TrustedReviews
  • Home
    • All Reviews
    • All News
    • All Videos
    • All Round-Ups
    • All Features
  • TVs & Entertainment
    • Blu-ray Players
    • Gadgets
    • Games
    • Games Accessories
    • Headphones
    • Portable Audio
    • Projectors
    • Surround Sound Systems
    • TV Recorders & Set Top Boxes
    • TVs
  • Cameras
    • Camcorders
    • Camera Accessories
    • Camera Lenses
    • Digital Cameras
  • Laptops & Computing
    • Desktop PCs
    • Laptops
    • Monitors
    • PC Components
    • Peripherals
    • Printers
    • Software
    • Tablets
    • Broadband Deals
  • Mobile & GPS
    • GPS & Sat Nav
    • Mobile Apps
    • Mobile Phone Accessories
    • Mobile Phones
    • Mobile Deals
  • Video Reviews
Home » Cameras » Digital Camera » Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ38 » Video

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ38 video review

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ38 front
  • More Photos
  • Video

Our verdict on the FZ38 is pretty much the same as for its predecessor. If you've already got an FZ28 it's probably not enough of an improvement to justify an upgrade. However for anyone else looking for a new super-zoom camera they really don't come much better than this. Build quality, handling, features, performance, image quality and versatility are superior to any of its immediate rivals, and the excellent video quality is icing on the cake. To get anything better than this you'll have to move up to a DSLR. Read full review

Overall

10/10

Write your own review

By Cliff Smith
Reviewed 28 July 2009
Updated 26 May 2011

Price as reviewed

£239.00

  • Review
    • 1: Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ38
    • 2: Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ38
    • 3: Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ38
    • 4: Features Table
    • 5: Test Shots - ISO Performance
    • 6: Test Shots - Detail and Lens...
    • 7: Test Shots - Exposure Evaluation
  • Video Review
  • User Reviews
  • Comments
  • Specs
  • 25 Photos
  • Reviewed by Cliff Smith
  • 28 July 2009
Read the full Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ38 review
Tweet

More Digital Camera Videos

  • Fujifilm XP150Fujifilm XP150
  • Canon IXUS 500 HSCanon IXUS 500 HS
  • Olympus Tough TG-820Olympus Tough TG-820
  • Sony NEX-5nSony NEX-5n

compare prices

Awards

  • Editors choice

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ38 details

Value
8/10
Image Quality
10/10
Build Quality
9/10
Overall
10/10

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Superb image quality
  • 28x zoom (27-486mm) lens
  • Manual controls
  • Electronic viewfinder
  • HD video with stereo sound

Cons

  • Still not close to SLR quality
  • Slightly slow operation
  • Not enough of an improvement

Price as reviewed

£239.00

Manufacturer

Panasonic

Digital Camera round-ups

  1. Best Digital Camera 2011

    Best Digital Cameras

    A comprehensive list of the 10 best digital cameras currently on the market, with direct links to our reviews.

  2. Best WaterProof Cameras

    Best Waterproof Cameras

    A round up of the best waterproof, shockproof, and generally all-round bombproof 'tough' compact digital cameras currently available.

  3. TrustedReviews 2011 Awards

    Digital Camera Of The Year 2011

    We reveal the winner of Best Digital Camera of 2011.

More Digital Camera Round-ups

TrustedReviews newsletter

Get TrustedReviews' award-winning reviews, opinions and advice delivered to your inbox for free!


Three of the best Mid to high end Digital Cameras

  1. Nikon P7100

    Our rating:
    9/10

    Is Nikon's flagship compact a G12 rival?

  2. Nikon CoolPix P7000

    Our rating:
    9/10
    User rating:
    1/10

    Is Nikon's new semi-pro compact a match for the Canon G12?

  3. Samsung EX1

    Our rating:
    9/10

    Samsung's impressive semi-pro compact takes on the G12 and LX5.

 

User reviews & comments

Comments

To leave a comment log in or sign up
 

Please wait while we process your request
 

Please wait while we retrieve the user's information

Bio

Your bio is currently empty. Now is a great time to fill in your profile.

This profile is private.

This profile is only shared with friends.

This profile is under review.

We were unable to request friendship with this user.

We were unable to request friendship with this user. Are you logged in?

Your friendship request has been sent to this user.

We were unable to terminate friendship with this user.

We were unable to terminate friendship with this user. Are you logged in?

You are no longer friends with this user.

We were unable to ignore this user.

We were unable to ignore this user. Are you logged in?

This user is now ignored.

We were unable to stop ignoring this user.

We were unable to stop ignoring this user. Are you logged in?

This user is no longer ignored.

We encountered a problem recommending this user.

pluck_user_recommend_permission

You have recommended this user.

pluck_user_mp-abuse_too_long_err

Send Cancel

Please wait while we perform your request.

Leave a comment

71 comments

Sort:

Name withheld

Pihrana

2:00 AM on 28 July, 2009

This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore Pihrana. Show DetailsHide Details

Man Alive. I want this Camera even if my bank balance wont. Its pretty much a do it all device. Are we talking over 300 notes or what?

Abuse reported Report abuse
0
Score:
0 replies1 reply 0 replies1 reply Please wait while we perform your request.

Name withheld

CliffSmith

4:22 AM on 28 July, 2009

This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore CliffSmith. Show DetailsHide Details

There's no news on pricing for this or Panasonic's three other new cameras yet, and there probably won't be for several weeks, but I'd guess it'll launch at about the same price that the FZ28 did, around £290.

Abuse reported Report abuse
0
Score:
0 replies1 reply 0 replies1 reply Please wait while we perform your request.

Name withheld

TheLostSwede

6:07 AM on 28 July, 2009

This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore TheLostSwede. Show DetailsHide Details

Wow, I'm impressed, that's the quickest I think I've ever seen a review of a just announced product appear on TR :D

Abuse reported Report abuse
0
Score:
0 replies1 reply 0 replies1 reply Please wait while we perform your request.

Name withheld

anand

7:27 AM on 28 July, 2009

This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore anand. Show DetailsHide Details

With CCD sensor size 2.33 it is hard to believe that it is getting 10/10 for image quality. Wait one month for Fuji's S200EXR with Super CCD sensor size 1.6 and EXR technology.

Abuse reported Report abuse
0
Score:
0 replies1 reply 0 replies1 reply Please wait while we perform your request.

Name withheld

Geoff Richards

8:28 AM on 28 July, 2009

This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore Geoff Richards. Show DetailsHide Details

Lars, you cynic - there's even a video review! ;)

Abuse reported Report abuse
0
Score:
0 replies1 reply 0 replies1 reply Please wait while we perform your request.

Name withheld

farki80

9:24 AM on 28 July, 2009

This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore farki80. Show DetailsHide Details

Even my five year old compact had a larger sensor size than this...

Abuse reported Report abuse
0
Score:
0 replies1 reply 0 replies1 reply Please wait while we perform your request.

Name withheld

Darfuria

1:44 PM on 28 July, 2009

This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore Darfuria. Show DetailsHide Details

It always amuses me to see how often Exeter cathedral has scaffolding around it.

Abuse reported Report abuse
0
Score:
0 replies1 reply 0 replies1 reply Please wait while we perform your request.

Name withheld

Harry Fowler

7:43 PM on 28 July, 2009

This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore Harry Fowler. Show DetailsHide Details

What about the Fujifilm Finepix S9600 for best review. That's an absolutely awesome camera. I've owned one for a year now and haven't even considered upgrading to an SLR. I know they're generally better and more flexible, but I'm living off a student budget :)

Abuse reported Report abuse
0
Score:
0 replies1 reply 0 replies1 reply Please wait while we perform your request.

Name withheld

Paul15

10:17 PM on 28 July, 2009

This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore Paul15. Show DetailsHide Details

As an owner of an FZ18, I'm rather dissapointed they kept to a small sensor. I would like to have seen a reduction of noise at the higher iso settings. Is there a reason manufactures don't produce a compact with a larger sensor even if it means a larger body size? On a simialr theme isn't it possible to produce a dslr but with a macro and large zoom lens that is found on compacts.

Abuse reported Report abuse
0
Score:
0 replies1 reply 0 replies1 reply Please wait while we perform your request.

Name withheld

Noodles

10:21 PM on 28 July, 2009

This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore Noodles. Show DetailsHide Details

@Darfuria





It amuses me more that I have never ever seen anyone working on said scaffolding in any review!

Abuse reported Report abuse
0
Score:
0 replies1 reply 0 replies1 reply Please wait while we perform your request.
Powered by Pluck - Integrated Social Media Platform, Community Software and Custom Content Solutions for Digital Leaders
Next
 

What Do You Think?

To leave a comment, you need to sign up.

Sign up Sign in

Please wait while we file your abuse report.

Report Abuse

We're sorry. We were unable to report abuse at this time.

We limit the number of reactions an individual user can submit over a given period for quality reasons. You have currently reached that limit. Please try resubmitting your abuse report again later.

Comment is too long. Enter 500 characters or less.

Send Cancel

Please wait while we send the email.

Email This

You may send this to 5 e-mail addresses. Please separate each address with a space.

We're sorry, but the item you are sending has been removed from the site.

We're sorry. We were unable to send the email at this time.

Please specify a recipient.

You can only send messages to 5 addresses at a time.

The address "" is not valid.

Please specify a subject.

 Send Cancel
Email Delicious Digg Facebook LinkedIn Messenger Connect MySpace
Copy to Clipboard Reddit Slashdot StumbleUpon Tumblr Twitter Yahoo! Buzz
Copy to clipboard

Score
 vote upvotes up
 vote downvotes down

User reviews

There are currently no reviews for this product.

Read more reviews >

To add your own review log in or sign up

Explore TrustedReviews

Site Sections

  • Blu-ray Players
  • Camcorders
  • Camera Accessories
  • Camera Lenses
  • Desktop PCs
  • Digital Cameras
  • Gadgets
  • Games
  • Games Accessories
  • GPS & Sat Nav
  • Headphones
  • Laptops
  • Mobile Apps
  • Mobile Phone Accessories
  • Mobile Phones
  • Monitors
  • PC Components
  • Peripherals
  • Portable Audio
  • Printers
  • Projectors
  • Software
  • Surround Sound Systems
  • Tablets
  • TV Recorders & Set Top Boxes
  • TVs

Round-ups

  • Best Cheap Mobile Phones
  • Best Mobile Phone
  • Best PC
  • Best Laptop
  • Best Printers
  • Best Digital Cameras
  • Best Waterproof Cameras
  • Best Headphones 2012
  • Best HTC Phones
  • Best MP3 Player
  • Best Ultrabook
  • Best Speakers
  • New iPad / iPad 3: Everything You Need To Know
  • Apple iPad 3 / iPad HD Launch Event
  • Best Surround Sound Systems

Tools and Social

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • RSS feeds
  • Sitemap

More Information

  • About us
  • Contact us
  • Advertising info
  • © IPC Media 2003-2012, All rights reserved
  • Site user terms
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Information
  • Contact Us