Professional photographs using digital camera?

Can I produce professional photographs using my digital camera that has 5.0 mega pixels, mega O.I.S. and is a Panasonic DMC-FX8 Lumix Leica.

Anyone?

My answer is yes. It may not be as easy as with a higher quality camera, but a five megapixel camera is certainly capable of taking excellent images. The resolution is sufficient for normal sized photographs. If you're looking for posters, then you'd probably need a higher resolution camera. I have published calendars with my five megapixel camera, and people agree they are beautiful.

The important thing is not to get overly obsessive about the equipment. All of the above answers are spot on. As long as you can create a sharp, properly balanced image that is well lit and with a compelling composition, you have a great professional photograph. One of the great maxims of photography is "f/8 and be there". People are very forgiving of minor technical flaws when the overall image is fantastic.

The limits of a camera like yours are felt more when you are looking for creative artistic photography. It is then that having an SLR is superior. The more control you have over exposure, the zoom power of the lens and special settings, the farther you can go as a photographer.

I would recommend using your current equipment to the best of its ability, for what YOU envision as quality photography. Get thoroughly comfortable with your technique, and then you will know when you are ready to move on to something more powerful.

That is an excellent camera, the one that my son wants. He has had Panasonics now for 5 years and had very good luck. As for professional pictures, however, photography is more in the mind than in the camera. You have jumped the hurdle on mega pixels, the rest is technique and being able to look at something you think needs to be photographed.

Photography is an art. This art depends on your eye knowing when it sees art of interest. Its your human eye that changes the photo into art, however a 7.0 meg is an awesome camera of kodak sharing

Yes/No.

If you are asking will that camera produce results that look professional, then sure. However if you are looking to be hired to work as a professional, then no.

People who hire professionals expect to see professional equipment.

However if your are taking photos and are going to sell them at say an arts/crafts show, then no one will know the difference. It will then be "How good a photographer are you?"....and not what kind of camera do you use.

A camera is just a box that captures light. It's the person behind the camera that captures the "professional photographs". A camera is a camera for most intensive purpose's (until megapixels come into play and quality of optics but we won't go there). It's your understanding of photography and light and composition more than anything that will affect the images. Although as someone pointed out, if I hired you and you showed up with that, I would send you home.