Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 12MP Digital Camera with 5x MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 inch LCD (Black)
008 4 The Panasonic FS15 is nice featured camera . The 5x zoom is sufficient for my needs and the 29mm wide angle lens is a plus . Video capture is clear but you cannot zoom while recording . The pictures come out clear and crisp . The flash for nighttime shots is definitely sufficient , it was able to capture a clear picture in my pitch black living room . The camera starts up in under two seconds and my battery is still full after about 70 + shots . I very much recommend this camera to anyone looking for a point and shoot . Some people complain about the weak flash but it is completely usable in all lighting conditions . Get a DSLR if you want superior shots in the dark .
121 4 nice to handle and good quality pictures . Passed the basic use , the menu is hard to navigate and the manual not much better
130 4 This is a good camera to carry around , not to big or expensive that you worry about it on vacations . Takes good pictures , my wife complains that the zoom could be better . I did manage to take pictures of everybody a few too many times on Thanksgiving , hope they invite me back for Christmas .
013 4 I purchased this camera last September in preparation for a vacation to New Orleans . I was replacing my 4 year old Cannon 4.0 MP digital camera and was looking for a compact digital with a big screen and long battery life . I had spent a bunch of time looking at reviews and finally decided on this Panasonic . I did get a case , but often I just placed it in one pocket and my Blackberry in another . I was good to go . . .
I used the Intelligent Auto setting almost exclusively and occasionally switched the auto flash off at times for different effects . The pictures were fantastic which was not a surprize given the 12 MP and the auto settings adjusting to a very wide range of lighing conditions . Cameras now in this class should all be fine , but this model is the lightest I could find with the biggest screen . I was also happy to stay with the Panasonic brand as I still use and love my 5 year old Panasonic PV GS120 video recorder .
I did not use or need the software as uploading to my MacBook and PC was a snap . I was not expecting the videos I took of the street music to turn out well , but I was happily surprized ! The sound was not bad either . Make sure that you get at least a 4 GP SD card , but having an internal flash storage in addition to the SD card is a nice touch . This camera like many others have a boat load of features that you will never use ; so ease of use , picture quality and battery life are my priorties . I have not yet scratched the screen which is a surprize given that I seldom used the case I bought .
Some reviews complained about a delay between shots , but I never noticed any performance issues that prevented me from snapping photos at will . The menus are clear and the fonts are big which has very welcome to me . You will not be diapppointed . The blue color is cool .
022 4 This camera really is a great point-and-shoot . I haven't owned it THAT long but so far , so good ! It's everything that I'd want from a current point-and-shoot camera , especially at this price range . Some of the hightlights are the Intelligent Auto face detection feature , the battery , and the size . The battery is very small and charges in 1 - 2 hours . On this charge , you will easily get 2 - 3 days of heavy use out of it . The camera is slim enough to fit in any pocket and the battery is even tinier . Great job Panasonic !
The ONLY gripe that I have is I wish there was some sort of lock on the on / off switch so that when in a tight pocket , it does not switch on . To combat this , before turning the camera of , put it in review mode so that if it comes on , the lens doesn't attempt to pop out in your pocket !
041 4 This was a Christmas gift to my granddaughter , and she loves it . It takes wonderful pictures , with many features . It arrived in two days , but when we tried to plug the USB cable into the camera , it would not go . The port in the camera was obviously defective . I called Panasonic , and they will replace the camera ( new in box ) with a factory refurbished one . Apparently I have no choice , as this is their return / warranty policy . It does not seem right that I should have to exchange a new camera for a refurbished one , but will in order to get a camera that has a functional USB port . Otherwise , would get a 5 star rating , but now I will probably not buy Panasonic again .
074 4 I just purchased this camera about 2 weeks ago and my wife and I love it . We had a exilim prior that always died on us and had to have the charger and battery swapped multiple times . So with that said I was sure to do a lot of research before getting into another one . All reviews led to a canon but we just did not like the form factor . A lot of reviews stated this was a good buy for the price so we took the chance .
When received I set up the camera right out the box and was surprised at how easy it was to figure out . It has a great screen . Its very easy to view pictures taken . Video mode works great and quality is good . Autofocus works great . Flash seems to make everything better . Can't wait to use this on our 9 night vacation cruise . If you want a good camera that you can pick up and use right away I recommend this bad boy .
Well what are you waiting for ?
Add it to your shopping cart and check out already lol .
106 4 I bought this camera last week and used it for my 4 year olds birthday party . It was indoor at a kids Gym - The pictures were terrible . I was using Intelligent Auto for the most part . All the pictures came out granular and fuzzy - essentially left me with limited memories on this Birthday Party .
I played around with the manuals last night to see what was the problem the issue is even at slightly low light / indoors the camera in Intelligent Auto mode pushes the ISO settings to as high as 3200 sometimes and in anything over ISO 100 there is a lot of disturbance and noise .
This is going back today .
It does take good pictures outdoor however .
020 4 We bought this camera after comparing it with most others in the $110 to $200 range , weighing 4 - 5 ozs . Unlike most with 3X optical zoom , this has 5X and ample resolution . We bought the camera at the last moment for a trip to Argentina and Chile . We left for the trip without ever reading the instructions . Basic functions were intuitive . It performed perfectly in steaming jungles of Iguassu Falls and freezing rain in Patagonia . The small camera and big fingers demand some care in how you hold it , and making sure fingers were in the right place . . The movie capability is impressive , but a huge memory hog . Perhaps a setting to reduce pixel count was needed . Also , as other have pointed out , you can't zoom while filming movies . It must be pre-set and it stays there while filming . We love the camera and really should make some time to read the instructions !
034 4 The pictures are fine but the integration with my Mac is terrible . I hangs up during transfer and the only thing I can do to restart is remove the camera battery . ,
Despite several sttempts to contact Panasonic I can never reach anyone with any insight . I'm ready to throw this thing out the window . Would never buy another Panasonic camera .
099 4 This is a great camera.Very good quality for a digital , not as good of course as those huge chunky ones ,
but if you don't want to lug one of those around with you all day i highly recommend it.Worth the money ,
especially the Amazon prices.It takes very good pictures .
119 4 Terrific product for the beginner , yet has advanced settings for more serious photographers .
The wide angle and macro lens is fantastic.Would recommend a carrying case .
125 4 1 . Very easy to use on automatic mode
2 . Excellent pictures
3 . No complain at all
052 4 Just purchased this camera to replace an old 6MP Kodak and I've gotta say , I'm really happy with it so far . Excellent value and feature set for this price point . Very solidly built . Nice compact size ( perfect to slip in my jacket pocket ) and just the right weight too . Fine workmanship . Has loads of creative and advanced features should you want them and has auto everything if you just want to snap away and not have to think about anything . Still reading through the lengthy instruction manual to learn about all of the features . Face recognition and stabilizer work perfectly and the flash is superb . Color is outstanding . Battery life seems solid as well . Chose the blue color model over the black or silver and it looks EXACTLY as it does on the Amazon website . I can't say enough good things about this camera . Believe the positive reviews both on the Web and on Amazon for the Panasonic Lumix FS15 - they all are true . This camera is a solid performer . If you buy this camera , I highly recommend the Caselogic SLDC - 201 Ultra Camera Case for it . It's a nice slim camera case and it fits the Lumix FS15 like a glove and has this really cool memory foam padding ( it's hard rubberized material on 1 side / tough fabric on the other ) with a very well made zipper . I also picked up an 8GB SDHC card and the thing holds over 2,000 pictures on the highest settings !
064 4 After days and weeks of research and comparing cameras I decided on this one since it had all the features I was looking for and the price was just right . I've had the camera for about a month and in that time have taken several hundred pictures and so far it has been easy and straight forward taking pictures as well as getting them off the camera and on to my computer . I love the battery charger , it and the camera can fit together in my old camera case , just another bonus . While it has a few bells and whistles I have yet to explore overall this camera is the best one I've purchased in a long time .
015 4 Bought for wife who teaches at pre-school and takes lots of indoor individual and group photos . She wanted something small enough to carry in purse and basically point and shoot . So far camera has fit the bill and her photos look great . I have experimented with Macro and that does very well too . Only concern is that battery / memory card door and latch seem very flimsy and is easy to open accidently .
016 4 I bought this camera for my son who is in the army stationed in Afghanistan . He is a gunner on a helicopter wanted to have something that he could use while in the air and moving . He loves it and says that the image stabilized zoom works great . He likes the manual focus option and is very pleased with the overall use and function .
017 4 I just bought this camera and love it ! It has a great picture , and good zoom . Sometimes the shutter speed seems somewhat slow , for how fast I would like to take pictures of my kids , but for the size and quality it is a good trade off .
103 4 This is a great camera for everyday use . The picture quality is great . The camera is very easy to use and the features are pretty cool . For someone who is seeking just the point and shoot camera this ones is worth the money .
120 4 Very nice camera , exaclty what I was looking for ! Was delivered exactly when it said it would be !
128 4 This is a great camera Takes wonderful pictures it has a lot of fetures I especialy like the shake control as I have parkenecence This is the second one I have bought I had the first one about two weeks it meet with an accident with a can of soda I liked it so well I bought anotherone just like it Thank you
135 4 Got this camera to always have something available for the everyday photo ops and it has not let me down . Very easy to use and understand . Havent found anything I dont like yet .
071 4 After searching online for over 2 weeks and reading many , many , reviews I went with this camera and heres why .
This camera is EASY . easy to use , easy to take pictures , easy to upload . There is nothing complicated about it and there are all kinds of modes you can easily switch too .
I'm not a pro . I'm just an average person who was wanting something that would take great pictures inside and out .
I got this camera about two weeks ago and we went for a nice drive up the canyon and got some great shots ! They are so clear and I love the big screen . We also got some video on it and I love that you can actaully HEAR whats going on .
I read a couple reviews that said there was a delay when you take pictures but I've had no problem with that . I was actually very surprised with how fast it was and that you can press half way down - get great focus and make sure it's perfect before you shoot .
I LOVE this camera and would recommend it to anyone . If you're just looking for something thats easy , affordable , and takes great pictures and videos - it's perfect !
141 4 This review is from :
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 12MP Digital Camera with 5x MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 inch LCD ( Blue ) ( Electronics )
I ordered one camera . On the same day , I received the confirmation of having ordered 4 cameras . I immediately called and asked for the error to be fixed . I was told just to refuse it when it came and another accurate order would be processed right away . Well , I'm being charged for 4 which I did not order and the single camera I did order NEVER CAME . The customer service here is about as bad as it can get . I deserve a call back which I will probably NEVER RECEIVE . I had hoped for a long experience with these people of buying merchandise . I'll look elsewhere . FOUR of the same type cameras ? REALLY !
Mad and Disappointed in Bowie , MD
142 4 I ordered one camera . On the same day , I received the confirmation of having ordered 4 cameras . I immediately called and asked for the error to be fixed . I was told just to refuse it when it came and another accurate order would be processed right away . Well , I'm being charged for 4 which I did not order and the single camera I did order NEVER CAME . The customer service here is about as bad as it can get . I deserve a call back which I will probably NEVER RECEIVE . I had hoped for a long experience with these people of buying merchandise . I'll look elsewhere . FOUR of the same type cameras ? REALLY !
Mad and Disappointed in Bowie , MD
076 4 With a surprising amount of functionality in a remarkably tiny package ( think of a deck of cards ) this camera outperforms many a snap-and-shoot with a very nimble shutter speed and a breathtaking view screen . The pictures rendered are very crisp and clear and the camera supports a wide angled format ( usually only seen in DSLRs ) . To make the most of all the features , be sure to acquire one of the camera compatible memory cards ; the video capability will not operate without it .
079 4 This is the first digital camera I have ever had . I had considered buying a more expensive more versatile camera but this one was strongly recommended to me by a photographer cousin of mine who said that it would suit my rather simple needs just fine . He was absolutely right . It is simple to use , it has an easy-to-use zoom , and takes very nice clear pictures . It's light and fits easily in my pocket . I'm sure that people who want to play a bigger role in their photography would find it inadequate but someone wanting a fine inexpensive basically point-and-shoot camera can't go wrong with this one . Buy a soft case to go with it .
054 4 Panasonic's cameras are always quality guaranteed . On the other hand , it has a lower price that Canon or other brand that has similar features with a much higher price . I'm not a pro in photography , I just use the camera for fun or recreational use , thus , this camera is definitely for me .
108 4 So , I researched digital cameras for almost a year before buying this camera . It's perfect for me ! This is my first digital camera , and I'm happy with all aspects of this camera thus far . I'm currently traveling in Panama , and it's size and picture quality are proving just fine . If you use a camera like I do , solely on vacations , you'll be just fine . I had read various reviews about the shutter speed being slow and lack of manual controls , but do not let those persuade you away from this camera . Maybe I'm naive to these minor details , since this is my first digital camera , but so far , so good !
096 4 I got this camera for my 9 and 10 year old sons . It is easily worked by them , and has withstood a fall to the floor already . Before I purchased this camera , I called my local camera store to get suggested cameras in this price range , and they suggested this model due to it's low incidence of repair needs .
045 4 very good camera I buy this because the lens I have canon 5mp . panasonic is 12mp . and bigger screen , more avantage of tech . it's small enough to put in the pocket .
098 4 Used the camera on vacation in Red River . Is simple to use and this was important for my wife . She wanted a camera that she only had to point and click . Do wish that the time delay with the flash was less . My old Cannon that this one replaced was slow too . Thought that improvement in this area would be made by now . Even so , I am pleased with the camera . Have only used it a short while so I can not say how the other features work . I would recommend this camera for its ease of use , the leica lens used and the other features offered . Will report again after using it more .
112 4 I was looking for a camera that was simple to use and small enough that I could carry it in my medium sized purse . This camera is perfect for me . I do not take a lot of pictures , but I still like what I do take to come out great and these do . I hope everyone else is as pleased with this camera as I am . I would buy it again . Beverly
117 4 I have a Canon A650 , which is pretty large . I wanted something smaller , something that could fit in my pocket . It also had to be wide-angle ( so you don't have people getting cut out of group shots ) , have a fair amount of optical zoom , a 2.7 or greater LCD , ability to shoot movies , optical image stabilization , an orientation sensor ( so I can have a program auto-rotate those shots where I'm holding the camera vertically ) , and use SD memory ( which I already have ) .
The Panasonic FS15 really seemed like the only camera with all those features , at least in this price range . I'm sure there are more expensive cameras with these features . There was also the Sony W220 in the same price range , but that one has a little less optical zoom and apparently doesn't have an orientation sensor , and it also doesn't use SD memory . Some of the Casio Exilim cameras also have most of those features , but then I've read that they don't remember the date / time after you take out the battery , so I didn't bother to consider them .
So I got the FS15 , and took various test shots with it . On my wall I have 15 pieces of paper , 3 rows each with 5 pieces of paper . Each piece of paper has letters all over it , printed out in various font sizes . I took pictures of the big rectangle made out of these pieces of paper so that I could see how uniform the sharpness of the lens is . I have done this before with other cameras , and in some cameras , some of the letters look sharp in some areas but blurry in other areas of the photo . The photos I took with the FS15 look OK in the center and top-left ( but it is not as sharp as my Canon A650 ) . But the letters start to get blurry as you move to the bottom and right portions of the photos . The bottom-right is the blurriest part of the photos ( and these pictures were taken with the flash on ) . In addition , the letters on the right side and the bottom parts of the photos have blue-ish edges as well as a soft yellow glow around them . The lens definitely has some issues . I don't expect it to be as good as the lens on my more expensive Canon A650 , however , I do expect it to at least have uniform quality across the entire lens - but that is not the case here .
I also took photos of various objects , with and without flash . With flash , the photos looked decent , although the flash seems a little weak ( the same photos taken with my Canon A650 were brighter ) . Without flash , the photos have some serious noise problems . All of the photos I took without flash had a yellow hue to them . When I zoomed in 100% on them , I saw that there were small yellow blotches all over the place ( one photo even had a bunch of purple spots in some areas ) . Walls that were supposed to be white looked yellow and disgusting . I checked my Canon A650 and it shows a tiny amount of yellowing when flash isn't used - the problem is much , much worse on the FS15 . And these photos were taken at ISO400 ( on both the FS15 and A650 ) , not an extremely high ISO . Looking around on the internet , this seems to be a problem with the Venus engine used by Panasonic cameras - it apparently does not handle sub-optimal lighting conditions very well .
Outdoors , I took a few photos on a sunny day and they looked good . I also took a few photos on a cloudy day in the late afternoon , and they weren't very sharp - a little bit blurry .
The menu system is kind of annoying . You would think that the Menu / Set button in the middle would be the one you press to go to a submenu , but it's not . If you press that , it cancels out of the menu system .
So in conclusion , I am disappointed with this camera . If you are going to use it outdoors and / or always use the flash , then it might be OK for you . Otherwise your photos might have a yellow hue to them and / or be blurry . Then there's the problem with lens uniformity . I will probably return this , and try a more expensive camera , one that is not a Panasonic .
001 4 Got the camera 2 days ago from Costco . Coupon brought the price down from $179.00 to $149.00 . Took WEEKS of research before I decided on this one . Also at that price I got a 2MB card and a very nice camera case included .
It is well built , feels sturdy and not easily breakable
Wide Angle lens and 5x Zoom is very good compared to other point and shoots which have neither a 5x zoom or a wide angle
Digital zoom can go all the way to 20x or even 35x with 5 MP used . Not very clear but useful to have if you need it .
The pictures come out VERY clean with good colors , clarity and lighting .
Size is small enough for a pocket
Video is good quality . . . ( wish you could zoom in video mode )
The IA button which basically presets scene , face recognition , lighting etc is GREAT if you dont want to press a hundred buttons to set up the shot . Just ONE button and your set to go !
Flash is a littttttle on the weak side but still good enough for anything I need .
LCD screen is VERY clear and automatically goes lighter or darker accoring to the lighting you are in . . . and EXCELLENT feature . Also has a setting for the LCD screen if you are putting the camera over your head for a crowd scene that the LCD can still be seen at that angle . . . I LOVE that feature as well
Lots of little extras in the hardware that I still need to explore . . . .
Overall I could NOT be more pleased . . the write ups online are good and my experience so far ( I have taken a few dozen pictures to test it ) is also very good . If you want a mid priced camera that can compete with the big boys on zoom , wide angle and picture quality . . . while at the same time having a small enough camera to carry in your pocket . . this is DEF it .
003 4 As a serious-amateur photographer , I have Canon Rebel Xti with some lenses from 300mm to 50mm f / 1.8 , I realize that I need to buy smaller camera to carry around . It's not funny if in the wedding somebody poke me and ask for taking photo because seeing me carrying big SLR with some lenses . . . . . so the hunting for good , not expensive , point and shoot camera was started .
One thing that I really don't want to compromise is photo quality . I know that Leica have excellent quality for point and shoot camera , only thing is that they have also excellent price tag on it . The lowest tag for Leica is $600 ( same as Canon Rebel ) , the second lowest is ridiculosly higher than $1500 . . . so forgot the Leica .
I know that panasonic use Leica lens for their camera / camcorder product ( I have HD panasonic camcorder with Leica lens , very good quality movie ) . . . . so let's try it . I bought this camera Lumix DMC-fS15 12 MP thru Amazon ( best price I found ) , delivered within a week . . . no complain at all .
I found that the picture quality from this camera is really amazing , much better than other brand my friend uses . . .
The user interface is easy to understand . basically I just read once briefly the manual and that's it ready for action . The other feature i found interesting is the burst , combine it one by one by iPhoto and change it into slow motion picture is really easy and cool ( my sons said ) .
Also I found very practical is the charger doesn't need cable to connect to the power , you can connect it directly to the power .
004 4 I just got this camera yesterday , so beware that I haven't explored all the options yet , but so far I LOVE it . My old Powershot A75 quit at the beginning of February , after which I spent two weeks worth of research and bought the Powershot A2000 . I was immediately disappointed with it ; athough I wasn't expecting the smallest camera on the market because it takes AA batteries , it was actually bigger than my old A75 , which took four batteries instead of two . It also seemed really slow and sluggish , so I sent it back and decided to rethink my camera-buying strategy . Ultimately I decided I wanted to go with a lithium-ion battery instead , because though it may not be as convenient , it makes the camera much smaller and faster . Plus , the batteries are cheap enough to have an extra on hand , and unlike previous cameras I've owned that used AAs , the camera tells you how much battery power you have left so that you can plan ahead .
I decided to go with Panasonic because of its good ratings , especially on the Leica lens , but mostly because of the wide angle lens and its capacity for extra optical zoom , which I haven't seen available on any other brand . At first I wasn't sure how important the wide angle lens really was to me , but now that I have it I already can't imagine going back . With the option of 16 : 9 ratio as well as 4 : 3 ( or 3 : 2 ) it's basically the difference between wide screen formatting on a TV and full screen , except that you have the option to switch back and forth when you want to .
For someone like me who likes to take pictures but doesn't always want to have to mess with settings , it seems like this camera actually has too many settings , BUT so far it seems to take very good pictures on the normal picture setting , and it's nice to have the extra settings when I need them . That is to say , they're there if you want them and for unusual shooting conditions , but they aren't necessary for most normal pictures . The self-portrait option does come in handy , though , because it waits for you to get in view to focus and then snaps the shot .
One thing that I've noticed that could either be a good thing or a bad thing , depending on how you look at it : the camera saves your most recent settings even after you've turned the camera off or put it into a different mode . This can be useful , because you can easily go back to the previous setting without redoing everything , but it can also be easy to forget what all changes you made to the standard format . I haven't encountered any way to set everything back to default all at once , so sometimes I forget that I have a particular setting selected ( e.g . alterations to white balance , flash , picture size , etc . ) . Also , some features are unavailable in some settings , which can be a bit frustrating . For example , you can't take a picture in self-portrait mode in sepia coloring .
So there are a few quirks in the settings and it takes some getting used to in order to really learn all the different features and how to use them , but as I said before , the normal picture setting and iAuto seem to work quite nicely for basic pictures .
Another great feature on this model is the AF tracking , which allows the camera to focus on a moving object . Haven't tested this feature out much yet to see how it works , but I have a feeling it will come in handy .
My old Powershot is pretty limited compared to the capabilities to this little thing , but from what I saw of the Powershot A2000 for the week or so that I had it , the Lumix overshadows it as well . I've read that Canon picture quality is supposedly slightly better , with Panasonics producing a watercolor effect , but that difference seems minor to me compared to the wide angle lens combined with the zoom power and the other features available . ( Wide angle is available on some Canons but mostly with no more than 4x optical zoom . ) Once I read about this camera , I waited about three weeks until it was finally available , and it was worth the wait . Great little camera .
007 4 I have owned a half-dozen compact digital cameras over the last 10 years , and I also own 2 DSLRs and a half-dozen lenses . This doesn't mean that I know what I'm talking about , but sometimes I like to pretend it does .
First , what I like about the camera : the zoom range is very useful , camera is very light , lens is sharp in the corners and center ( though , oddly , not so much in between ) , screen is nice , interface is very easy to use , exposure compensation is bound to a button , + / - 1 - stop exposure bracketing , intelligent auto modes ( ISO , face-detection , tracking , OIS , i-exposure , scene detection ) are useful and can be turned on individually , tripod mount is metal , and the 5fps high speed continuous mode is pretty nifty ( though it's only 3Mp ) . The iA ISO mode is surprisingly sophisticated , and the autofocus tracking actually works ( it tracks by color , by the way , so if there isn't strong color contrast with the background , then it doesn't work ) . There's an iA button on the top , which turns on all the iA modes ; useful when handing the camera to a stranger . Noise control is better than I was expecting .
What I didn't like : the lack of a histogram ( live or otherwise ) is truly irking in this day and age ; zoom seems to be linear , so it's hard to get precise framing at shorter focal lengths ; feels very cheap and plasticy ; though the buttons feel good , all the switches ( power , zoom , and play / record ) feel loose and wobbly ; why is there even a play / record switch ? it should be a button ; even at base ISO , there is visible noise when viewing at 100% ; battery life is average at best ; ASM modes are missing , though I find them to be of limited usefulness on compacts ; I wish it captured in RAW , but that's asking too much .
It should give decent 8x10 prints up through ISO 200 ( at least ) , if that's any indication of image quality . I don't think you can expect any more than that from a camera in this price class . 4x6 prints should look fine even at ISO 1600 ; ditto for web shots . Since that's all I wanted out of this camera I'm more than satisfied with the image quality .
For the money , I wasn't expecting much , but it's actually more fun to use than any other compact I've owned , and the features aren't all just a bunch of useless gimmicks . I haven't bought a compact in 2 years , though , which maybe has colored my expectations .
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In the 6 months or so since I wrote the above , I've noticed that noise performance is extremely poor if you underexpose the image . Now it is true that most cameras produce bad results when underexposed at high ISOs . However , even at ISO 400 , underexposed images will often show very large color splotches that are pretty much visible at any reasonable viewing size , and which remains even after very strong chroma noise reduction in post processing ; this goes doubly when shooting at 1600 . It is very important to nail the exposure when shooting at higher ISOs , and here the lack of a histogram ( to check exposure ) is extra irritating . That said , if the exposure is fine , then what I said above about image quality still holds .
009 4 I purchased the lumix FS15 to replace my aging Canon A . . . After getting this camera I took lots of pictures indoors and outdoors . I felt that it consistently underperformed in both situations .
Indoors , the photos were affected by spotty flash coverage , sometimes the subject was washed out while at other times they appeared dark .
In outdoor shots the camera had difficulty choosing the correct exposure for the subject in the foreground e.g . in outdoor portraits taken with auto flash mode , the camera would not turn on the flash-fill to balance the lighting on the subject with a brighter background .
On the positive side I did get some great close-up photos using the macro-zoom function .
I ended up returning this camera , it just could not get the job done in most situations .
010 4 Over the past seven years I've owned three different Canons , upgrading as each camera reached its limit in terms of current features . Actually I probably would've held off for another year if my trusty SD800 hadn't broken .
In the past I've considered Panasonic but with my last two purchases my familiarity with the Canon functions / operations stopped me from trying a Panasonic . Another factor that has attracted me to Panasonic has been the Leica lens . When making this most recent purchase decision I compared the DMC-FS15 to comparable Canons . The main difference was the price with the Panasonic Lumix's being significantly less expensive .
I decided to finally give Panasonic a chance . The Lumix has not disappointed . I've taken two weeks worth of photos while on my family vacation . I took a variety of photos during the day and night and with a lot of movement ( i.e . my family at Disney World ) . I really like how well the FS15 takes pictures without my needing to adjust settings . At the same time it still has a multitude of manual and other automatic settings that come in handy . For me the 5x Optical Zoom and the wide angle lens were the main selling points . I considered the Lumix ZS3 for its 12x wide angle zoom but decided that for my purposes the 5x would suffice .
There are only three things that I do not like about the FS15 . First it does not use a standard USB cable , so I might be in trouble if I ever forget to pack the cable or lose it . Also the extra batteries are on the pricey side and it seems ( based on internet reviews ) that there are issues with 3rd party batteries . The other annoyance is the manner in which one switches the camera to movie mode . With the Canon it was turn a flick of the dial . With the Lumix , you've got to press the mode button , scroll down to movie , and select . This can be problematic if you want to capture a video right away . However despite these minor issues I still really like the FS15 . Based on my picture current experience with the FS15 I can highly recommend it . Plus the price on Amazon is great !
011 4 I just took this camera to Alaska for a 2 week vacation and it took great pictures . Was very easy to use . I loved the Intelligent Auto because all my pictures came out perfect with that setting . The video was great and easy to use . There is an IA ( intelligent Auto ) button on top which you can touch and it can switch between picture or motion picture .
I highly recommend for anyone who doesn't want high tech . Great battery longevity also .
012 4 I bought a Lumix to my mother 2 years ago and it has been a very good camera since then . Now I wanted a camera for my own , and I bought this one after some market research . It does what I need ; my only regret is that it takes its time to take the picture . I think Sony has faster shooting comparing with a friend camera last weekend trip .
In spite of it , battery lifetime and performance is very good . The new night scenery takes a lot less time ( 1s shoot ) . It has more resolution / size options than before . A new power saving mode . Cool enough for a non-professional use .
019 4 This camera went beyond my expectations on quality , ease of use , and construction . I looked at this FS15 and compared to the SD1200 on a whole list of different features ( this one won ) .
- The 5x zoom on this camera is nice to have , and trust me 12 MP is way higher resolution than you will ever need for a point and shoot camera .
- The LCD has different settings for use in different light and even when taking pictures at high angles .
- The slide show feature for playback has some fun music and transitions .
- The camera itself seems to be sturdy construction and worked well even in the cold snow ( as in didn't freeze , I'm not saying that it's water proof or anything . )
- The auto setting for pictures works great , but if you like to tweak everything ( face detection , white balance , ISO , etc . ) when taking pictures , this camera can do that too .
- Finally I got a Class 6 SDHC card for this camera and it takes pictures quick , even on burst mode its pretty fast .
Overall a very pleasing buy , and if you are looking for a quality point-and-shoot this is a good choice .
024 4 I got this camera for my wife for Christmas based on the many reviews I'd read from both individuals and various professional review sources . We've only used it a few times but so far it has worked great . We went to a hockey game and the pictures there turned out to be well lit and not yellowy like some taken with no flash . I really like the various modes that I've used but there are still many to be explored . The Pet mode takes very well lit pictures indoors with no flash . I guess so the flash doesn't startle the animal . It's almost like their is an indirect , off the ceiling flash look to the picture .
I was also able to get this in blue which is my wifes favourite color so that was a plus . Another reason I chose this model is because Panasonic makes very good cameras and lenses and they aren't as ubiquitous as Nikons and Canons . Everybody has one of those and I don't like to be a sheeple . My only complaint , and it's a small one ( no pun intended ) is that this camera is pretty small . There may be many like it size wise but I'm used to a little larger camera . My wife likes it though because she can carry it with her and that makes her happy so I'm happy .
028 4 I give this camera a 4.5 , but half scores aren't possible .
I'll try to be brief .
Pros
Lens / picture quality-Wonderful contrast and color , but not nearly as sharp as the Fuji E900 that I own . ( But what 35 mm amateur zoom , much less P & S lens is anywhere close at that lens ) ?
Macro mode
Size
Exposure ( with and without flash )
Great auto modes
Cons
Rather weak flash ( guide number )
AF speed and accuracy ( Not the best for sorting out subject , tracking of movement is so-so , but overall above average for a digital P & S . I'm spoiled by my Canon SLRs ) .
Noise at ISO 800
Summary
Want a fantastic camera that can go everywhere with you , gives you excellent overall picture quality under differing conditions , don't need extreme wide or telephoto lengths and you can put up with so-so AF speed and accuracy ? The FS15 is the camera to get .
030 4 I read reviews and did some research and bought this camera because I felt it had the best , high quality , wide lens for a subcompact but after a month of taking pictures like mad I returned it while still during the 30 days ! This Panasonic has such a long first-shot delay it's unacceptable to me . This camera is rated as the worst in this category ( first-shot delay ) by Consumer Report ( the article came out AFTER I had bought mine . )
On another note : I was astonished that a dozen pictures snapped at the beach were blurry , while another dozen were clear - no rhyme or reason . At a wedding the first-shot delay was painfully obvious since shutter-lag is accentuated with the flash on . Often this Panasonic doesn't like the lighting and you have to keep clicking the shutter button until finally it snaps a picture ! I even tried different settings - party night portrait auto - some pictures came out fine , but others were blurry or took so late that the moment was missed .
036 4 I got this as a present for a friend , because I have the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX150 and like it . My camera cost over $100 more than this one , but it came out sooner . Both take great pictures , but mine is a bit better .
Still , for the price , this is one fantastic little camera , and my friend was very happy with it .
037 4 I absolutely love this camera . This is my fourth camera within about 6 months . I started out with a Nikon coolpix which was slow , took very poor quality night shots , and overall was just frustrating to use . I then bought a Canon but returned it within days when I found out it was AA battery operated . Then I bought a Kodak M340 which also took very dark pictures , very grainy , and pretty much was a waste of money .
I'm going on a trip to Europe next month which was why I was so intent on getting a good camera . I used it at a concert and already I'm completely hooked . Despite being in the nosebleed section , the wide angle lens allowed me to take some great shots of the stadium . The picture quality is crisp and clear . The camera is moderately easy to use , everything is menu operated rather than a turn wheel so it takes a little time to adjust to that , but I'm not complaining .
Warning : I bought the camera at Costco for $40 cheaper and it also came with a case and 2gb memory card .
047 4 I found the camera easy to use and the intelligent auto feature the best . I never have to think about my pictures again . Every once in a while I have to fiddle with it to turn on / off the auto flash , which should be made easier ( forcing flash on while in intellimode ) , but otherwise nice quality shots with next to no thinking . A little slow sometimes to take the picture , but not too noticeable .
Love the camera .
048 4 It's a great camera in every aspect . I completely agree with F . Piccioli's review . We always carry the camera with us when we go out with the kids ( 3 & 5 ) . Day-time pictures are great . Only when it starts to get a bit dark or in indoor situation if the subject is just a bit far then the flash doesn't work as well . I've had Canon and the Pentax Optio W10 where I found the flash worked better .
Zoom feature is great along with the picture quality .
If Only the Flash Could be Better !
050 4 The camera is amazing for the price . I replaced a 5 year old Canon 3mp powershot
that cost twice a much at the time and there is no comparison . the Movie option is great since you can literally fill the whole card with a movie . The pictures are great and it is easy to use . Another nice thing is the size . It easily fits in your pocket and the battery life is excellent . I haven't got into some of the in depth features yet but I am very satisfied already .
056 4 Selected this camera due to a review on CNET.com and compared the features to similar priced cameras from Canon and Nikon .
I am very happy with the Panasonic Lumix camera . It is very easy to use , has a lot of features , and takes great pictures .
062 4 The Lumix FS15 is the best point-and-shoot camera I've owned . It's everything one could want in an ultracompact : small , light weight , easy to use , great zoom and takes amazingly good photos - - all at a very good price .
I have a higher-end mega-zoom digital camera that I use on a fairly regular basis . It takes better photos and is much faster , but it is also larger and heavier than the FS15 ( and cost more than 3X as much ! ) so I often find myself not wanting to lug it around unless I know for sure that I'm going to shooting photos . The FS15 is small and light enough that I don't mind throwing it in my pocket . As a result I'm taking more photos and capturing memories that I would have missed otherwise .
If you're looking for a small point-and-shoot camera that is easy to carry around with you to take great pictures and turn everyday events into memories , I highly recommend the FS15 .
066 4 Great camera with plenty of features . We're very happy with the pictures , the range of options when taking pictures , and the super battery life . Hopefully , it will outshine our Canon 850IS that needed to have the telephoto lens repaired in less than a year , and after the repair , stoped autofocusing .
For the money , I would pick the DMC-FS15 again . The lens is super !
077 4 Having recently purchased this camera and back from my first trip using it , I must say it is a nice camera for the price . The features are amazing and I have not even skimmed the surface of it's capabilities . I'm not really in love with the companion software that came with it , I'm still using my Kodak software to crop , etc . , but the camera itself is great . I recommended that my Dad purchase one , which he did . He's in his mid 70 ' s and not very technical , but he took some pretty good pictures with his last weekend .
083 4 I was looking for a one-shoot camera for mother's day , and was the perfect gift excellent performance , great pictures and good size .
I recommend this product if you are looking for a easy to use and good quality pictures camera .
085 4 I purchased this camera towards the end of last year . I wanted a good all around everyday use pocket camera .
Pros
* Small and portable
* Sturdy build
* Easy to use
* Easy to use menu system .
* Decent daytime pictures
Cons / wishes
* Wish the lens would go a little wider .
* Terrible in low light and I noticed lots of noise
* Weak flash . However , good enough for up-close portraits .
* Some shutter lag
Overall for the money I think it's a great buy . The camera has all the standard features you would want for and easy to use basic P & S . I recently took this camera to New York on vacation . It did what it needed to do for general photography . The only time I wish I had my DSLR is when we were out at night .
If you are looking for a camera with more flexibility and manual control I would recommend moving up in class to either a Canon G11 , Panasonic Lumix LX3 , or Leica . Of course you are going to spend double or triple the amount . This camera does what it's supposed to do for the money and will satisfy your basic photographic needs . I posted up a few pics .
089 4 This is my second digital camera replacing my 5 year old Cannon A10 . This is a fine camera . The portability and durability is unmatched . I have had no issues with the battery life or picture quality . I even used the video feature and was quite surprised with the quality . Of course it is not a replacement for my camcorder .
Buy this camera . You will not be disappointed .
090 4 Everything is easy and nice to handle as far as function concerned .
Quality of picture reflects pricing . So it is acceptable but don't
expect high end camera quality .
Battery life is the weakest of this camera . I will be traveling
for a couple of weeks soon which requires to carry an extra battery and
recharger .
101 4 After having already owned and loved Panasonic cameras , my mother wanted one that was smaller than the old one ( sorry don't have the model with me now ) . I have a DMC-FX07R that I purchased through Amazon in July of 2007 and still use . Everyone loves the photographs taken with it . The only problem I've noticed in the grainy look of pictures in poorly lit areas such as in a warehouse style shop where we often have family cook-outs .
First of all the color of the camera itself is great . On a table of everyone's cameras , there is no mistaking which one we own .
The LCD screen is fantastic . There are different settings that we have never needed to try because on regular settings you can always see it fine .
Photographs come out clear . It is very easy to use and can be set for iSo to automatically adjust itself . I prefer to change the modes from sunny , cloudly , shade , etc . Always works great and I prefer to use her camera over mine now ( for obvious reasons , more MP and better optical zoom ) . Absolutely worth the purchase , whether you want to use all the great features or not .
105 4 This is the best camera I have ever had . I went to Disneyland with this camera , and got the most amazing shots of Fireworks , with such great clarity , speed , and absolute perfection . The only times it shot blurry was when I was moving around too much . But I've taken action shots of people jumping with this camera and the pictures still came out very sharp . If you are looking for a good quality , non-professional , digital camera . . . this is the closest you get to being a professional photographer . It has a very quick start up time , so you don't miss an opportunity .
Pros : great clarity , quick start up time , clear action shots , even great at night , many settings to play with to get great pictures , easy to use
Cons : the time between when the button is clicked to take a picture and to actually take a picture isn't instant , but only the most professional cameras are that quick .
110 4 This is our second Panasonic Lumix ( The first one was stolen ) . My wife bought a Canon to replace our stolen Panasonic , but I liked our old one so much I took back the Canon ( with her permission ) and bought this one . It is small , light , big display , a variety of settings for those who like to tinker , a few modes for those who just want to take pictures without messing with settings , a decent zoom , and beautiful pictures . I've only had it for a little while , but the battery life has been great ; we'll see how long it lasts . I would recommend this camera to anyone who wants great pictures with the option to tinker for a very decent price .
114 4 Could not picture myself lugging the Canon Rebel SLR around Europe , so researched slim point-and-shoot cameras and decided on this one based on reviews and the Leica lens . It seemed like a good compromise of features and reasonable price . I got terrific photos in all kinds of situations ( sunlight , inside museums without flash , nighttime shots of the lights of Paris , etc . ) Battery life was pretty good ; I will probably pick up a spare for future trips , but I never ran out of power . The only negative I've noticed is that the battery door seems flimsier than the rest of the camera and swings open very easily if you happen to hit the release accidentally . I bought a neoprene case with a drawstring opening and a carabiner hook for attaching to your purse , belt loop , etc . which made the camera extremely accessible and handy . The camera is very easy to use , and I'm so happy with it !
127 4 I'm a long time SLR user ( digital and 35mm ) but wanted a pocket size-camera primarily for portability and ease of use .
This camera is great . Tiny , easy to use , and takes great pictures .
132 4 I've had this camera for a few days so who know how long it will last . I got if for the $149 price after tons of research and comparing to other cameras . I even second guessed my purchase while it was in the mail . This is not the worlds greatest camera BUT for what it is ( an ultra-portable point and shoot ) this is an amazing little cam . Picture quality is good , fits in the pocket , good zoom . Super fun camera . Makes it really easy to always have on you . Stop looking around and buy this one . If it breaks , I'll get another .
It's got wide-angle and macro which is good for me because i'm always looking for textures for photoshop work that I do . If you want all the bells and whistles , ignore this review and move up . But you will have to sacrifice size which is big for me , i'd rather have this camera on me than miss shots b / c i didn't want to carry around my g9 ( which isn't that big , but big enough that it gets left at home ) .
I should note that i spend a lot of my life in photoshop , so I am somewhat more flexible on what comes directly out of the camera , since i can touch up color and things very easily .
133 4 I have a Canon Digital Rebel XTi that I use primarily , but I purchased this to carry around when I didn't want to lug around a larger case . So coming from that perspective I feel like the photo quality is not that great . The images seem really grainy , but I really like the colors . I haven't used another point-and-shoot since some 3MP Canon several years ago , so I can't say how this stacks up against others .
Compared to my DSLR standard , I was still satisfied with the time it took to capture an image . The flip side of that is , though it captures quickly I have had problems with blurring . As other reviews online have noted , this camera ( like all cameras ) functions best when there is a lot of light , but having said that , I thought the low-light performance was particularly poor . But again , I have to qualify that by saying , since I haven't used many other point-and-shoots , they could be equally bad .
Overall , it has served its purpose of being compact and taking some pictures , which is better than having no documentation for when I couldn't take my better camera . You can't manually select focal points or anything , so if you don't need to take any carefully composed images , this camera should do the trick . The price point when I got it was lower than others , so that's a plus .
134 4 It is very easy to use . adding pictures to computer , charging battery . You can take video and add to your computer right there . I just love this camera . My son has same Lumix camera but different version . That is nice , too .
136 4 I purchased this camera and on my first trip overseas with the camera the door which protects the battery broke off after not staying shut . This then lead to the camera totally malfunctioning and no longer working properly . When I contacted Amazon for my receipt to look to return this product since it is under warranty they stated that they could not find my reciept . The camera lasted only 3 or 4 months . I have since found many co-workers and friends who had bought the camera , all having the same issues . When it was working it did take nice pictures .
My recommendation is not to buy the product and put the money to another product that will last you and not break right away !
139 4 When I saw the Costco coupon , I read all the reviews here and thought it was a great buy . Until I used it the first day to capture the tarpon rolling in Boca Grande . What no optical viewfinder ? Had no idea that has become an optional feature . I aimed the camera , and had no idea what I was capturing . Can't see the LCD screen in sunlight .
Several times it just wouldn't take the picture - - wasn't too close or out of battery . And shots under shaded trees were not exposed correctly at all . I tried using IA after the normal shot looked too dark - - and that only made the outcome worse .
The reason I want to replace my old camera is to get faster shutter speed and a slimmer design . The shutter speed still isn't fast enough ( do I have to go back to film ? ) and the size savings over the 4 year old camera is not significant enough .
I'm returning it .
140 4 Seemed a great little camera . . until it stopped working after a week of use . Simply doesn't switch on anymore ( and this is not a battery problem ) . First time this happened to me with a digital camera .
Panasonic replaces not with a new but with a refurbished model ( equal or similar ) .
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 12MP Digital Camera with 5x MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
I have a Canon A650 , which is pretty large . I wanted something smaller , something that could fit in my pocket . It also had to be wide-angle ( so you don't have people getting cut out of group shots ) , have a fair amount of optical zoom , a 2.7 or greater LCD , ability to shoot movies , optical image stabilization , an orientation sensor ( so I can have a program auto-rotate those shots where I'm holding the camera vertically ) , and use SD memory ( which I already have ) .
The Panasonic FS15 really seemed like the only camera with all those features , at least in this price range . I'm sure there are more expensive cameras with these features . There was also the Sony W220 in the same price range , but that one has a little less optical zoom and apparently doesn't have an orientation sensor , and it also doesn't use SD memory . Some of the Casio Exilim cameras also have most of those features , but then I've read that they don't remember the date / time after you take out the battery , so I didn't bother to consider them .
So I got the FS15 , and took various test shots with it . On my wall I have 15 pieces of paper , 3 rows each with 5 pieces of paper . Each piece of paper has letters all over it , printed out in various font sizes . I took pictures of the big rectangle made out of these pieces of paper so that I could see how uniform the sharpness of the lens is . I have done this before with other cameras , and in some cameras , some of the letters look sharp in some areas but blurry in other areas of the photo . The photos I took with the FS15 look OK in the center and top-left ( but it is not as sharp as my Canon A650 ) . But the letters start to get blurry as you move to the bottom and right portions of the photos . The bottom-right is the blurriest part of the photos ( and these pictures were taken with the flash on ) . In addition , the letters on the right side and the bottom parts of the photos have blue-ish edges as well as a soft yellow glow around them . The lens definitely has some issues . I don't expect it to be as good as the lens on my more expensive Canon A650 , however , I do expect it to at least have uniform quality across the entire lens - but that is not the case here .
I also took photos of various objects , with and without flash . With flash , the photos looked decent , although the flash seems a little weak ( the same photos taken with my Canon A650 were brighter ) . Without flash , the photos have some serious noise problems . All of the photos I took without flash had a yellow hue to them . When I zoomed in 100% on them , I saw that there were small yellow blotches all over the place ( one photo even had a bunch of purple spots in some areas ) . Walls that were supposed to be white looked yellow and disgusting . I checked my Canon A650 and it shows a tiny amount of yellowing when flash isn't used - the problem is much , much worse on the FS15 . And these photos were taken at ISO400 ( on both the FS15 and A650 ) , not an extremely high ISO . Looking around on the internet , this seems to be a problem with the Venus engine used by Panasonic cameras - it apparently does not handle sub-optimal lighting conditions very well .
Outdoors , I took a few photos on a sunny day and they looked good . I also took a few photos on a cloudy day in the late afternoon , and they weren't very sharp - a little bit blurry .
The menu system is kind of annoying . You would think that the Menu / Set button in the middle would be the one you press to go to a submenu , but it's not . If you press that , it cancels out of the menu system .
So in conclusion , I am disappointed with this camera . If you are going to use it outdoors and / or always use the flash , then it might be OK for you . Otherwise your photos might have a yellow hue to them and / or be blurry . Then there's the problem with lens uniformity . I will probably return this , and try a more expensive camera , one that is not a Panasonic .
002 4 This review is from :
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 12MP Digital Camera with 5x MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
As a serious-amateur photographer , I have Canon Rebel Xti with some lenses from 300mm to 50mm f / 1.8 , I realize that I need to buy smaller camera to carry around . It's not funny if in the wedding somebody poke me and ask for taking photo because seeing me carrying big SLR with some lenses . . . . . so the hunting for good , not expensive , point and shoot camera was started .
One thing that I really don't want to compromise is photo quality . I know that Leica have excellent quality for point and shoot camera , only thing is that they have also excellent price tag on it . The lowest tag for Leica is $600 ( same as Canon Rebel ) , the second lowest is ridiculosly higher than $1500 . . . so forgot the Leica .
I know that panasonic use Leica lens for their camera / camcorder product ( I have HD panasonic camcorder with Leica lens , very good quality movie ) . . . . so let's try it . I bought this camera Lumix DMC-fS15 12 MP thru Amazon ( best price I found ) , delivered within a week . . . no complain at all .
I found that the picture quality from this camera is really amazing , much better than other brand my friend uses . . .
The user interface is easy to understand . basically I just read once briefly the manual and that's it ready for action . The other feature i found interesting is the burst , combine it one by one by iPhoto and change it into slow motion picture is really easy and cool ( my sons said ) .
Also I found very practical is the charger doesn't need cable to connect to the power , you can connect it directly to the power .
005 4 This review is from :
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 12MP Digital Camera with 5x MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
My purchase was the result of a month or more of research . My goal was to find an ultracompact camera for $200 or less that would produce very good images and provide a wide angle lens with at least 4X optical zoom . I learned photography on a Nikon FT2 SLR and although I enjoyed selecting aperture and shutter speed for each shot I was willing to give into an automode digital camera for the sake of convenience and speed . So the search began . Canon seemed to be the obvious choice at 1st , but after handling a few of the different models , I found them to feel not solidly built . Yes the reviews are good but I was never one to follow the masses . So I began to look at Nikon and Panasonic . Nikons just don't seem to have the quality they were once noted for and the reviews were just OK . So I looked at the Lumix with a Leica lens . The price was right and a wide angle 29mm to 145 mm , 5X optical . Nice . Reviews were not as numerous as the Canons but indicated good satisfaction on the part of owners . So I took the plunge .
This seems to be a very versatile camera . A point and shoot at its best . More importantly I'm having fun taking pictures again . I can't comment on image quality / noise as I have not enlarged any images so far but quite frankly it probably will be a non issue for me as I am not a professional and just need a clear images to record events , people , and maybe a video or two .
So far I'm very happy with the camera features . The IA setting allows you to shoot away without worrying about selecting scene modes with very good results . The LCD is bright and clear . Love the placement of the control buttons . I have large hands and have no problems with the small buttons . The menus are very easy to follow even without reviewing the manual . The flash is more than adequate . I got some great portraits using it in doors . I shot a video off the TV zoomed at 5x and wow it came out great and was very stable . I purchased a Transcend 8 gig memory card with a USB reader for the camera . Worked great with my Macbook 1st try . Camera start up is very quick . Image reviewing is easy and fast . I'm looking forward to trying out different modes and options . This is going to be a favorite for me with travel , sporting events , and family photos . The size and weight is optimal for the shirt or jacket pocket . I found a few of the Canons to be too small for my hands . Also , most of the Canon line only have a 2.5 inch LCD vs a 2.7 inch LCD in the Lumix . You also have to pay a $50 + premium for wide angle and a 5X zoom in the Canon . So this was a good buy IMHO . I plan to post a few images in the near future . Panasonic name has always been good to me .
Good job Pany ! ! A great camera . Also . . . see Panasonic.com for a free 4 gig card and camera case when you purchase this camera .
Highly recommended .
006 4 My purchase was the result of a month or more of research . My goal was to find an ultracompact camera for $200 or less that would produce very good images and provide a wide angle lens with at least 4X optical zoom . I learned photography on a Nikon FT2 SLR and although I enjoyed selecting aperture and shutter speed for each shot I was willing to give into an automode digital camera for the sake of convenience and speed . So the search began . Canon seemed to be the obvious choice at 1st , but after handling a few of the different models , I found them to feel not solidly built . Yes the reviews are good but I was never one to follow the masses . So I began to look at Nikon and Panasonic . Nikons just don't seem to have the quality they were once noted for and the reviews were just OK . So I looked at the Lumix with a Leica lens . The price was right and a wide angle 29mm to 145 mm , 5X optical . Nice . Reviews were not as numerous as the Canons but indicated good satisfaction on the part of owners . So I took the plunge .
This seems to be a very versatile camera . A point and shoot at its best . More importantly I'm having fun taking pictures again . I can't comment on image quality / noise as I have not enlarged any images so far but quite frankly it probably will be a non issue for me as I am not a professional and just need a clear images to record events , people , and maybe a video or two .
So far I'm very happy with the camera features . The IA setting allows you to shoot away without worrying about selecting scene modes with very good results . The LCD is bright and clear . Love the placement of the control buttons . I have large hands and have no problems with the small buttons . The menus are very easy to follow even without reviewing the manual . The flash is more than adequate . I got some great portraits using it in doors . I shot a video off the TV zoomed at 5x and wow it came out great and was very stable . I purchased a Transcend 8 gig memory card with a USB reader for the camera . Worked great with my Macbook 1st try . Camera start up is very quick . Image reviewing is easy and fast . I'm looking forward to trying out different modes and options . This is going to be a favorite for me with travel , sporting events , and family photos . The size and weight is optimal for the shirt or jacket pocket . I found a few of the Canons to be too small for my hands . Also , most of the Canon line only have a 2.5 inch LCD vs a 2.7 inch LCD in the Lumix . You also have to pay a $50 + premium for wide angle and a 5X zoom in the Canon . So this was a good buy IMHO . I plan to post a few images in the near future . Panasonic name has always been good to me .
Good job Pany ! ! A great camera . Also . . . see Panasonic.com for a free 4 gig card and camera case when you purchase this camera .
Highly recommended .
014 4 This review is from :
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 12MP Digital Camera with 5x MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 inch LCD ( Blue ) ( Electronics )
Bought for wife who teaches at pre-school and takes lots of indoor individual and group photos . She wanted something small enough to carry in purse and basically point and shoot . So far camera has fit the bill and her photos look great . I have experimented with Macro and that does very well too . Only concern is that battery / memory card door and latch seem very flimsy and is easy to open accidently .
018 4 This review is from :
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 12MP Digital Camera with 5x MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 inch LCD ( Blue ) ( Electronics )
This camera went beyond my expectations on quality , ease of use , and construction . I looked at this FS15 and compared to the SD1200 on a whole list of different features ( this one won ) .
- The 5x zoom on this camera is nice to have , and trust me 12 MP is way higher resolution than you will ever need for a point and shoot camera .
- The LCD has different settings for use in different light and even when taking pictures at high angles .
- The slide show feature for playback has some fun music and transitions .
- The camera itself seems to be sturdy construction and worked well even in the cold snow ( as in didn't freeze , I'm not saying that it's water proof or anything . )
- The auto setting for pictures works great , but if you like to tweak everything ( face detection , white balance , ISO , etc . ) when taking pictures , this camera can do that too .
- Finally I got a Class 6 SDHC card for this camera and it takes pictures quick , even on burst mode its pretty fast .
Overall a very pleasing buy , and if you are looking for a quality point-and-shoot this is a good choice .
021 4 This review is from :
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 12MP Digital Camera with 5x MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
This camera really is a great point-and-shoot . I haven't owned it THAT long but so far , so good ! It's everything that I'd want from a current point-and-shoot camera , especially at this price range . Some of the hightlights are the Intelligent Auto face detection feature , the battery , and the size . The battery is very small and charges in 1 - 2 hours . On this charge , you will easily get 2 - 3 days of heavy use out of it . The camera is slim enough to fit in any pocket and the battery is even tinier . Great job Panasonic !
The ONLY gripe that I have is I wish there was some sort of lock on the on / off switch so that when in a tight pocket , it does not switch on . To combat this , before turning the camera of , put it in review mode so that if it comes on , the lens doesn't attempt to pop out in your pocket !
023 4 This review is from :
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 12MP Digital Camera with 5x MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 inch LCD ( Blue ) ( Electronics )
I got this camera for my wife for Christmas based on the many reviews I'd read from both individuals and various professional review sources . We've only used it a few times but so far it has worked great . We went to a hockey game and the pictures there turned out to be well lit and not yellowy like some taken with no flash . I really like the various modes that I've used but there are still many to be explored . The Pet mode takes very well lit pictures indoors with no flash . I guess so the flash doesn't startle the animal . It's almost like their is an indirect , off the ceiling flash look to the picture .
I was also able to get this in blue which is my wifes favourite color so that was a plus . Another reason I chose this model is because Panasonic makes very good cameras and lenses and they aren't as ubiquitous as Nikons and Canons . Everybody has one of those and I don't like to be a sheeple . My only complaint , and it's a small one ( no pun intended ) is that this camera is pretty small . There may be many like it size wise but I'm used to a little larger camera . My wife likes it though because she can carry it with her and that makes her happy so I'm happy .
025 4 This review is from :
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 12MP Digital Camera with 5x MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
Compared to my old 6 MP Canon , this camera takes noticeably better photos . Its flash doesn't wash out photos too much , but it's very very good at taking low-light photos , and I almost never need to use the flash . Image stabilization is really useful when taking heavily-zoomed or low-light photos . Its wide-angle ( fully zoomed-out ) is wider than most cameras of this class . Its intelligent auto mode is really useful for saving you the trouble of choosing different scenery modes . Battery life has been great , and it gives good advance warning when it's running low ( unlike my old Canon ) . The lens could be a bit nicer and the images a bit clearer , but it's not an SLR , and it's not expensive . I'd say especially for the price , it exceeded my expectations .
026 4 Compared to my old 6 MP Canon , this camera takes noticeably better photos . Its flash doesn't wash out photos too much , but it's very very good at taking low-light photos , and I almost never need to use the flash . Image stabilization is really useful when taking heavily-zoomed or low-light photos . Its wide-angle ( fully zoomed-out ) is wider than most cameras of this class . Its intelligent auto mode is really useful for saving you the trouble of choosing different scenery modes . Battery life has been great , and it gives good advance warning when it's running low ( unlike my old Canon ) . The lens could be a bit nicer and the images a bit clearer , but it's not an SLR , and it's not expensive . I'd say especially for the price , it exceeded my expectations .
027 4 This review is from :
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 12MP Digital Camera with 5x MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
I give this camera a 4.5 , but half scores aren't possible .
I'll try to be brief .
Pros
Lens / picture quality-Wonderful contrast and color , but not nearly as sharp as the Fuji E900 that I own . ( But what 35 mm amateur zoom , much less P & S lens is anywhere close at that lens ) ?
Macro mode
Size
Exposure ( with and without flash )
Great auto modes
Cons
Rather weak flash ( guide number )
AF speed and accuracy ( Not the best for sorting out subject , tracking of movement is so-so , but overall above average for a digital P & S . I'm spoiled by my Canon SLRs ) .
Noise at ISO 800
Summary
Want a fantastic camera that can go everywhere with you , gives you excellent overall picture quality under differing conditions , don't need extreme wide or telephoto lengths and you can put up with so-so AF speed and accuracy ? The FS15 is the camera to get .
029 4 This review is from :
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 12MP Digital Camera with 5x MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 inch LCD ( Silver ) ( Electronics )
I read reviews and did some research and bought this camera because I felt it had the best , high quality , wide lens for a subcompact but after a month of taking pictures like mad I returned it while still during the 30 days ! This Panasonic has such a long first-shot delay it's unacceptable to me . This camera is rated as the worst in this category ( first-shot delay ) by Consumer Report ( the article came out AFTER I had bought mine . )
On another note : I was astonished that a dozen pictures snapped at the beach were blurry , while another dozen were clear - no rhyme or reason . At a wedding the first-shot delay was painfully obvious since shutter-lag is accentuated with the flash on . Often this Panasonic doesn't like the lighting and you have to keep clicking the shutter button until finally it snaps a picture ! I even tried different settings - party night portrait auto - some pictures came out fine , but others were blurry or took so late that the moment was missed .
031 4 This review is from :
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 12MP Digital Camera with 5x MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 inch LCD ( Blue ) ( Electronics )
One of the best cameras out there of this type and size . Would highly recommend .
033 4 This review is from :
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 12MP Digital Camera with 5x MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
The pictures are fine but the integration with my Mac is terrible . I hangs up during transfer and the only thing I can do to restart is remove the camera battery . ,
Despite several sttempts to contact Panasonic I can never reach anyone with any insight . I'm ready to throw this thing out the window . Would never buy another Panasonic camera .
035 4 This review is from :
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 12MP Digital Camera with 5x MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
I got this as a present for a friend , because I have the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX150 and like it . My camera cost over $100 more than this one , but it came out sooner . Both take great pictures , but mine is a bit better .
Still , for the price , this is one fantastic little camera , and my friend was very happy with it .
038 4 This review is from :
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 12MP Digital Camera with 5x MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 inch LCD ( Blue ) ( Electronics )
All of my photos have a blue tint to them . The white balance is way off . I set it manually , but the problem persists . The camera doesn't focus correctly indoors . I feel this is camera was a waste of my money , I don't feel I can rely on it to capture important moments . The battery life is also poor .
040 4 This review is from :
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 12MP Digital Camera with 5x MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 inch LCD ( Blue ) ( Electronics )
This was a Christmas gift to my granddaughter , and she loves it . It takes wonderful pictures , with many features . It arrived in two days , but when we tried to plug the USB cable into the camera , it would not go . The port in the camera was obviously defective . I called Panasonic , and they will replace the camera ( new in box ) with a factory refurbished one . Apparently I have no choice , as this is their return / warranty policy . It does not seem right that I should have to exchange a new camera for a refurbished one , but will in order to get a camera that has a functional USB port . Otherwise , would get a 5 star rating , but now I will probably not buy Panasonic again .
042 4 This review is from :
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 12MP Digital Camera with 5x MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 inch LCD ( Blue ) ( Electronics )
Great camera for someone that is in need of a point and shoot type camera .
044 4 This review is from :
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 12MP Digital Camera with 5x MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 inch LCD ( Silver ) ( Electronics )
very good camera I buy this because the lens I have canon 5mp . panasonic is 12mp . and bigger screen , more avantage of tech . it's small enough to put in the pocket .
046 4 This review is from :
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 12MP Digital Camera with 5x MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 inch LCD ( Blue ) ( Electronics )
I found the camera easy to use and the intelligent auto feature the best . I never have to think about my pictures again . Every once in a while I have to fiddle with it to turn on / off the auto flash , which should be made easier ( forcing flash on while in intellimode ) , but otherwise nice quality shots with next to no thinking . A little slow sometimes to take the picture , but not too noticeable .
Love the camera .
049 4 This review is from :
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 12MP Digital Camera with 5x MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 inch LCD ( Blue ) ( Electronics )
The camera is amazing for the price . I replaced a 5 year old Canon 3mp powershot
that cost twice a much at the time and there is no comparison . the Movie option is great since you can literally fill the whole card with a movie . The pictures are great and it is easy to use . Another nice thing is the size . It easily fits in your pocket and the battery life is excellent . I haven't got into some of the in depth features yet but I am very satisfied already .
051 4 This review is from :
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 12MP Digital Camera with 5x MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 inch LCD ( Blue ) ( Electronics )
Just purchased this camera to replace an old 6MP Kodak and I've gotta say , I'm really happy with it so far . Excellent value and feature set for this price point . Very solidly built . Nice compact size ( perfect to slip in my jacket pocket ) and just the right weight too . Fine workmanship . Has loads of creative and advanced features should you want them and has auto everything if you just want to snap away and not have to think about anything . Still reading through the lengthy instruction manual to learn about all of the features . Face recognition and stabilizer work perfectly and the flash is superb . Color is outstanding . Battery life seems solid as well . Chose the blue color model over the black or silver and it looks EXACTLY as it does on the Amazon website . I can't say enough good things about this camera . Believe the positive reviews both on the Web and on Amazon for the Panasonic Lumix FS15 - they all are true . This camera is a solid performer . If you buy this camera , I highly recommend the Caselogic SLDC - 201 Ultra Camera Case for it . It's a nice slim camera case and it fits the Lumix FS15 like a glove and has this really cool memory foam padding ( it's hard rubberized material on 1 side / tough fabric on the other ) with a very well made zipper . I also picked up an 8GB SDHC card and the thing holds over 2,000 pictures on the highest settings !
053 4 This review is from :
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 12MP Digital Camera with 5x MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 inch LCD ( Silver ) ( Electronics )
Panasonic's cameras are always quality guaranteed . On the other hand , it has a lower price that Canon or other brand that has similar features with a much higher price . I'm not a pro in photography , I just use the camera for fun or recreational use , thus , this camera is definitely for me .
055 4 This review is from :
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 12MP Digital Camera with 5x MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 inch LCD ( Blue ) ( Electronics )
Selected this camera due to a review on CNET.com and compared the features to similar priced cameras from Canon and Nikon .
I am very happy with the Panasonic Lumix camera . It is very easy to use , has a lot of features , and takes great pictures .
057 4 This review is from :
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 12MP Digital Camera with 5x MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 inch LCD ( Blue ) ( Electronics )
Bought it for my mom as a Christmas present , showed her how to use it.Awsome camera and shipped really quick.I've also had a Panasonic Lumix myself for 4 years now and it made it through 14 months in Iraq and also survived an IED blast to our vehicle.I love my Panasonic .
059 4 This review is from :
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 12MP Digital Camera with 5x MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 inch LCD ( Silver ) ( Electronics )
Replaced an older Panasonic . Loved that camera love this one . Looked at other cameras but decided on the Panasonic again I am not dissapointed . Thanks to Amazon I got the best price around and free shipping which was really fast .
061 4 This review is from :
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 12MP Digital Camera with 5x MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
The Lumix FS15 is the best point-and-shoot camera I've owned . It's everything one could want in an ultracompact : small , light weight , easy to use , great zoom and takes amazingly good photos - - all at a very good price .
I have a higher-end mega-zoom digital camera that I use on a fairly regular basis . It takes better photos and is much faster , but it is also larger and heavier than the FS15 ( and cost more than 3X as much ! ) so I often find myself not wanting to lug it around unless I know for sure that I'm going to shooting photos . The FS15 is small and light enough that I don't mind throwing it in my pocket . As a result I'm taking more photos and capturing memories that I would have missed otherwise .
If you're looking for a small point-and-shoot camera that is easy to carry around with you to take great pictures and turn everyday events into memories , I highly recommend the FS15 .
063 4 This review is from :
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 12MP Digital Camera with 5x MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 inch LCD ( Blue ) ( Electronics )
After days and weeks of research and comparing cameras I decided on this one since it had all the features I was looking for and the price was just right . I've had the camera for about a month and in that time have taken several hundred pictures and so far it has been easy and straight forward taking pictures as well as getting them off the camera and on to my computer . I love the battery charger , it and the camera can fit together in my old camera case , just another bonus . While it has a few bells and whistles I have yet to explore overall this camera is the best one I've purchased in a long time .
065 4 This review is from :
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 12MP Digital Camera with 5x MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 inch LCD ( Blue ) ( Electronics )
Great camera with plenty of features . We're very happy with the pictures , the range of options when taking pictures , and the super battery life . Hopefully , it will outshine our Canon 850IS that needed to have the telephoto lens repaired in less than a year , and after the repair , stoped autofocusing .
For the money , I would pick the DMC-FS15 again . The lens is super !
067 4 Hey Everyone .
So for Christmas I got the Nikon S60 touch screen [ DONT BUY IT ] Within months it broke . Now when I got this Camera . It was love .
1 . The quality is amazing and crisp .
2 . Easy to carry arounf and pocket size .
3 . Cool and bright colours .
4 . Display is great .
5 . Can choose screen slections .
6 . Zoom is awesome .
This is the IT camera : )
068 4 This review is from :
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 12MP Digital Camera with 5x MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
Camera take great snapshots , and the 5X zoom is a nice touch , but give yourself some time to get around the menus in the beginning .
070 4 This review is from :
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 12MP Digital Camera with 5x MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
After searching online for over 2 weeks and reading many , many , reviews I went with this camera and heres why .
This camera is EASY . easy to use , easy to take pictures , easy to upload . There is nothing complicated about it and there are all kinds of modes you can easily switch too .
I'm not a pro . I'm just an average person who was wanting something that would take great pictures inside and out .
I got this camera about two weeks ago and we went for a nice drive up the canyon and got some great shots ! They are so clear and I love the big screen . We also got some video on it and I love that you can actaully HEAR whats going on .
I read a couple reviews that said there was a delay when you take pictures but I've had no problem with that . I was actually very surprised with how fast it was and that you can press half way down - get great focus and make sure it's perfect before you shoot .
I LOVE this camera and would recommend it to anyone . If you're just looking for something thats easy , affordable , and takes great pictures and videos - it's perfect !
073 4 This review is from :
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 12MP Digital Camera with 5x MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
I just purchased this camera about 2 weeks ago and my wife and I love it . We had a exilim prior that always died on us and had to have the charger and battery swapped multiple times . So with that said I was sure to do a lot of research before getting into another one . All reviews led to a canon but we just did not like the form factor . A lot of reviews stated this was a good buy for the price so we took the chance .
When received I set up the camera right out the box and was surprised at how easy it was to figure out . It has a great screen . Its very easy to view pictures taken . Video mode works great and quality is good . Autofocus works great . Flash seems to make everything better . Can't wait to use this on our 9 night vacation cruise . If you want a good camera that you can pick up and use right away I recommend this bad boy .
Well what are you waiting for ?
Add it to your shopping cart and check out already lol .
075 4 This review is from :
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 12MP Digital Camera with 5x MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
With a surprising amount of functionality in a remarkably tiny package ( think of a deck of cards ) this camera outperforms many a snap-and-shoot with a very nimble shutter speed and a breathtaking view screen . The pictures rendered are very crisp and clear and the camera supports a wide angled format ( usually only seen in DSLRs ) . To make the most of all the features , be sure to acquire one of the camera compatible memory cards ; the video capability will not operate without it .
078 4 This review is from :
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 12MP Digital Camera with 5x MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
This is the first digital camera I have ever had . I had considered buying a more expensive more versatile camera but this one was strongly recommended to me by a photographer cousin of mine who said that it would suit my rather simple needs just fine . He was absolutely right . It is simple to use , it has an easy-to-use zoom , and takes very nice clear pictures . It's light and fits easily in my pocket . I'm sure that people who want to play a bigger role in their photography would find it inadequate but someone wanting a fine inexpensive basically point-and-shoot camera can't go wrong with this one . Buy a soft case to go with it .
080 4 This review is from :
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 12MP Digital Camera with 5x MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 inch LCD ( Blue ) ( Electronics )
Purchased this for my 16 year old daughter . Great quality pix , handy size . She's very happy . We are buying another one for my other daughter .
082 4 This review is from :
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 12MP Digital Camera with 5x MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 inch LCD ( Silver ) ( Electronics )
I was looking for a one-shoot camera for mother's day , and was the perfect gift excellent performance , great pictures and good size .
I recommend this product if you are looking for a easy to use and good quality pictures camera .
084 4 This review is from :
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 12MP Digital Camera with 5x MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
I purchased this camera towards the end of last year . I wanted a good all around everyday use pocket camera .
Pros
* Small and portable
* Sturdy build
* Easy to use
* Easy to use menu system .
* Decent daytime pictures
Cons / wishes
* Wish the lens would go a little wider .
* Terrible in low light and I noticed lots of noise
* Weak flash . However , good enough for up-close portraits .
* Some shutter lag
Overall for the money I think it's a great buy . The camera has all the standard features you would want for and easy to use basic P & S . I recently took this camera to New York on vacation . It did what it needed to do for general photography . The only time I wish I had my DSLR is when we were out at night .
If you are looking for a camera with more flexibility and manual control I would recommend moving up in class to either a Canon G11 , Panasonic Lumix LX3 , or Leica . Of course you are going to spend double or triple the amount . This camera does what it's supposed to do for the money and will satisfy your basic photographic needs . I posted up a few pics .
086 4 This review is from :
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 12MP Digital Camera with 5x MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 inch LCD ( Blue ) ( Electronics )
What a great little camera ! Battery lasts forever , it takes amazing pictures in almost all light settings , fastest economy-priced point-and-shoot I've ever seen , and it's soooooo cute ! Really great ! Highly recommended !
088 4 This review is from :
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 12MP Digital Camera with 5x MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 inch LCD ( Blue ) ( Electronics )
This is my second digital camera replacing my 5 year old Cannon A10 . This is a fine camera . The portability and durability is unmatched . I have had no issues with the battery life or picture quality . I even used the video feature and was quite surprised with the quality . Of course it is not a replacement for my camcorder .
Buy this camera . You will not be disappointed .
091 4 This review is from :
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 12MP Digital Camera with 5x MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 inch LCD ( Silver ) ( Electronics )
Able to buy in silver which was unavailable in local outlets . This is an improved model over prior Lumix cameras . shutter lag is much quicker . picture quality is vey good with a wider angle lens for better party shots . also good for real estate photos . would buy again .
093 4 This review is from :
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 12MP Digital Camera with 5x MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
It's a good camera takes great pictures the only thing i dislike is the switch button to change the camera mode to review pictures mode , it looks it can be damaged with the time , a push button can work better
095 4 This review is from :
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 12MP Digital Camera with 5x MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 inch LCD ( Silver ) ( Electronics )
I got this camera for my 9 and 10 year old sons . It is easily worked by them , and has withstood a fall to the floor already . Before I purchased this camera , I called my local camera store to get suggested cameras in this price range , and they suggested this model due to it's low incidence of repair needs .
097 4 This review is from :
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 12MP Digital Camera with 5x MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 inch LCD ( Silver ) ( Electronics )
Used the camera on vacation in Red River . Is simple to use and this was important for my wife . She wanted a camera that she only had to point and click . Do wish that the time delay with the flash was less . My old Cannon that this one replaced was slow too . Thought that improvement in this area would be made by now . Even so , I am pleased with the camera . Have only used it a short while so I can not say how the other features work . I would recommend this camera for its ease of use , the leica lens used and the other features offered . Will report again after using it more .
100 4 This review is from :
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 12MP Digital Camera with 5x MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 inch LCD ( Blue ) ( Electronics )
After having already owned and loved Panasonic cameras , my mother wanted one that was smaller than the old one ( sorry don't have the model with me now ) . I have a DMC-FX07R that I purchased through Amazon in July of 2007 and still use . Everyone loves the photographs taken with it . The only problem I've noticed in the grainy look of pictures in poorly lit areas such as in a warehouse style shop where we often have family cook-outs .
First of all the color of the camera itself is great . On a table of everyone's cameras , there is no mistaking which one we own .
The LCD screen is fantastic . There are different settings that we have never needed to try because on regular settings you can always see it fine .
Photographs come out clear . It is very easy to use and can be set for iSo to automatically adjust itself . I prefer to change the modes from sunny , cloudly , shade , etc . Always works great and I prefer to use her camera over mine now ( for obvious reasons , more MP and better optical zoom ) . Absolutely worth the purchase , whether you want to use all the great features or not .
102 4 This review is from :
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 12MP Digital Camera with 5x MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
This is a great camera for everyday use . The picture quality is great . The camera is very easy to use and the features are pretty cool . For someone who is seeking just the point and shoot camera this ones is worth the money .
104 4 This review is from :
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 12MP Digital Camera with 5x MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 inch LCD ( Blue ) ( Electronics )
This is the best camera I have ever had . I went to Disneyland with this camera , and got the most amazing shots of Fireworks , with such great clarity , speed , and absolute perfection . The only times it shot blurry was when I was moving around too much . But I've taken action shots of people jumping with this camera and the pictures still came out very sharp . If you are looking for a good quality , non-professional , digital camera . . . this is the closest you get to being a professional photographer . It has a very quick start up time , so you don't miss an opportunity .
Pros : great clarity , quick start up time , clear action shots , even great at night , many settings to play with to get great pictures , easy to use
Cons : the time between when the button is clicked to take a picture and to actually take a picture isn't instant , but only the most professional cameras are that quick .
107 4 This review is from :
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 12MP Digital Camera with 5x MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 inch LCD ( Blue ) ( Electronics )
So , I researched digital cameras for almost a year before buying this camera . It's perfect for me ! This is my first digital camera , and I'm happy with all aspects of this camera thus far . I'm currently traveling in Panama , and it's size and picture quality are proving just fine . If you use a camera like I do , solely on vacations , you'll be just fine . I had read various reviews about the shutter speed being slow and lack of manual controls , but do not let those persuade you away from this camera . Maybe I'm naive to these minor details , since this is my first digital camera , but so far , so good !
109 4 This review is from :
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 12MP Digital Camera with 5x MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
This is our second Panasonic Lumix ( The first one was stolen ) . My wife bought a Canon to replace our stolen Panasonic , but I liked our old one so much I took back the Canon ( with her permission ) and bought this one . It is small , light , big display , a variety of settings for those who like to tinker , a few modes for those who just want to take pictures without messing with settings , a decent zoom , and beautiful pictures . I've only had it for a little while , but the battery life has been great ; we'll see how long it lasts . I would recommend this camera to anyone who wants great pictures with the option to tinker for a very decent price .
111 4 This review is from :
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 12MP Digital Camera with 5x MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 inch LCD ( Blue ) ( Electronics )
I was looking for a camera that was simple to use and small enough that I could carry it in my medium sized purse . This camera is perfect for me . I do not take a lot of pictures , but I still like what I do take to come out great and these do . I hope everyone else is as pleased with this camera as I am . I would buy it again . Beverly
115 4 Bought this camera a few days ago after researching cameras for a while and decided on this one . The camera works great , it is very user friendly , and takes great pictures ( both indoors and outdoors , if you want better get an slr ) . Bottom line : this camera does exactly what a point and shoot camera should do at a great price , you cant beat it . Im very happy with this camera .
116 4 This review is from :
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 12MP Digital Camera with 5x MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
I have a Canon A650 , which is pretty large . I wanted something smaller , something that could fit in my pocket . It also had to be wide-angle ( so you don't have people getting cut out of group shots ) , have a fair amount of optical zoom , a 2.7 or greater LCD , ability to shoot movies , optical image stabilization , an orientation sensor ( so I can have a program auto-rotate those shots where I'm holding the camera vertically ) , and use SD memory ( which I already have ) .
The Panasonic FS15 really seemed like the only camera with all those features , at least in this price range . I'm sure there are more expensive cameras with these features . There was also the Sony W220 in the same price range , but that one has a little less optical zoom and apparently doesn't have an orientation sensor , and it also doesn't use SD memory . Some of the Casio Exilim cameras also have most of those features , but then I've read that they don't remember the date / time after you take out the battery , so I didn't bother to consider them .
So I got the FS15 , and took various test shots with it . On my wall I have 15 pieces of paper , 3 rows each with 5 pieces of paper . Each piece of paper has letters all over it , printed out in various font sizes . I took pictures of the big rectangle made out of these pieces of paper so that I could see how uniform the sharpness of the lens is . I have done this before with other cameras , and in some cameras , some of the letters look sharp in some areas but blurry in other areas of the photo . The photos I took with the FS15 look OK in the center and top-left ( but it is not as sharp as my Canon A650 ) . But the letters start to get blurry as you move to the bottom and right portions of the photos . The bottom-right is the blurriest part of the photos ( and these pictures were taken with the flash on ) . In addition , the letters on the right side and the bottom parts of the photos have blue-ish edges as well as a soft yellow glow around them . The lens definitely has some issues . I don't expect it to be as good as the lens on my more expensive Canon A650 , however , I do expect it to at least have uniform quality across the entire lens - but that is not the case here .
I also took photos of various objects , with and without flash . With flash , the photos looked decent , although the flash seems a little weak ( the same photos taken with my Canon A650 were brighter ) . Without flash , the photos have some serious noise problems . All of the photos I took without flash had a yellow hue to them . When I zoomed in 100% on them , I saw that there were small yellow blotches all over the place ( one photo even had a bunch of purple spots in some areas ) . Walls that were supposed to be white looked yellow and disgusting . I checked my Canon A650 and it shows a tiny amount of yellowing when flash isn't used - the problem is much , much worse on the FS15 . And these photos were taken at ISO400 ( on both the FS15 and A650 ) , not an extremely high ISO . Looking around on the internet , this seems to be a problem with the Venus engine used by Panasonic cameras - it apparently does not handle sub-optimal lighting conditions very well .
Outdoors , I took a few photos on a sunny day and they looked good . I also took a few photos on a cloudy day in the late afternoon , and they weren't very sharp - a little bit blurry .
The menu system is kind of annoying . You would think that the Menu / Set button in the middle would be the one you press to go to a submenu , but it's not . If you press that , it cancels out of the menu system .
So in conclusion , I am disappointed with this camera . If you are going to use it outdoors and / or always use the flash , then it might be OK for you . Otherwise your photos might have a yellow hue to them and / or be blurry . Then there's the problem with lens uniformity . I will probably return this , and try a more expensive camera , one that is not a Panasonic .
118 4 This review is from :
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 12MP Digital Camera with 5x MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
Terrific product for the beginner , yet has advanced settings for more serious photographers .
The wide angle and macro lens is fantastic.Would recommend a carrying case .
122 4 This review is from :
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 12MP Digital Camera with 5x MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
After I lost my Canon compact digital camera ( 4 yrs old ) while taking pictures at the beach one day , I decided to replace it with a more compact and automated camera . I also did not want to spend more that $200.00 . After much research I decided upon the Panasonic Lumis DMC-FS15 . It was easy to learn to operate and I can carry it in my pocket . The LCD has several features that enhance its use . the pictures are very good if you operated the camera properly . I highly recommend it to anyone interested in a good mid level digital camera .
123 4 After I lost my Canon compact digital camera ( 4 yrs old ) while taking pictures at the beach one day , I decided to replace it with a more compact and automated camera . I also did not want to spend more that $200.00 . After much research I decided upon the Panasonic Lumis DMC-FS15 . It was easy to learn to operate and I can carry it in my pocket . The LCD has several features that enhance its use . the pictures are very good if you operated the camera properly . I highly recommend it to anyone interested in a good mid level digital camera .
124 4 This review is from :
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 12MP Digital Camera with 5x MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 inch LCD ( Silver ) ( Electronics )
1 . Very easy to use on automatic mode
2 . Excellent pictures
3 . No complain at all
126 4 This review is from :
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 12MP Digital Camera with 5x MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 inch LCD ( Blue ) ( Electronics )
I'm a long time SLR user ( digital and 35mm ) but wanted a pocket size-camera primarily for portability and ease of use .
This camera is great . Tiny , easy to use , and takes great pictures .
129 4 This review is from :
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 12MP Digital Camera with 5x MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 inch LCD ( Silver ) ( Electronics )
This is a good camera to carry around , not to big or expensive that you worry about it on vacations . Takes good pictures , my wife complains that the zoom could be better . I did manage to take pictures of everybody a few too many times on Thanksgiving , hope they invite me back for Christmas .
131 4 This review is from :
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 12MP Digital Camera with 5x MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 inch LCD ( Black ) ( Electronics )
I've had this camera for a few days so who know how long it will last . I got if for the $149 price after tons of research and comparing to other cameras . I even second guessed my purchase while it was in the mail . This is not the worlds greatest camera BUT for what it is ( an ultra-portable point and shoot ) this is an amazing little cam . Picture quality is good , fits in the pocket , good zoom . Super fun camera . Makes it really easy to always have on you . Stop looking around and buy this one . If it breaks , I'll get another .
It's got wide-angle and macro which is good for me because i'm always looking for textures for photoshop work that I do . If you want all the bells and whistles , ignore this review and move up . But you will have to sacrifice size which is big for me , i'd rather have this camera on me than miss shots b / c i didn't want to carry around my g9 ( which isn't that big , but big enough that it gets left at home ) .
I should note that i spend a lot of my life in photoshop , so I am somewhat more flexible on what comes directly out of the camera , since i can touch up color and things very easily .
138 4 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 12MP Digital Camera with 5x MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 inch LCD ( Silver )
I had been waiting for this new Lumix Camera to be released , and the day it became available ( April 1 , 2009 ) , I ordered it from Amazon . Amazingly , it arrived the next day . The camera itself has proved wonderful , easily used and easily learned .
The camera is great ; the Amazon delivery and service wonderful .
