Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ20 - opinions?

This camera looks pretty good according to dpreview and steve's.
Any reason why a dslr would be worth the extra hundreds of $$$?
Anyone using Lumix who would care to comment? Has anyone used say Canon
EOS 350D or pentax ist and also the Lumix? I would appreciate your thoughts.

Cheers

 

This is a great camera for what it is ... a reasonably small camera with a
12x image stabilized zoom. It takes good pics and some of the ones I've
taken with our office's FZ20, have been outstanding, especially as subject
material for further Photoshop work.

Would I buy one of these for myself "instead of" the 20D I'm saving for? No
way. You can't compare the two systems, particularly with respect to noise,
resolution and versatility. But it depends on what you want to do with your
camera. Is photography your hobby or avocation or do you just want to ba
able to take consistently good snaps and the occasional show-worthy
creation?

If the former then go for a DSLR if the latter, the FZ20 is outstanding.

SJB

 

Why not take a look at my galley with hundreds of pics from my FZ20
and see what you think: http://www.pjcook.com/12301.html

I LOVE mine!

-PJ