Camera Panasonic Lumix SZ1 16.1 MP Deals & Reviews

Mike Jay (Ohio): First up, I actually own the DMC-SZ02 which is available at a certain store in my area founded by Sam Walton... :) I am 99.9% certain this is the exact same camera as the DMC-SZ1, please correct me if I`m wrong. But dont confuse either of these with the DMC-ZS1 (note the ZS and SZ difference), which is also available but quite different. Cant they get a little more creative with the product names? Jeezz

Alanwagen "alanwagen" (Fort Worth, TX USA): Now the perks which are sort of neato mosquito: It does self stitching panoramic photos with out software, you change mode and hold the shutter button down and pan and it stitches away. This includes side to side as well as up and down like you would need for a tall building.
Another mode will decorate your picture with a frame, my favorite is the heart frame. It does baby scenes where you can have text of the name of the baby and his or her age in months and days. It automatically figures this out from the birth date.
All told there are 15 scenes.

Samuel Chell (Kenosha,, WI United States): The more expensive (and powerful) ZS20 is currently the best-selling point and shoot on Amazon, but most shooters will achieve equally satisfying images from the equally high-rated (and recommended by Consumer Reports), smaller and less expensive Panasonic SZ1, while enjoying longer battery life (the touch-controls of the ZS20 take a significant toll). As for other Panasonic choices, the prices of the DMC-FH25/27 and the newer (by one year) DMC-SZ1 are practically identical, but the SZ1 has a wider-angle lens (25mm vs 28mm), a longer telephoto lens (10X optical/20X digital vs. 8X zoom; ), and is even lighter (5oz. vs. 6oz). Moreover, "Consumer Reports," in rating the SZ1 above the DMC-FH27, gives the advantage to the SZ1 in the following areas: improved image stabilization; better audio quality (mono) during video use; dramatically faster start-up time (almost instant with the SZ1); a brighter and larger LCD screen (3" vs. 2.7" for the FM25 and 2.9" for FH27's touch-screen).

Helvetiaphile (Arlington, VA): I always download the operating guide for a camera I am considering, and read it cover to cover. This tells you what the "gotchas" are. When I went to Panasonic's support pages I discovered that this camera does not exist. I was unable to find a copy of the manual on the WWW except at those sites that offer free downloads in exchange for infecting your computer. When I received the camera I noted that one manual was printed for the SZ1, SZ02 (yes it's the same) and the similarly operating but entirely differently constructed FH8. I did a web search for support for this model and finally found the online manual at [...] . You will get the operating guide on a CD but it has security, while the online version has no security. You probably don't care but I like to edit the manuals, eliminating the warnings about burning down my house, and features that apply only to other cameras in the series. The edited PDF will go on my Kindle and on my vacation.