FZ5 issues.. Am I the only one?

[Akysten]

I don't know guys... I must be doing something wrong...

Let me start by saying that there is something that I love about this camera.. I REALLY like the size, handling and feel of this baby!

However, I don't understand the reviews this camera gets. I am having serious issues with flash photography, and indoor photos in general.
It appears the flash is either overpowering, or underpowered. It's taking some very dark photos and comparable ISO's, shutter speeds and apetures than other cameras I'm testing. But, at closer range, the flash washes out the photos.. it's not good.

The auto ISO will actually select ISO 400.. it happens more often than I want it to.. so you really have to adjust it manually. Even then... it just comes out very dark. For example, at 1/60 shutter, ISO 2.8, it took an ISO 400 to match the another digicam at 1/60 2.7 ISO 50 in brightness. I have to believe that this is a result of the larger apeture and a stronger flash.. it has to be.

I also find that I'm forced to use manual white balance more often than I would ever want to.

That being said, I love the fast auto focus, the 3fps burst mode, the LCD, The feel and handling is first rate! Outdoors, in bright light, the camera really excels, but take it our in overcast, in the shade, or late afternoon, and I've had less than appealing results. Indoors.. well, I've touched on that.
The ISO 400 IS less noisy than others in the class, but as I read in one review, it can look "watercolor" like.

I am confused, I exchanged the camera thinking that the one I had must have been defective(it was a floor display), but this one is exactly the same.
Am I the only ones with these results?

[ngari]

Well, I think the FZ5 does fine indoors for a digital camera with inbuilt flash. I've yet to see any digital camera do really well indoors without a powerful external flash. What I like about the FZ5 is the possibility to adjust the flash for close photos. I usually keep my camera on ISO 80 as standard and only change this if taking photos indoors of subjets or objects at a little distance (higher ISO gives more light and flash reaches a little longer according to the manual). I keep the flash adjusted down 2-3 notches as standard, as most flash photography I do is of close subjects (also outdoors when I need fill flash). This combined with ISO 80 never produces washed out results. I try to remember to use the flash setting for white balance as it usually gives a more correct color to the photo.

I see you complain you have to make too many adjustments on the FZ5, but I appreciate these possibilities as difficult lighting conditions require manual settings/experimenting. Yes there is a few adjustments needed when lighting is poor, but I get better results with the FZ5 than I have ever gotten before.