LUMIX ZS50 Camera, 30X LEICA DC Vario-ELMAR Lens, 12.1 Megapixels, High Sensitivity Sensor, Eye Viewfinder, DMC-ZS50S (USA SILVER)

UPDATE 7-Jan-2017: The annoying behavior of the viewfinder's automatic eye sensor that I mentioned in my original review has been solved! Using the camera's standard internal settings menu, I turned off the automatic sensor and programmed the 2nd function button on the back of the camera to toggle between viewfinder & big screen. Joy! I also recently used the camera in a winter ice display where the average temperature was just seven degrees Fahrenheit, keeping the camera turned on almost continuously for 35 minutes plus zooming in & out every few minutes to make sure the lenses hadn't frozen. I came out of the display with about 1/3 of a battery charge while other visitors had their camera & smartphone batteries drained almost completely by the cold. YMMV but it's not the first time I've found the batteries this camera uses do very well in extreme cold (just keep in mind the camera _can_ freeze if exposed to extreme cold for too long without warm hands around it). ORIGINAL REVIEW: This being my 3rd Panasonic Lumix camera, I was expecting few (if any) surprises -- and for the most part was right. This is A Good Thing. The ZS50 replaces a ZS40 that went to the beach with me one time too many (sand gets in very bad places with all those moving parts on the lens). It feels a bit heftier than the 40 but all the controls are exactly where I'd come to expect them and the general physical handling of the two cameras is nearly identical. The one caveat is that the viewfinder will automatically turn on -- thus turning off the main screen on back -- any time a finger, loose shirt collar, etc. gets too close to the sensor, so I've had to pay more attention to exactly how I'm holding the camera to avoid those, "omigosh, it just stopped worki- oh, no, it's just the viewfinder" moments. (I expect this to become automatic as I use the camera more over time.) Some things I've come to especially like: - The "shoot through glass" option in the Scenes menu (I don't remember having this on the ZS40) - MUCH much higher resolution image in the viewfinder, good enough to use it 100% of the time if I want. - The camera's reaction time seems faster; even using the "Intelligent Auto" setting (see note below) there's less wait between pressing the button and actually taking a picture. The old ZS40 was fast enough most of the time, but this new ZS50 is fast enough nearly ALL the time. I can't tell you if this is real or just my perception... but in any case I'm happier with this perception. - There's been a definite improvement in the quality of low-light images. - Just as with my older ZS40 and TZ5, the ZS50's zoom capability is amazing (especially in a camera this small). - The ZS50 uses the exact same batteries as its older sibling, saving me a bunch of money (and now I have *three* extra batteries, which is great for travel and events where I'm keeping the camera turned on for long periods of time). - The ZS50 comes with an actual battery charger as well as a USB cable, a real improvement over the USB-only charging feature of the ZS40. (I was able to buy a 3rd party charger with 2 extra batteries, so it was more of an annoyance than a problem; it's nice to know I now have a spare charger along with the spare batteries.) Some differences that don't really matter: - The ZS50 actually has a lower megapixel count than the older ZS40 (I think it's 12.1 vs 18) but I've not been able to see any difference in image quality until I start enlarging images beyond 8x10. - I had the all-black version of the ZS40 so the finish of the ZS50 looks flashier, but this isn't an issue aside from the two looking different. The all-black coating was supposed to have some anti-slip properties but I've had zero problems hanging onto the ZS50 even with damp hands while moving fast. Some caveats: - The "Intelligent Auto" setting on the ZS50 has the same annoying habits of the older version, especially its propensity to decide many photos are either backlit or a hand-held night shot even when not. I've learned that the Aperture Priority and Shutter Priority modes are my friends. - That auto-on feature for the viewfinder can go from "wow, cool" to PITA in no time flat; I'm still having to pay attention to exactly how I'm holding the camera and/or what's near it when I'd rather pay attention to my subjects. (Hopefully this will be a case of familiarity breeding adjustment.) - The flash is located perfectly to be blocked or shaded by my hand; I'm also having to learn how to hold it properly when using the flash. - Problems shared with the older ZS40 are the lack of hot shoe or microphone jack, but the flash is relatively powerful (especially when your fingers aren't blocking it) and the sound from the two tiny microphones on the top of the camera is surprisingly good. - Also similar to the ZS40 (but slightly improved) is the amount of image pixelation at higher zoom levels, even when using only optical zoom. - The GPS feature built into the older ZS40 is gone; I never used it (the feature eats batteries) but for some users this could be an issue. All in all, this is an excellent camera that blurs the line between high-end point & shoot versus low-end DSLR. Battery life is good; color balance is good under a wide range of lighting; the full-range zoom is droolworthy; shutter delay is nearly nonexistent; it's small enough to (carefully) fit in a pocket or into a cheap case hanging from one's belt; and it's compact enough to be great for travel. Treated with proper respect (and based on the older TZ5 and ZS40 I abused), I expect the ZS50 to last me at least 3-5 years and probably become a hand-me-down in the family.

I've had the ZS50 for a few weeks now, and the more I use it, the more impressed I am. I just finished writing a five-article hands-on review which I have posted on my photography Web site. I just Googled for Brian Byrd ZS50, and the first three results were three articles from the series. There is a lot to say, which is why I wrote five articles, but I will try to hit the highlights here. For the past 18 months I have been happy with my Fujifilm FinePix F900EXR. I bought the ZS50 as soon as it was available because it has all the feature of the F900, plus a viewfinder, a 30x zoom instead of a 20x, and more. I'll never buy a camera without RAW image capability, so that's a must-have. The quality of the viewfinder is fine. Having a viewfinder is indispensable at times, and has already come in very handy. 20x zoom is great, 30x zoom is awesome! As other reviewers have noted, the optical image stabilization works very well. I have been very impressed with it. The full manual exposure control is implemented well, but the manual focus it not as great. Read my articles for all the details. The Wi-Fi remote control is a dream come true. I tested it out at the bird feeder in my backyard and got some amazing shots! The image quality of the 12 MP sensor (thank you Panasonic for your wise decision to reduce the pixel count!) is so good that I was able to enlarge some shots with a 100% crop and they still came out really good. I would not dare to crop like that with images from my F900. See my Web site for all the bird photos. The ZS50 focuses a lot slower when the focus mode is set to AF Macro, so make sure you have the focus mode set to regular AF unless you are doing some close-up shots. For the best focusing in low-light situations, you will want to make sure the AF Assist Lamp option is turned on in the menu. Apart from the great remote control, the rest of the mobile app is not very impressive. It would be nice if the ZS50 had some sort of tilting LCD screen, but the remote control feature can compensate for that in some situations. Accompanying my five articles are three photo albums of test shots taken with the ZS50 during the past three weeks, so that you don't merely get all of my blah, blah, blah, but you can actually see for yourself what this great little camera is capable of. All in all, I am very happy with it. It definitely surpasses the Fujifilm F900. Of course, it is not perfect, but then no camera is. Every camera is designed and built with compromises and trade-offs. Considering the relatively-low price and how much functionality Panasonic has packed into a pretty-small package, I can give it 5 stars without hesitation.

Excellent overall. I wanted a compact camera so I wouldn't have to lug around my DSLR nor depend on my (quite good) smartphone camera, but I also wanted an EVF and enough control. It's easy and fairly intuitive to use, and easy to carry around. Photos are generally good, though not up to SLR quality. I'd say the lens is impressive for a 30x zoom, while color rendition is okay. Flash is quite weak but adequate for a compact. Tip: Consider getting a spare USB Type A <-> UC-E6 charging cable. I wish it used the more common Type A <-> MicroUSB connector common among smartphones, but the one provided is also commonly used by Nikon, so a spare should be fairly easy to find.

I'm an older boomer who loves to take pics but wants no muss and fuss. I own a Nikon D3300 which takes great pics but is too big to lug around. I've owned the ZS8 for 6 yrs which takes great pics but wanted a camera w/wifi. The 30x zoom sealed the deal. I bought the ZS50 from the amazon warehouse deals at a great price. I read the reviews and the dust on the lens was a complaint w/the ZS8 which I never experienced it in 6 yrs, 4 of living in AZ which is one dusty state. The auto switching between the view finder and screen is very useful especially in bright light when the LCD screen is hard to see. The ZS50 is lighter and does not seem as well made as the ZS8 but then most things are not compared to products from years gone by. The telephoto is phenomenal. I took a pic of a Costas hummingbird on the top of a tall tree in the Superstition Mountains with the wind moving the branches and couldn't believe the sharpness and detail of the shot because of the motion of the tree and me trying to hold the camera facing upward to get the shot. All the pics I've taken from the macro, inside, outside, telephoto and distance shots in auto mode have all been sharp and clear. I highly suggest getting spare batteries and a d/c charger since this camera only comes w/a USB cord to charge the battery in the camera. Also the battery doesn't last as long as the ZS8. The WIFI is easy to use once you get the Panasonic app for your phone. I have the IPhone 6+ and found I had to shut the 6+ down and restart for the wifi to connect w/camera the 2nd time I used it. I don't know why but if it happens again I'll just restart the phone. I would highly recommend this camera for easy point and shoot or if you want to be in control of all your recording modes (aperture, shutter etc) although I haven't used them. I turn the top mode dial from the side of it not the top so don't think I'll have an issue w/the letters rubbing off. I'm taking this camera on my 1st cruise to HI and know I won't be disappointed in the quality of the pics and ease of putting them on FB.

My Panasonic Lumix ZS19 is my absolute favorite camera. The excellent design that makes it easy to turn on and start taking pictures quickly and easily, the compact size and the lively pictures all make it a delight. The only thing it lacks is a viewfinder. So when I saw this ZS50 with a viewfinder, I was so happy. Sadly, the picture quality does not live up to the ZS19: the pics are fuzzy and lifeless - so frustrating when I'm taking pictures of an important event. And, now, a little over a year after purchasing it, the viewfinder has failed. What a waste of money. Just trying to figure out how to get rid of it.

This camera will never take the quality of photos that DSLRs are capable of. But it's not a DSLR; it's a travel companion that you can keep in your coat pocket or on your belt in a case. For a camera this size, it has the best of everything: The EVF is very sharp and a joy to use; the Intel Auto will adjust to pretty much any shooting condition; the LCD display is incredibly sharp; the video quality is exceptional for a point and shoot camera; the battery life is surprisingly good considering how much I've enjoyed playing with the powerful zoom; the wifi function (which requires the Panasonic Image app to be installed on your smart phone) is very impressive once you figure out how to use it (you get a full function remote control which includes wirelessly viewing the image on your device-great for macro shots, and the ability to transfer any picture to the device wirelessly); and of course, the zoom capability combined with the OIS works very well. Using home wifi network (the camera gives you a few choices), I was able to view pics directly on my wifi enabled Panasonic TV wirelessly. Pretty cool technology. I moved up from a Panny TZ5, and it's several iterations better. The decision to get the ZS50 rather than the NikonS9900 (great articulating screen), or the comparable Sony was because of the EVF and quite frankly, build quality. It just seems so solid compared to the other two cameras. The artistic function works great and is fun to play with, and the manual settings work well enough for a camera this size. Low light pictures turn out surprisingly well, thanks no doubt in part to Panasonic reducing the MP count. The flash, which is weirdly positioned and my only gripe with the camera does well in close shots (will the next version have a hot shoe perhaps?), but struggles a bit in more distance of fast moving subjects indoors. The reality is that it is expected so these slight shortfalls do not change my impression of the camera. With decent indoor light, the forced flash off (on non-moving objects) gives you more accurate colours reproduction. I have and would highly recommend this camera to anyone whom I know would not expect DSLR quality in a point and shoot. On a side note, it was purchased through Amazon but from Cardinal Camera. Although a small private store, their customer service was amazing (had one minor issue to deal with which was resolved beyond what I expected) and the camera was shipped rapidly.

I just returned from a two week trip to England with my family where I was able to put the camera through its paces shooting around 300 pictures and 5 hours of video. While most of the pics and video looked great with its big sensor, there is more to a camera than the quality of the pics/video....there is its functionality and build quality. These issues were great enough for me that I am returning the camera in the morning and waiting for the next version that I'm sure will fix many of these issues. Body Issues. I have the Lumix ZS7 that I really appreciate now that I have used the ZS50. why? Because of the following: - The ZS50 has its flash right above where you grip the camera so your fingers more often then not will be blocking the flash. Its fine if you always use two hands to grip this small camera so you can drop your right hand out of the way of the flash, but there are many situations where I hold it with one hand and those are the ones where your fingers will keep blocking the flash (see first 3 photos). And whenever I handed the camera to a stranger to take our picture, they always blocked the flash, even when I warned them about it. The ZS7 has the flash skewed toward the center of the body, away from where you are gripping the camera, where this is never an issue. - Bigger screen? Its not all used for some strange reason. Actually has a bigger screen but small image than the PS7 (see last photo) - The control knob that rotates between all the shooting functions is printed with a dull ink against a flat background providing very low contrast which makes it very difficult to read in low light situations. The ZS7 had black lettering against a shiny silver background making it easy to read in low light. (see 4th photo...looks ok here in bright light but cant read in dim light) - When the camera is first turned on, the lens extends out 3 times as far from the body as the ZS7 (see 4th & 5th photos for min and max extensions). And this is in the wide angle position!! (ie it extends out even farther when zooming in on a subject). This 4th image is as far in as it will contract when turned on for pics or video -The body has a textured plastic surface which I personally dont like as it feels cheap compared to the solid, smooth gloss surface of the PS7. Functionality: - One of the most annoying things was its inability to focus on subjects when shooting video in what equated to bright dusk lighting (ie 1/2 hour after sunset). I would repeatedly try to zoom in on a subject maybe 50 away but the camera kept searching for its focus point. It focused if I zoomed all the way out but when I zoomed in, it lost its focus again. Isnt this supposed to be great in low light?!? This happened about 5-6 times on various days/situations. Never had this issue with the ZS7. There is no excuse for this. - Another deal killer for me is that when shooting video, its nearly impossible to zoom in or out at a slow rate, no matter how light one feathered the control. It flies in out out with the slightest touch. When shooting video, in most situations you want to pan slowly, which is controlled by your body, but also to zoom in and out slowly, which was impossible. When played back on a big screen, the excessively fast zooming is very annoying. Summary deal killers for me were - fingers constantly in front of the flash. - difficulty in reading control knob in low light - problem focusing - inability to zoom and out slowly Annoying: - Smaller image on screen - Cheap feel of the body - Excessive extension of lens from body While these may not bother a novice photographer, I'm looking for a pocket size camera with better design and functionality to back up my professional SLRs...like my PS7 with a bigger sensor!

First off, I am a Panasonic Camera fan. I have several & this is the only one where I felt immediate disappointment when I opened the box. I received the camera Saturday. I can't seem to get past the build quality & the fact that the flash is in a really bad place. CONS: 1. Build Quality. The camera is all plastic & looks almost like a toy. I bought the Silver. I suggest the Black. Maybe it will look better. If I were to keep it I would purchase a Square Trade Warranty as I have doubts about its durability. 2. Flash. The flash is in a very awkward place right where you grip the camera. You will have to be very mindful every time the flash is used & check finger positions. I have very small hands & it is awkward for me. If you have big hands it may be a problem. 3. Battery Charger. There isn’t one? There is a charging cable that you can wall charge or PC charge while the battery is inside the camera. My other Panasonics came with a charger & a cable. I think Panasonic went econo with this feature too. (I realize you can buy a charger & additional batteries). PROS: 1. Lightweight. It is small & lightweight. It will easily fit in a purse or pocket. 2. Zoom is great. However, get the closest shot that you can. If you crop the photo it is going to be grainy. 3. Photo quality. It's OK. In my opinion It’s a little better than cell phone quality. The sensor is a 1/2.3 & most cell phones are a 1/3.2. However, you don’t get a 30X Zoom with a cell phone (which is what attracted me to this camera.) 4. Viewfinder. I like the viewfinder & the fact that it’s automatic when you put your eye to it. 5. Settings. There are lots of settings much like other Panasonic Cameras. 6. WiFi. I didn’t try to use as I plan on returning the camera. I usually shoot in Auto, Program, or Scene modes (easy modes). I want an easy to use, lightweight camera, with a decent zoom to put in my purse. I thought this was the one. However, the build quality & flash placement is such a turnoff for me that I’m planning on returning this camera. I will stick with my trusty ZS7 that I’ve had since it was brand new. It only has a 12X Zoom, no viewfinder, no WiFi but its built a whole lot better & my finger doesn’t block the flash.

Great quality, slim camera with a lot of feature inside, perfect for travel, i have a GH4 but this tiny one is a good alternative for quality/price, thank you!

I have wanted a lumix for a long time. I have a “bigger” camera for wildlife trips, but may not need it. This takes great pictures. Arrived promptly.

Une caméra de qualité. Pas en 4K , mais moins exigeant en mémoire.

Great camera zoom is excellent only problem hard to connect to wifi

Great camera. Better than expected.