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Panasonic’s new FH20 bagged this year’s Consumer Camera award making it a real favorite among those who are fond of affordable yet powerful digital cameras. Although many people think that Canon and Nikon are the most reliable cameras one can get, there are always a few Panasonics that make it to the top and the FH20 is one great example. The new Lumix model lives up to the expectations of camera enthusiasts.

Slim and lightweight, the FH20 has become an all-time favorite among those who always travel and it does not look too fragile too. This camera offers many Scene modes including those with rather uncanny titles. Although many of its users are not sure what these scenes truly do to make the end product a lot better, it is still a fun way to use the FH20.

Performance and image quality wise, this baby is very powerful and the low light images are truly exceptional. What’s not to love?

Panasonic has recently unveiled the new additions to their Lumix G series. The Lumix is a micro four thirds camera, also known as a point-and-shoot camera designed with the aspiring yet less tech-savvy photographer in mind. With a sturdy body just like that of DSRLs,  micro four thirds cams are slightly smaller and slimmer because of the lack of a mirror that are present in digital single lens reflex cameras.

The G10 is an upgrade to Panasonic’s earlier models, the G1 and G2. The G10 allows a wide array of functions found in a DSLR in a novice-friendly design. The G10 sports a 12.1 mega-pixel sensor. Although not so large as the others in the market, the G10 allows for a full 1024 by 720 HD video capture -a feature that can be commonly seen only in expensive digital SLRs.

The G10 is slightly pricier than most micro four third cameras, but with the addition of a 14-42 mm kit lens, it is a bargain considering that it allows you to attach other lenses depending on your preference. Feature-wise, the G10 is loaded to the teeth. It is equipped with an AF tracking that allows easy focusing on moving subjects, and custom color modes. The lens, too, is also equipped with an image stabilizing feature to reduce image blur caused by vibrations or camera shake.

Camera enthusiasts find it fun to compare the features of their digital cameras. This comparison goes beyond ease of use and picture quality though because they also measure the digital camera’s reliability. SquareTrade, an electronics warranty provider did a 2-year-study to find out which camera brand wins in terms of reliability.

The results as we now all know point to camera manufacturer Panasonic. With a failure rate of only 5.3% for its high end cameras and 1.9% for its lower end ones, the study spells success for Panasonic. Budget cameras at a range of $150 or less have a 7% failure rate much less compared to other brands. Their Digital SLRs proved to be the most reliable of all. This is indeed good news to Panasonic users and can be something to keep in mind for those wanting to buy a new digital camera.

With the official announcement for Lumix DMC-G2, Panasonic recently announced it newest G model –the DMC-G10. The G10 has almost identical specifications as the G2 just with a different live viewfinder i.e. a non-touch LCD screen (3.0 inch), a maginification of 1.04x and a 202k dots resolution lesser than its predecessor. It has standard motion video recording (JPEG) at 1280 x 720.

What makes this camera cool is that it is the world’s lightest digital camera with interchangeable lens. It is compact and very easy to use and it produces high quality photos as well. It is HD video capable and is a good camera for newbies and professionals.

A few days ago, Panasonic announced the pricing for its new Lumix models and according to Panasonic’s representative; the models will be available mid-March this year.
Lumix DMC –ZS5 and Lumix DMC-ZS7 will cost $299.95 and $399.95 respectively while the rugged DMC-TS2 will cost the same as the DMC-ZS7. Panasonic’s slim DMC-ZR3 on the other hand will retail at $299.95.
More on the Lumix Series
The second generation rugged DMC-TS2 has HD video recording capability and can be submerged in water up to 10 meters. Apart from that, this newest addition to Panasonic cameras is also shockproof, freezeproof, and dustproof. With its 28mm Leica lens, owners of the DMC-TS2 will surely enjoy taking stunning shots. Lumix Repair at TelePlan Camera Repair: The camera has 4.6x optical zoom and provides flexibility for every shooting scenario. This camera was made for people who love to go on adventure trips and no one can beat a toughie with a tough camera. At $399.95, this is a good price for something that is tough and powerful all at the same time.
Panasonic’s newest additions to its Lumix ZS series have ultra-wide angle lenses along with 12x optical zoom. The ZS7 features 12 megapixels along with a built-in GPS that enables its user to embed HD videos and photos with specific location details. Its brother, the Lumix ZS5 also has HD video capability and an ultra wide angle lens. What distinct the ZS5 from the ZS7 is that it has a 2.7 inch intelligent LCD.
The DMC-ZR3 is a compact digital camera that is equipped with HD video recording along with a 25mm ultra wide lens. It has 8x optical zoom. Panasonic’s new intelligent zoom equipped camera the ZR# however extends its zooming capability to 10x.

Digital Photography Review provides a very in-depth article about what exactly Micro Four Thirds is, but for the everyday photographer who doesn’t understand what flange back distance or the point of sensor size is, this is a brief overview of possible pros and cons of Micro Four Thirds cameras.

Micro Four Thirds System (from dpreview.com)

The fundamental positive of the Micro Four Thirds system is that the cameras can be created with less material. Whether or not smaller camera size itself is a pro or con is determined on a case-by-case basis. For the everyday photographer it is most likely a positive — we love our small digital cameras that fit nicely into our pockets. As more and more soccer moms are on the sidelines with DSLRs, the idea of a compact camera with much more functionality than a point-and-shoot becomes appealing. For travel enthusiasts, especially, a quality alternate to a point-and-shoot could make the Micro system a hot seller. For professional photographers, however, the Micro system could lend itself to a poor user experience with its tiny body.

The Micro Four Thirds system could become the avenue through which everyday point-and-shoot users try out a DSLR-like camera. (Micro Four Thirds is not an SLR, but provides similar functionalities.) For those of us who see DSLRs as cameras for professional photographers, the Micro system’s compact size could be the invitation that we’re looking for.

Another positive for everyday users is that we most likely haven’t invested hundreds or thousands of dollars in camera equipment (yet). If you’ve been content with your compact camera but are possibly looking to explore more avenues of digital photography, the Micro Four Thirds system is most likely the next big thing and has the potential to be a quality investment. For users who have invested in DLSR systems, the Micro Four Thirds system is probably less appealing — it requires purchasing new lenses and possibly changing brand systems altogether if you are loyal to Nikon or Canon, all of which will not work with the DSLR equipment you already own.

Overall, the Micro Four Thirds system looks promising for the everyday photographer. It houses DSLR capabilities in a point-and-shoot size. If you plan to become very involved in photography, however, it might be wise to hold off on purchasing a Micro system. The technology is still very new and nowhere near as established as the DLSR systems that are currently available. Not only will the selection of body styles and lenses be limited for awhile, the number of companies that carry the Micro system will be limited as well. Currently only Panasonic and Olympus are developing the Micro Four Thirds lineup of equipment.