Optics and Resolution
Featuring a 5-megapixel CCD sensor, the DMC-FZ20K delivers a wide range of detail and color with images up to 2560 x 1920 pixels--enough information to make photo-quality prints up to 13 by 17 inches. Leica DC Vario-Elmarit 12x zoom lens, with 3 aspheric elements, combines comfortably small size with superb image rendering. By combining with a 4x digital zoom, users will have an equivalence of a 48x zoom lens in a very compact body, though users should note that digital zoom degrades picture quality.
Movie Mode and Audio
The DMC-FZ20K lets you shoot QuickTime Motion JPEG video at resolutions up to 320 x 240 pixels with sound. The amount of video you can capture is limited by space on the memory card; you'll fit more at low quality (10 frames-per-second) than at high quality (30 frames-per-second). The movies aren't camcorder quality, but they're fun and convenient, and they're perfect as e-mail attachments. You can also record audio comments, up to five seconds in length, for your still pictures.
Amazon.com Product Description
Storage and Transfer
Images and video are stored on Secure Digital (SD) memory cards. A 16 MB SD card is included. Files can be downloaded to either a Mac or PC via USB connectivity, which means it can be connected to any USB-based Windows 98/Me/2000/XP and Mac OS 8.6 or later computer without installing any software.
Printing
This camera supports the PictBridge standard. PictBridge is a technology that lets you transfer pictures from a digital camera to a compatible printer, without a PC or image-editing software. Because PictBridge is an industry standard, users can connect PictBridge-compatible devices made by many different manufacturers. Learn more about PictBridge.
Power and Size
The camera is powered by lithium-ion battery pack (included with charger). It measures 3.43 by 5.02 by 4.18 inches and weighs 1.14 pounds.
What's in the Box
DMC-FZ20K digital camera, battery charger, battery pack, 16MB SD memory card, lens cap, lens hood with adaptor, A/V and USB cables, strap, and CD-ROM
Test Report
Lumix is the camera of the year!, September 30, 2004 Reviewer: Michael Stouffer "dazed76" (Los Angeles, CA United States) -For $599, this is an unbelievable camera for an aspiring amateur or blooming professional. I was looking for something better than the average point and shoot but not as complicated as the digital SLR's. I wanted a nice optical zoom, not just some 3x optical with 4x digital.
I researched camera after camera for over a month. I looked at basically every camera out there including the newest and higher end cameras such as the Canon Powershot G6, Canon Powershot Pro1, Canon Digital Rebel SLR, Kodak DX7590, Nikon 8700, Olympus C-8080 and the Sony F828 among others. After much debate, it came down to the Canon Powershot Pro1 and the Panasonic Lumix FZ20. I didn't mind paying more for the Canon if it was really worth it, but I could not turn my attention away from the Lumix.
It had a much better optical zoom -- an unbelievable 12x!!! The higher end cameras only went to 8X (Canon Pro1) or 10x. Although I wanted a 6 - 8 megapixel, and the Canon had 8, I figured that I'd rarely blow up my images greater than 8 x 10, so when would I really need such high pixel resolution. See, in my research I found out that pixels aren't everything, believe it or not. It depends on what you're going to do with the images. If you just want to send e-mails, you only need a 3 megapixel. If you want to print out quality pics, you might go for a 4 or 5. You only need a high megapixel camera if you're going to do some really big layout stuff. For me, that wasn't the case and the only other thing I liked more about the Canon was the swivel screen. So I went with the Lumix.
After you hold this thing and take pics, you'll think this is an 8 megapixel!! The images are so sharp and clear it is unbelievable. I was told in reviews that I'd see some redeye in the pics, so just to be safe I purchased an external flash (yes, the camera has a hot shoe). The best part is, I took off the external flash and tried it with the standard pop-up flash and still -- NO RED EYE. I was amazed.
The menu is easy yet there are tons of options. The unit feels and shoots like a professional camera, yet with the ease of use for an aspiring amateur. I am SO VERY HAPPY that I purchased this camera. Do not pass it up. I'm telling you, if you want something affordable and better than the average compact point and shoot -- this is the way to go. If you're looking for small size, then go with something else. This is a big boy, but not extremely heavy or bulky by any means (like the F828). It just won't fit in your pocket.
Before you buy, I suggest you go to Circuit City and play with it. See how it feels. Don't just go in blind. In purchasing your next camera, really see which models out there have what you need. Every camera has its pros and cons. I have yet to see the flaws in this baby, but it may not be for you. Do your research. A great site to compare and see the newest reviews on the best cameras is www.dcresource.com. It really has some great info.
Good luck on finding your new camera. My vote goes to the Lumix FZ20 -- ALL THE WAY!
Test Report
Great excuse to go digital, October 31, 2004
In recent years, I haven't taken very many pictures. I had some top-quality equipment, but I've reached the age where fiddling with the tools isn't as much fun as it used to be. Besides, toting around my camera bag with a 35 mm SLR, three lenses, flash and enough film to keep it fed was getting to be real burden on my aging shoulders. I'd been thinking about going digital, but never made the move. For a while now, I'd been thinking of getting either the Canon EOS-10D, but the 1.6 focal factor meant my glorious Canon 28-135 IS primary lens would become a much less useful 45-216. Worse yet, my Tokina 19-35 wide angle would only be a 30 mm equivalent at its widest setting.
Still, I was willing to accept some compromise, but not at the price of the 10D. What to do?
I'd been interested in the phenomenon of electronics giants teaming up with some of the great optics houses - Sony & Zeiss, Panasonic & Leitz, etc. - and had my eye on both the Sony DSC-F828 and the Panasonic DMC-FZ10. However, my daughter-in-law has the older DSC-F717 model and while the lens is great, it never impressed me as much in my hands as it did on paper. A friend had the newer DSC-F828 and it still felt "wrong" to me. Still, I was leaning toward getting one, until the DMC-FZ20 came out. At 5 MP, it just barely reaches the threshold of acceptable resolution for me, so I took an interest in it.
A friend has a DMC-FZ10 and, to me, it handled much better than the Sony. What's more amazing, the pictures he took with his 4 MP Lumix seemed at least as good as those I'd seen from the 8 MP Sony. There seems to be a synergy between the Leica optics and the Panasonic chip set that is simply incredible. The image stabilization works at least as well as in my old Canon 28-135 IS and, combined with its constant maximum f/2.8 aperture at all focal lengths, it yields amazing low-light and action capabilities. All the automatic stuff works as advertised and manual focusing is easier than with any other digital I've ever tried - when you start to turn the focusing ring, it magnifies the center of the image for critical focusing.
And then there's the price!
The bottom line is that I went ahead and bought the DMC-FZ20 and I'm extremely happy with it. The lens is amazing! Although rarely advertised, Panasonic also sells some Leica add-on lenses if the standard 12X zoom range isn't enough for you.
Is it perfect? No - what ever is? I'd like it better if it had a dedicated flash. Panasonic's accessory flash is wimpy and overpriced. (Hint: Look up the Vivitar DF-200 as a superior alternative.) You can't use filters without the lens hood. With the lens hood in place, it's difficult to use the lens cap.
Still, it does everything I wanted and has put the fun back in picture taking for me. It handles like a dream and takes great pictures at all focal lengths. It also made my granddaughter very happy - she picked up my love of photography and she just inherited some $2500 worth of Canon EOS system gear without my having to die and leave it to her.
Easy to use, quick shots, poor quality color, January 1, 2005
While I am not a sophisticated photographer, I am something of a tech junkie such that this is my 7th, 8th or 9th digital camera. Because of the frequency with which I switch machines of all sorts, I make it a rule never to read manuals. This camera holds its end and is ready to use out of the box with little instruction and logical controls. It distinguishes itself with extremely fast shutter time and instantaneous time between shots even when not in fast frame mode. You don't have to stand around and wait for the camera while your subject moves on to something else as you do with other digital cameras. The 12x zoom works quite well. Better still, because of the wide angle of the lense, close shots are happily in focus. There is no need to back up to photograph subjects near to you.
However, the camera lacks the software/chipware standard on most other digital cameras to make colors look true. Colors look faded and washed out like they came out of an antique album. Also, pictures are cast in the hue of the predominant item such that even skin looks purple if the subject is wearing a purple shirt. This is something that one cannot fix well with software. I have never had a camera with this problem before. Moreover, there doesn't seem to be much consistency from picture to picture with the same settings in the same room as far as color goes such that one doesn't get a feeling of control over color. "Kodachrome, give me those nice bright colors." I think I'll give this camera to my husband and move on. Any suggestions?
--This text refers to an alternate option.
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Great!!!, December 30, 2004 Reviewer:
Chris C. Pickrell (Terre Haute, Indiana USA) -
I am not photography savvy by any means. I have had this camera for upwards of about a week or 2, and I still suck at taking pictures. But this camera is so versatile you'd never even notice how bad I am at it. It's very easy to use, while still being adaptable almost to a fault. It's not clunky like some other cameras I've seen, yet it's still sleek while being loaded with features you wouldn't expect (like some other cameras). Buttons and settings are all easy to get to. It has many preprogrammed settings in already (for the REAL amateurs). I find myself always looking out the window for things I could shoot, because with the SD cards, it takes pictures quite rapidly, even the large ones. And if you're feeling frisky, you can take some nice panorama shoots that are HDTV widescreen compatible. I already have. The camera includes pretty much everything but the kitchen sink. The 16MB card is a laughable inclusion since the standard settings will fill it up in about 5 minutes. But I've found high end SD cards at stores at prices that make me feel like I should have a gun in my hand when I buy them.
I LOVE this camera, and it's been a great tool in helping me get the feel for the art of photography. Now digital editing? That's my next mission. But with the quality this camera takes, you won't need to do much editing (the pictures will either be utterly horrible [your fault, not the cameras], or not as bad as you thought they were).
I highly recommend it.
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