Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28

Latest - Review and Sample Photos by LetsGoDigital (added 24 November’08)

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28 is a 10.1 megapixel DSLR digital camera and it features an 18x optical zoom 27mm wide-angle LEICA lens - (35mm Equiv.: 27-486mm), 2.7 inch LCD, and an ISO range from 100 to 1600. Camera dimensions are (H x W x D) 2.96” x 4.63” x 3.5” and it weighs .82 lbs.

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Reviewers Conclusions & Verdicts - (updated 23 November’08)

LetsGoDigital
“The Leica lens performs superbly when it comes to sharpness, to the edges as well as in the centre. With the exception of maximum telephoto range, where visible blur in the edges is combined with a strong sensitivity to chromatic aberration which diminishes the quality.”
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Camera Labs
“Should you ultimately decide on the Panasonic FZ28 though, you won’t be disappointed. Like its predecessor it delivers a compelling array of features for the money and easily comes Highly Recommended.”
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Steves Digicams
“With an awesome zoom lens, great image quality, robust performance, HD movie mode, and plenty of exposure options, the FZ28 is a well-rounded digicam. The only real issue I had with this camera was the Joystick control. I had to press it in Very hard in order for it to bring up the Q.Menu.”


PhotoReview
“Low-light performance was generally above average. The built-in flash was capable of illuminating an average-sized room at all ISO settings. Flash exposures were well balanced for both close-up and more distant subjects.”


Digital Camera Review
“Overall, the FZ28 sets a very high bar for the next generation of ultrazooms: it’s rare that a camera has this much to offer to shooters of widely varying skill levels, and at the end of the day, this versatility will likely make the FZ28 one of the new models to beat in its class.”


DPExpert
“The Panasonic is as responsive as any compact camera. It can’t match a true SLR, but it is priced against the low end entry SLRs, so when it comes to choosing a camera the advantages of the FZ28 are bulk and weight and the fabulous lens.”


Cameras.co.uk
“If I was looking for a super zoom digital camera the Panasonic DMC FZ28 would be one I would strongly consider. I prefer the overall picture quality to that produced by most other brands. It has plenty of advanced features too.”
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PhotographyBlog
“The FZ28 is a marginally better camera than the FZ18, with better image quality, a slightly bigger LCD screen, very useful and improved Intelligent Auto mode for beginners, and the added attraction of HD video. And thanks to it’s essential core feature of that excellent Leica-branded lens, which exhibits very little barrel or pin-cushion distortion despite the huge zoom range, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28 remains the super-zoom camera to beat.”
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GoodGearGuide
“Despite its soft pictures and slightly underdone colour, it will take good looking shots and you can always add a bit more saturation in a photo editor later on.”
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TrustedReviews
“On paper it looks like the FZ28 is only an incremental upgrade on the FZ18, but an objective analysis can’t convey the overall feel of the camera. Despite the obvious similarities, all the little changes add up to a camera that feels a significantly more accomplished and assured than its predecessor.”
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Actual Owner Feedback

“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.”
Portion of user comment on Amazon.com

“My main use for the new camera is to record my kids life. From time to time, I extend my artistic interest to scenes, buildings, animals, insects, flowers… I’ve had this camera for a week and took over 1000 photos. It’s simply fantastic.”
Portion of user comment on Amazon.com

“For people like me, the fun factor is more important, and this camera is FUN! To find a camera that does so much so very well is rare, but this one does - in spades.”
Portion of user comment on Amazon.com

“Let me state for the record that I am a Canon lover and I bought this camera just because I was looking for a high zoom camera and Canon just refuses to go higher! Sorry Canon, I still love you, but now I love my FZ28 better!”
Portion of user comment on Amazon.com

Sample Photos

[Sample Photos by LetsGoDigital]
[Sample Photos by Camera Labs]
[Sample Photos by Steves Digicams]
[Photo Quality Samples by Lets Go Digital]
[Sample Photos at Cameras.co.uk]
[Sample Photos at TrustedReviews]

Specifications & Camera Profile

[Camera Profile]

Owners Manual

[Owners Manual Download]

Press Excerpt

Panasonic introduces the Lumix DMC-FZ28 digital still camera, featuring a 27mm wide-angle Leica DC VARIO-ELMARIT lens with an 18x optical zoom*. Joining Panasonic’s popular FZ series of cameras that pack a high-powered zoom into a compact body, the FZ28 also boasts 10.1-megapixel resolution and adds a number of enhanced features that boost user fun and convenience, represented by an advanced iA (Intelligent Auto) mode.

The super-powerful 18x zoom lens makes it easy to pull in subjects from far away or to take dramatic close-ups. For an added boost, zoom power can be increased to 32.1x with the Extra Optical Zoom function**. The 27mm wide-angle feature is ideal for both broad landscapes and tight indoor shots, letting photographers capture a wider view. The 10.1-megapixel resolution allows photos to be greatly enlarged while still retaining outstanding detail, or edited by trimming and enlarging parts of the photo to print.

For image processing, the FZ28 features the high-speed, high-performance, Venus Engine IV. Thanks to the Venus IV, the FZ28 can snap off consecutive shots at a fast max.13 frames per second for subjects with fast motion in High Speed Burst Shooting mode. In High Sensitivity mode, the FZ28 can capture stunning photos with sensitivity up to ISO 6400 in extremely low light situations*. The engine allows the FZ28 to shoot up to 460 photos (CIPA) on a single battery charge thanks to improvements in power efficiency.