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•	12x Optical Zoom
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Nikon D80

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28S 10MP Digital Camera with 18x Wide Angle MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Silver)

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Brand: Panasonic
Category: Photography

List Price: ~~$399.95~~
Buy New: $279.66
You Save: $120.29 (30%)

New (37) from $279.66

Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars

14 reviews
Sales Rank: 829

Color: Silver
Media: Electronics
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
System Memory: 50
Floppy Disk Drive: None
Monitor Size: 270
Optical Zoom: 18
Digital Zoom: 4
Display Size: 2.7
Maximum Focal Length: 86.4
Minimum Focal Length: 4.8
Maximum Resolution: 10.1
Has Red Eye Reduction: Yes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 3 x 3.5 x 4.6

MPN: DMC-FZ28 Silver
Model: DMC-FZ28 Silver
UPC: 037988988099
EAN: 0037988988099
ASIN: B001CCTPFQ

Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days

Features:

•	10-megapixel CCD captures enough detail for photo-quality poster-size prints
•	18x wide-angle MEGA Optical Image Stabilized zoom lens
•	2.7-inch high-resolution LCD screen; HD video capture
•	Full SLR-like manual operations including aperture, shutter, program and full manual modes with Advanced Scene modes
•	Capture images to SD/SDHC memory cards (not included)

Accessories:

•	Apple Aperture 2.1.1
•	Kingston 4 GB SDHC Class 4 Flash Memory Card SD4/4GB
•	Vista Explorer 60" Lightweight Tripod with Tripod Bag
•	Paint Shop Pro Photo X2
•	Corel Painter Essentials 4 (Win/Mac)

Similar Items:

•	Kingston 4 GB SDHC Class 4 Flash Memory Card SD4/4GB
•	Lenmar DLP006 Lithium-ion Digital Camera/Camcorder Battery Equivelent to the Panasonic CGR-S006A Battery
•	Transcend TS8GSDHC6 8GB SDHC card (SD 2.0 SPD Class 6)
•	Tiffen 46mm UV Protection Filter
•	Transcend TS4GSDHC6 4GB SDHC card (SD 2.0 SPD Class 6)

Editorial Reviews:

Product Description
Panasonic's new DMC-FZ28 boasts a premium 27mm wide-angle LEICA lens with an 18x optical zoom, ideal for tight indoor shots and long-distance action photos. The 10.1 megapixel digital camera also features an enhanced Intelligent Auto Mode (iA), with the new AF (auto focus) Tracking function, making it easier for photographers at any level to shoot sharp, well-focused photos, even when the subject is moving -- making it ideal for action shots.

Customer Reviews: Read 9 more reviews...

5 out of 5 stars

THE BEST OF ALL WORLDS! September 14, 2008
NeuroSplicer (Freeside, in geosynchronous orbit)
22 out of 22 found this review helpful

UltraZooms have came to bridge the gap between Point-&-Shoot cameras and DSLRs. They may not be the easiest to carry in a pocket (especially in the summer) but offer much better lenses, sensors and features than their cell-phone sized cousins. This is what has came to be known as the CREATIVITY segment of the camera market - and the PANASONIC FZ28 is the its absolute leader.

For months now I kept borrowing my brother's FZ18 as I was researching the market for my own UltraZoom. Since this could not go on indefinitely (and my summer vacation was coming up), I decided on the NIKON P80. Although a very good camera I found it fickle and unpredictable if left on full Auto. My belief that NIKON would never put out an inferior product was confirmed but I am not a professional photographer: I missed the simplified perfection of my brother's FZ18.
Luckily the Internet merchant I had bought my NIKON from offers an upgrade insurance option: for a small percentage of the total cost I bought the option of returning the camera within 12 months (provided in perfect working condition) and having it replaced with a latest model (from the same merchant of course). So, when FZ28 became available, I did just that.

As with the FZ18, the Intelligent Auto (iA) setting is a dream! Perfect crystal clear pictures under (almost) any conditions, EVERY TIME. There are more tweaking options than one could desire of course, but elusive scenes often do not allow for minute setting fidgeting: a reliable Auto is a good friend in a tight moment.
The older model was reported to sometimes have a problem when there were intense sunlight and shaded areas in the same shot: nothing of this sort with the FZ28. I have posted some sample photos (at the black FZ28 page)to illustrate exactly this.

The new features of FZ28 include a new sensor (10.1MP/2.33") coupled with the also new Venus IV engine; an enlarged high quality LCD (2.7" from 2.5"); a wider lens system (starting from 27 instead of 28mm - but also ending at 486 instead of 504mm); a new auto-tracking focus feature; an auto backlight compensation function (missing from FZ18) and (finally!) zooming while taking video.
The cherry on this cake: FZ28 comes also with a leveling function which helps align buildings or the horizon with the subject - even after taking the picture! (OK, essentially it is cropping but still...)

My only gripe: as with FZ18, FZ28's zooming control is counterintuitive! One zooms IN the picture by pushing in it, whereas zooms OUT by pulling back. Well, as with the FZ18, the direction of the zooming control is in the opposite directions. (If someone knows how to contact Panasonic-Japan by email please let me know, I would like to offer them my opinion).

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!

5 out of 5 stars

Even better than the FZ-18 October 1, 2008
R. Taylor
17 out of 17 found this review helpful

As noted in the title, I already own the FZ-18, but when I saw some of the enhancements in the FZ28, I decided to give it a try since I had been so happy with the FZ-18. One of the greatest improvements is the resolution of the viewfinder LCD. I feel the camera is more stable, especially at long focal lengths, using the viewfinder LCD, and thus, holding the camera close to my face. The new viewfinder has significantly more resolution, and it actually feels like you are looking through an SLR viewfinder. The higher megapixel resolution is also a plus, and it further brings out the crispness of the Leica lens, which has always been spectacular. I have also enjoyed using the automatic backlighting adjustment and the ability to set a limitation on the camera's automatic selection of ISO.

I have friends with digital SLRs, and occasionally they show me a picture that I simply could not take, but for the most part, my camera easily challenges theirs in all lighting, focusing and fast picture taking situations.

The FZ-18 I got is black, so I decided to go with silver for the FZ-28, and it's very nice looking. My only complaint at all with these cameras, and it's both a positive and a negative, is that they feel so light. I guess we associate "heft" with quality, so the light weight of the camera makes them feel a little cheap, but it also makes them easier to carry. You hardly know it's hanging on your shoulder.

I highly recommend this camera to anyone who wants a lot of control, a spectacular lens and a huge range of photo taking features. I did lots of research before buying either of these cameras, and they are head and shoulders above the Canon, Nikon and Sony competitors.

5 out of 5 stars

Just what I wanted ! October 6, 2008
Marie Brandt (Orlando, FL USA)
14 out of 15 found this review helpful

I'm not quite sure why there are only 3 reviews for the silver Lumix FZ28 and 22 for the black model at the time of this writing. I debated over which one to get myself and ended up choosing the silver. After looking at both of the models on the Panasonic website, I found that the controls on the back of the silver model are much easier to see. When I got it in the mail and opened it up, I wasn't disappointed. The silver camera is just beautiful! I own a Canon sd870, which I love and keep in my handbag at all times since it is so small. I was in the market for something with more manual control and a greater zoom. I didn't want a DSLR because of the price and having to purchase and carry around additional lenses. This camera fits the bill.I'm not going to repeat all the features that this camera has since they are all listed on this page for you to read for yourself. I love the fact that you can set this camera to IA mode and get great pictures without really having to think about any settings, but you would be doing yourself a disservice to always use this camera that way. I purchased several books here on Amazon about digital photography (The Joy of Digital Photography by Jeff Wignall being one of them) and along with the camera manual, I have learned quite a lot about the many great features this camera has (I have even taken some RAW pictures and then adjusted them using the included software-they came out great). I also invested in a decent tripod - you can get much better shots using the zoom if the camera is steady. The pictures I have been getting with this camera are vibrant and beautiful. There is so much more to this camera than a point and shoot and with so much to still discover about it, I don't see myself getting bored with this camera anytime soon. I highly recommend this camera. Now if I just didn't have to wait another 3 months for my vacation to give it a good workout....

4 out of 5 stars

If you already own a super-zoom... October 22, 2008
mark justice hinton (New Mexico)
11 out of 17 found this review helpful

If you have not yet owned an ultrazoom (10X or higher), you will probably like the FZ28. It's a nice camera, smaller and lighter than my Sony, but loaded with features and options.

In the past 6 years, I have owned 3 or 4 digital cameras. One or two years ago, I bought a Sony DHC-H5, primarily for its 12X zoom, which was a stunning improvement over the 10X I previously owned. I was one click away from buying the Sony DHC-H50 when I started reading rave reviews about the Panasonic Lumix FZ28. A bit of research convinced me to buy it from Amazon. In less than 24 hours, I returned it. (I admit I should have given it more time, but my basic disappointment would not have changed.)

There is a gotcha in comparing zooms. A 12X is not necessarily 20% better than a 10X. The X factor is based on the unzoomed wide angle lens. The FZ28 has a much wider lens than the H5. On the plus side, the FZ28 will capture more of the scene before you because of that wide lens. However, that wide angle lens means 18X isn't as much of a zoom as one might think.

To truly compare lenses, you must look at the 35mm equivalents for each lens. The 18X FZ28 zoom maxes to 486mm; the 15X H50 is 465mm. Both should reach farther than the 12X H5 at 432mm. But in careful testing, taking pictures from the same spot with the FZ28 and the H5, the zoom shots were virtually identical. (Actually, the H5's auto mode captured a brighter image than the FZ28, but the zooms were undistinguishable.) Because of the vagaries of the X factor, I didn't expect a huge improvement, but I still expected to be wowed and I was not. And by not being wowed, I was disappointed, even though this zoom will wow anyone who hasn't used another long zoom.

I considered hanging on to the FZ28. It has many newer features lacking on my older H5, such as face detection and smile detection. Unfortunately, the LCD is smaller and less sharp than the H5.

The tipping point was a rather minor feature, ironically. Most cameras record JPEGs, which is fine for most uses. A lot of high-end cameras shoot RAW format, which stores much more information than a JPEG. That info can be very useful in a powerful photo editor. Frankly, I crop and make minor tweaks that work fine in JPEG format. But, the fact that the FZ28 offers RAW + JPEG (one shot, two pix) tipped me towards the FZ28. And back again.

You cannot shoot RAW if you use the fully automatic mode (Intelligent Assist). I can't understand why that is so, but it is true. So, if you want RAW, you forego auto and vice versa. Crazy. Unacceptable to me, as minor as my interest in RAW is.

I'm not trying to steer anyone away from the FZ28 except for someone like me who is trying to pick between it and another camera and is swayed by the 18X zoom and RAW format. Make sure you have other reasons for buying the FZ28.

peace,
mjh

4 out of 5 stars

Decent upgrade July 23, 2008
Gaius Julius Ceasar (Ancient Rome)
6 out of 13 found this review helpful

Having used the fz18 model for while, i had a chance to look at this model a few days ago. While i did not use it for more than a few hours i managed top get a nice handle on it. The camera is designed to be do everything ok but master nothing. To master everything is probably not realistic since you do not have the luxury of DSLR lenses for everything length. I think i will mention my likes and dislike.

Likes:
1. video mode is very good, video is clean and has decent sound.
2. good image quality, even at 12x+(must use tripod for anything after 12x)
3. Nice lcd screen
4. good battery like. i shot about 400 shots before they were depleted.

Dislikes:
1. still too heavy to use for macro, must have a tripod
2. as light dissapears so does the qualify of the evening shots.
3. flash is a bit weak

overall, i think if you have used these type of models (with 12x+ lenses) you will not find anything earth shattering. but you will enjoy the new upgrade.

digital camera dmc fz28 dmz fz28s lumix panasonic

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