Review on Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20 14 by Jennifer Katz

Although I was a freelancer during the film age, I didn't take a single shot for many years. I wanted a digital camera to photograph my Leicas for eBay. Comparing the features, I gave up on naked aiming and shooting. This camera received good reviews on photo sites and had a basic set of features. I've been using it for over a year, mainly for outdoor study in the garden and local parks. The image stabilization was amazing and took decent low light shots. These images were sometimes enlarged to 11" x 14" with some loss of sharpness. The flash was almost never hard. Changing the battery was easy, but if you're planning long shoots, a spare battery is a must. Now, with a bridge camera, I can see Panasonic's strengths and weaknesses more clearly. The lack of a manual focus option makes some macro shots frustrating. The resolution is not comparable to that of the Nikon p7100. The problem was the inability to use an off-camera flash. On the plus side, the Panasonic feels weightless after a year of Nikon use. Its close-up capabilities are considerable, and placing the flash close to the lens axis makes it easier to evenly light some shots. It fits in ANY pocket, not just the cargo pocket. As such, it's a great choice for those who want to aim and shoot PLUS. In other words, it will handle a range of macro and normal situations better than most in its price range. You don't need that much flexibility for snapshots, but your creative horizons are considerable.ps. have not fired any Leicas yet; too funny.