Top critical review
1.0 out of 5 starsColour blind camera and a lesson about return policies.
Reviewed in Canada on January 20, 2022
I'd give this a zero star rating, but Amazon doesn't permit that.
I bought this camera because I wanted a second camera for another angle when we shoot videos. My first Panasonic DCFZ1000M2 is great and was not purchased from this seller. Despite duplicating the settings in the first camera, I couldn't get the same colours in the same video shot with the first camera... whose colours are accurate. This required colour correcting every video from the colour blind second Panasonic DCFZ1000M2.
I contacted the seller (who was polite throughout this ordeal) then went back and forth with them and Panasonic for about a week and change trying various settings on the camera. I shot tests and sent them the stills showing the colour differences between the two. The seller finally said that provided the camera was defective I'd get a refund. Which left the question of why would they think it wasn't defective after I jumped through all the hoops they and Panasonic asked me to?? Panasonic makes great cameras, but it doesn't mean they don't pump out duds every now and then.
In checking the seller's refund policy I discovered they have a hefty restocking fee. Their comment and the restocking fee made me feel like they might levy that once I returned the camera. However, the seller agreed they wouldn't since the camera DID appear to be defective and they'd send it back to Panasonic. The return seemed like the way to go until the seller proceeded to send me a return shipping label where I'd have to pay the cost of shipping the defective camera back to them. ??????
Needless to say, that move made me feel like I was going to be out my money AND the camera. So, I decided to keep the colour blind camera for parts. That way I control the outcome of this less-than-pleasant purchase.
The lesson? ALWAYS check the seller's return policy BEFORE making a purchase - especially a pricy one like this camera.