camera suits her perfectly. It’s strengths are what we prize the most and it’s shortcomings are ones we don’t care about. I always feel that every product is probably perfect for somebody, you just need to find the right person. As for me, I’ll be lugging around my bulky Nikon D40 which I consider perfect myself.

A camcorder that takes pictures, by chance
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I was looking for a new camcorder. While searching and comparing Kodak Zi8 and Mino Flip HD, I came through a review which suggested this ZS3 instead. So, when you compare specs with these 3 models, the ZS3 comes out a winner. For about $60 more (than you would spend on a Kodak or Flip) you get a Full HD camcorder, a *fantastic* point and shoot and REAL lenses – which, by the way, has a 12x OPTICAL zoom.

My only 2 complaints would be (A:) the lack of a power cable to charge its battery directly, and (B:) the battery life – way too short compared to my old and reliable Sony P200. A firmware upgrade Panasonic done on this camera rendered useless ALL the compatible (grey market) batteries out there. So you can only turn to Panasonic’s original (and quite expensive) battery. Such a shame.

The pros, on the other hand, outweights by a large amount these 2 negative points. Please, read on.

Its autofocus is simply magic.

I got a small kid, which stands still for about 1/2 second. Anyone with small kids knows what I’m talking about. This ZS3 uses that split second to get a hold on the subject and follows around the fugitive kid – correcting the focus! So you can press the shutter button whenever you want: most pictures will come out just crystaline.

And it also got face recognition.

Not quite smart- sometimes it’s not able to recognize a already registered face – but impressive when it gets right.

You can register 5 faces on the ZS3.

About the camcorder use.

The files generated when filming with the ZS3 is something alien (in a very complex file-folder structure) which I can only access (read and write in a different format) with iMovie ’09. VLC also can read and play them, but since VLC cannot export and save, it’s no good. Final Cut Pro doesn’t seem to recognize the connected ZS3. I read somewhere FCP is supposed to recognize and import these video files in Log and Capture dialog window, but I wasn’t able to do so.

Since these videos *are* in AVCHD native format (and very compressed), passing them through Apple Compressor gives you a small file with pretty heavy artifacts. Even choosing H.264 codec. That is: the video becomes dirty and useless.

The bottomline: good camera, fair pricing (not cheap), that I can recommend for anyone interested in a good portable Full HD camcorder that – eventually – is a superb point-and-shoot photographic camera.

Almost
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
Has good and bad..

Good pictures but expect some grain/noise in the shots if enlarging or shooting in lower light conditions.

Mode dial is a bit loose and can change position when taking camera out of case or pocket.

Video has a lot of moire on certain subjects; such as a fence or anything that has horizontal and or vertical lines.

Video playback looks poor when connecting the camera to a TV, unless you use a HDMI cable on a TV that supports it.

The video has artifacts more often than not, expecially when panning or moving. Tree leaves can really bounce and artifact when even slightly moving the camera during video.

Video has a lot of noise/grain during low light conditions.

The AVCHD lite video can be edited on Sony Vegas 9 Pro, but I was not able to on Pinnacle Studio or Ulead. You can switch to Motion Jpeg, and that can be edited on most.

It’s a great video camera for web, but will be problematic and less than perfect to use as a camcorder for home movies on TV or DVD.

I think it’s an good camera for pictures and fair at video. It’s hard to beat for the cost and I think most people will really like it. I suggest people don’t try to use it to replace a dedicated camcorder. It’s a fantastic camera to take along on vacation to capture pictures and video that would have been otherwise missed because most bigger camera and camcorders are too bulky to slip in a pocket and bring along for a spur of the moment adventure.

A Decent P&S Camera
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
The reason I purchased this camera was to use it for both pictures and video when I don’t want to carry my DSLR and HD video camera. It is a mistake to compare it to either, rather it is more fair to compare it to other P&S cameras available in the $400 price range that are capable of video.

1. Still Camera Features: The AF modes and multi-point AF tracking is quite good and allows you to get the shot. This is probably the best feature of this camera and hats off to Panasonic for doing this right. However, comparing to Canon P&S, the AWB and color balance is definitely lacking. It is particularly bad when shooting in ambient artificial light, but outdoors it is a little bit better, but not much. If RAW shooting was permitted, this could easily be fixed. For such a good lens, the picture quality of the files don’t hold up well to the Canon G9, it just seems to lack fine detail. Now again, you could say I’m being picky, but remember I’m comparing it to other P&S and I would think that this camera’s shots should be comparable to say the Panasonic LX3 or a Canon G9.

2. Video Camera Features: The AVCHD Lite will NOT work on a Mac with iMovie, which is the best inexpensive video editing software available, that comes standard on all Macs. You have to use Motion jpeg which takes up more memory card space and you can only shoot in 15 min. increments. The zoom feature while doing video is nice, but it is slow to auto focus.

Finally, this camera is made in Japan and is solid and has a good feel. It is small enough to fit in a man’s shirt pocket or a woman’s small purse. The 3″ LCD screen is nice and you can see all of your settings on it. In the real world price vs. performance is key and you can’t have everything. That said, this camera is more appropriately priced at $300 and would then merit 4 stars. At nearly $400, for what you get, 3 stars is the best one could give it.

EDITED 26 OCT 2009 (updated from 3-stars to 4-stars):

1. AVCHD Lite format can now be read by iMovie 09 on all Macs. It works great, and although I didn’t play the video on a large screen, on a 24″ LCD monitor the 720p video looks good. The microphone pickup is quite good too. On a 16GB SD card you can get well over 2 hours of video, but battery life is eaten up even without zooming so actually getting continuous 2 hours is not possible.

2. Setting a maximum ISO will help in reducing noise, particularly chroma noise, but it will drop the shutter speed too low where image stabilization becomes less useful.

3. The price is now approximately between $270-$290 which makes this P&S camera a better deal, but if you have to spend full retail, then research what the alternatives are since color balance is an issue. For the money, its a good deal.

ZS3 – Get TWO, They’re Small
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Originally looking to replace our prior camera – a Nikon Coolpix S600, which got lost at a family reunion back on Labor Day (“Some Family!” you say; don’t ask – its a long story!). Also own a Nikon D70s DSLR, so was looking for something a bit more feature-laden than the S600. I spent a few weeks doing some research, reading reviews, etc., and finally decided on the ZS3 for a number of reasons:

1. Wide angle lens (the extended zoom was also a big plus);

2. 3-inch high-resolution screen;

3. GREAT picture quality;

4. Ease of use, relatively intuitive;

5. Features and controls, lots of flexibility;

6. Relatively short shutter lag;

7. High-def video;

8. Compact size;

9. Amazon price (then $276), and Prime free shipping;

10. Excellent reviews on digital camera websites.

After owning this camera for about a month, I am pleased to report that it has operated flawlessly. Great pics, great video, and all the features one could ask for in a point-and-shoot (but no speed- or aperture-priority override).

Some items to consider to complete the package:

– 8GB, Class 6 SDHC memory card

– spare battery (a must)

– Lowepro Ridge 30 camera case (the camera fits great)

Also got the Mediabridge – HDMI-Male to Mini HDMI-Male – 10ft – Version 1.3 Category 2 – 1080p – Blu-ray:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001MT1ETO/ref=oss_T15_product

(Caution: DO NOT spend 70 bucks for this cable at Best Buy or anywhere else! Anything over $20 is absolutely ridiculous! $11 is more than reasonable price, and the true value of this item.)

As for some other reviewers’comments: Have not had an issue with the [reportedly] loose / easily rotating control knob, flimsy trap door for battery compartment, or “noisy” zoom motor.

Bottom line: Like the camera so much, I went out and got a SECOND one for my wife. Local big box warehouse store (that starts with a ‘C’) had it on special for two-fifty (with instant mfr rebate), in black only, including 2 GB class 4 memory card, and a nice compact leather case. Good deal, but no spare battery, and I personally prefer a greater capacity and higher speed SDHC card. Also, the case is very nice and well made, but holds the camera only; no spare room or pockets for anything, not even a tiny memory card.

The exact camera that I wanted
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Before buying this camera (Lumix DMC-ZS3), I had done quite a lot online research for more than half year, however, none of the cameras that I researched can satisfy my two requirements besides it can produce high quality pictures. One of my requirements is high zoom, the other one is good video with zoom and good sound quality. Once I found this camera, I immediately decided that this is the one. and fortunately, there was a company selling this camera on amazon at that time. So I bought it. It is exactly the camera that I wanted.

I had some concerns from reading the reviews before purchase. one is the zoom sound when taking video, the other one is the looseness of the dial button. It turned out those are not problem at all. The camera I bought loaded with updated firmware, so the zoom sound is fixed. The dial button does not feel loose at all, but it indeed changed position couple times while in my pocket. but it is not a concern to me at all.

If I have to mention one thing I don’t like, it is the firmware–not the camera itself, but the way that Panasonic put restrictions in the firmware so non Panasonic battery would not work. Fortunately for me, my camera came with the firmware with fix to the zoom sound problem, but not the battery restriction. Nonetheless, it is still a concern if I have to update firmware for some reason in the future.

Great expectations, lovely design, poor photo quality
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
Basically, I agree 100% with Deniz Balci. Outdoor pictures were average quality but indoor ones stink.

Pros:

It has a lovely design.

Great display.

Great video quality excedeed my expectations even in low light.

Cons:

Average outdoor picture quality

Poor indoor picture quality

Access to program modes are not practical.

I end up returning it.

Poor picture quality
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
I ordered this camera due to its ability to zoom while making movies, and due to the very positive reviews I read on the web. However, I was rather disappointed by the poor picture quality, and I decided to return it.

We have older Canon cameras, such as an A620 and an A720, as well as a Panasonix LX3. Compared to those cameras, the picture quality of the ZS3 leaves much to be desired. Even at ISO 80, the strong noise reduction smears the fine detail, while leaving behind visible artifacts. This was very noticeable, for instance, on the shaded portions of people faces. There is little texture left in the skin, and yet, the noise reduction leaves behind artifacts that look like a mix of sparse grain, and pockmarks.

The results were very much a negative suprise. The sensor of the ZS3 is of similar size as the sensor of the Canon A720, and the A720 being two years or so older, we expected the ZS3 to be at least as good, if not better. The converse is true: the A720 gives very good quality photos at base ISO, and up to ISO 200, while the ZS3 even at base ISO produces poor results.

It was very surprising to us that this camera, which received such good reviews, would be so disappointing.

We are somewhat experienced photographers, and we own several cameras, from the afore-mentioned Canon A620, A720 and Panasonic LX3, to various DSLRs.

Be prepared to read instruction manual
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
The camera is very nice.

Excellent value.

You must be ready to dig into the instruction manual to get the true value from the endless feature this camera offers.

Remember this takes HD video also.

Yes it is a point and shoot with a great wide angle lens and a super 12 x optical zoom.

Take the time to learn the many features of this camera and you will be taking SLR quality pictures with a medium size pocket camera.

Camera good, software bad
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
This camera is good — it takes fine pictures and is simple to use. The zoom really is nice. My main gripe with it is the software (PhotoFun). I find it very difficult to use. It acquires multiple versions of pictures that have been rotated outside the program, and for some reason multiple versions of each video (i.e. it re-downloads the video every time I aquire new pictures). In general, I just can’t figure this software out. I was really hoping to replace Canon’s ZoomBrowser (which I was using before with a Canon camera) software with something better (or at least without random, long delays as it categorizes the entire hard drive), but the PhotoFun seems much worse in spite of being a couple years newer. Perhaps there is just a learning curve — but I really don’t think using software like this should require extensive study of the manual — things like acquiring just the newest images should just work. And it doesn’t.

Phenomenal cosmic power…itty bitty living space.
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
…that basically sums up the camera.

This thing does everything and it does it all well. I was looking for a good point and shoot that would handle HD video. I have to say that I am blown away with the quality of this camera.

First, it feels fantastic. Very solid and buttons are set up nicely.

Second, still shots are amazing. Not only are they clear but when you have the camera tuned in to your shot the color and contrast is about as good as I can get with my DSLR.

Lastly, the video is incredible. I really still have a hard time believing that this camera is so much better than my SONY camcorder from a couple years ago. I did have a brief issue importing the video into imovie 09. It seems that the version I had (8.0.2) didn’t handle the AVCHD properly. Fortunately, a quick update via Apple’s website solved that. For those with the same issue you need imovie 8.0.3 update which is available for a free download. [...]

I am very pleased with this purchase and would recommend anyone in the market will also be pleased.

Great videos, but disappointing pictures
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
Pros:

Takes sharp pictures

Leica lens

25mm wide angle

12X Zoom

Pocketsize

HD movies with stereo sound

Optical zoom while videoing

Can resize picture from 10MP to 7MP, 5MP, 3MP, 2MP, to .3MP

Cons:

Colors are off and washed out

Weak flash

Grainy pictures in low light

Flash fires twice before shots (confusing and annoying)

Short battery life

I needed a camera that takes nice and sharp pictures with at least 10X zoom and decent videos with optical zoom. I passed up the Canon Powershot SX200IS because it didn’t have optical zoom when taking videos. The ZS3 had everything I was looking for–sharp pictures, long zoom, great video with optical zooming and stereo sound, small size, wide angle, etc., except the picture quality is not so good. I tried out this camera at my grand niece’s birthday party and everyone came out pale-looking especially when I used the flash. I tried out all the settings and compared the images side by side with the images I took with my old Canon SD800IS, and the Canon beat out the Panasonic except for the sharpness–the Panasonic do take sharp pictures. However the colors on the Canon came out more vibrant than on the Panasonic, which came out dull and washed out. Sure the Panasonic takes sharp pictures and nice HD videos with stereo sound, but overall the still images to me are not good. Also, the camera is too fragile to carry around without a case, I was always afraid of scratching the LCD or dropping it because of its smooth body.

After two weeks of use, I returned the Panasonic to Amazon. This is the third Panasonic camera that I had bought and returned because of poor image quality. The first and second were the FX07 and FX50 two years ago, I see Panasonic’s image quality has not improved much. I guess I’ll stick with Canon and wait until they come out with a new model that has everything that I’m looking for.

panasonic Zs3
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
the panasonic lumix ZX3 is a great camera I love great pictures for a very good price

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Great point & shoot camera with HD video. Along with 16GB class 6 SD card it creates and stores nearly 3,000 pictures with MOV audio and HD video.

Pictures of my daughter’s wedding June 17, 2009 were taken using the 16:9 aspect ratio to ooohs & ahhhs using the slideshow feature with the LCD TV connected using a $5.00 miniHDMI cable (similar to the $79.95 accessory!)

The DMC-ZS3 replaces a DSLR and a Panasonic AG3 camcorder on trips due to its size/weight/HD video advantage. I can use it underwater with the waterproof case designed for the Lumix cameras!

Pack an extra battery. Despite the pre-set-to-last-zoom-used function to reduce battery drain on zooming, I have yet to reach the published number of shots per charge. The battery charges relatively quickly (+/-1 hour).

Too expensive for given functionality
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This is only a value comparison as of Aug 09:

The current price for Lumix ZS3/TZ7 ($370, MSRP $400) is way too high. ZS1/TZ5 (MSRP $350) is already available for $210.

In Sept 09, the new generation with twice image stabilization capability:

DMC-FZ35/FZ38 12MP 18x will be available for $400 and

DMC-ZR1 /ZX1 12MP 8x for $280.

Kodak EasyShare Z950 12MP 10x, another great camera is at $280.

They’re all great cameras with HD video. Note that the Canon ones (SD780, 960, 970 IS) though with great image, has low optical zoom functionality and also can’t zoom during video mode.

Great Camera for the Money
Rating:5 out of 5 stars

This is a great little camera for the money. It is easy to use, takes good quality pictures.

Pam B.

Great Camera for the Impatient, Non-Technical Types
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I set out to replace an older Sony digital point-and-shoot camera that also had video capability. I’m 60 and did not want to have to figure out all the various manual controls needed for a perfect shot. I just wanted a decent photo most of the time and video capability. I was initially attracted to the Nikon CoolPix series, then the Canon SX-200, and once again Sony, but as I read review after review, I kept seeing the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 as the benchmark the rest were measured against. I didn’t even know Panasonic made digital cameras, and considered the brand to not be top of the line. However, the more research I did, the more I realized this was exactly the camera I wanted. (The very best review I read is http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/panasonic/dmc_zs3-review/, please note there are links to more in-depth review information on it…highly recommend you read it all.)

What I wanted and why I like it:

- Excellent pixel size and zoom up to 48X.

- Video capability – surprise, this one has high definition, stereo microphones, and zoom capability.

- Minimal manual settings for folks who don’t want to figure it all out, yet enough for the things that I might want to do (haven’t yet).

- Good battery life and quick recharge capability.

- Easy interface with HD TVs, computers, printers, etc.

- Bright LCD viewer that can be seen in the sunshine.

Negatives: None worthy of turning it down, although…truth in reporting…one flaw I saw reported in reviews was that the mode nob is more loose than most and can change itself without you knowing it…same is true for mine, but really not a big deal! What is advertised as HD video isn’t quite broadcast standard, but I have to agree it is much, much better than the video I had with my older Sony point-and-shoot. Panasonic also has a newer ACHD format that minimizes video file size, and as noted in various reviews, those files go to a more remote, hard to find location on the memory card, but it really wasn’t that hard to find, not really an issue at all.

I’ve put it through lots of tests, touring Hawaii’s Kiluea Volcano and National Park two days after receiving it, and now with a new puppy, capturing its perpetual high-speed motion playing with our older pup, in both HD video and still photos. As a point-and-shoot, it does really darn well.

The only hiccup I’ve noticed was an attempted quick spin-up to capture the puppy learning to climb steps in video. I started to record before the camera was ready to go (as soon as it turned on) and it stopped with the warnning something like “speed too fast to write to memory,” then “writing to memory,” but it froze there. I couldn’t shut down with the off switch, so I removed the battery, which was essentially a re-boot, and it has worked like a champ since. I believe the max spin up time is closer to 5 seconds, and I’ll just have to be more patient.

Summing up, although higher cost than most, it’s a superb digital camera and a great value. As someone smart once said, quality is remembered long after cost is forgotten.

Motor Noise during Shooting Video, any solution? I have firmware 1.2.
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
Motor Noise during Shooting Video, any solution? I have firmware 1.2.

Everything else works great.

A great camera but one small detail
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
So i just got this camera and took it around town for a “test drive”. I agree that the picture quality (with good lighting) is really good and sharp. The 12x zoom is amazing for a camera of this size and you can get some great shots. It seems to me that the autofocus takes a little bit too long to focus on a subject sometimes but maybe I need to change the settings to set the focus on a certain object. The video quality is OK, not great to be honest. First of all that AVCHD Lite format is not ideal since I own a Mac you have to get a third party software to convert the file (until Apple updates its software). Second, what the hell is wrong with the motor of the zoom? Try shooting a video and zooming at the same time and all you hear is the motor grinding, not great unless you plan on covering the audio track with music. Finally I don’t know why but I can’t display the movie on my tv using the mini HDMI connection. Luckily I have a blu ray player from Panasonic and I can just insert the SD card and play straight from it.

So again this is a really good camera but I will be trying out the Canon Powershot SX1 and make a final decision on which one I am returning.

Fantastic Camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Delivers amazing still pictures without the bulk of an SLR. The video recording quality is close enough to my HD camcorder so when I need something compact and convenient, I only take my Panasonic DMC with me. Well worth the price…you won’t regret this purchase!

Easy to use digital Camera with great HD video!~But CAUTION when order replacement batteries!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I purchased this camera just before I left for a trip to the Galapagos Islands. I’m not a whiz kid when it comes to cameras, but I knew the Galapagos Islands would have once-in-a-life-time photo opportunities that I didn’t want to miss due to poor quality equipment or equipment that was too complicated for me to use. This camera DELIVERED on all my needs! (except battery incompatibilities, mentioned later!)I recommend spending an hour or two with the camera and instruction book. The 130 page instruction book was easy to navigate through, but it takes a while to familiarize yourself with everything this amazing little camera is capable of doing!!

The quality of my vacation photos and videos were amazing! I was able to record a video of the mating dance of two blue-footed boobies, iguanas fighting, and sea lions and penguins playing. My landscape photos have such detail that it’s hard to believe these were not taken with a more expensive SLR digital. When I returned home, I projected the video onto a giant classroom screen during a lecture and the quality was amazing. Everyone asked what type of camera I was using! I connected the camera to my Samsung 46 inch 1080i HDTV. The photos and videos looked so good I couldn’t believe they were really MY photos!

The large 3 inch LCD monitor on the SZ3 is large enough to review photos and videos so I could easily determine which photos and videos were worth keeping while I was still on vacation. The size and quality of the LCD was even good enough replay videos and scan through photos for fellow travelers.

The 12X optical zoom on this camera allowed me to zoom up on animals and landmarks otherwise too far away to photograph. I did not try out the 21X extended optical zoom. Thanks to the setting made for photos from airplane windows, my on-flight photos turned out better than any on-flight photos I’ve ever seen.

There is a setting on the camera that allows you to hold the shutter down. It will continue to take photos until you release the shutter. This allowed me to take photos of animals in motion and later choose to save which photo caught the animal in that “ideal” position! No more pushing the shutter only to have the subject move and you’ve missed the shot! If you don’t want to change settings on the camera, there is an “Intelligent Auto Mode” that adjusts automatically to light, movement, scenery (adjusts to take sharp pictures near and far landscapes), recognizes faces to adjust light to create optimal settings for portrait lighting, etc.

The FACE RECOGNITION setting isn’t always accurate. I tried to train it to recognize my dad, and several other faces were later incorrectly identified by my camera as “Dad.” Hopefully re-training it will resolve that glitch. I eventually had to turn off. It was even labeling photos of women as “Dad”!

The Travel feature allows you to set the dates of your vacation into the camera memory. It also allows you to change the time zone during your vacation and automatically returns to “home” clock at the end of the ‘Vacation mode dates’. This creates a time stamp that is not only accurate to your vacation time zone, but allows you to record when & WHERE each photo was taken! This is especially great if your travels include several cities or islands. The on-screen menu tells you what day of your trip you are on (Galapagos Day 1, Galapagos Day 2, etc.). It’s really nice for later when you are trying to sort through photos and remember what day and where they were taken. Especially when you have more than one SD card!

You can increase the size of the on screen menu to a larger font if you have problems with reading small print.

I have to say I was impressed with the different settings for taking photos of babies, sunsets, portraits, food, etc. It was amazing how many differnt settings were available and the instruction book gives great hints on how to maximize the use of each of those settings. I think this is one of the best instruction manuals I’ve seen for cameras.

Again, my only hesitation with this camera is with the battery, and it’s more of an idealogical complaint against Panasonic. I just don’t think they should create a camera with a battery that is so difficult to find and doesn’t have a compatable generic. SO………WARNING!!!!!!!!! THE ONLY battery that is compatable with this camera is the Panasonic Lumix DMW-BCG10PP. USE CAUTION when ordering batteries advertized on Amazon’s website that claim to be compatible with this camera. I ended up going on vacation without a second battery and due to the high volume of photos and videos I was taking each day I ran out of battery before the end of the day. Luckily most days I had a lunch period where I was able to recharge the battery. The instructions say you can get 300 photos from a battery charge, but I got more than twice that amount and somedays got almost three times that many. Still, If I didn’t recharge mid-day, I ran out of battery before I ran out of photo opportunities each day. I’m sure it’s because I took those shots so close together. One battery is probably good enough for almost every situation except special vacations where photos are a huge part of your day! ENJOY!

Great camera with bonus HD video recording is a blast!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I have used the ZS3 for a week and I must say Panasonic has its place in digital camera/comcorder market. My first Panasonic which purchased 6 years ago (DMC-FX9) is having power button issue and therefore I have to purchased a new one. The old camera last me for 5+ years which is satifactory. Well, it was expensive though last time ($[...]), for the FX9, hey, the ZS3, which is a far more superior camera, only cost $[...] nowaday!

(I) Camera performance: the Leica lens with 25mm wide angle is superb. I am now able to capture more things with the extra angles. If you put a camera without wide angle next to the ZS3 and view the screen you could tell the big difference. The pictures are sharp, clean. Night shooting is also superior when using the slow sync flash function. Panasonic camera is by far the most superior when using it on night shot, couple with its Mega OIS + shake-proof stablize technology, capturing memorial night view moment is at ease. I still hold my Australia’s trip pictures and my friends just can’t tell it is captured with a compact! But hey, that was with the 6 years old FX9; I bet ZS3 would do even better than that~

(II) Now here is the bonus – HD Video Recording: If you pay a little more ($[...]) to have a choice than ZS1 (which without HD video recording), ZS3 is indeed a good value camera. Recording HD Video is extremely easy – it has a designated ‘camcorder’ button right above the negivation buttons. Instead of turning the mode to video mode, there is no longer such need with ZS3. Simply hit that ‘record’ button whenever you are in camera mode, and it instantly starts recording. The switch is instantly fast. With an 8GB SD card, you could record full HD (super fine resolution) up to an hour (about 61 minutes). We spent the last Halloween with kids treat-or-trick in Mall of America. I bet I would hold on to my HD camcorder purchase for a long while .

ZS3, to my surprise, records the HD video very well. The video quality is superior enought consider that just a digital camera lens, and sound quality is good too. There are Left and Right microphone right above the camera and we can’t get surround, but the sound quality is good enought as like a $[...]+ non-HD DVD camcorder.

I finally found something that takes great pictures without sacrificing the ability of good video recording. I would say this is a good family camera too. You may imagine the hassles to bring strollers + diapers bag + car seats when travelling. With a single device that does both Photo+Video, ZS3 is a good size camera that does that, and does it well.

amazing
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
If your looking for a P/S great zoom, wide angle, easy to use, etc. this is it. I have been a Canon fan in the past but the sx200is is not anywhere in the class with this camera. This camera is a real keeper.

Great point and shoot!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I bought this camera for my dad. I got to use it for about 10 days. Wow has so many features my big DSLR has. The superzoom is really nice to have. Some settings you cant use it although. The HD videos are great, takes up whole screen on PC and looks very clear. Suggest a tripod for this. I think with 8 gig card it said 105 minute video could be taken at highest setting.

The lens is very nice, the burst mode is a very nice feature to have.Pictures are very clear and vibrant. Plus the lens is wide angle.

I have the canon powershot sd850 an the Lumix is so much better. I want it for me now.

too fragile for a travel camera
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
Have had the camera about three months. In many respects it’s a great camera–relatively easy to use, nice zoom range, pleasing photo quality. However, the built-in lens cover is extremely fragile. The cover on our camera broke while being carried in a purse–we have had several other brands and models of cameras (that also had similar shutter-style lens covers) that were handled similarly with no trouble. The camera might last longer if you kept it in its own case, even when putting it in another bag. Nonetheless, having a $400 camera fail after gentle handling suggests this isn’t the model to rely on if you want to bring back photos from a trip (the reason we bought the camera).

Great lil camera!!!!!!!!!!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 10MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3 inch LCD (Black)

Purchased camera right before a destination wedding/honeymoon in St Lucia…..didnt have time to “learn much” techie-wise…………just put it on AUTO and clicked away approx 3000 pics! Cloudy…..sunny……….rain forest……sunset cruise…..can’t wait to sit down and go thru them all!!!!!! Put on highest resolution and clicked away thru three 4gig cards and one 2gig card…..tell you more later!

Always have had Canon’s and probably would have bought the newest ultra zoom Canon but didnt understand why they put that pop up flash thingy on there…so I went with multiple reviews and brother’s opinion who is a professional photographer! this camera has unlimited potential for this lil “point and shooter”! Fit in pocket everywhere!!!!!!!!!!!

Battery lasted well but I still wanted a backup but hard to find and pricy….like the camera……..but all in all……..HAPPY! Amazon sent it prompty and safely to my home!

Pictures okay…video great…but had to return!
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
I purchased the DMC-ZS3 after MUCH research as I needed to replace my beloved Canon Powershot A620 (after we both suffered a nasty fall in the mountains). Unfortunately, Canon no longer makes the A620, nor do they make a replacement model in terms of size and features. Bought the ZS3 because of the size, type of lens, HD video, and quality of the LCD monitor. I compromised a viewfinder and the convenience of using AA batteries for size and hopefully, picture quality. I wasn’t blown away by the picture quality, but to be fair, only took about 40-50 shots. Took a short video, which looked great (maybe even spectacular) on my large screen TV, and sound quality was surprisingly good. BUT…..I was very disappointed in the battery life. Batteries exhausted after about 50 shots, 30 seconds of video, and maybe a combined 30-40 mintutes playing with the features (scrolling through menus, etc., but turning the camera on and off quite a few times). I had read enough to know that you can’t use one of the thousands of off-brand batteries sold on e-bay and elsewhere, so I ordered a genuine Panasonic battery from a very nice gentleman in Hong Kong. After I charged this replacement battery up and it wouldn’t work in my camera, I called Panasonic. The battery was the right model number, but I was told that Panasonic made a firmware upgrade to this camera and that the battery would no longer work in my camera. ALSO…Panasonic had not yet manufactured any replacement batteries that would work with the new upgrade, and would not have any available until 9/18/09…SO…it was impossible for me to have an extra battery to take with me on my vacation which starts on 9/20/09 (pausing a day at Disney World to charge my one and only battery was not an acceptable option!). I returned the ZS3 to Amazon several weeks ago for a full refund (Thanks Amazon!). I purchased a Canon SX10 instead (3X the size, 3X the weight, but lots of features I love including a swivel LCD, viewfinder, and AA batteries). I will have to say that the video on the Panasonic ZS3 (HD) is superior to the Canon SX10 (not HD). Haven’t used the new Canon enough to know if I’m really happy about picture quality yet. There were some things I really DID like about the Panasonic ZS3: super bright LCD, super light weight, and really user friendly menus and controls. I did accidentally hit the video button a few times….maybe it should be in a different place, but the camera is so small, I’m not sure where they’d put it. Didn’t like the proprietary cables (what is with that?) and of course, the battery issue was a deal breaker. I wouldn’t rule out purchase of a Panasonic camera in the future…if they make some changes, and would have kept this camera if not for the battery issue.

Red Hot!
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
What a nice surprise! Love the wide angle capability and optical zoom. You also get HD video. It’s a little bulky for a compact camera, but given the features I mentioned, that’s ok. My wife loves the red color. On the downside, there’s not a lot of user functions, but if you love point and shoot, it’s the camera for you. Got a great deal on the price for a gift at Christmas AND free shipping!

Good But Not Great
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
I tested this against 3 other cameras, the Canon Powershot SD780IS, Nikon Coolpix s630, and the Sony Cybershot DSC-W290. The Canon and the Nikon went down right away. It’s only contender was the Sony and the Sony won.

There are some very good things about this camera. It takes decent pictures, even in low light. No shutter lag whatsoever. The wide angle zoom is awesome. Very easy to use overall. Not a pocket sized camera, a more substantial feel if you want that kind of camera, which I don’t but it’s not a negative. Good battery life. Love the charger because it plugs right into the outlet.

There are three main reasons why I decided to keep the Sony over this camera:

1. Sony’s picture quality was better. This camera takes good pictures, but the colors are always muted and they aren’t

quite as sharp as the pictures the Sony takes.

2. The HD video quality wasn’t quite as good as Sony’s HD video.

3. The software. You have to use their software to transfer the HD video from the camera to your computer. For some reason every time I try to open the software I have to lower my screen resolution or the software will not open. Also, the video software is not compatible with MAC computers, so that is a big problem.

Overall a good camera but I’m going with the Sony.

Very good set of features for the price, BUT …
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
Updated on January 23, 2010: Returned it because AVCHD-Lite is too painful to work with. We (I and my daughter) tried all the solutions listed on websites including HandBrake and talked to Apple geeks in the store, and tooled around till it was not worth our time. I was finding that the captured video was starting to get locked inside Panasonic PhotoFunStudio even on my Vista laptop. It never made it to iMovie on our Mac. As the box says, it is iPhoto compatible, and just barely.

original review:

I have owned this camera for a few weeks and have many positive and negative aspects of it to share with others considering this.

Pros

- 12x optical zoom on video and stills makes for a lot of sins, easily a steal at this price and form factor

- The image stabilization is good

- It is an excellent combination of features for the price if you can live with/get around the cons below

- HD video (even if it is “Lite”) and HDMI connection to TV are good things

Cons

- slightly dim (easily fixed through light fill in photo editing software) indoor pictures

- AVCHD “LITE” confuses software on PC and Mac alike. On the PC using the FunStudio, I had to instruct it to play video at normal speed before the choppy (2 fps) playback went away using one of the preferences menus in th software. On the Macbook Pro my daughter has tried both iMovie and Handbrake. iMovie import played the video too fast and she is still trying to figure out how to use Handbrake to get around this. Any help much appreciated!

- So to get around it we have switched the camera to record in the format its manual suggests as the PC-friendly one” Motion JPEG. The cards fill up too quickly and the videos (even short ones) take too long to acquire and then the .MOV files end up in the photo folder rather than the video folder. FunStudio will not even play back the video on the PC without first installing Quicktime!

Great Camera but ticking time bomb!
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
My Panasonic just stopped working right after warranty was expired. Ironically Panasonic called me to extend the warranty 3 weeks after the old was up not 3 weeks before. I explained to them I love the Camera but it just stopped working. They said they could send me another, I said,”OK is it new”..NO refurbished and Ill have to pay almost $200.00!. Then another call to Panasonic yielded me to fax them all info and they would get back to me. They did and said “Tuff Luck!” It’s a shame because I did like the Camera but the Company is just not worth it. They tried and sell me a different one and I told them that if you purchased a Dodge and it broke down in a year would you purchase another Dodge, they said No. Just warning you, if you have any problems with Panasonic you will not get anything in return, even with a warranty.

Good little walkaround camera, but some issues
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I purchased the Panasonic ZS3 as a walkaround camera for when I don’t want to carry my larger dSLR camera and lenses (be it for practical and weight reasons, be it for safety). I’ve had it for several months and have traveled extensively with it. The ZS3 has proven to be almost the ideal camera for the purpose I chose it for. Here’s why:

1, The ZS3 has an amazing amount of optical zoom for a camera this compact, and is also good at the wide end. This means more versatility.

2. It is discreet, allowing me to take pictures without being noticed. Particularly useful when you’re photographing people.

3. It is small and lightweight. I can stick it into a coat pocket or attach it to my belt loop (I bought a little neoprene case for this).

4. Picture quality is good, with accurate rendering of colors, exposure and white balance. Noise levels are usually quite low.

5. It does have a few resources that allow me to have more control over picture-taking, but intelligent automatic mode works very well.

6. Focus is accurate, even in lower light.

7. Build quality is very good (except for the mode dial, see below).

8. Video mode works quite well.

9. Menus are comprehensive and intuitive to use, especially if you have some digital photography experience. If not, the product manual explains everything clearly.

10. It’s a lot of fun to use it!

On the downside, there are a few aspects I don’t like much on the ZS3:

1. Battery life is nothing to write home about. There is NO workaround for carrying a charged spare battery. And herein lies a big problem, since the availability and price of the original Panasonic battery (DMW-BCG10PP) are horrendous. To make it worse, Panasonic outrageously released a firmware update that prevents the camera from working with any third-party compatible battery. If you install the update — which I didn’t –, you are stuck with the original battery. Good luck finding another one…

2. Focus is slow. In all fairness, I can’t really complain about this, as it’s par for the course in this kind of camera — especially since it doesn’t have a viewfinder, electronic or optical.

3. It took me some getting used to photographing with the LCD (I’m used to a viewfinder), but I eventually got the hang of it. It’s not so easy in sunlight, but the LCD does a decent job.

4. The mode dial frequently gets inadvertently changed when storing the camera or removing it from its bag or my coat pocket. The dial could be a little firmer.

5. Powering up times aren’t the best.

6. Even using a good SDHC card, the camera is a bit slow in writing the images to the card.

All in all, I’m pretty satisfied with the ZS3. It’s not the cheapest compact camera around, but I do think that for the resources it offers (especially the fine lens) it is a good deal. I’m not sure I’d like it as much if it were my only camera, but it’s doing fine for the purpose I acquired it for.

Get it!
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
This camera takes great stills and the HD movie format it shoots looks excellent too.

I use iA (intelligent auto) and the camera switches scene modes on it’s own. It works about 90% of the time to capture a great photo. Low lighting and indoor lighting don’t stop this camera, those shots all look good, with little noise, great exposures, with little motion blur. The zoom is amazing, and the wide angle function is outstanding. You can literally focus on a subject 1 inch away from the lens, or you can zoom in from several feet away and let the camera switch to tele macro.

The camcorder function uses AVCHD lite. Not immediately friendly for Mac’s, but the newest iMovie will play the format. I’m unsure if OSX Finder will preview them, I have an old Mac so I upload the .MTS HD files directly to youtube and they look darn good, and sound excellent. The stereo mics do a great job and get nice hi and low frequency response. It’s exceptional to have such a wide angle lens and the 12X zoom in camcorder mode, those HD films look great, especially landscapes.

This camera is durable as well, it survived a shoulder height drop onto a brick patio with no scratches, dents or malfunctions.

AVCHD and K-Lite Codec Pack
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
Great Camera! Bought 2, not from amazon. As for software, filming in avchd lite…and I downloaded K-Lite Codec Pack (i only download from cnet) and it’s able to play in Windows media player, Picassa 3 and The KMPlayer (best free player, but a bit slow on there) Not sure if it is HD quality but it looks great…not able to play in quicktime though…

Love it!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This camera is great. Well built and fun to use. I was surprised at how much I liked the facial recognition.

Great camera with a high performance zoom
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I broke my first one by a shock on the screen while wearing it in a soft pocket on my belt, but I couldn’t resist to buy immediatly a new one. It’s the best pocket camera I ever had; The zoom is very good. Automatic-autofocus works very well. Picture colors are warm and good balanced.

I really recommand it, but advise user to protect it with a hard camera case!

These are the only drawbacks

from the model: without viewfinder when the screen is damaged the camera become useless.

From Amazon, no offer for hard case pocket to hold the camera.

Great Camera, few helpful tips
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
You really have to work hard to take a bad shot with this camera. Also the 720p HD video is amazing. Very happy overall.

Below I’ve put together a few notes on getting the most out of the camera and avoiding some of it’s minor foibles..

It’s not as obvious as it should be when video is recording.. I liked my old camera’s blinking led.. The ZS3′s on screen record indicator(especially when you have the display set to view histogram and a bunch of other info).. is not distinctive enough. The record button is also not as easy to press as it should be. I may add one of those small little self-adhesive rubbery sticky dots on the button and see if that helps.

Highlights can end up clipped in videos(and pictures to a much lesser extent).. This can be fixed by putting camera in “normal mode” on the dial and pressing “up” on the D-pad. This is the ONLY place you have access to exposure control that works for both video and pictures. I would recommend -1/3 for pictures and even -2/3 for video. For some reason the camera is very aggressive at brightening video.. I’ve taken video of my son playing lacrosse at night on a lighted Football field.. looks almost like broad daylight using default exposure and still clipped the whites even in that low light.

One other note on video.. and I was burned by this. When you hit the record/stop button at the end of shooting a video, it does NOT continue to process video left in the buffer.. it just dumps it. That means the actual end of the video is about a half second before when you hit the “record/stop” button. I lost one of my son’s goals that way.. Hit the button to stop recording right after he scored, and the video ended up clipped right as he was shooting. My old camera had very limited recording length per card(no SDHC support), so I am still a little trigger happy.. will have to adjust for this minor flaw.

Video does stutter slightly on panning.. I think this is a function of the imager only recording at 30fps while video is converted to 60fps for AVHDC.. it is either duplicating frames, or averaging one in between which causes it to not be as smooth as I might like in that situation. Seems most noticeable in very bright light with something like bricks in the background. Might try MJPEG mode(30fps only) and see if that changes anything.

I was surprised by the camera’s focal depth while shooting video. People in the stands right in front of me seemed as clear as the players on the field 50+ yards away even in fairly low light.

I also use “Intelligent ISO800″ in picture mode.. nice feature that boosts ISO automatically when it detects motion in the frame.

As for the flash.. which BTW is perhaps the camera’s weakest feature. I find a much cleaner way to deal with turning it on or off, is by using the quick menu and turning Unlimited burst mode on and off.. In burst mode, the flash is forced off. I leave burst mode on most of the time.. you can click and just get one shot, or hold shutter down and snap off a series of quick shots.. Great for group and individual candid photos.

Software that comes with the camera is not great..

I am using my old Cannon Zoombrowser software for pictures. I am forced for now to use Panasonic’s provided software only for video. The Software provided is also far worse at playing back video clips on my slow computer than a couple of other players I use. Video trimming feature, while nice to have, is counter intuitive.. you select the part of the video you want to delete, and not the part you want to keep.. that threw me for a while. Also frustrating that there is no easy way to rename videos and there’s also no way to set a “star” or “favorite” rating for videos(on or off the camera).

Good news is the AVCHD(mt2s) video files can be directly uploaded to YouTube(which will convert them to their HD format for you)

Flash burst mode(in scenes) while limited in resolution(3mpix at 3:2) works well for capturing quick snaps of kids playing around in poorly lit rooms.

Wide angle really is nice.. so much easier to compose shots than with my old Powershot S2..

Can’t believe I have so much more resolution, effortless shooting with snappy focus and amazing HD video quality, All in a camera 1/3rd the size and weight and it still has the 12x Zoom. Stuff it in my pocket and take it anywhere. Good ridance to extra batteries and the “man purse” I had to carry with that S2 clunker! The big bright high res screen on the back is a wonderful addition as well.

Great easy to use point and shoot
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I just liked this camera. It makes very quality photos – very sharp and clean. It has many preset settings. It takes very quality High Definition video. It is easy to use. I didn’t use the software bundled with this camera (because I have my other software) and cannot say anything about it.

I prefer DSLRs but unfortunately I cannot take my DSLR to the parties or just going out because it is too heavy and too large.

Good camera… Should come with a case.
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
Overall this is a pretty good camera. Picture quality is good and it has good video quality. I would totally recommend this camera to anybody interested in a good, solid, good quality camera. My only recommendation is for the cost, it should come with a case. I’ve been looking for cases, but they’re all too small.

great camera!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
i’m “Panasonic user” for long time and all i can say is that these guys are improving their product all the time.The recent buy, Panasonic DMC-ZS3 is no exception.Overall a brilliant camera for the money and even better plus wait till you see the pix made under natural conditions with no flash !You’ll be amazed.With the flash they also look good!Highly recomended for those who just want to make good pix ALL THE TIME !

So Far So Good!
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I just received my new ZS3 & am giving it a nice run through. 1st impression is very good. All my pics look awesome so far, not a single bad one! The options & features on this camera are awesome! I just love all the scene selections you can choose from. My only gripe so far is that I just found out there was already a firmware update. I had trouble downloading the update to my Mac., seems to keep freezing up. Anyone know anything about this update? Is it worth it? or even necessary? All the warnings about it messing up the camera scare me too!

Great camera!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This is such a great camera! I bought this camera in November before my trip to Australia. I consider myself an amateur and can’t be bothered with figuring out all of the appropriate settings for lighting conditions and environment so I pretty much just leave the setting to IA and let the camera figure it out for me. It even compensates for my shaky hands… haven’t had one blurry shot. It took such amazing crystal clear and sharp pics of koalas, kangaroos, Sydney Opera house, etc. The 12x zoom is what sold me on this camera. I took a regular shot of Luna Park across the harbor and then I took a zoom shot. It was like you were standing right in front of the park. The battery life is great if you are just taking pics and not using the video. If you use the video just make sure you bring the battery charger (for overnight) and make sure you use a card with more space (videos take up a lot more space). I would highly recommend buying a case to protect the camera as well. It is a little bigger than most point and shoot cameras, but is very comfortable holding the camera in one hand to take shots. The large display is very clear and you can see it in sunlight as well. Get this camera, charge the battery and you are ready to go! Happy snapping!

Love it!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I spent a great deal of time reading reviews and comparing various cameras. This camera meets all expectations and I am having a ball with it. Video is beautiful and all features are conviently placed. My pictures are crisp and the zoom also produces a good picture. I highly recommend it.

The Best Compact Camera Ever Made. Period.
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I would like to begin by acknowledging that the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 is the finest compact digital imaging product ever made. I’m a quasi-professional digital media enthusiast with many years of experience in film and photography and I’ve taken over three months to experiment with the ZS3 before writing this review.

Why I chose the ZS3:

I conducted over four months of intense research before choosing the Panasonic ZS3. First I was planning to purchase a “bridge” camera (a crippled DSLR with a fixed super-zoom lens) like the Sony Cybershot HX1 or the Canon PowerShot SX1 IS. I thought about it for a while and almost made a purchase. Then, through a flash of wisdom, I asked myself this question: what’s the point of sacrificing the superior image quality of a DSLR for a camera that’s neither cheap nor portable? I continued my research and, much to my surprise, discovered a pocket-sized camera with a wide-angle 12X zoom lens, providing a 35mm-equivalent focal length of 25-300mm. I thought I was hallucinating. I used to own a fantastic Olympus DSLR and I couldn’t achieve the zoom range of the ZS3 with two expensive DSLR lenses COMBINED. The ZS3 has enabled me to integrate my skills in film and photography with a single compact camera that gives more bang per buck and cubic inch than any other camera out there.

My observations/suggestions (after 3 months of testing):

>Durable. This thing is solid as a rock and heavy for its size. At the same time, it’ll fit in almost any pocket.

>Video quality is fantastic at 720p with good lighting. Video can be grainy in low light, as with most cameras.

>Despite limited manual settings, HDR photography IS indeed doable with the ZS3! Simply adjust the EV (exposure) between -2 and +2. Make sure to use a tripod. Take 3 photos at -2, 0, and +2, respectively to achieve optimal results. Then, of course, you’ll need software to combine and modify these images to produce the HDR effect.

>You cannot manually adjust the focus, aperture, or shutter speed, though you can do just about everything else!

>Never go above ISO 400! The image noise is unacceptable, as with most cameras.

>The iA feature almost always produces optimal results in good lighting. You can also take great photos in low light if you lock the ISO at a maximum of 400 and keep the camera very steady, preferably with a tripod or solid surface.

>This camera can do both telephoto and macro. There are even dedicated macro settings that enable you to focus on objects less than 1cm away from the lens. The “macro zoom” setting allows you to digitally zoom in to get even closer. Using that setting, I was able to clearly see the pixels on my monitor!

>This camera is powerful, but discreet. With a DSLR, you may attract a lot of unwanted attention from security and thieves alike. In my international travels, I’ve been stopped by security guards on multiple occasions for simply taking photos of public places with a DSLR. Some parts of the world are still a little cameraphobic. Using a small camera, I’ve never run into problems with security (or thieves). By the way, the Olympus DSRL I mentioned earlier was stolen on one my international trips due to its high resale value. Compact cameras look innocent, so you’ll be able to do more and capture more with a compact camera like the ZS3.

>Take time to discover all the features and functions of this camera to get the most out of it.

>I recommend getting an additional battery if plan to travel or do a lot of video recording. I got the SterlingTek’s POWWER Panasonic DMW BCG10PP Digital Camera ID secured battery and it works beautifully with about twice the battery life of the ZS3′s stock battery.

>At under $250, you will not find a more capable camera on the market. This same exact camera used to cost $400.

Who should own a ZS3?:

Anyone who believes, as I do, that the best photos are the result of being in the right place at the right time should own a ZS3. Skill is not as important as luck–that’s what I learned after 10 years of photography. The ZS3 is small enough to carry around 24-7. Life is unpredictable. Never miss another great shot that was too good to plan for. If you want a powerful camera that you can use while being discreet and mobile, the ZS3 is your best option as of January, 2010. If you’re willing to wait several months, keep an eye out for future compact cameras that may very well top this one. Until then, rest assured that the ZS3 is the king of compacts.

Very Good video but indoor still image quality not good
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I am a basic user looking for point and shoot capabilities. I got this camera based on the reviews here for a disney world / cruise trip with my toddler daughter. Took lot of pictures and video, both indoors and outdoors. These are my observations.

1. video quality is very good. The only other video camera i had was a flip. This matched or did better than the flip most times (both day and night times). zoom was very handy for video. I could find some free sotware off the web to convert the HD format to mpeg4.

2. The indoor picture quality was not very good. The IA mode gives very dark pictures which needs editing. I ended up taking some pictures in normal mode with flash turned off. The results were better, but risk of shake was high. We ended up buying many pictures taken by the cruise photographers because of this.

3. Daylight picture quality was excellent.

4. Night time scenic picturues in IA mode was good (eg. lighted up castle in disneyworld).

5. Get the fastest memory available, sometimes it was slow to recover after a shot. I used a class 6.

Overall good sturdy / easy to use camera.

DMC ZS3– High expectations, Total disappointment !!!
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
Ok. I am not a pro, just a P&S user. I have a Fuji F30 and my brother has a Canon SD 850. I would say F30 takes incredible pictures in low light ( I still remember how disappointed was a friend comparing the performance of his new canon G series with my F30 during sunset on a cruise ship )and in daylight scenery. I also think Canon takes great pics in good light with a lower indoor performance than F30.

When I decided that its time for an upgrade, I determined that I need something that will enable me to increase my technical skills with at least 10x zoom for close ups and my wife insisted we have something taking decent videos (preferably HD recording). As I did 2.5 years ago I went online dpreviewdotcom, found the superzoom comparison read it to the end, downgraded my options to Panny ZS3, Canon SX200 and Sony H 20. I went on with amazon reading almost every posting about them. I ordered ZS3. It came in 2 days and here is what we think of it:

Build:

Its solid and have a sturdy feeling, I would not criticise anything

Design:

I think usage of buttons was pretty practical however you got to used to the menus.

Battery

I could take 153 pictures and 18 small clips (less than a minute) with a fully charged battery

Zoom + Focus

I think the major strength of this camera is its decent wide angle zoom and focus.

Video

HD video is a great plus and its stereo sound is amazing we connected the ZS3 to our HD LCD TV and did really enjoy the outcome. Plus my wife loved the dedicated camera record button…

However for me it all comes down to image quality. So I will share in brief of my experience in different conditions:

INDOOR

unbelievebly poor. We were not able take a good pic of our 1 year old standing accross the room. You would not believe how poor quality (dark and grainy) was the images ok it took slightly better one in 6-10 pics however still not comparable to my old friend F30. Where is the difference between a 10Mp and a 6 Mp gone? I went to the manual. read from the beginning but there is actually little you can do about it and it helps only 1 in 5 pics. I could never understand how a camera takes incredibly different pictures in the same mode just between couple of seconds on and on.

OUTSIDE DAYLIGHT

I took some pics with friends than took several more from the top floor scenery at 4.30 pm with ZS3 and F30, came home and looked at my computer. I was totally disappointed with the performance of ZS3 comparing to f30.

BEACH

Than we went to beach, it was almost 7 pm and took a dozen more pics, same scenes with different modes. When I reviewed them on the computer I decided to send it back and order Canon sx 200.

(Ok some will say (posted here already )that this is a superzoom suffering in low light because of smaller ccd sensor, there are a alot of details or print outs will be good and I should have practised more… etc.

My answer is, I am sorry but thats not my problem. When I pay a camera over 300, I want to be able to take a decent picture of my kid when I want to without suffering taking 5 pictures for a good one. Plus I hate photography processing with software on the computer, simply dont like spending time for it.)

This time I did not want to make a mistake and went to a bestbuy and came across Canon and Sony H20. I will not make another comparison just say that I ordered Sony H 20 giving Canon couple of more years to improve on the compact superzoom segment. Hope this helps and saves time. Thank you for your time.