Last spring I moved out west to Washington and fell in love with the beautiful mountains, ocean, and forests. I quickly found out that my old 2 megapixel Canon a40 worked well, but could not capture the views that I wanted to share with my friends and family. I had to get a camera with a zoom lens and tripod to begin to share the wonders of nature I’m discovering in the Northwest.
After a few months of research, I realized I did not have the talent in photography and the budget to purchase a digital SLR. I found a great compromise in the Panasonic DMC-FZ20. The camera was on sale from Circuit City for $527.00 and has all the features I was looking for: 5mp, F2.8, 12X optical zoom, 2 inch LCD, hot shoe for external flash, supports conversion lens, metal body, auto image stabilization, optional manual controls, and much more.
While I have a long way to go in order to get the most out this camera, I can take some great shots in the auto modes and it’s a camera that will grow with me as my photography skills increase. All the digital photo websites I’ve visited has had nothing but good things to say about the Panasonic, and after a short time with it, I’ll agree that if you want a great high zoom digital camera, The Panasonic DMC-FZ20 is a winner.
Thanks for the tip about the Panasonic digital cam. I’ve been looking for one lately, and want something between a point-and-shoot and an SLR. This one definitely looks worth checking out (if they ever arrive in Canada).