I have had quite a few Panasonic products of various kinds over the years including video, and never had a problem so I can't say anything firsthand about their service.

However assuming Leica is in any way the same company it was when it achieved the reputation it now still enjoys and is justified currently is assuming a lot.

Personally if I had to make a purchase decision on the basis of after purchase service or repair availability and quality, I wouldn't buy much of anything. Most of todays products are not made to be reparable, and many companies just return a new or refurbished product replacing what was sent in for repair. Or they just stone wall because the incidence of failure is so low it would never hurt their reputation. There are some exceptions, but they are getting to be fewer and fewer. We live in a throw-away world.

Thank you for your advice David.

I realized I have also had tons of Panasonic products (first tape recorder as a small child), and do not remember any problems ever. In fact, my brother even had a high end Panasonic road bicycle a number of years ago.

However, I have called customer support for assistance with product use or presale information (as its websites leave a lot to be desired), and it always either has no answer, or worse, the wrong answer.

This problem is endemic due to shaved labor costs. If manufacturers produced high quality products sans built in obsolesence AND paid workers (overseas and domestic) suitable wages, I am gladly willing to pay more.

I purchase anything I can at Costco, which is not terribly price competitive, because of its unmatched product guarantee.

Yes, Costco. There are at least some examples in this modern world of businesses that are motivated by more than greed, thankfully.

Another protection for the consumer still remains in American Express if you purchase a Gold or Platinum account membership as Amex will intercede if you have made a purchase through them and the seller refuses to stand behind the product. American Express uses its clout to get consumers fair satisfaction. At least that has been my experience.

However, the name brand companies I have dealt with although they participate and benefit from built-in obsolescence, seem to honor warranties and replace products that fail during the warranty period. And with digital/electronic name brand products if they perform reliably for the first few months, it is usually smooth, reliable sailing for quite awhile afterwards.

I have a DMC-FZ15K that has worked flawlessly for a few years. But I, too, am torn between the Leica V-Lux 1 and the Panasonic FZ50. There are only two issues that really matter to me, though, since one can get the Panny for $350 less and then add an extended warranty.

1. Is the processing much more aggressive in the Panasonic than in the Leica? Everyone says it is more aggressive, but in the one and only actual comparison of photographs I have seen, I thought the difference was not great. I also thought the Panasonic seemed a little more pleasing to my eye.

2. Is the camera quality itself any different? I held a Leica at a local camera store and it was impressive. There is no store locally carrying the FZ50, but my FZ15 seems just as high-quality as the Leica. The major differences in feel are the weight -- the FZ50 is 5.3 ounces heavier than the FZ15 -- and the nice things for which I desire an upgrade, such as the manual zoom.

So, I am leaning towards the Panasonic, although it will have to be mail order.