Panasonic DMC-FX500- is it any good?

[hillwalkinggirl]

I'm planning on buying a new compact for taking up the mountain - DSLR is too heavy for this. Has anyone any experience of the above camera. It looks quite good to me from the spec, but just wonder if anyone has actually tried it and can give me their personal thoughts on it.

 

[Matty777]

I just heard a review on "The Digital Photography Show" Podcast #97 on the Panny Lumix DMC-F28
Not a P&S but a tiny DSLR type thing. They gave it a good low down. 10mp, huge tele range with IS (* 35mm film camera equivalent: 27-486mm), RAW mode, Av TV Manual, face detection, Hi Res Video camera !! Image Levelling !! etc etc etc

Maybe ?? That's a whole lot of camera for a compromise inbetween DSLR and P&S

About £200, shop around.

 

[Daysleeper40]

I think that one is the FZ28 - they also do the FZ18 & FZ8 (older models).

I have the FZ8 and have been really happy with it - it is not that small though so I don't know how much you'd want to carry it up a mountain. It's not particularly heavy but it will take up some room...

I'm sorry I don't know anything about the DMC-FX500 - hopefully someone will be along soon who is more helpful!

 

[hillwalkinggirl]

I just heard a review on "The Digital Photography Show" Podcast #97 on the Panny Lumix DMC-F28
Not a P&S but a tiny DSLR type thing. They gave it a good low down. 10mp, huge tele range with IS (* 35mm film camera equivalent: 27-486mm), RAW mode, Av TV Manual, face detection, Hi Res Video camera !! Image Levelling !! etc etc etc

Maybe ?? That's a whole lot of camera for a compromise inbetween DSLR and P&S

About £200, shop around.

I think that one is the FZ28 - they also do the FZ18 & FZ8 (older models).

I have the FZ8 and have been really happy with it - it is not that small though so I don't know how much you'd want to carry it up a mountain. It's not particularly heavy but it will take up some room...

I'm sorry I don't know anything about the DMC-FX500 - hopefully someone will be along soon who is more helpful!

Thank you both, but I already have a Fuji e900 which is about the same size as these, and shoots in RAW, but because I can't keep it in my pocket It's not that convenient when going up mountains. I need something which is very light, compact and easily to hand. Especially during the winter months it's a constant race against daylight hours, and photos have to be taken quickly on the run.

Although the FX500 didn't have RAW I thought that it might be a good compromise, so I would be very grateful if anyone has tried one of these to tell me their opinions on it.