Panasonic's 2011 24x superzoom bridge — 12MP CCD, 25-600mm, Full HD video; FZ47 in the US
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ48 was launched in July 2011 as the mid-range model of Panasonic's FZ superzoom bridge line, replacing the FZ45 and sold in North America as the Lumix DMC-FZ47. It sat below the flagship FZ150, sharing much of that camera's lens.
It builds a 12.1-megapixel high-speed CCD into an SLR-style body with a stabilised Leica 24x zoom of 25-600mm equivalent using Nano Surface Coating, extendable to 32x via Intelligent Resolution. Video records Full HD 1080i (50i on European models) with stereo sound, bursts reach 3.7fps at full resolution, and the rear LCD is a 460k-dot unit.
It offers manual exposure control, long stabilised reach and usable video controls in one fixed-lens package, suiting travel, airshows and casual wildlife where lens-swapping is unwelcome. The small CCD keeps it a good-light camera; beyond ISO 400 output softens noticeably.
Exercise the full 24x zoom while listening for motor strain, check the electronic viewfinder and rear screen both display cleanly, and confirm the proprietary battery and charger are included. FZ47-badged US imports are the identical camera, so include both names when comparing used prices.