Is the new panasonic fz50 digital camera an slr or something else?

I read the specs and looked it over and the Prosumer fz50 is an excellent poduct. A really complete photo package with controls or just point and shoot. either way it looks real good.

Now let me make my case for Pro-sumer end cameras... first, is their size... ease of handling... and the sensor is factory sealed and should remain lent free, where as the sensor for SLRs get dirty quickly with the changing of lenses... each time their seal is broken and they are exposed.

The higher end prosumers like the KodaK P and Z series. I have had two of their cameras and wanting a third. They offer an adapter to change the 53mm lens size to a 55mm... holding all the standard 55mm filters, including a polarizer. They also sell a 1.5 converson Zoom attachment that take the optiacal equivalent to over 600mm... so, you can go from 28 toi 600 with a built in Image stablizer. Not a bad deal and I range from 4 MP to 8MP with my Kodaks... all my batteries are interchangable and my filters. I have an inexpensive close-up diopter set for my macros.

All for under the price of an SLR body only... I beieve that the Pro-sumer hobbiest market the hottest in the industry

So whatever you decide brand wise... plan on sticking with that brand for attachments and such.

Personally I'd go for the Prosumer and spend the extra money on attachments that are available.

beaux

Technically it is not an SLR but apparently its closing the gap... read the reviews and specs.
"despite a wealth of 'super zoom' competitors it really does sit in a class of its own, offering true SLR-like handling and operation and an amazingly versatile 35-420mm equivalent 12x optical zoom (with fluid-damped mechanical zoom mechanism)"
the specs are in the review as well.

sir

something else

Technically it is of the breed known as a 'bridge camera' The lens is not interchangeable, and you do not view through the taking lens as on an SLR, but through an electronic viewfinder like a video camera viewfinder. These are not nearly as clear as an SLRs viewfinder. The advantage of such cameras is that with a large zoom on the lens, you do not have the problems with dirt on the sensor that can be encountered on DSLRs. However, you are entirely limited to the lens the manufacturer gives you. You cannot upgrade, say to an ultra wide angle or to a very long telephoto for wild life shots. You are also limited to a fairly small aperture range. There has also been much criticism of distortion at each end of the zoom range, and of problems with colour fringing etc as manufacturers try to cram more and more photosites on to the tiny sensor. Here in the UK the photgraphic press is forecasting the death of the bridge camera as DSLRs become much cheaper and affordable.