Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS25 16.1 MP Compact Digital Camera with 20x Intelligent Zoom (Black) (OLD MODEL)

I purchased this as a Christmas present for my son and so far it is performing perfectly. These types of Lumix cameras are wonderful, we have had these type for years and they just keep working. We started with a 7MP version (can't remember the model number) with a 10x zoom and it just worked (no HD recording back then), it was easy to use and started up quickly. The thing that drew me to this camera range was the lens, these cameras use Leica lenses, for the uninitiated Leica is a German manufacturer of high quality cameras and lenses, remember that the image has to get to the sensor via the lens, if the lens is no good the sensor gets crap and the image suffers. I got a DMC-ZS20 last year and it was equally easy to use, mode mega pixels and HD recording, this time with 20x zoom like this model. The build quality is awesome, these cameras look like they can handle the day-to-day knocks that they will experience. The question I get a lot is why bother with a dedicated camera when you have a smartphone with lots of megapixels. I suppose it depends on what you want to use them for, for day-to-day pictures when you don't have your camera around the smartphone works, however for more serious subjects (like weddings, birthday parties etc) then a dedicated camera (in my opinion) gives much better results. Some of the features that are cool with this camera, the 20x zoom mentioned above, different picture taking modes including full manual, battery life, the size (they pack a lot of technology in to a small space), one touch HD video recording. Overall a good camera that performs well and produces good pictures in many situations.

I am a previous owner of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS5 (and before that the -FX07). I used these compact point-and-shoot cameras with great glee for the last 5-6 years until the -FS5 put a gray spot in every blue sky two week before I was to leave for vacation in Iceland. I looked extensively at the other Lumix cameras (I wanted the Leica lens & the features I was used to from the -FS5) and decided to upgrade to the -ZS25 for: - Wide angle lens: This is awesome for group photos and scenery (and hand-held self-photos). I had this on my older cameras and it is great in this camera too. - Macro mode: I love taking up-close flower pictures. Unfortunately, this doesn't work as well as on the -FS5 and -FX07 cameras. On the old cameras, I could always force the camera to focus on the flower I wanted; this doesn't always work now with the flower mode in the intelligent auto. However, when it did focus, the pictures were equally marvelous (or better) than before. - Panoramic mode: This definitely took the most practice so it doesn't look choppy or have lines; however, once I got the hang of it, this is an amazing function. [see sample in customer photos] - Hand-held night shot: This function is amazing. I used it in the Vasa museum in Stockholm (17th c. sailing ship in dim light) and the pictures look in even better light than what it looked like in real life. [see sample in customer photos] - HDR: This function solves classic problem of trying to get the scenery and sky to look awesome in same photo. The camera decides when to use this in the intelligent auto mode (so you can't force the camera to do it) but it figured it out most of the time and took amazing shots. [see sample in customer photos] - 20X optical zoom: I didn't even have the digital zoom turned on and was able to take really great zoomed in pictures without a tripod. The stabilization works really well. The other note is that I rarely used the intelligent auto mode on my old Lumix cameras because I preferred to choose the mode. The technology has improved so much in the last 5 years that now the intelligent auto is so much smarter, it did a better job of choosing the mode than I did so I used it most of the time (unless taking a panorama). I really debated whether to spend the extra $100 (over the cheapest point and shoot Lumix models) and was very glad I did on vacation. I also got an extra battery (Panasonic DMW-BCG10PP ID Secured Battery) and external battery charger (Panasonic DE-A65BB Battery Charger for DMW-BCG-10) from B&H Photo which allowed me to take more than 250 photos per day and to charge both batteries at night. This camera does not come with an external charger. Instead you have to use the (very short) cable to plug the camera in, which is annoying if there is no table at the level of the plug in.

I was deciding between the ZS25 and the Canon SX280HS. I felt that the Canon had better picture quality but the battery life issue during video was a deal breaker. I decided to go with the ZS25 and I am impressed with it so far. Pros - Compact size. Perfect for traveling especially with the ability to charge the battery in the camera. - Leica lens - Very good picture quality with natural looking colors - 20x optical zoom is impressive. Ability to zoom to 40x with intelligent resolution and maintain very good picture quality. See the pictures I posted. - Intelligent Auto does a great job picking the best settings for the situation. - Pictures taken with HDR have significantly better exposure - Very good pictures in low light situations - Panorama feature - Very good HD video capability - Many creative picture features - Decent battery life (200+ shots with good mix of pictures, video, and flash). You should get a spare battery if you plan to be shooting for a full day. - Made in Japan Cons - Pictures can appear soft. Intelligent Resolution makes the pictures noticeably sharper. - Pictures viewed at 100% can appear noisy. This should not be an issue if printing to typical smaller photo sizes. - Panorama feature is nice but picture quality is not as good as regular pictures - Videos with zoom fully extended and be a little shaky I gave the ZS25 four stars because the picture quality does not seem to be as good as my old Panasonic DMC-LZ2. The DMC-LZ2 takes excellent pictures for a 5MP point and shoot. Overall, the ZS25 is a very good camera with many useful features. The Intelligent Auto feature makes it easy for anyone to take very good pictures with no effort, which is what many people look for in a point and shoot camera.

I've owned several Panasonic cameras both point and shoots and the 4/3 changeable lens mini-SLR system. But I decided to try a Canon point and shoot last time. It worked for a little while, had touch screen controls which means you are tapping and retapping all the time and smearing the screen. A few days after the 1 year warranty the Canon got a black spot on the screen, and would have cost $135 to repair, so I bought this camera for about $180, it had better Zoom, it uses switches instead of touch screen, it takes good pictures in a small pocket-able format. Lumix, I'm back and will stay here! Great little camera. Great price. Sorry Canon. The only thing the Lumix needs is an optical viewfinder so you can take pictures outside in the sunshine! With that it would be perfect, perfect. Update after 1 year use --I really am quite angry with this little camera. My wife uses it and gets better pictures than my SLR! And it weights 1/4 the weight and fits in her pocket. The Zoom is impossibly good for the size of the camera. This camera is so good, it's just not fair!

Although this is one great camera I gave three stars because of a discrepancy in the item description. I ordered this camera on the assumption that it has stereo sound, which the comparison chart said it did. Upon looking at the specs that came with the camera I was shocked to learn that it indeed does not have stereo sound. I alerted Amazon to this and they are in the process of taking care of the misleading info on the site. Other than that little oops, I cannot say enough about the amazing pictures this little camera takes. The 20X optical zoom is fantastic, and the 40X digital zoom is incredible! Then you can zoom in more after taking the picture and it is still clear! I took some videos as well and they look awesome. Another nice thing is that it came with a 16GB SD/HD card and genuine Panasonic case. The factory refurbished seems to be working fine and I cannot see that there was ever anything wrong with it. There was not a scratch or dent anywhere on it. Looks like brand new and works the same. I have purchased several factory refurbished items and have had good luck with them all and paid way less for them. One thing I would recommend about this camera is to buy a screen protector for it. The 3" view screen is beautiful and I used a protector on mine to keep it that way. They are cheap and worth the cost if you ask me. I had one left from a cel phone I had and cut it to fit the camera. Works fine. There are screen protectors specifically for this camera though. I give this camera 2 thumbs up for sure!

San Francisco definitely has a lot of photo ops for any "street" photographer. The Panasonic Lumix model DMC-ZS25 has many features that make taking amazing images fairly easy. The zoom lens is really impressive, especially considering the overall size of the camera There is a learning curve until you get familiar with all the settings/modes but it's well worth the time taken. The above photos L-R: handneld night shot using "Dynamic Monochrome" in the "Creative Control" mode delibritely moved camera for effect. handheld daytime using "Impressive Art" Mode handheld daytime using "Intelligent Auto" Mode B&W color, zoomed in from across the street, Subject aprox. 200' away. handheld daytime "Intelligent Auto" standard color mode. handheld daylight I'm hooked!

This little camera does it all very well. I am in my late sixties and I have been a photo buff most of my life. I am so happy to now have my ZS25 for my travel camera. It is very lightweight, simple, sturdy, and it takes great pictures. The 24-480 mm lens is amazingly clear and undistorted throughout the range and the image stabilization lets you use that 480 in situations where you normally wouldn't even try. I shoot mostly with the smart ISO setting. However, having a preset "scene" at the ready is very nice and it is simple and quick to change. I normally have mine set to "through glass" for candid shots through windows. As if that were not enough this little camera also has full manual settings plus Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, and exposure compensation. So if your creative juices start flowing you have all the tools available. The HD setting is one I thought I would not use much. However, after a few experiments I now just leave it on. Its biggest benefit is in backlit shots. It averages out a nice exposure almost every time. The HD effect is not the unrealistic overdone effect that you see in the photos making the rounds on the web. It simply brings out some highlights that have been missed in the given lighting conditions. That makes this camera truly a point-and-shoot. All you have to do is pay attention to your composition. I don't know what more you could ask of a point-and-shoot camera. Panasonic has created the ultimate in this model. I once read a wise statement somewhere to the effect that "the worst camera in the world is the one you left home because you didn't want to bother carrying it around with you." You need never be in that situation again. There is always room for the ZS25.

I bought this because I needed a camera with a GPS feature. I love the Leica feature of Panasonic Lumix so I wanted another Panasonic Lumix point & shoot. I searched for this on Amazon website specifically for its GPS feature. This camera came up on the top 5 list of GPS Panasonic Lumix camera search that I did. I looked at its detailed features & I could've sworn it stated that it had built-in GPS. Unfortunately, I found out that it did NOT have a GPS feature after I already received & used the product a few times. I love the clarity of the pictures, including moving objects. But it did not have a GPS. I looked up the Amazon details for this camera again & it now states that it has no GPS!!! I don't know what's happened since I one-clicked & bought it more than a month ago. So, I'm returning this product & getting another Panasonic Lumix. But this time I'm going to double- & triple-check that my next one does, in fact, have a built-in GPS. Overall, good camera but no GPS like I first read on the site.