Like a lot of people these days photography, is a hobby of mine. The age of the digital camera lets us snap away to our hearts content. A year and a half ago though I made a jump from a simple point and shoot camera up to a Bridge Camera. It was a slightly late birthday present for myself. I went and picked up the FZ28 … I did the usual research online hummed and hawed over this camera and that camera … over a proper DSLR or just another point and click type camera. I hadn’t actually tried out the Panasonic DMCFZ28 Digital Camera beforehand so when it did arrive it was a bit of a shock at how small it was. I had assumed it’d be of a similar size to normal DSLR’s I quickly got over that as I started to get snap happy with it.

The following was one of the first shots I took with it and it really blew me away

Squishy in front of the mirror

So for me what makes it so special?

1. The size. It’s small. (Its somewhere between a point and shoot and a proper DSLR)
2. The lack of all these extras (huge camera bag with 3 extra lenses a tripod and god knows what else). This is really great for travelling. Most people I know with DSLR’s end up bringing another 2 lenses / backpack and so on with them. Thats just not for me.
3. The battery life on it is amazing I can get 350 – 500 shots on the one battery charge
4. The Zoom … its got 18X optical zoom which is pure madness. Now when I handle a normal camera its like … oh .. thats nice but I want to be able to zoom on things
5. The inbuilt flash is quite good
6. 2.7inch Viewscreen
7. Video Quality is excellent
8. Image Quality is excellent at 10 MegaPixel camera
9. The controls are very nice once you get the hang of them

Priced at around the €340 mark if I had to buy one again I probably would. Though I’d more than likely look at the updated model the Irish / UK Model – Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ38. US Model – Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ35. 12 MegaPixel and various other updated features as well as being at a lower price range the €300 / $300 mark.

Below you can see a small selection of shots I took with it. Obviously I’m rather biased in thinking they are nice but the main thing is that I like them. It is my hobby after all

A Leaf in Autumn

Piano Cat

Blackhorse Avenue taken from across the road

Damien Mulley giving a talk at Dublin City Hall on Social Media

Close up shot of sheepy

Shot of a friend in Paris

Ted my nephews trusty steed

And there I’ll leave you … my experiences with my little bridge camera have been amazing. Its a great little bit of equipment. I picked up a spare battery and I can basically leave the charger at home when I’m on holidays. All in All 10/10 for this camera.

Of course if you’re after a DSLR you probably know a hell of a lot more about photography than I do but for me this camera is perfect for now. (I do have camera envy though when I play with friends DSLRs at times)

Irish / UK Model – Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ38. US Model – Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ35.