Panasonic Lumix® DMC-FZ10 Digital Camera

This is an "SLR" sized ruggedly constructed digital camera with good resolution having an exceptional 12X optical zoom lens. Due to the comprehensive lens specification, it is not really necessary to consider alternate lenses as you might need to do with a more expensive camera such as the CANNON series (although extra zoom and extra wide adaptors are also available for the FZ-10 at some cost).

User controls/interactions are straightforward, with comprehensive options. There is a good sized viewfinder/rear screen, or you can use the viewfinder eyepiece viewer for this with less power consumption from the battery.

Photos are stored on the commonly available inexpensive SD card media.

I bought one of these cameras new about 4 years ago (2004) and have been so satisfied with it that I decided to buy another via. e-bay as a spare.

If you have previously been happy with a classic 35mm SLR such as the Pentax ME Super, I think you will not be disappointed with this digital Panasonic unit.

I would stress that it is more for the ex-35mm SLR community rather than for ladies' handbags, but I strongly recommend the FZ-10 as a very cost-effective compromise between a "handbag" digital camera and a fully fledged interchangeable lens SLR.

Colin 4228 E-Bay

Excellent lens, 12x optical zoom, so many options I don't know what half of them do - yet. Much better spec than I realised, it's a camera I can use and learn as I go along, growing into it until I understand all it can achieve. All this at half the price of a Canon or Nikon.