Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20K 14.1 MP Digital Camera with 8x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7-Inch LCD (Black)

This is my third Panasonic Lumix point-and-shoot camera, and I must say I am very impressed with the quality of such an inaxpensive ultra compact. My first two Panasonic Lumix cameras were the more expensive high end FX12 and FX33 ultra compacts and I didn't think the quality of this camera would be quite as good as the Leica lens FX series. I was pleasantly surprised with the new features and the quality of the FH20. The reason I was attracted to this camera other than another FX was the lower price (I am on a very scrawny budget), and twice the zoom (which is allot better than most ultra compact digital cameras), which was enough along with all the positive reviews for me to get the FH20 instead. And boy did I make the right choice. This camera looks allot nicer than my older ones with its highly polished brushed aluminum finish and you can feel the quality of the camera just by holding, it is indeed a very sturdy little thing. The detail in the pictures blow me away, but don't expect SLR quality. I love the macro zoom mode, the digital zoom doesn't degrade image quality at all. HD video is magnificent, even on my enormous TV. There are no real issues with this camera that I can see being an experienced amateur photographer.If you are looking for an easy to use pocketable camera that doesn't take allot of brain to operate but still produces excellent photos in all scenarios than this is the right camera. On the other hand if you are looking for a camera where you can take advantage of full manual controls than maybe you should invest a little bit more in your final decision.Bottom Line: Best camera you can get in the price range, packs allot of punch for such a small package.

I have been looking for a new digital camera that was small, took great pictures and was very simple to use (for those of us who are digital camera challanged). I had another brand but after a couple years of trying to figure out how it worked, just got disgusted because it was not as user friendly as they had said it was. Another thing I hated about other makes was the fact that they all used the AA batteries. This was a big part of the decision making because those AA batteries only lasted for about 10-20 minutes when put into the camera so was constantly changing them. So I started researching and reading hundred of reviews. After all was said and done, I went for the Panasonic Lumix FH-20. I got it out of the box and was pleasantly surprised at how compact and small it was and how very definitely these are VERY user friendly. I am so happy I don't have to carry a case of AA batteries with me anymore. The battery in this camera is awesome and lasts forever (well, you do have to charge it). The picutres I've taken so far are crip, sharp and the colors are true. Love the zoom feature too. This little camera really packs a punch..it has many other features that a simple to figure out and use. I'm just a simple person who just wants to aim, snap and go (and get great pics) and this camera has done that for me. You sure hit the nail on the head Panasonic for any digital camera challanged people out there..like me. I love my new little Lumix FH-20. Would recommed this camera to everyone. Oh, and believe me, you won't miss the viewfinder..I always found them annoying anyway. Happy picture taking everyone!

There are a lot of good things about this litte camera.1. It's little. I purchased this for a hiking trip to California, so I needed it to be easily stowable. It is.2. Ease of use. My previous camera was a Cannon, and I did not find there was any learning curve in adapting to a different menu set-up. I love the quick menu- it is incredibly convenient.3. Ability to switch between file sizes easily. All on the quick menu.4. Very good picture quality. I've been spoiled by Cannon, but Panasonic did OK.My biggest complaint: the zoom. I wanted to upgrade my zoom from the 4x I had on my Cannon to something with a little more...Ooomph. I figured the 8x would be great. Except for the fact that this camera can't seem to be able to focus between 3x and 6x. If I'm set to one extreme or the other (either zoomed all the way back or all the way in), it's fine. But as I zoom in the camera can't seem to find a spot to focus on. I've tried pushing down the button slightly, getting the zoom box and trying to show the camera where I wanted it to focus on, but that doesn't work either. I've tried other cameras with high zoom and have not run into the same issue. As the camera zooms, the focus stays true. The FH20 starts off focused, gets blurry, and then focuses again. Pretty disappointing performance when you're trying to shoot landscapes, and everything seems to be in that middle range.All in all this camera was an OK purchase. I like the burst shooting and the video recording, although I think it would have been better to add the video feature to the quick menu.