I had some very good results with this camera;
http://www.panasonic.com/consumer_electronics/digital_cameras/lumix.asp
I found the 12 times optical zoom was enough for me to take quality pics anywhere on the field from the halfway line.
The camera also had image stabilisation, which is needed when you are taking pics with that much zoom (with 12 times optical and 4 times digital zoom - that blows out to 48 times zoom - so the slightest movement causes blurr).
I have now moved up to a canon 350D digital SLR - which cost me 6 times as much - but only produces slightly better results.
In summary - you need 10 or 12 times optical zoom and IS (Image stabilisation) for pretty good results, but you can get fair pictures of sideline action etc with lower specs.
http://www.panasonic.com/consumer_electronics/digital_cameras/lumix.asp
I found the 12 times optical zoom was enough for me to take quality pics anywhere on the field from the halfway line.
The camera also had image stabilisation, which is needed when you are taking pics with that much zoom (with 12 times optical and 4 times digital zoom - that blows out to 48 times zoom - so the slightest movement causes blurr).
I have now moved up to a canon 350D digital SLR - which cost me 6 times as much - but only produces slightly better results.
In summary - you need 10 or 12 times optical zoom and IS (Image stabilisation) for pretty good results, but you can get fair pictures of sideline action etc with lower specs.
