Comments about Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 Digital Camera (Black):

This camera takes consistently excellent photos outdoors, and the zoom is amazing, given its small, pocketable size. The Intelligent Auto mode works very well in most situations, in my experience, though I also use Normal mode, which allows for more user control. This is a terrific travel camera, and it worked very well on my recent trip to SE Asia. My one complaint, which many people have mentioned, is that the camera performs poorly in low light, making it relatively unusable indoors without flash. You will also likely need a second battery. In spite of warnings that only Panasonic batteries work with this camera, I had good luck with a non-proprietary battery, which was cheaper and lasted significantly longer between charges.

Comments about Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 Digital Camera (Black):

Whether you are shooting in low-light or otherwise, the picture quality for this camera is second-to-none. The 12x optical zoom (300mm equivalent) is unmatched for a point and shoot. The HD (AVCHD Lite) video quality is also exceptional. The only negative comment I have about this camera is battery life. Purchase a second battery to go with your camera and you will be pleased.

Comments about Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 Digital Camera (Black):

I looked around for a simple camera that the family could use to do stills as well as video and decided on this one. I am really pleased with not only the image quality but also how easy it is to switch from stills to video. Push the red button in the back and you are recording video. Push it again and you stop. Push the button on the top and take a still. You can also zoom while doing video. For the price the video is pretty good.

Comments about Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 Digital Camera (Black):

My wife uses this camera for general automatic shooting. She is allergic to manual cameras or cameras that offer various selective controls. The Intelligent Automatic mode in this camera is really well designed for the casual shooter. She is happy with this camera. The image quality is excellent apparently due to a nice sensor and well designed lens. Artifacts and aberrations are not noticeable. The camera can be operated in intelligent auto mode by using the buttons on the top and back without recourse to menus which can frustrate the non -technical user. The movie function is activated by a separate button elimininating accidental movie shooting. It is satisfactory in all ways.

Comments about Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 Digital Camera (Black):

Great camera in every way! The lenses are excellent and it is truly very easy to use!

Comments about Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 Digital Camera (Black):

This is my 4th digital camera to date and it simply blows away everything else I've tried.
This unit replaced a 10 megapixel Canon which I've always hated do to its horrible white balance (Always yellowish). This doesn't sound like a big deal until you compare it to photos with good white balance. It was so bad that I used an older Kodak 3 megapixel which looks much better.

Great Things:
Awesome pics,
Great White Balance in numerous scenarios,
Great Optical Zoom and decent digital zoom,
Great Video (for a camera, not a camcorder),
Easy to use and well marked menus.
Good battery life. I averaged about 280-300 shots per charge. I also found 3rd party batteries that worked just as well with this model.
Panoramic feature is GREAT and easy to use! It created a flawless panoramic of the mountain ranges around Mount McKinley.

Not so Great Things:
Bad placement of the video button. You tend to hit it accidentally when just holding the camera.
Limited selection of options in iA Mode (Itelligent Auto). This was a minor annoyance, but still noticeable.

Overall, a great camera that my wife and I both love. She especially loves it and won;t use anything else.

Comments about Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 Digital Camera (Black):

I am going into my junior year of college, during which I will be studying abroad in England. I have never owned a digital camera before, so when I set out to buy one a few weeks ago, my standards were a literal blank slate. I knew that I wanted two essential things in a camera: portability for those inevitable impromptu shots while traveling, and quality photos. The Panasonic DMC-ZS3, thus far, has given me both - and that's WITHOUT the experience I will eventually acquire by using it more and more.

Lenses crafted by Leica are extremely well-made, and Panasonic's usage of such a lens was a main factor in my decision to buy this camera. Also, I have found the menus to be extremely user-friendly and the overall controls conveniently instinctive. I was concerned initially that the lack of a viewfinder would be a significant detriment, but to put it simply: the screen on this thing is huge. I have no problem taking photos with it. Furthermore, the video quality is astounding, and the large screen makes filming an easy endeavor.

Because I have very little experience as a photographer, I cannot confidently give a whole lot of sound advice other than this: be willing to read the instruction manual. Any confusions you have about the DMC-ZS3 will likely be solved within minutes as long as you are willing to read a bit. I brought the manual along with me during my first few outings, and it proved invaluable in my getting acquainted with the device.

A final note: the battery life IS indeed a bit short; the camera won't last you all day if you are constantly taking photos (as I am likely to be during my travels). This is the only downside I have found on the Panasonic DMC-ZS3, and I would imagine it can be attributed to the large screen. For this reason, I recommend buying a spare battery. Because I expected to pay extra for some accessories when purchasing this camera, I am still giving it a rating of five stars. The Panasonic DMC-ZS3 is the perfect mix of portability, quality photos, and great video.

Comments about Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 Digital Camera (Black):

I've got three daughters, two dogs, and a cabin in Vermont-- and I have been desperate for a camera I could stick in my pocket, take beautiful stills, film HD movies in stereo, AND zoom in optically in either mode. This is the only camera that fits the entire bill. If you wear your jeans skin tight, it might take some effort to get it in your front pocket--but for the rest of us, it's pretty easy. Photos are lovely, and there's a dedicated button for activating the video recording-- fantastically easy. This is a point and shoot camera-- it has some bells and whistles, but if you want a lot of manual play, then find yourself something else. This is not a camera for beginners-- it is too good for that; but it aint an SLR either: how could it be. It is for anyone who wants beautiful pictures and beautiful videos, of home, family, vacations, dogs, etc. etc., without having to fool with too many knobs or infinite controls. This camera is sophisticated in its ease of use-- for the sophisticated photo enthusiast who wants it all without the hassle. Go for it.

Comments about Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 Digital Camera (Black):

As a photographer turned antiques dealer, I was looking for a camera that was conveniently small enough that I could use for work but also use for fun yet meet my former professional photographer standards. I didn't want to have to buy an slr. My brother had this camera and he loved it and I was impressed just playing with his.
Video and camera have bright, sharp, clear images. Handles shadows and low light beautifully, as does the macro. I have found the Stabilization ability to be outstanding. Flash has a beautiful balance in all sorts of light conditions. It hasn't washed out anything yet. Cameras features were so easy to find, understand,and are fluid in use that I have yet to crack the instruction manual. Also has a spot meter, flash opt out, and a 25mm lens, all features that I require in a camera. Feels good in the hand (I'm a woman and it isn't too big.)The only place I haven't tried it yet is in a nightclub. that will be my next test! I used to build pinhole cameras and shoot with plastic Diana cameras. This camera has a pinhole feature with settings. Of course it isn't the really close to the real thing but WOW! What cool images I got with it!! The camera was a birthday gift from my family.

Comments about Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 Digital Camera (Black):

Had a head-to-head photoshoot with my DMC-ZS3 vs. my friend's S90 and apart from low light pictures the Lumix picture quality and features beat his Canon in every single way to Sunday. Canon's SX210 shouldn't even be in the same league of this P&S.

Comments about Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 Digital Camera (Black):

We had a Sony and, afgter trying out a friends Lumix, decided to investigate[...] we decided on this model. It has been brilliant. Easy to use, easy to understand, we now feel like pros.

Comments about Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 Digital Camera (Black):

We use this for family pictures and photos for real estate. The zoom is great for real estate listings. We especially like the zoom while shooting movies. (Had a canon previously that didn't have that feature) I find the menus a bit cumbersome to sift through, but am slowly figuring out the settings that suit our needs. Great little camera. Feels solid.

Comments about Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 Digital Camera (Black):

have been a slr user for years, more recently with digital p&s long zoom models similar to dslr"s. picked up the panasonic ZS3 before christmas and have taken 90% of my pictures of our beautiful spring desert in arizona the past 3-4 months. fantastic! love the 25mm wide angle, the macro zoom is so handy, most of the pictures, even macros, are very sharp despite no use of tripod (too old and too lazy!). i do miss -- just a very little bit -- no manual adj's, and i occasionally tap the video button when taking a vertical shot. otherwise the camera is a great travel camera, light, small, in a pouch on my belt always ready to go.

Comments about Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 Digital Camera (Black):

Great pictures on Europe trip. Compact size (kept in front cargo pant pocket, so it was always handy). Has an extended optical (not digital) zoom to 21x if you reduce megapixals. High quality pictures when viewed on large screen TV. Would buy again, wish I had bought it sooner. Great for use as point and shoot with AI, but useful with other setting on manual.

Comments about Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 Digital Camera (Black):

Best all around Point & Shoot camera I could find that both my wife and I could use and be happy with the results.

Comments about Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 Digital Camera (Black):

I bought the Panasonic because I had used a friends (different model) and was impressed. I liked the specs on this line and simply had to choose between the three currently out (ZS1, ZS3, and ZS7. I picked the three because I felt that I didn't really need the GPS function which is the only thing that I could see that was bigger/better in the 7.

I really like the burst mode. I have never had that ability before. It allows me to capture action shots and select the best one.

Comments about Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 Digital Camera (Black):

I am a Real Estate Broker and take lots of pics of houses. Interior shots have always been a challenge, but with this camera and the wide angle lens, the pictures of rooms now show much more than just the far wall of the room. (This camera replaced a Sony DSC-P200, which has been a great camera for 5 years and still works well. Just not a wide angle camera). Also, I love the video that can be shot w/ this camera. I can now show the whole house on a tour @ the office without the clients even going to the house. Saves time by not showing houses which don't really fit the clients needs. Definitely would buy this camera again...

Comments about Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 Digital Camera (Black):

Very well made. Intuitive operation (didn't have to read the manual). Really excellent pictures. Got one of these for my daughter and was so impressed, I got one for myself. Only complaint is that the textures on the different colored cameras are NOT the same. My daughter's is blue and has a nice, slightly rubbery finish. I got a black one thinking it'd be the same. But it's not; it's smooth.

Comments about Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 Digital Camera (Black):

I read many reviews about this camera and ended up purchasing it. It wasn't a total mistake but it leaves me wondering if there is something else better out there or if the limitations I am experiencing are just the same symptoms all subcompacts have. The biggest issues are:
1) Images are over sharpened in bright daylight - would rather tweak the sharpening myself in software if need be but no way to undo oversharpened pics.
2) Pics are noisy. This one I don't understand why it happens but it seems like a lot of the pictures just have unnecessary noise all over the picture, especially in low-light (but even using a tripod and self timer)
3) The camera really is pretty bad in low-light, even with tripod and self timer.

Some pictures do turn out great, the video is decent quality. It just seems very hit-and-miss from one image to the next in terms of consistency.

Comments about Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 Digital Camera (Black):

I just bought this camera a couple of weeks ago so I haven't got a lot of chance to play around with all the functions, but one thing I noticed right away is that the picture is very clear and defined, I love it! Beautiful macro picture. What other cool feature is that it can lock its focus on an object and if you move it still has focus lock on that object. The video recording is crystal clear. The battery, I thought runs out a bit fast but that might be because of its first use, so that's something remain to be determined later on. The video recording doesn't playback very well on Adobe Premiere Pro CS4, and I still haven't figure out whether that's because of the setting or that my Adobe just could read mts files very well.

Overall, I really like this camera despite it being a bit on the heavy and big side.