Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ10PP-S

In early 2003, Panasonic brought out its Lumix DMC-FZ1S, a dSLR-style model with a whopping 12X Leica Vario-Elmarit zoom lens. The camera's successor, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ10PP, uses the same lens and body but pushes the resolution from 2 to 4 megapixels, adds a smattering of advanced functions, incorporates a larger LCD, and ships with a slightly higher-capacity SD card. The new Lumix still receives high marks for design, features, and performance, but in image quality, the FZ10 falls short of some 4-megapixel competitors, such as the Olympus C-750 Ultra Zoom.Like the FZ1, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ10PP has a squared-off look that falls short of ultrachic, but the update's clean, simple styling is appealing enough. Composed of an alloy of carbon fiber and plastic, the body feels solid if not exceptionally sturdy. It weighs a hefty 1 pound, 4 ounces with the battery and the SD card installed, but the camera is reasonably compact for a model with such a big zoom lens. You can get your FZ10 in black or silver.