liangtam wrote:Nope, no boxes. Items laid flat on a cardboard and shrink-wrapped.

You're kidding, right? As you can see from my account, I buy lots of refurbed stuff from Woot, including cameras, and not once was anything packaged the way you described. At worst, an item was sent in the wrong box, as was the case of a refurbed Kodak camera.

I bought the DMC-Z56 on a previous WOOT and it is the best camera I have ever owned, including top of the line Minolta 35mm. What I learned in the 35mm days is that it is the lens that makes all the difference and the Leica lens on this camera is aweseome. I am seriously considering upgrading to this newer model. I was concerned about the battery life but the battery life is very good and the camera will go into sleep mode if you forget that it is on, thus saving the battery.

bbqsteve wrote:ID-Security Li-ion Battery Pack (3.6V, 895mAh) (included)
AC Adaptor (Input: 110-240V AC) (not included)

Amazon to the rescue! $29.99 with free Super Saver shipping:
http://www.amazon.com/Wasabi-Power-Panasonic-DMW-BCG10E-DMW-BCG10PP/dp/B0049V0ZX8/ref=pd_sim_p_4

No AC adapter is necessary since charging is done over the USB cable. If you're not by a computer, just buy a USB AC adapter from eBay, i.e. this one is 89 cents and FREE s/h.

First time I have seen Refurb of this model. I have a DMC-TZ5 that, as a lifetime Nikon film camera user, I bought for $200 a couple of years ago.... just blew me away! Not only does it do everything my Nikon did, it does more! While everyone around me is blinding everyone with their flash, this Panasonic Lumix takes bright, full color pics with NO flash needed... even has night time settings that turn night into day and I don't think this model is any different. If you are looking for the most versatile compact digital camera I have ever seen in this price range, grab it, you won't regret it. Just check out the reviews on the internet. Unbelievable battery life... but pricy... you can get by fine with the clone batteries... just don't install the software that permits only the use of Lumix batteries. If you take movies, you can zoom in and out while shooting and focus remains sharp. The Macro settings are also superb... fill the frame with a fly! Adjust the pixel count down to .3 mp for posting on the internet and they are sharp! I can't believe that after 40 years of having to compromise on shots, fiddle and adjust, all is taken care of with the Lumix.... I can't recommend it any higher and no, I don't work for Panasonic.

like2wheel wrote:How many digital cameras & vacuums can 1 person own??

I just checked the U.S. Constitution and oddly enough there is no mention of cameras or vacuum cleaners so I'm guessing the number is limitless.

D___it! I just paid $199 for this the last time it was on Woot.

Great camera

CameraLabs.com consistenly provides the most accurate, comprehensive and detailed reviews of digital cameras that you will find anywhere.

See their review of the Panasonic Lumix ZS10...

cameralabs.com
full review: http://tinyurl.com/46gnyrv


Their Verdict/Conclusion:

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ20 / ZS10 final verdict

After a modest update to its best-selling travel zoom last year, Panasonic has pulled-out all the stops for the latest Lumix TZ20 / ZS10. The lens range is broader, the video recording now at Full HD, the continuous shooting significantly quicker and the GPS landmark database roughly doubled in size. There's also now a touch-screen display along with new 3D and composite noise reduction modes, while the vertical streaking which plagued bright highlights in video on its predecessor has been banished. Really, what's not to like?

In these respects the Lumix TZ20 / ZS10 is a triumph, and show Panasonic (necessarily) raising its game in the face of increasingly tough competition. But as described in detail above, the Lumix TZ20 / ZS10 is not without its faults. Biggest of these is the image quality which when viewed at 100% can appear patchy and ill-defined even under good light at 100 ISO. Increase the sensitivity and it becomes even patchier. The new Handheld Night Shot mode does a fair job at minimising noise, but the bottom line is the TZ20 / ZS10 is not a camera for pixel-peepers who like to see crisp and clean details at 100% on-screen.

On top of that, the touch-screen can feel under-utilised. At one moment you'll enjoy tapping the subject you'd like the camera to focus on, then be perplexed at another as you're forced to laboriously enter text using traditional buttons.

The touch-screen inconsistencies are just that though, and shouldn't be a major stumbling block for anyone considering the TZ20 / ZS10. It could be done better - and hopefully should be with a future firmware update - but it's certainly not a deal-breaker.

The image quality however might be for some. This is a shame since there's so much that's really good about the TZ20 / ZS10, it's frustrating to find it let down in such a fundamental respect. Ironically, while unnecessary boosts in resolution are partly to blame, it's also down to the adoption of a MOS technology for the sensor. What it 'giveth' in 1080i video and fast continuous shooting, it 'taketh' away in photo quality. As earlier Lumix FZ100 owners realised, you can't have it all.

The question then becomes whether you're actually bothered by this, or if the undoubted benefits of the camera outweigh the quality issues. If you generally view your photos on screen at lower magnification, or make normal sized prints, then it could be a non-issue. Alternatively even if the quality bothers you, you may be happy to trade it for the big zoom, 1080i video, fast continuous shooting and GPS database packed into a pocketable camera. It really is something only you can decide, although you should of course also compare the TZ20 / ZS10 against its key rivals listed above.

Ultimately the Lumix TZ20 / ZS10 misses out on our highest rating due to disappointing image quality, but still earns our Recommended award because first, most of its target audience will be satisfied by its output, and second, there's simply so much else to like about the camera that the good outweighs the bad.

I just got one at full price ($249) and am very disappointed with the battery life.

With 30 minutes record time for video (I charged the battery and timed it several times) you don't even fill the included 4 Gb card.

The ZS10 uses a CMOS sensor (as opposed to older cameras with a CCD sensor) which improves the performance dramatically, allowing for burst/continuous shooting of around 10 frames per second at full resolution (incredible for shooting sports/action).

The downside is that Panasaonic hasn't got the software for this sensor tweaked yet and the camera doesn't do as well as it should under low light conditions - the images are noisy for having this much data... something that they may be able to address with a firmware update.

The pro reviews note that most people will not mind or even notice the lower (noisy) image quality unless they are ourputting to large prints or trying to crop/resize to small areas of a larger image.

dooleysc wrote:We had the older version of this camera with only the 12x zoom, and we were astonished how much better the pictures were and what we could capture compared to our canon point and shoots. ... The zoom really is where this camera excels...you will be blown away by how good this camera is for the money. Oh yeah, the optical zoom worked when shooting HD video, and I am pretty certain this one does too.

Be careful of this one!!
Woot sent me a USED not Refurbished camera. Badly marked up.. and the internals were never reset. LCD scratched, lens ring scratched, scratches all over, and internal counter set at 370 pictures taken. Even the "refurbished" sticker was worn down..
Refurbished is not USED. This was USED period and not too gently.
WOOT asked for pictures and when sent has never returned email to acknowledge request for RMA and replacement/refund..
Woot's meaning of Refurbished should be viewed with much skepticism...since to them it just means used. You can find this exact camera elsewhere on the web with better return policies...

Just wondering if I should jump on this or stay with grabbing an FH25 for about $60 less.

I had a TZ5 and it was alright, until the LCD went all wonky. Still takes pictures, but every once in a while.

I just bought this camera brand new for this price with no shipping charges from 42nd Street Photo. Their price was at least $50-$75 cheaper than other places.

I own this camera and love it. I have a DSLR and another point and shoot, but decided to invest in this camera for a recent trip to Africa. I often used the full optical zoom hand held and most of the time pictures were great. The HD video is terrific. I paid $289 several months ago and it was/is worth every penny. At the WOOT price - buy it. Or check out 42nd Street Photo where someone else posted you can get it for the same price.

sdc100 wrote:Keep in mind, however, that this Lumix is refurbished. While I have no problems with buying one (my Samsung from Woot is a refurb), you may not want to give one as a gift. Some people are tempted to remove any label that says "REFURBISHED" but that's not good enough. If the recipient registers the camera online with a serial number, the truth will be revealed. That's because refurbs generally have a shorter warranty. And then you'll really look like jerk. Not only were you cheap, but you're also a liar!

Refurbished doesn't always mean you are 'cheap'. Gifts are sometimes bought with a certain price range in mind. In this case, you could still get a nice camera, new, for this price, or you could get twice the quality, refurbished. You can also be pretty sure these were thoroughly tested, upgraded, and up to the current production specifications. If the person you are buying gifts for, are more interested in the money you spent, they probably would rather have the cash, and will sell your gift cheap anyway. If it for someone, who will actually use your gift, they will appreciate the better value and function.

If they're so good why are there so many refurbished ones for sale?

Krumlov wrote:Here is a great Zoom chart from Fujifilm to show you how about how a 16x would look!

http://www.fujifilm.ca/products/digital_cameras/j/finepix_jx250/features/img/page_11/Zoom_Chart.jpg

this link does not work .(


[MOD: Just tried it and it worked for me in Chrome and FB. Try again, perhaps?)

lll0228 wrote:Nice. This is a great little camera, I agree that Lumix is a wonderful and consistently good line of digital cameras.

Price comparison:

Amazon.com price: $254 (for new, not refurbished). http://tinyurl.com/lumixzs10

Buy.com: $265. http://tinyurl.com/7atcjsn

Adorama: $249 (you need to add to cart to see this price). http://tinyurl.com/78lnmvg

I'd get one if I needed one...

240 at BB

162 at amazon warehouse deals

i would buy if it was 130ish

sdc100 wrote:For superzooms, I've always seen it as a battle between Samsung and Panasonic. Both are Asian electronics giants not known for imaging, yet both brands have received generally very good reviews. Because their specialty is electronics, both companies also outsource to respected lensmakers for their optics. Panasonic uses Leica while Samsung uses Schneider-Kreuznach. As a result, photo quality have been very good. The respected site, depreviews.com, for example, lauded the 15x zoom Samsung HZ30W (which I bought here on Woot for $119) for its lack of optical distortion.

In the past, I've always preferred Samsung for one reason: Video. Panasonic used outdated Motion JPEG compression while Samsung uses H.264. As a result, Samsung can hold roughly 4x as much video of the same quality in the same amount of space. But this Panasonic not only uses H.264, but it also gives you the option of MJPEG. And it does 1080 HD. In short, the video specs are incredible. I also hated the fact that Panasonic used MOV, which no free Windows program can edit well. I believe that it now uses the more universal MP4 container, which Samsung has used for a while.

My only question now is whether this Panasonic can pause while recording. Virtually no digital cameras (or palmcorders like the Flip, or even cheap camcorders) have this ability -- except Samsungs. This is an important feature for many reasons (read the previous Panasonic camera Woot for details). Regardless, the specs for this Panasonic is amazing, and I'm tempted to pull the trigger.

Another Samsung HZ30W owner here, also purchased from woot. That's a wonderful camera, with image quality that apparently beats this Panasonic offering by a mile. I'm very happy with my Samsung.

Review at Steve's Digicams is very good:

http://www.steves-digicams.com/camera-reviews/panasonic/lumix-dmc-zs10/panasonic-lumix-dmc-zs10-review.html

Does anyone know how long the battery might last before it stops taking a charge? I realize it's Lithium-Ion and should last for a very long time, but my fear with these batteries is that it'll last 8 months and it'll cost $70 for a replacement.

I read this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithium-ion_battery

But if anyone has experience with Panasonic batteries, please chime in. Thanks,

I am the author of an about-to-be-released book for digicam newbies. ("How To Use The Digital Camera You Just Bought"). It is based on scores of hours teaching and tutoring. Here are a few conclusions that might be useful:
1. Just because you go from film to digital, the laws of physics are not suspended.
2.You will not be able to get an action-stopping sports magazine shot of your kid stuffing a basket with a camera who's lens aperture is f/5.6. At least not until ISO's reach 500,000.
3. Much of the high resolution image will be wasted outdoors because you can't see the screen of your point and shoot and you compose poorly. Cameras with optical or electronic viewfinders are a plus.
4. Do NOT base you purchase based strictly on amateur reviews. Most people do not know the difference between out of focus, camera shake and subject movement. Others never learn how to turn off the auto flash, or spend too much time browsing photos on the camera, and then complain about battery life.
5. Do not buy the $300 cheapo DSLR with the slow and sluggish "kit" lens and then offer to shoot weddings.
It short, there is no "Nerf Toy" camera that requires no effort to use and always takes great shots. Some day, perhaps. Right now LEARN your camera's LIMITATIONS before or after you buy it to avoid frustration.

chgo wrote:If they're so good why are there so many refurbished ones for sale?

See my post above for the reason. In short, people have no idea how the camera works and then return it, "dissatisfied" with the quality.

In for one. Really like the DMC-ZS6 I picked up in the spring. This is a good deal. Thanks Woot.

It would concern me that they seem to have so many refurbed Panasonics here on WOOT. Are they having to repair that many cameras and having so many returned units? I wonder what the defect rate is.

krybaby01 wrote:It would concern me that they seem to have so many refurbed Panasonics here on WOOT. Are they having to repair that many cameras and having so many returned units? I wonder what the defect rate is.

I have never had a bad refurb from Woot. See my posting above about people not understanding what cameras can and cannot do. That's a lot of reasons for returns.

new around here--where can i find warranty info for this refurb deal?

Share on facebook button shows a 404 error when the popup window to share opens.

sdc100 wrote:You're kidding, right? As you can see from my account, I buy lots of refurbed stuff from Woot, including cameras, and not once was anything packaged the way you described. At worst, an item was sent in the wrong box, as was the case of a refurbed Kodak camera.

I also received my camera shrink wrapped on a cardboard flat. Purchased during the Woot a few months back. Camera & accessories in perfect, brand new condition.
I would gladly trade a small bit of image quality for a 16x zoom. I don't normally print my photos. I view them on a 28" screen. Very pleased with the camera in general & the photos/videos taken.

the question is can the GPS tagging be turned off??
maybe a current owner could comment and save me going and finding the manual, thanks

talk about good timing.... I just bought this on Amazon last night for $90 more so I cancelled that one this morning and got it here.

For this I will forgive you for not putting a Big ol' Cornucopia on my doorstep.

mclaugh812 wrote:new around here--where can i find warranty info for this refurb deal?

Is your question outside of what's in the product description on the front page?

"Authorized for SquareTrade Extended Warranty

Warranty: 90 Day Panasonic"

If it's because the link that should be in between the two phrases isn't showing up to tell you 3 of years and price, I'm having trouble having it show up, too. I've tried Opera and Internet Explorer. IE says error in the bottom left corner, and Opera shows it's trying to display it. Firefox works, and it shows one year for $28.99. The Square Trade words lead to a link explaining the extended warranty.

By the way, the refurb woot link is here and in my signature:

woot.com/forums/ViewPost.aspx?PostID=109477

jguru wrote:240 at BB

162 at amazon warehouse deals

i would buy if it was 130ish

Link, please.

gazware wrote:
Snip

Does anyone know how long the battery might last before it stops taking a charge? I realize it's Lithium-Ion and should last for a very long time, but my fear with these batteries is that it'll last 8 months and it'll cost $70 for a replacement.

I read this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithium-ion_battery

But if anyone has experience with Panasonic batteries, please chime in. Thanks,

So far, so good. I've bought 2 Panasonic cameras, one with a superzoom that's a few years old. Bought generic batteries for each to supplement the Panasonic battery. So far, so good--all 4 batteries working still.

Thanks to everyone including sdc100 and radi0j0hn. One question for radi0j0hn though:

"1. Just because you go from film to digital, the laws of physics are not suspended."

Can you elaborate on that one?

tomh922 wrote:the question is can the GPS tagging be turned off??

Yes, it sure can. I have the ZS7, and only use the GPS tagging on trips and things like that. The tradeoff is it chews battery to leave it on, as it stays on even when the camera is turned off. That allows it to tag photos right after you turn the camera on, as it doesn't have to spend time searching for satellites.

RenoDavid wrote:Yeah, I love the 0x zoom on my 4S.

I have the ZS8 which is a GREAT camera. I take pics of preschoolers who do NOT always stay still for pictures. I love this camera.

I have an iphone 4. Can't say that the pictures are spectacular. Low light cameras don't turn out for me at all. I've tried adjusting settings as much as it will allow. If it's important to get the shot I always get out my Panasonic. Iphone cameras are fine if you have no other option.

andrelook wrote:
I bought a Panasonic anyway from woot and took extreme care of it. After 500 shots the lens failed to retract. I had it professionally looked at but the gears wouldn't engage again.

I felt stupid because I already knew how badly they fared but my desire overcame my needs.

Remember this message and if you buy .. and it fails due to the lenses not working properly at least write a note warning other people off ..

My ZS7 is in for warranty repair right now! Same sort of deal. The gears didn't stop working, but something "came loose" (all I can figure?) inside the lens. This left a black line arcing across every image, that got sharper/fuzzier as I zoomed. Mine lasted about 9 months and 10k photos. Then failed, of course, on "the trip of a lifetime." :-(

Other than that, I've been 95% extremely pleased with the camera. I agree with the reviews that say the images are "chunky" at 100%, and that's extremely disappointing. You really need to crop at the time you take the shot, and not expect to do so later. Once you get used to that, it's not so bad.

Good price - I created my Xmas list yesterday and this camera was already on it. I have a Panasonic Lumix I bought 4+ years ago and it's proven to be the most rugged, dependable camera ever. I travel extensively and never have had any issues.....and it takes very, very good pictures. Any photographer would tell you that a good lens makes a huge difference. I would go on vacation with friends and all of us would take pictures of the same things.....and my shots always were head and shoulders above the others in terms of focus, clarity, and realistic color. I'm a big fan.

Does anyone know where the best place is to obtain Woot coupon codes that actually will work? I have been searching for a long time, and non of them work! Please help an old man!

HarveyH45 wrote:Refurbished doesn't always mean you are 'cheap'. Gifts are sometimes bought with a certain price range in mind. In this case, you could still get a nice camera, new, for this price, or you could get twice the quality, refurbished. You can also be pretty sure these were thoroughly tested, upgraded, and up to the current production specifications. If the person you are buying gifts for, are more interested in the money you spent, they probably would rather have the cash, and will sell your gift cheap anyway. If it for someone, who will actually use your gift, they will appreciate the better value and function.

Sometimes you have to think that a refubished item may actually be better than a brand new one. Think of it like this. Typically a refurb has been given special one on one attention by an expert that know what to look for and what to fix. Brand new ones typically just come off of an assembly line and do not receive special attention before they are sold. I buy refurbished items all of the time!

cdsinfla wrote:I also received my camera shrink wrapped on a cardboard flat.

Same here. That's how the refurb point and shoots come, I think. No big deal. I throw the packaging out anyway.