Just short of a true SLR, the relatively new Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ50 is winning over typical point and shoot customers who are looking to capture the best photos for the money.

The successor to the popular DMC-FZ30 features a 10.1-megapixel CCD, a powerful f2.8 Leica DC lens with 12x (equivalent to 35mm to 420 mm on a 35mm film camera) optical zoom, and Panasonic's own Optical Image Stabilization System. The camera's Venus Engine III image processor allows for a fairly wide ISO range, up to 1600. Panasonic claims that their processor minimizes noise levels at even these highest of ISO settings.


Like most SLRs and advanced point and shoot cameras these days, the Lumix DMC-FZ50 has a camera shake reduction system. Developed by Panasonic, the Mega O.I.S. system uses lens technology to compensate for camera shake due to hand movements. To compensate for movements by the subject, LSI Venus Engine III image processor, with a maximum ISO of 1600, optimizes shutter speed for the current light conditions.

Other cool features: the DMC-FZ50 has a new Function Button that acts as a shortcut to your most commonly used settings, such as white balance, ISO, light metering, and so on. Your settings can also be memorized and switched on simply by selecting this function from the mode dial. Also, the camera's 2.0" LCD display flips out 180 degrees, allowing the user to easily shoot from high and low angles.

Key Features:
  • 10.1-megapixel CCD captures enough detail for photo-quality 18 x 24-inch prints
  • 12x image-stabilized optical zoom; 2.0-inch free-angle LCD display
  • Intelligent ISO Control (I.I.C.) reduces image blur from subject movement and low light
  • Records full-size movies in wide-aspect VGA (848 x 480) at 30 frames per second
  • Stores images on SD memory cards (32MB card included); powered by li-ion battery pack (battery and charger included)

Technical Details:
  • Effective pixels: 10.1 Megapixels
  • CCD (Image sensor): 1/1.8-inch CCD Primary Color Filter
  • Optical zoom: 12x
  • Extra optical zoom: 4:3 Aspect Ratio: 13.4x for 8 Mega, 17.1x for 5 Mega, 21.4x for 3 Mega, 2 Mega; 3:2 Aspect Ratio: 13.4x for 7 Mega, 17.1x for 4.5 Mega, 21.4x for 2.5 Mega; 16:9 Aspect Ratio: 13.4x for 5.5 Mega, 21.4x for 2 Mega
  • Digital zoom: 2x / 4x pre-select (Max. 48x combined with Optical Zoom without Extra Optical Zoom) (Max. 85.5x combined with Extra Optical Zoom)
  • Focal length: f=7.4-88.8mm (35mm equivalent: 35-420mm)
  • Leica DC Vario-Elmarit lens: 14 elements in 10 groups (3 Aspherical Lenses/3 Aspherical Surfaces, 1 ED Lens)
  • Aperture range: Wide: F2.8/F11, Tele: F3.7 - F11
  • Optical Image Stabilizer: MEGA O.I.S. (Mode 1 / Mode 2 )
  • Conversion lens compatibility: Yes
  • Focusing area: AF: Wide: 11.8 inches / Tele: 78.74 inches - infinity; Macro/ MF: Wide: 1.97 inches / Tele: 78.74 inches - infinity
  • AF metering: 1 point, 1 point high speed, 3 points high speed, 9 points, Spot
  • Focus: AF, AF Macro, MF switchable, Manual Focus (Ring), Continuous AF On/Off
  • AF assist lamp: Yes
  • ISO sensitivity: Auto, I.ISO, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600 (High Sensitivity Mode: 3200)
  • White balance: Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Shade, Halogen, Flash, White Set 1,2; White Balance Adjustment (150K step, -1500 +1500K) (except for auto WB)
  • Exposure: Auto, Program AE, Aperture Priority AE, Shutter Priority AE, Manual
  • Exposure compensation: 1/3 EV Step, ± 2 EV
  • Backlight compensation: Yes (at auto mode)
  • Auto bracketing (AE): +1/3EV-1EV Step, 3 Frames
  • Light metering: Intelligent Multiple, Center-weighted, Spot
  • Shutter speed: 8 - 1/2000 seconds: Program AE, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority AE; Manual: 60 - 1/2000 seconds
  • Self timer: 10 seconds, 2 seconds
  • Auto review: 1 second, 3 seconds, zoom
  • Review: 1x, 4x, 8x
  • Picture adjustment: Contrast, Sharpness, Saturation, Noise Reduction
  • Color Effect mode: Cool, Warm, Black & White, Sepia
  • Recording format: Still Image: JPEG (design rule for camera file system), DPOF corresponding; Still Image with Audio: JPEG (design rule for camera file system) and QuickTime; Motion Images: QuickTime Motion JPEG
  • Image quality: RAW, Fine, Standard
  • Recording image Size: 4:3 Aspect Ratio (Still Image): 3648 x 2736, 3264 x 2448, 2560 x 1920, 2048 x 1536, 1600 x 1200; 3:2 Aspect Ratio (Still Image): 3600 x 2400, 3248 x 2160, 2560 x 1712, 2048 x 1360; 16:9 Aspect Ratio (Still Image): 3584 x 2016, 3072 x 1728, 1920 x 1080; Motion Image (4:3 Aspect Ratio): 640 x 480, 320 x 240; Motion Image (16:9 Aspect Ratio): 848 x 480
  • Burst Shooting mode: Full-resolution image: Standard Mode: Up to 5 images at 2 or 1 frames/second; Fine Mode: Up to 3 images
  • Unlimited consecutive shooting: Yes
  • Still image recording with audio: 5 seconds
  • Audio dubbing: Maximum of 10 Seconds
  • Real-time histograms: Yes
  • Composition guide lines: Yes (2 patterns)
  • Built-in memory: No
  • Scene mode help screen: Yes
  • Auto angle detection: Yes
  • Flip animation: Yes
  • Travel date: Yes
  • Built-in flash mode: Auto Red-Eye Reduction: Auto, Slow-sync, Forced Off, Forced On/Off
  • External flash: Hot Shoe
  • Viewfinder: 0.44-inch diagonal Color EVF (235k pixels)
  • LCD monitor: Free-angle 2.0inch diagonal Polycrystalline TFT LCD Display (207k pixels)
  • Playback mode: Single; 9, 25-thumbnail display, Calendar display, Zoomed playback (16x max), image rotation (except for Raw), Slide Show, Favorite Pictures, Resizing, Trimming, Protection, Aspect Conversion, DPOF Print Setting
  • OSD language: English, Spanish, Japanese, Chinese (Traditional), German, Italian, French
  • Recording media: SD memory card, SDHC memory card, Multimedia Card
  • Microphone: Yes
  • Speaker: Yes
  • Interface: DC Input, A/V Output (NTSC/PAL), USB
  • Direct print: PictBridge
  • Battery Life: Up to 360 pictures (CIPA Standard)
  • Software: ArcSoft PhotoImpression, ArcSoft Panorama Maker, USB Driver, Lumix Simple Viewer, Photo Fun Studio, Silkypix Developer Studio 2.0 SE
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 3.37 x 5.54 x 5.59 inches
  • Weight: 1.47 pounds