Panasonic's compact 2005 superzoom — 5MP CCD, 36-432mm equiv 12x Leica lens at f/2.8-3.3, 326g.
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ5 was a compact superzoom released in February 2005, following the 2-megapixel FZ1 and FZ2 in Panasonic's smaller FZ line. It was effectively a scaled-down FZ20 and was later replaced by the FZ7.
It couples a 5-megapixel CCD with a Leica-designed 12x zoom equivalent to 36-432mm, holding a bright f/2.8-3.3 aperture across the range, backed by Mega O.I.S. optical stabilisation and the Venus Engine II processor. Compared with the FZ20 it drops the manual focus ring, flash hotshoe and ED lens element. Storage is SD or MultiMediaCard, and the body weighs just 326g.
It suits shooters wanting serious telephoto reach in a genuinely small, light body, with the near-constant bright aperture a standout for the class. As a 2005 small-sensor CCD camera it is a good-light tool, and the electronic viewfinder and screen are basic by later standards.
Used buyers should verify the proprietary lithium-ion battery still charges and the charger is included, cycle the 12x zoom for smoothness, and check the EVF and LCD for fading. Look for hot pixels on longer exposures given the sensor's age. It takes plain SD/MMC cards, though very large SDHC cards will not work in this pre-SDHC model.