Bought for my teenage daughter. This is a pre-FZ60 model that added HDR, CMOS sensor, faster continuous shooting and other software features. I decided to buy it when the price dropped. We were looking for a super zoom camera that is lightweight and takes great pictures. This camera ticks all the boxes. This camera (and the FZ60) is a great alternative to Canon and Nikon superzoom/bridge cameras in my opinion. What still amazes me is the quality of the photos, the 25-600mm lens and the performance at this price point. We live in Montana so every day there is an opportunity to zoom in on wildlife, mountains, sunsets etc and the image stabilization means you don't need a tripod in most situations (only when it's getting dark outside). With a 25mm wide angle, you can capture everyone in group shots without having to step back or squeeze everyone together like you do when capturing a spotlight. My daughter just left the camera on iA (Intelligent Auto) and let the camera figure out the best settings and it works really well. When ready, the camera has excellent manual capabilities. If you're looking for a bridge camera, why spend more when you don't need a hot shoe and raw capture capability, take a good look at this (or the FZ60), it's a solid camera that will take excellent photos with many features at the best price.
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