Making its debut at the 2005 Photo Marketing Association trade show in Orlando, the Panasonic FZ5 joined an expanding list of SLR-shaped digital cameras with long zoom lenses. The FZ5 distinguishes itself with one of the strongest fixed zooms out there: a Leica DC Vario-Elmarit 12x optical zoom lens with a popular image stabilization system, originally introduced on the earlier FZ3. With 5 megapixels on a 1/2.5-inch CCD, the FZ5 greatly improves on its 3-megapixel predecessor in terms of image quality and flexibility, though it takes only a baby step forward in visibility and LCD screen size with a moderately expanded 1.8 inch screen, up from 1.5. Slightly larger then the typical point-and-shoot camera, though significantly more condensed than most SLR-shaped models, the compact FZ5 will be available in April and retail for $499.99 (USD).
