Panasonic Lumix DMC-LS5 Point & Shoot 14.1MP Digital Camera, 5x Lens

Got Panasonic Lumix DMC-LS5 Point & Shoot camera recently for not so tech savvy family members who are not comfortable with bigger cameras with many settings including my Sony HX100V. 


Key features that attracted me to this one were specifications like AA batteries, 720P video at 30 frames per second and optical image stabilization at sub Rs4000 (USD80) price point.


Panasonic DMC-LS5 Product Page


Images courtesy Panasonic product website

Due to a smaller CCD sensor (1/2.33-inch) with 14.5 Total Megapixels cramped in the image quality is not that great and with cheaper electronics response in terms of focusing is also slow. It is a very basic camera and for the price paid it is fine.


One issue I am having is that it is only working with Alkaline batteries and not with any of my NiMH rechargeable batteries. I have tried all 5-6 sets I have from various brands including Duracell and Energizer after charging fully as well. Measured voltage also and all if fine with batteries. I have report this issue to Panasonic support through an email and waiting for their response. I have not seen any one other reporting the issue yet online so may be a problem with specific unit.


Update - 
Based on voltage measurements on batteries, it does not operate if battery voltage is less than 1.5V. NiMH which has a standard voltage of 1.2V each cell should also work as per product specifications. Even some other Alkaline batteries including another set of Panasonic batteries with voltage of 1.47 volt are not able to power the camera. It appears to be a manufacturing/component defect in the power circuit of the camera.


Update - I had given camera to Panasonic service center and they claimed to have changed the power circuit and returned the camera to me after couple of days. Now it is working fine. Another thing I noticed is that camera power circuit is quite sensitive to internal resistance of the batteries. My older NiMH batteries which work in Canon cameras and other electronics do not work in this Panasonic camera. I have bought some new Sanyo Eneloop and Sony NiMH batteries which are working fine in this camera. 



Summary Review - 


Good things
- AA batteries (standard pencil cells)
- SD Card (cheap cards available these days)
- 720P video recording
- Easy to use modes and options
- Outdoor picture reasonable quality
- Image stabilization works reasonably well (not perfect but one can see the difference)


Flaws 
- Very sensitive to type of AA batteries. Takes only best quality batteries (fresh NiMH) and Duracell / Sony high drain batteries). With some of the Panasonic, Eveready, Energizer Alkalines did not even turn on or with fresh batteries says batteries low. Batteries which work fine in a Canon are simply rejected by this camera. This may be my unit’s problem but Panasonic service is not able to fix it even after they claimed that they have changed the power circuit.
- Slow focus
- Slow recharge of flash (shot to shot)
- Significant lag from button press to shot.
- Big annoyance – Can not replay HD recorded video in camera. It can only play back VGA or lower resolution.
- Indoor and low light pictures are very noisy.
- Lens motor is little bit noisy (focusing lens motor can be heard when putting camera near your face)