Dear little progress ...

... Than none? - Hm ... As a private user of the FZ38 and (more recently) professional users the FZ45 I could compare the two cameras together. In one - certainly subjective - preparation I summarize the changes in the FZ38 FZ45 gg once briefly:.

+ The camera has increased in all dimensions some mm, also acts through the enlarged upper part (with flash and microphone) on the lens a little "adult" and is better overall in my (large) hand.
+ The flash pops up a little higher and is thus further away from the optical axis.
+ The lens cap has not (as with the FZ38) are removed when you turn.
+ Manual settings and changes in aperture and shutter speed are carried out as with a dial SLR and no longer has a fiddly mini stick. For me, the main advantage of the FZ45!
+ Various knobs were better placed. This applies to the video trigger that is now in front of the photo-trigger, but also for the shift of monitor or viewfinder, which is now separate from the display key.
+ The command dial for the various modes snaps better one, just as the diopter adjustment on the viewfinder.
+ The battery compartment is secured by a slide and can no longer be opened when gripping the camera accidentally.
+ The monitor is indeed grown by only 6 mm, but works amazingly, much larger.
+ The sharpness seems marginally better than the FZ38.

o The focal length range was (in miniature figures) expanded by 2 mm down and almost 120 mm upwards and now amounts to 25-600 mm. Personally, I do not see any significant growth because such a large focal lengths with a Bridge and perhaps even hard to control out of your hands are.

- The lens is quite far extended already in the start state
- The lens cap is no longer closes the entire lens, because the tube is no longer retracts even when switched off behind the border of the lens. This can enter the lens even when a lid dirt. A decisive disadvantage!
- Well, thanks to the increase by 2 megapixel FZ45 tends to first, subjective impressions somewhat stronger to noise at higher ISO values.
- When using the flash, the camera tends to be adulterated, yellow heavy color. Correctable, but annoying.

Overall, Panasonic might be better focused on the (existing) ergonomic improvements and leave it at the completely sufficient 12 MP the FZ38 and the previous telephoto. The costs associated with the giant tube problems with the lens cover would have been spared us.

Once I was able to make more comparative shots, I will add a response accordingly. For the time being I rate the camera because of the ambivalent, but overall good impression with 4 stars.