Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS3A 8.1MP Digital Camera with 3x MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Light Blue)

I love this camera! I bought this camera just before a trip 2 Canada & was more than pleased with the way the pictures turned out. Its user-friendly & the battery lasts a long time. I didn't have a problem with the red bars that one reviewer complained about. The lines were so minimal I barely noticed them. The only reason I gave it four stars instead of five is because I noticed that the pictures came out a little blurry when using the full zoom & I would've liked the zoom 2 be better. Overall this is a great camera 4 the price & exceeded my expectations.

I took this camera with me 2 Bumbershoot 2 take pictures of The Weakerthans (indoors) & Del Tha Funky Homosapien (outdoors) & it held up pretty well. I got pretty close 2 The Weakerthans & I was able 2 snap some good pictures using the "night" setting with the flash turned off. The typical concert lighting 4 an indoor show didn't ruin the pictures so the pictures came out pretty well. When I took the camera 2 Del, I was right up front & it was able 2 capture him in action. Some of the pictures were blurry because he was moving around so fast, but, I don't think a camera could do any better unless it was an expensive camera with a super fast shutter speed... & those types of cameras are usually banned from concert venues unless you have a special press pass. Another feature that could be considered a downside would be the big screen in the back. While it gives you a really nice idea of what you're about 2 take a picture of, I'm always afraid of scratching it when I put the camera in my pocket. It hasn't happened yet, but, I'm being careful.

In summary:

+ Good 2 take into shows because it's small enough 2 put in your pocket & is powerful enough 2 take nice pictures.
+ The battery life is very good compared 2 my digital camera that uses AA batteries. At the end of the day, I just plug the battery pack into the wall until the green light turns off.
+ It comes with a built in memory that has enough room 4 about 16 pictures.

- If you're looking 4 a camera with a really fast shutter speed, this isn't the camera 4 you. This is what I am talking about in terms of shutter speed 4 the novice picture taker: http://www.digicamguides.com/learn/shutter-speed-examples.html
If you're interested in taking pictures of moving objects without them being blurry, consider researching DSLR cameras. I just got this one because it is affordable.


To parents/grandparents/guardians/siblings out there: This would be a good holiday present 4 a teenagers who go 2 see live music. It fits well in a small purse or pocket so it's easy 2 hide if they're not allowed in a venue. It's light & compact, making it easy 2 tolerate carrying around during a 4 hour show, & if they turn off the flash option, then it's also not detectable. It's also much better than those cell phone cameras that I see kids using with disappointing results.

This camera records long, red bars on your movies if you are shooting outside. It isn't just my model; every Panasonic Lumix FS3 comes with a yellow paper in its box explaining that this happens. The red bar doesn't show up in pictures (though you can see it on the LCD screen) but it shows up in every movie you record in the sun. As soon as I read the warning, I took my camera outside & shot a few seconds of video in the sun. Sure enough, there was an ugly red bar in the video.

My question is, why doesn't Amazon let their customers know about this problem? Panasonic tells you right off the bat when you open the box but it would have been nice 2 have been warned BEFORE I bought it. Now I have 2 send it back & wait 4 a refund.

Stay away from this camera, unless of course, you like red bars in your movies.

This is a great camera. It does everything I want it 2 do & does it well. I wish it came with a case as I had 2 buy one separately. Other than that you won't be disappointed with this camera. I've had it 4 a few weeks & I'm still learning the advanced features. At the price I got it 4 (around $157.00), you can't beat it.

I have had this camera 4 about a week now, & I like it. It takes quality pictures pretty efficiently. There isn't that much of a delay when I took pictures like some other digital cameras. It is quite small & easy 2 take with me everywhere. It could be a little better about taking pictures of the rain. We had two really bad storms here in Wyoming, but the camera didn't capture it as well as I would have liked. The zoom is good, but not great. However, it did well when I took pictures of my puppies playing. All in all this camera works 4 me. I am not a big photographer, I just wanted something with quality pictures, easy 2 use, & easy 2 pack around.

Simply set the 8.1-megapixel DMC-FS3 2 iA mode & let the four Intelligent Auto functions team up 2 help prevent shooting errors. Intelligent Scene Selector chooses the mode that best fits the situation; MEGA Optical Image Stabilization (O.I.S.) helps prevent blurring from hand-shake; Intelligent ISO Control helps prevent motion blur; & Face Detection helps produce clear portraits by optimizing the focus & exposure settings. The 33mm Leica DC Vario-Elmarit lens with 3x optical zoom takes wider shots than an ordinary 35mm lens. This is helpful in small rooms or crowded places, 4 example, letting you fit more people into a group photo. There's also an Easy Zoom button on the camera top - just press it, & the optical zoom & Extra Optical Zoom instantly extend 2 full telescopic position. This quick zooming lets you catch even fleeting opportunities. The brightness & contrast of the large 2.5" diagonal LCD adjust automatically in 10 steps as ambient light conditions change, so images are clear, bright & easy 2 see day or night, indoors or outdoors. f=5.5-16.5mm (35mm Equiv. - 33-100mm) Focal Length 2.5 Diagonal Polycrystalline TFT LCD Display (230K dots) Focusing Area Normal - 50cm - infinity, Macro / Intelligent AUTO - Wide 5cm / Tele 30cm - infinity 8 - 1/2,000 sec. Starry Sky Mode - 15, 30, 60sec. Shutter Speed Auto / 100 / 200 / 400 / 800 / 1600 (High Sensitivity Mode - Auto(1600 - 6400) ) ISO 27MB Internal Memory (additional memory recommended 2 store more photos & video) Built-in Microphone & Speaker SD/SDHC, MultiMedia Card Slot Built-in Flash with Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced Off modes DC Input, AV Output (NTSC/PAL), USB Connections PictBridge Compatible Approximate Battery Life - 320 pictures (CIPA Standard) Approximate Unit Weight - 0.319 lbs