Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ50 Review

The Panasonic DMC-FZ50 is a 10 megapixel digital camera with a 12x ultra-zoom lens equivalent to a focal length of 35-420mm. It also offers an optical image stabilisation system to help give you sharp results. The DMC-FZ50 has improved on its popular predecessor, the DMC-FZ30, with more megapixels, new Venus III processing engine, and ISO 800 and 1600 speeds at full image resolution. The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ50 also offers a mechanical zoom and focus ring, which you won’t find on its competitors. Read our review to discover if the DMC-FZ50 makes the grade.

Website: Panasonic DMC-FZ50 Review

Published: Saturday, September 23, 2006

Reader Comments

1. Excellent review thankyou, although it leaves me undecided as to whether to buy. I want to upgrade from my Olympus C750, which I love, apart from its speed, and the Panasonic seemed suitable, apart from the noise, and lack of remote conrtol which I use a lot.
   The quality and usefullness of the review is brilliant, giving me far more info. than I expected, and most of it I could understand. thanks!

   Jacky Thompson at 06:36pm on Saturday, September 23, 2006

2. An insightful review, but the noise issue is troubling. Is noise an intrinsic problem for these bridge cameras so that one should go ahead and buy now, or is it likely to improve noticeably with new models?

   r weber at 06:37pm on Tuesday, October 10, 2006

3. To be sure, noise performance improves with every new generation
   of CCD. The only thing is, you can't tell, because they also increase
   the number of pixels on the CCD, so it's a complete wash.
   
   Noise in not inherent to bridge cameras, per se, just to small pixels.
   Bridge cameras use the smallest (1/2.5") CCDs because they want
   to fit the largest zoom range into a reasonably sized lens. However,
   they also squeeze the most pixels they can onto the CCDs because
   they want to advertise the highest resolution. Something has to give
   somewhere.

   GARY POGODA at 01:57pm on Wednesday, October 11, 2006

4. Thanks for your excellent review on this one.
   If you had compared this against the Fuji S9100, would have been more appreciated , though this was an excellent review any way.
   
   I bought this model with knowing its limitations : have to stick to lowest ISO possible and lack of super fast bust mode like on an SLR that you pointed out in the review.
   
   So I am totally satisfied with this model and love the color it produces up to 400 ISO.
   
   And I seldom use 800 or higher ISO range any way , so for me this one was a real bargain , think about buying an SLR with a few lenses ?
   
   Well thanks a lot and please review on the G7 soon.
   
   I think I would like to buy that model , I will sell my Sony H5 and a few compacts like Ixus 70,FX01, w100 and P200, all of which I really dislike.
   
   I kinda like Sony , but the memory stick duo really sucks.
   
   
   Take care and thanks for your effort always.

   Derek at 09:43pm on Sunday, November 19, 2006

5. In researching the Panasonic DMC FZ50 I came across this website for the first time. Most impressed with the honest and comprehensive review which cleared up many issues for me. Now off to review the Lieca V-Lux 1 and then to make a decision. Thank you!

   Peter Conway, UK at 11:09am on Sunday, January 07, 2007

6. Very helpful review: balanced, clear and paying attention to aspects that really count. Only points missing: comparison against the Leica V-Lux 1 (Very similar but does that really provide anything extra that would justify the extra money?) and, more generally, a conmparison against other bridge cameras such as the Fujifil and Sony ones.
   thanks for clarity and completeness.

   Martin de Graaf at 11:54pm on Thursday, January 11, 2007

7. Very good and accurate review. I recently purchased a DMC-FZ50 to replace my Kodak DX6490, and on the whole I am very impressed.
   
   Noise is an issue at high ISO settings as the on camera noise reduction will begin to blur images over about 400 ISO. But if you keep that in mind, this is an excellent value for the money.

   JS Nature Photos at 02:11am on Friday, July 13, 2007