Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

The FZ1000 worked great until it didn’t. This because a clearly visible ring inside the camera’s lens came loose in the telephoto position and bent backward upon retraction preventing the lens from reaching the fully collapsed position. This condition, after thirteen months of ownership, rendered the FZ1000 completely inoperable. I called the Panasonic repair facility in Texas for guidance asking how much a replacement lens would cost, and the representative I spoke with refused to tell me arguing the camera would need to be inspected before any repair estimate could be made. Typically lens prices are well known and simply removing and replacing a lens takes seconds, regardless - I sent the FZ1000 to the Panasonic McAllen Texas Service Center as instructed and shortly thereafter received an email informing me that an “out of warranty fee” of 287.00 was due, with no further explanation. After calling Panasonic for a clarification, I learned the company was willing to offer me two options: Pay the fee or request to have the FZ1000 returned. Beyond this, the representative I spoke with was unwilling to answer a single question. For instance, would the 287.00 dollars be applied to the repair cost? How long would it take to change out the lens? What would a new or repaired lens cost? I got nowhere. Panasonic refused to speak with me until I paid the 287.00 dollar fee. This, even though the company was in possession of the FZ1000 I had sent them. Panasonic wanted both the money and the camera before providing me with any information beyond what I already knew - I had purchased a camera with a defective lens. End of story. I rate the FZ1000 as the worst single photographic equipment purchase I have ever made; and the Panasonic customer service experience as indifferent, apathetic and utterly dismissive of my concerns as a customer. * I forwarded my complaint to Amazon and received a satisfactory refund.