This camera is great. Huge 12x optical zoom, yet the camera is very small and portable. Plus it has optical image stabilization that works wonders. Best of all it is relatively cheap. Best camera on the market, forgot to mention the photo quality is superb even with automatic setings. Plus you can go full on manual aperture, manual shutter, and manual iso if you want. Plus throw in the really high speed burst mode and every other camera just got OWNED!

After several months of use, the FZ4 continues to impress me. I had originally planned to get the FZ5 to replace my 3-yr old Panasonic LC5 but when I tried both, I found that an extra $100 or so bought me a slightly larger LCD (not enough to matter), sound when using the movie mode (which I have not used on any digital camera) and other useless gadgetry, like choice of silver or black body. I feel that the FZ4 is slightly faster and noise, which is usually seen in the shadows at higher ISO, is slightly reduced---and no purple fringing, period. Both are excellent cameras within their design parameters as cameras for sports, family gettogethers,nature and travel, not portrait or studio work although enlargements on the FZ4 are fine up to and including 8x11 and often even larger. What it lacks is a complete set of manual controls but if you want that you must get a DSLR and a couple of zoom lenses which will set you back several thousand. My Panasonic DMC-FZ4 was well under US$250, including tax and shipping.

Great Caera, Great photos, however this is a 2005 model,
these days I would buy the Great Panasonic FZ7.

However this is a great Camera that takes excellent pictures!
(records video with no Sound).

With out a doubt one of the best little zoom cameras ever! The Leica lens is amazing and our shoots are wonderful!

I find my self carrying this with me in my car at all times. We have bigger, more expensive digitals, but this continues to be my favorite all around camera. Our little ones (3 grandchildren) can not escape the pictures with this one! and they are IN FOCUS to boot!

Buy one if you can find one.