Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

Really like this camera. Great size for traveling and wonderful photos.

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

It took me nearly 2 weeks to read reviews on nearly 10-15 sites and all sites gave the Dmc-Sz3 high scores. With that said, Abe's had it at the right right price with 3% Bing cashback. Love ya Abe!

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

My first and only digital camera was a 3.2mp that I purchased years ago. So anything new would be much better. This camera was recommended to me by a professional photographer mainly because of the lense quality and zoom. I mainly shoot my kids at sporting events, indoors and out. Once I got to know the menus, the camera was easy to manipulate. Settings can be changed relatively fast given the intuitive menu. I will admit that I'm not particularly happy with image quality when I take pictures indoors, with flash, while zooming. But, this limitation is probably innate with all compact digital cameras. The small flash just can't reach that far. I've taken some pictures in low light without the flash and as long as I can hold still or use a tripod, the images are very warm and of high quality. The video is great and very easy to use. You just push the video button instead of the shutter button. I was looking for a digital camera that was easy to use, and provided high quality images.....I found it with the ZS3.

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

I have made and posted a number of videos shot with my new camera. I am pleased beyond my expectations.

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

This camera takes amazing photos using the Automatic Intelligence setting, and it gives seasoned photographers loads of manual options that usually come only on much higher-end cameras. I am satisfied beyond my expectations!

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

I believe its a good purchase !

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

I have had a professional SLR camera(s) for years and picture quality was my number 1 concern. I spent hours researching all compact cameras under $300 and this was the winner. Very happy with camera! Glad I chose this camera! I took a shot at 12x zoom from accross a river and the picture came out so clear! Would recommend this to anyone looking for great quality in an easy to use compact camera!!!

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

Have not used it enough yet to give a true review but I researched before purchase and sought this camera out even though it has been replaced with a new model.

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

It gets used to the record button placed right above control buttons. If you have card 4 GB or bigger, get spare battery.

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

I debated whether I should get the new 2010 Lumix for over $375-399...or buy this lumix (last years version), and spend the extra cash on an extra battery and an higher hdsd card.

For the $$$$, this camera's picture/lighting/video quality/sound recording is AWESOME.

If I had more money I'd go with a newer version though with better capabilities.

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

Takes great pictures of my family indoors and out. It is nice and slim for a big zoom camera. The intelligent auto feature is really nice as well.

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

Used extensively for shooting video. The video is very clear and now I can't go back to my camcorder or my Sony T70 for shooting video.

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

Loved the zoom, outdoor pic's were fine. But had a hard time inside or in lower light. Pictures would come out sometimes fuzzy and sometimes blurry. It's not a bad camera for the money... but there are some better alternatives out there.

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

Easy to use.
Only negative is fixed features, automatic, as opposed to your own personal settings, customizable.

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

Not the cheapest pic, but well worth the price. Indoor pics are outstanding. Easy to use, battery life is good and if you chose a bundle package make sure you get a high speed SD card. It cuts down on the lag time between photos. Love it and use for every situation.

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

nice lcd screen. picture quality is great. just know how to work the settings for different settings.

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

I like very much

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

[...]

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

easy for good pictures and switch to videos

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

ease of use, love Intelligent Auto feature, super camera for travel, small and terrific zoom

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

We've just spent a weekend in Las Vegas and the photos are amazing! I would recommend this camera to anyone, it's very easy to use.

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

[...]

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

The price of this camera was amazing for the quality it provides. I have already recommended to multiple people. All are fans of how great the pictures are in low light areas.

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

Good camera; Very costly accessories to make it work as if they came with the camera; I would not buy this camera again because of what does not come with it as standard accessories; Reviews are deceptive because of no mention of costly accessories;

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

Still learning all the features of this camera...have read the 143 page manual twice. Not the best organized but the camera takes great pics and the video is very good.......DEVO

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

I am a former network level television cameraman, with a national emmy to my credit. On vacations, I have traveled with 2 35mm SLR bodies and 4 lenses, or backpacked with a light pentax mini SLR. Dive trips have included a Niconos 35mm SLR that made the SCUBA gear seem light, and trips through airports hell! Every choice of equipment has it strengths and weaknesses. I considered getting both a still camera and video camera. Then decided to try this camera. (I must be getting lazy in my old age.) I am thrilled with the choice. It takes better pictures at 10.1 MP than many camera with 12. I have noted very sharp images and little noise even under some very poor conditions. The HD movies are excelent! They are actually better than professional video I shot just a few years ago with camera/lens combos costing many thousands of dollars. I have shot more video in the past few weeks than I expected to ever shoot with this camera!
The camera won't fit a shirt pocket, but a coat pocket is just fine. A very small case carries the camera, 2 extra batteries and an extra 32 GB card in padded safety. The camera you have with you, takes much better pics than the ideal camera at home.
My gripe, I find it hard to play depth-of-field games. You need a smaller f-stop number to do that properly, and manual, not automatic. This camera has a tendency to have the whole world in focus. I find the battery problems talked about by others exagerated. I have shot 45 min of continuous HD video with the original battery and had enough juce to view most of it. I do advise extra batterys, its only logical to have them.
I think enough of this camera, that when my lady friend broke her camera, I got her a red one for Vallentines. She loves it, but then had been drooling on mine. I have the black.

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

VERY PORTABLE...VERY GOOD ZOOM...CLEAR PICTURE QUALITY

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

Great camera with lots of features for the price. Unbelievable zoom.

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

No complaints yet - just getting used to it. Pretty easy to use - not taking videos yet, but looking forward to test the quality with it.

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

I have owned other cameras, ie. Fuji and Sony. However, none of them compare to this camera. The wide angle lens allows for great shallow distance photos and the 10.1 Megapixel quality is amazing. Simply "A Great Camera".

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

I had a Nikon D90 but didn't always want to carry the bulky weight on hikes or family outings. This camera is a great addition.

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

Very easy camera to pick up and use. I had no trouble figure out all the different features even if I do not really use all of them.

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

Great camera with awesome photo quality for the family photo taker. Lag in shutter time makes it difficult to capture action shots. Only tried the video briefly and found it to have poor quality but didn't expect much from a camera vs video recorder.

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

The lens is AMAZING! In Wide angle I can take a pic of the whole room with one shot.On Tele I took pics of Pikes Peak 30 miles away(with tripod) and I bet if there was some one walking on it I could have seen it.

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

I don't think it's a point and shoot camera. If you want to have great photos you have to always adjust some settings.

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

I owned a TZ-5 (10x zoom) and coudn't think Panasonic could do anything better. It done. ZS3 has improved some controls and the video record button is well projected. This camera is great for outdoor, nature and people. None of compact cameras is so good enough for indoor use, but I recommend this one also for this job. As I said, Leica lens rocks!

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

Great camera, i just pulled it out of the box and started using it, its so easy to use, and it takes some awesome pictures and video.

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

I am currently deployed to Afghanistan. Believe it or not the scenery and people here are amazing. The photo ops are completely unique. I am a professional photographer back in the States and have a large Canon DSLR. Obviously with everything I have to carry as far a gear goes, I could not carry my large camera with me at all times. I needed something compact with all of the capabilities of my DSLR. I found it in this camera. I have not been disappointed with this camera in the slightest. The zoom is amazing for such a small camera. It is not as small as many other compacts but it fits perfectly in my uniform pocket without weighing me down. If you wear tight jeans it may become an issue. The image stabilization is wonderful. I've played with very low light situations with both the flash on and off and I have not really seen the issues that others have. The images can get a little grainy at higher ISO but there is a funtion on the camera to limit it to 400. I have only seen a few images turn out this way, even at high ISO's.

The video is absolutely amazing. I have taken video in the middle of the night with just street lights for illumination and video in the bright of day. Both have been more than expected from such a little camera. The only downfall for the video is the format, it can really only be played in Quicktime or in the software that comes with the camera. I have yet to find a good conversion program although I have not been looking very hard.

Another plus with this camera is the speed. It is extremely fast from startup to shooting, both for photos and video. A lot of the other features on the camera are really cool too, Face Recognition is really fun, it tags people automatically saving you a small step when you put it on your computer. The camera, when in "intelligent" mode will automatically pick the best scene for you, that mode limits a few options but for the most part is amazing as well. I could go on and on about the amazing things this camera can do but I think you all get the point. This is an amazing camera capable of doing anything you ask of it.

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

colors,tones on this camera are too cold!

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

No comment

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

When taking videos in low light the image is very dark though if outside or in a well lit place the quality is great. The zoom is a lot of fun to use considering most digital camera don't provide more than a 3x zoom.
A lot of people complain about the "loose wheel" but I don't think it's so bad though I can see how why some don't like it though.
Overall it's a good camera and I enjoy using it.

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

my camera saga began with an icky nikon coolpix that i hated. sure, it was little and cute but the pictures were awful. so i did EXTENSIVE research online and this camera had the most consistently good reviews for this price range.
what i LOVE about my lumix:
--beautiful pictures (expect oohs and aahs)
--takes great pictures when you're out at night (good for people who like to party/go clubbing)
--gorgeous video
--easy to use (i hardly had to look at the manual)
--LEICA lens! SUPER good quality.
--lots of fun settings (even thought i hardly ever use them b/c the auto is so effective)
--big, beautiful lcd screen for viewing

only a few things are annoying me:
--the HD video format is not downloading correctly onto my mac. the picture is out of sync with the sound, even though its beautiful footage/sound on the cam itself
--its not quite as teeny and cute as other point and shoots, but i find its design to be more classic, especially with the almost retro looking leica lens. BUT finding a case required a little more shopping because of its in-between size.

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

I was tired of lugging around my old heavy camera and knew a winner when I saw photos taken by my daughter-in-law's newly purchased camera. I'm so pleased I made the purchase based on her experience with this camera.

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

This is excellent for zooming in from long distances. It has great image stabilization and a very good video feature.

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

I love this camera!! It takes great pictures and you do not have to know alot about photography to use it!! It is so smart that it does everything for you!!! I haven't taken a bad picture yet!!

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

I purchased this camera based on its review at [@] and am completely satisfied with it. Abe's has the best price on this model currently so it was a no-brainer. The wide angle prospects of this camera plus its telephoto ability make it the outright leader in compact digitals. It's a must-have for portability, image quality, and ease of use. It doesn't have the usual program/aperature/shutter/manual options that my other cameras have on their dials, but that's what my DSLRs are for. This purchase was for my wife who hates trying to work my other more complicated models. This camera is point and shoot all the way, making life simple and taking great pictures all the while. The LCD is GORGEOUS, with 400,000+ dots, more than twice what most compacts have. Did I mention its wide angle capability? That alone puts it in the lead over just about every other compact camera. And don't forget its 12X optical zoomimg power. BUY IT NOW.

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

[...]

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

Good for hd video but native format not easy to edit with software.

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

Very easy to use> Great display and overall looks. HD video is crisp and sharp with good audio

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

easy to use
lots of fun

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

Easy to carry and a simple point-and-shoot with good features

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

perfect when i ride...A1

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

I am a dentist. I wore out 3 film SLRs (2 Olympus and one Nikon) Most reviews do not mention Macro tests, [@] did. On that comment, I bought one and have been very happy with it. I can shoot intra-oral pics @ 1:1 without an auxillary lens or flash and get very good sharpness, nearly no flash paralax, and good (but not super) depth of field. To match that with a digital SLR, lens and ring flash would cost 4 or 5 times what you can buy the DMC-ZS3 for and you would see very little difference in the photo quality.

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

Easy to use

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

Great camera and ready to go straight out of the box. Image quality is great for a point and shoot and the video is also great to use. The auto mode works very well and being an amateur-it's nice to have. But, it also has a some things you can control manually-somewhat limited though. The zoom is great. Really a great camera that handles most situations. You pay for what you get!!!

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

There is a lot to learn about it. Not as simple as my old Canon Power Shot A710, but a much better camera, with features being much better.

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

Had the TZ-5 but it was stollen. Replaced it with the ZS-3 which is even better! OK, so it doesn't have all the manual controls...geeze what do you want for the price and size?

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

I use this camera both for still shots and videos. I mainly got it to shoot friends and family though I could not resist bringing it to one of my band gigs. This camera does a great job of recording video in HD quality even in low light. The onboard mic handles very high noise levels without clipping and distorting. I've noticed on youtube that a lot of people are using this camera to record their favorite bands. Just go there and type in zs3 and live or band and check it out for yourself.

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

Pretty casual use, but it takes gorgeous pictures, has great zoom and a nice face recognition system

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

Great camera

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

I've always bought Canon PowerShot cameras and was updating every 2 years. But for the first time I had to go with a different brand. The reason why is the new Canon cameras take aweful pictures. All the pictures came out very grainy. This Panasonic camera made me realize how awful Canon cameras have become. I love this camera, it is very easy and simple to use. I would most definitely recommend this camera. By the way I would like to thank Abe's of Maine for the great service and price.

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

best travel camera that also has underwater case available

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

This camera is intuitive, has a huge bright LCD, and works well for travel because of its compactness and 25-300 range. I primarily use Nikon DSLRs, so I can report that the image quality on landscapes and portraits is quite satisfactory. As with all compact cameras, the lag time and battery life are not up to DSLR standards. But the picture I get with the camera in my hand is about a billion times better than the one I get with the camera sitting at home.

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

I got this camera mainly for party shots since I use my DSLR for outdoor/sports shots. Overall, it takes great quality pictures. Even at low light, it focuses well. Easy to use. The only issue for me (which might not be an issue for you) is that there are no manual controls. Even so I would still recommend it as compact/travel camera

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

Replaced an old Canon Power Shot S410 with this one. I bought it primarily for the 12x optical zoom and movie capability to capture my son playing football/soccer.

It exceeded my expectations and I no longer have to lug around both a camera and video recorder. Is it the same quality as a high end video...no..but I knew that going in.

Negatives:

The menu button location as they can be pressed by mistake. reality..there is no where else to put them with the large LCD.

LCD useless in bright light so you will miss a view finder.

Battery life short if using flash. Buy an extra.

Below average in low light. Hoped to capture some night shots of the sky on a cruise and could not capture anything worth saving even with correct scene mode selected and highest quality print selected.

These shortcomings were all discussed in prior reviews so I knew what I was getting. It performs flawlessly in its intended role. A replacement of two items for my son's sporting events.

Positives:

Everything not discussed...picture quality, ease of use, size, LCD size, ability to zoom while taking movies, etc.

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

Best camera I have very had. Easy to use and captures incredible shots. Best part is the HD video with zoom.

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

I haven't had the camera very long, however it seems to take some really good images.

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

After losing a Canon in the back seat of a taxi in Sucre, Bolivia, I needed a replacement. This got good reviews including NYT and I wanted something where I did not need to do a lot of manipulation of controls myself. My only complaint is why is the control wheet on top not more stable. It jiggles out of place but the camera tells you it did that. Lots of fun pictures and good with faces in our family with different skin tones.

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

great camera for stills and video.

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

I figured based on reviews that read that the picture quality would be great. This is the case. But one of the primary reasons I bought the camera was for its HD video capability. The video files uploaded into 4 files per video on my computer and I haven't had time to go back and figure out how to view them locally on my PC. On the plus side, Panasonic's software allows you to transfer video's directly to YouTube... that is simple and works great.

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

Great picture quality and excellent zoom! This camera is perfect for vacations because it takes great photos and HD videos in a compact size which easily fits in your pockets!

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

Much better than the thre similar Sony Cameras I have been using. The 12X is much better as is the controls.

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

The wide angle and optical zoom of this camera is simply amazing. Takes video that is stunning on the beautiful LCD screen. HD video looks great on laptop altho is a bit jerky.

Still shots look solid so far - not DSLR quality but nonetheless fairly sharp with fairly vivid colors.

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

This is a phenomenal camera for what it does. Although it lacks some manual controls that I would find useful from time to time, the picture quality is well worthwhile. The high def video is great, though it may require some conversion if you want to do video editing. If you are not concerned with video editing, you can download 3rd party codecs (such as the k-lite codec pack) and then simply rename the mts files into .avi files for integration into Photoshop Elements and other image/video organizers. If you want a lot of manual functions look elsewhere, but this is otherwise a great camera. I have historically preferred Canon Elph cameras, but they do not currently offer a camera this size that has the same image quality and video quality. I suspect that fall of 2010, they will have a similar product and I might have to consider switching back to Canons because they offer more settings that I like to tweak. I still hold on to my old Elph for just such purpose.

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

I did some extensive research online through reviews and Consumer Reports and came to the decision to purchase the Panasonic ZS3K and I'm very pleased.

First, the picture/video quality is fantastic. Whether it's fully zoomed in or out, the quality is right on. I recently took a trip to Colorado and was very pleased with the scenery pictures. Also, I was at a college football game and got some great pictures with the full zoom. The video of the players running out of the tunnel was excellent.

Second, the zoom. Wow. This is most definitely a 'super' zoom camera. You don't lose any quality in the photo when using the 12x zoom. It's simply amazing a small, point and shoot sized camera has this capability. I highly recommend this camera for those looking for this sized of camera, but still want the high quality zoom for the pricier DLR cameras.

I do have a couple cons though.
First, it seems like it takes a little while for the picture to actually take. I've had a couple instances where I've thought I had a nice picture taken only to move my camera and have pictures of the ground. It was quite disheartening at times.
Second, the focus can be a bit fussy at times. Sometimes it is due to zooming too quickly. Other times it just seemed to take an extra few seconds to focus. I'm not sure if it's the Intelligent Focus (which really is a plus, don't get me wrong), but something was off on a couple of my shots.

Overall, it's a great camera for a great price. There's tons of other features I've been pleased with; Intelligent Focus, quick power on/first picture, face recognition, and the ease it is to use this camera after just a couple hours of messing around with it. I can't say it enough, it's a great super zoom camera.. especially for someone not very photo savvy.

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

the overall camera performance is great wiht the exception of the zoom button that is hard to control and the time it needs to properly focus.

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

This is my third Lumix; still use the other two, but this one has video, a stronger zoom and a wider angle lens. Very easy to use, intuitive. Great for close-ups (flowers, coins, banknotes) and any other pix. Fast zoom (in and out) and a bright screen makes it easy to frame the perfect picture.

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

I just returned from a two-week vacation in Europe, during which I used this camera extensively, under many different lighting conditions, with many pictures taken from a moving bus.

I took many pictures with the camera held in one hand, and found that the mode dial was too easily moved while doing so. While the positions of the camera's controls are generally well-thought out, I think that the locations of the mode dial and the on/off switch should have been reversed. Not a biggie, but it occasionally caused me to miss a shot.

I also missed shots because the start-up time, when turning the camera on, seems slow.

The camera uses a physical switch to move between shooting and display modes, meaning that the switch must be in the proper position in order to take pictures. Other digicams I have used required only that you press the shutter button to return from display mode to shooting mode.

With the camera turned on in shooting mode, a simple press of the movie button allows you to begin taking movies in either of two pre-set formats, Motion JPEG (.mov) or AVCHD Lite (.mts), the latter being high definition. The problem has been finding the proper players to view them on a PC.

Last, but not least, if you're out all day, taking lots of pictures, a second battery is a must.

Those cons aside, this is a great little camera. Its Intelligent Auto mode is so well designed that the average point-and-shoot photographer will never miss the lack of manual settings. The12x zoom is a pleasure to use, especially after using cameras limited to 3x or 5x. At both ends of the zoom range pictures are sharp and colors are natural.

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

Only problem I've had is trying to see the display in bright sunlight to frame a photo. A viewfinder would be much better in that situation. Everything else I like so far. No other compact camera can beat this one.

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

Pictures look great. Movies are impressive at 720p.

Worst part is the LCD is very tough to see in bright light.

Glad I spent the money for it.

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

This is the camera I have been waiting for. Great wide angle to 300 mm zoom and stunning HD video. The SX3 has replaced three of my other cameras. A HDMI cable is a must! Got a cheap one on line and plugged the camera straight into my plasma TV and pressed play slide show. Awesome! The camera takes care of the fades, mixes seemlessly betweem stills and video and even adds background music. I never bothered with video before but now I am hooked on mixed media. Got a 16 gig class 6 card for it on [@]. Used it for two weeks worth of family get togethers, my daughters wedding, wedding rehersal, whale watch trip and a week on Cape Cod - stills and video clips - and still haven't filled a third of the card. Battery seems to last forever too. There is no compromise between the stills and video - both are excellent. My camera has no problem with zoom noise in video that some others have reported. AVCHD Lite clips are easily converted into .AVI or .WMV with conversion software if you want to make your own movies but the cameras playback/slide show does such a good job I probably won't bother.The S3X is very easy to use right out of the box but spending some time reading the manual will really pay off if you want to get the most out of it.Only draw back - the price dropped by $60 a few days after I bought it but I'm not complaning - worth every penny I spent on it.

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

Exc. quality performance and construction. Small w/simple controls for family. Nice wide angle. Shot indoor olympic pool in HD video, surprisingly good. Battery needs nightly charge in heavy use. Probably will get 2nd battery pack.

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

The lens is what sets this camera apart from all the others. I always liked the Leica lenses and this one did not disappoint. Outstanding useful range and I got sharp pictures no matter what zoom. Can't ask for a better one to travel with.

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

Easy to use, great zoom! Wish I had little more manual control but there are many preset options too.

My only minor concern is how long it takes to save/ write an image onto my SD Card... maybe I need a faster SD card.

All around I love the camera!

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

Was looking for a compact digital camera with a lot of features, and this model does it.

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

[...] The Panasonic DMC-ZS3K is a light weight digital camera (fits in a man's shirt pocket or in a woman's purse), 3" high resolution LCD, 10 MP, a 25mm wide angle lens, 12x optical zoom, LEICA lens, high definition video with a movie recording button, intelligent auto for pictures & videos that corrects brightness and focus, face recognition, picture & video zoom, 26 picture modes, 17 video modes, SD HC memory cards, takes very good pictures & videos. Buy this camera, it makes a great gift!

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

I've only had the camera a few weeks, but so far its been great. Very easy controls. I'm a point and shoot user for the most part and this camera is great for me. The only issue I had at all was it locked up when taking some burst photos and I had to pull the memory card to get it to come back. That's what held it back from 5 stars. I've taken more burst shots since then with no issues.
Other reviews complained about the control wheel spinning too freely on top and I haven't experienced that. Maybe Panasonic has fixed that problem already?

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

90% of my photos are family photos (mostly kids). I'm getting sick of having no viewfinder so my next camera will likely be diff/more traditional form factor. But this camera does super video for size/price, decent photo quality. Not so hot low-light photos (flash pretty much required) and the camera is pretty fragile - very easy to drop and break.[...]

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

Awesome camera. The best zoom in a camera this size. Don't buy an extended life battery if you intend to upgrade the camera's latest software, unless it is a Panasonic battery the camera will not let you use it. And from what I can find Panasonic doesn't make an extended life battery for it.
Buy this camera with confidence, you won't be disappointed!

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

Outstanding zoom lens with very sharp results at up to 200ASA

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

Great picture quality.

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

The great thing about this camera is that it has a high zoom in a compact size ive been waiting for a camera like this for awhile.

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

For a point and shoot camera that provides high quality results, this camera is a very nice package. Only complaints at this point are small items like the "mode" knob getting bumped into the wrong position. The facial recognition and it's ability to track faces as you re-0position your shot is awesome. HD video looks good so far, but haven't done thorough testing yet.

Nothing super new to the digital camera market. A little pricey, but not terrible bad.

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

The best camera in its class. After a long research, I am very happy with my choice.

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

I purchased this camera a month ago after using a FujiFilm E550 for 3 years. While the Fuji has a larger sensor and takes beautiful pictures, it's main shortcoming was a lousy LCD-impossible to see in bright light, so you had to use a tiny viewfinder.

The Panasonic has an incredible 3 "LCD with 460,000 dots and is extremely bright. I just returned from a trip to the Carribbean and in very bright sunny conditions the LCD was easy to see, thank goodness since there is no viewfinder.
The ZS3, as opposed to the ZS1 takes HD movies in two different formats (AVCHD and JPEG. Make sure you buy SDHC Class 6 cards. I used the movie mode quite a bit and they came out great. This camera has a dedicated movie button which is much easier to use than the mode dial on top. However, it's very easy to accidentally push the record button due to it's placement, so that's something of a negative.

The still pictures (4X6)look no better than those from my Fuji, but I don't think that's a negative since any camera past 4-5 megapixels will make a good 4X6 print. It's when you start to blow up images to larger sizes when the megapixels count.

While I would have preferred the camera to come with a viewfinder and manual controls, I found it incredibly easy to use and it has performed very well in the short time I've owned it.

The one minor negative is the battery life. I't supposed to provide 300 pictures. But in daily use, and in taking movies, everyday, it needs to be charged daily. Also, using continuous focus rather than automatic on half press of shutter button shortens battery performance.

If you're looking for an easy to use large zoom camera, and one that is reasonably compact, this is the best. I would buy it again.

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

4.5/ 5 - nothing is perfect:) but this is a pretty great camera! I debated for awhile about buying this camera or a Canon or Sony and read too many reviews but finally decided with the Panasonic and have been VERY happy with my choice. I have a had a Canon G series and now a Nikon SLR but wanted something smaller for everyday occurrences and couldn't be more pleased. The ZS3 offers tons of shooting options, a very clear, sharp and bright LCD screen, memory options for HD Video, great speed bursts, and a ton more. I was hesitant at first (because I don't know Panasonic cameras that well) but so glad we purchased this camera. I think the clincher was when I took it to a store to compare it to the Canon and Sony--there was no comparison in the picture quality and it's 12x optical zoom. Yes, it is slightly larger than the other ultra-compacts and it does cost more but taking those into consideration I would purchase it again tomorrow. (Now I have only had it 1 month too- but took it on vacation and got some great shots!)
It does not have manual controls. The battery isn't cheap and you do need a larger memory card for video and pics. Overall a great choice and for a one who wants to make a good decision before I spend a bunch of money I was very happy with this product.

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

I bought this camera for it's long telephoto lense but found it's wide angle ability to be even more useful. It's movie and picture quality is outstanding. It's low light performance is a little weak but you can quickley change modes and compensate for it. You almost never have to come out of the iA mode it will handle all but a very few lighting situations. For it's compact size and outstanding abilities this is the perfect family travel camera.

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

Great all around camera you can put in your pocket. Exceptional quality ,fast response, Auto tracking great.Would like to see manual shutter speed and f stop control. I am really satisfied and would highly recommend it..
The battery life is a bit short for someone shooting all day.The ZS3 is a winner

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

The panorama assist + 25mm Wide coupled with the panorama making software makes perfect panaroma shots. The auto-exposure bracketing makes for the processing of great HDR shots (though HDR software is not included). A fantastic camera to carry around everyday, handbag sized and feature packed. 12x Optical zoom and with digital zoom you can take it up to 48x with surprisingly decent results. I sold my Nikon D60 DSLR for this camera and I haven't regretted it yet.

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

Intuitive interface, great dedicated movie camera button, exceptional zoom, motion stabilizer works well, easy controls

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

Amazing sharpness at all focal lengths for a point and shoot. Lack of manual focus settings a major night time issue. Camera gives up trying to focus for wide angle night skylines and you can't adjust although exposure is fine - all pictures ruined for focus.

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

love the zoom
love the size
love the quality

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

The three things that make this camera the best in its class are the (1) great lens range 25mm - 300mm, (2) bright 460,000 pixel 3" LCD, (3) great video with high definition and stereo sound. I also like the high quality construction.

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

Great camera for all 7-77 ages for all locations and for all who enjoyed to take photo everywhere

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

I got this camera before a trip overseas and found the zoom range very helpful at getting the shots I wanted. Also, stabilization was great even when taking pictures in low-light castles where flash photography was not allowed.

Only thing to be careful of is the selection wheel slipping out of the desired position.

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

My old P&S broke just before I was going on a trip to Peru and in a scramble I picked this one out. (Thanks Abe's of Maine, you had it available before all the other vendors, inc. [...]!) I wanted something pocket sized that would give me a wider angle and longer telephoto lens that I was bringing with me on my SLR. This camera is a pleasure to use and image quality cannot be beat for something of this size. The automatic settings were good. I liked that the on/off switch was a physical switch, L to R, instead of a button. There is a travel option that will let you enter what dates you are going on your trip and the time zone. That was useful!I did not use the video part of this camera really yet so cannot comment on the HD video part.

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

All the things I expected: great zoom, beautiful pictures for computer viewing and sharing, large nice screen. I thought I would miss the manual controls that the 12x zoom Canon offered, but as it turns out, this one still allows a little playing around. Video quality is great. The cons, are also what I expected, but I have to say, less severe than what the reviews suggested: I can still take decent indoor pictures without a flash which was a concern for me since I take a lot of pictures of family and friends in indoor situations. Thought it was kind of pricey, but don't regret spending the money. Great camera!

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

It beats the best of all comparative models including Sony!

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

Great point and shoot camera. Reaches out and grabs the shots I want.

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

the only problem i have is the size , which is not pocketable

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

Easy to use buttons. Great wide angle lens.

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

I have gifted my Sony H7 to my cousin and I was looking for a compact and great zoom camera. I believe I found this Lumix zs3k as excellent one. Price is little high but definitely reasonable as it is recently released and has got all required features along with 12X zoom. I don't think I can find any better than this esp. in compact mode. I love this camera.

Comments about Panasonic DMC-ZS3K 10.1mp Digital Camera - Black:

The new video format is difficult to use. Panasonic should have an obvious walk-through to teach users how to download, play, and edit their AVCHD video format.