Panasonic Lumix FZ20 - to good to be true?

mutineer

(edit - meant to ask the question - not make a declaration, forgot the question mark, I'm sorry)


Leica lens - 36-432!!!! Image stabilized and I am hearing good things about the wide angle and tele adapters. The lens is a 2.8 all the way through, too good to be true?

Manual control and 4fps burst.

Is this thing a paper tiger?

I am real close to pulling the trigger on a DSLR but the specs on this give me 85% of function and a lens you can't even buy for 1/3 the price of the other camera I am looking at.

If I am wrong about it I have just blown a big portion of my DSLR $$

End use will be kids sports, indoor and outdoor. Volleyball, cheer and rugby.
Architecture shots for my own interests. Motorcycle stuff. My wife and I used our film SLR as an excuse to spend time together outside so landscape shots are part of the deal.

The specs on the lens sound great, not sure if the burst rate is real or not.

What would you do.

cmr164

mutineer wrote:

(edit - meant to ask the question - not make a declaration, forgot the question mark, I'm sorry)


Leica lens - 36-432!!!! Image stabilized and I am hearing good things about the wide angle and tele adapters. The lens is a 2.8 all the way through, too good to be true?

Manual control and 4fps burst.

Is this thing a paper tiger?

I am real close to pulling the trigger on a DSLR but the specs on this give me 85% of function and a lens you can't even buy for 1/3 the price of the other camera I am looking at.

If I am wrong about it I have just blown a big portion of my DSLR $$

End use will be kids sports, indoor and outdoor. Volleyball, cheer and rugby.
Architecture shots for my own interests. Motorcycle stuff. My wife and I used our film SLR as an excuse to spend time together outside so landscape shots are part of the deal.

The specs on the lens sound great, not sure if the burst rate is real or not.

What would you do.

The lens is actually a 6-72mm the 36-432 is "35mm equiv" marketing BS. Which means that it has all the issues with DoF and noise that every other consumer camera with a small sensor has. You will definitely be better off with a dslr. That said this is a pretty sweet consumer digicam.

http://panasonic.co.jp/pavc/global/lumix/fz20/index.html

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0407/04072104panasonicfz20.asp

ysr612

mutineer wrote:

(edit - meant to ask the question - not make a declaration, forgot the question mark, I'm sorry)


Leica lens - 36-432!!!! Image stabilized and I am hearing good things about the wide angle and tele adapters. The lens is a 2.8 all the way through, too good to be true?

Manual control and 4fps burst.

Is this thing a paper tiger?

I am real close to pulling the trigger on a DSLR but the specs on this give me 85% of function and a lens you can't even buy for 1/3 the price of the other camera I am looking at.

If I am wrong about it I have just blown a big portion of my DSLR $$

End use will be kids sports, indoor and outdoor. Volleyball, cheer and rugby.
Architecture shots for my own interests. Motorcycle stuff. My wife and I used our film SLR as an excuse to spend time together outside so landscape shots are part of the deal.

The specs on the lens sound great, not sure if the burst rate is real or not.

What would you do.

sure looks good if you are going to shoot sports speed of operation and size of frame buffer become important.

the other thing is do you have a point and shoot for bike riding. I can not bring myself to shoot the big camara while riding. Part the size part the cost and part the idea of getting a bug on the lens.

cletus

Are you high? (Sorry, I couldn't resist)

I think Charles hit the nail on the head... If it is still using one of the smaller "prosumer" sensors, it's still going to have some limitations compared to a dSLR.

DJ-S1

I really haven't read the specs but I know this was supposed to be a competitor to the camera I bought, the Canon S1-IS. I really like my S1, but it's not even close to a dSLR. Specifically: trouble with low light, can't shoot high ISO, more noise than a dSLR, AF isn't as quick, etc. I would assume that the FZ20 would have some of these same issues.

If you have the dollars for a dSLR, I would suggest getting one based on my experience. Of course, YMMV and it depends entirely on what you want the camera for. Good luck!

mutineer

having the attention span of gnat I didn't wait too long on the purchase and went ahead and pulled the trigger on a D70 about an hour ago.


Now I just gotta wait for the damn battey charge to I can start playing.

I am SOOOOOOOOOOOOO stoked about this camera. I have been lusting for a DSLR for along time. I wanted the 300D but this D70 is just too cool.

I do have a P&S for the bike. A Casio QV-40 that I love.
thaks guys .

now to learn this thing and start playing over here instead of JM.

Cletus.

cletus

mutineer wrote:

having the attention span of gnat I didn't wait too long on the purchase and went ahead and pulled the trigger on a D70 about an hour ago.


Now I just gotta wait for the damn battey charge to I can start playing.

Good pick Mute

We'll be looking forward to seeing some pics.

travisc

I have the predecessor, the FZ-10. It's a fun camera, and works great outdoors. I've played with the FZ-20, and talked to a few people who have upgraded to it, and it seems the biggest weaknesses of the FZ-10 are still present.

Poor low-light (indoor) shooting...

The flash is useless, everything gets over-exposed and redish. putting a bit of sock over it helps, but you'll need an external flash to be useable...

My biggest complaint -- attach an external battery and/or a tripod, and you can't get to the memory card. I know thousands of consumers have complained to Panasonic about this, too bad they didn't listen.


That said, I think the FZ-10 is great for my needs at the price -- I mostly take photos while backpacking in the mountains. Please share your view of the FZ-20, curious to see what you think.

MainFragger

travisc wrote:

I have the predecessor, the FZ-10. It's a fun camera, and works great outdoors. I've played with the FZ-20, and talked to a few people who have upgraded to it, and it seems the biggest weaknesses of the FZ-10 are still present.

Poor low-light (indoor) shooting...

I've never heard this before. I have the FZ10, and have no problem shooting indoor.

The flash is useless, everything gets over-exposed and redish. putting a bit of sock over it helps, but you'll need an external flash to be useable...

The redish can be accounted for with proper white balance settings. And if the pictures are getting overexposed, you probably need to either adjust the exposure compensation -1/3 or -2/3. If you are shooting full manual, experiment with setting either a Higher Aperture number, or faster shutter speed.

My biggest complaint -- attach an external battery and/or a tripod, and you can't get to the memory card. I know thousands of consumers have complained to Panasonic about this, too bad they didn't listen.

I'd be surprised if its even hundreds, let alone thousands of people complaining about this. Keep in mind, that though Panasonic made a camera that offers a lot of advanced features at a good value, the majority of the people that buy these cameras will NEVER take them out of automatic, and will never buy an accessory for them. Don't let the fact that this camera is targeted for the prosumer user fool you..ultimately, its biggest market is still the base consumer level.


That said, I think the FZ-10 is great for my needs at the price -- I mostly take photos while backpacking in the mountains. Please share your view of the FZ-20, curious to see what you think.

I would love to move up to the FZ20 if it weren't for the fact that right now my priorities are getting a professional camera. I like the fact that a)They added a AF Assist, b) They added infinite burst at 2fps., c) The flash can now be set to cover multiple images in a burts.

MainFragger

Grog

travisc wrote:

Poor low-light (indoor) shooting...

The flash is useless, everything gets over-exposed and redish. putting a bit of sock over it helps, but you'll need an external flash to be useable.../QUOTE]


Low-light indoor is a problem with almost all digital cameras.

As for the flash this to is a common problem with almost all ditital cameras. The FZ20's flash output is adjustable page 41 in manual. Press the ^ on cursor button several times till flash appears. You can adjust -2 EV to +2 EV in 1/3 EV steps. The only thing that I have found that I don't like is that the flash is not TTL. The hot shoe is a ISO standered less the 25 volt triger voltage I wouldn't use any external flash with more than 6 Volt output.

I am very happy with this camera and it is one of four cameras I own. Each has it's good points and it's bad points. I like my Nikon N80 the best.

bfjr

Can't believe your talking about my camera
I stopped photography some time ago.........to long to explain. I came back recently because of digital..............personal feelings...........and an FZ20.

All my shots in my gallery (except for a few) have been taken with an FZ20.
I feel for me it's a great camera love the lens, the way it feels etc. etc. Yes it probably has all the limitations of a non DSLR. I don't think you can buy a better digital for 5 bones, period.

For me I mean I ride a motorcycle and take my camera everywhere (riding or not). I decided that I didn't want to miss another photo op .

However having said that I would sink the green (if I had it) into a DSLR & lens, but I think I'd get all hung up in tech & debt!!

I know I just want to take pictures, there seems to be enough latitude and settings in the FZ20 to cover most situations, and yes a Nikon 6T or Teleconverter like TC14b, covers macro pretty good. I just posted a photo with the FZ & 6T here:

http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=7878

If you want to see my gallery just click on link below my Sig.

pathfinder

bfjr wrote:

I stopped photography some time ago.........to long to explain. I came back recently because of digital..............personal feelings...........and an FZ20.

All my shots in my gallery (except for a few) have been taken with an FZ20.
I feel for me it's a great camera love the lens, the way it feels etc. etc. Yes it probably has all the limitations of a non DSLR. I don't think you can buy a better digital for 5 bones, period.

For me I mean I ride a motorcycle and take my camera everywhere (riding or not). I decided that I didn't want to miss another photo op .

However having said that I would sink the green (if I had it) into a DSLR & lens, but I think I'd get all hung up in tech & debt!!

I know I just want to take pictures, there seems to be enough latitude and settings in the FZ20 to cover most situations, and yes a Nikon 6T or Teleconverter like TC14b, covers macro pretty good. I just posted a photo with the FZ & 6T here:

http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=7878

If you want to see my gallery just click on link below my Sig.

Your gallery has many lovely images that you shot with the FZ20. I enjoyed it and youo have a good eye. I think you would enjoy a DSLR even more.

I bought my son an FZ-20 for Christmas and he loves it. But it is noisy at ISO's greater than 100, very long telelphotos sound good, but are very hard to use effectively without a tripod just like a DSLR, and it does not AF with the speed of a DSLR. And like Charles said, you cannot get images with the shallow DOF that you can get with a larger image size DSLR.

An FZ-20 is a great P&S, but it NOT a cheap replacement for a DSLR. IF it were, who would buy a DSLR??

bfjr

pathfinder wrote:

Your gallery has many lovely images that you shot with the FZ20. I enjoyed it and youo have a good eye. I think you would enjoy a DSLR even more.

I bought my son an FZ-20 for Christmas and he loves it. But it is noisy at ISO's greater than 100, very long telelphotos sound good, but are very hard to use effectively without a tripod just like a DSLR, and it does not AF with the speed of a DSLR. And like Charles said, you cannot get images with the shallow DOF that you can get with a larger image size DSLR.

An FZ-20 is a great P&S, but it NOT a cheap replacement for a DSLR. IF it were, who would buy a DSLR??

Thank you for taking the time to visit my site & for your encouraging remarks. Yes I would love one.

That is a fine gift to buy your son. Will you adopt me? Then you can buy me that DSLR I need !!

Actually I don't think an FZ20 can be any sort of DSLR replacement, but at it's price point I don't believe theres much that can beat it. I think if a person was to be stuck with one camera, he/she could not do much better.

Now Dad back to that DSLR you want to buy me

pathfinder

bfjr wrote:

Thank you for taking the time to visit my site & for your encouraging remarks. Yes I would love one.

That is a fine gift to buy your son. Will you adopt me? Then you can buy me that DSLR I need !!

Actually I don't think an FZ20 can be any sort of DSLR replacement, but at it's price point I don't believe theres much that can beat it. I think if a person was to be stuck with one camera, he/she could not do much better.

Now Dad back to that DSLR you want to buy me

You were born in Dec 1950 - No way can I be your father!!! I'm not THAT old yet!

I agree that if you were to have only one camera that it is a good choice.

ridetwistyroads

mutineer wrote:

now to learn this thing and start playing over here instead of JM.

Cletus.

Welcome mutineer! I pulled the trigger on a d70 a little while ago, love it!! Start posting some shots as soon as you get some.... I've learned alot here. It's really something to see someone over here get as passionate about composure and bokah as we have in JM over the random issues we discuss.

*sip*

Cam

Fz20
An FZ-20 is a great P&S, but it NOT a cheap replacement for a DSLR. IF it were, who would buy a DSLR??[/QUOTE]
Hi - I'm a newbie with an FZ20. Have run through a Sony Mavica 4mp, Kodak 7440 (stolen ) and just got the FZ. So far the color is better, the antishake works great - and I do have shaky hands, but the big issue is that it is a battery sucker. I have turned off everything and it still lasts barely 2 hours before down pretty far. What a drag. Little hard getting used to the "dead zones" and the viewfinder is a little funky... Other than that, it takes great pictures. Has lots of special adjustments that are easy to find and use. Hardly have to use Paint Shop Pro at all. Need a few goodies for it but then don't we all.
Am going to Vietnam and Angkor Wat for 3 wks in April so that will be a real test and I will report back.
P.S. Still have my original Minolta XD11, circa 1972 and a bizillion pounds and N80 replacement.
Cam

nzmacro

FZ10 this end. A couple of galleries with the Panasonic and shots I couldn't get with 35mm, bellows and macro lenses. Added 35mm SLR lenses to the front of the FZ10. At the higher ratios, the optics are not bad at all IMO.

http://www.nzmacro.50megs.com/macroseries1.htm

http://www.nzmacro.50megs.com/fz10/fz10.htm

So would I go to a DSLR, if I want the ratios, probably not. I shoot at ISO 50 on the Panasonic, more noise than a DSLR, yes probably. At ISO 50 its not bad though. Low light has never worried me, always worked with external flash units, even with 35mm so no big deal.

All the best. :

Danny.

bfjr

nzmacro wrote:

FZ10 this end. A couple of galleries with the Panasonic and shots I couldn't get with 35mm, bellows and macro lenses. Added 35mm the lenses to the front of the FZ10. At the higher ratios, the optics are not bad at all IMO.
Danny.

Could you tell me how?
I have an FZ20 with Premeral adapter (62mm), no macro lens. What do I need to get?
thanks in advance
Ben

Harryb

bfjr wrote:

Thank you for taking the time to visit my site & for your encouraging remarks. Yes I would love one.

That is a fine gift to buy your son. Will you adopt me? Then you can buy me that DSLR I need !!

Actually I don't think an FZ20 can be any sort of DSLR replacement, but at it's price point I don't believe theres much that can beat it. I think if a person was to be stuck with one camera, he/she could not do much better.

Hey Ben,

The issue here shouldn't be which is the best camera but which camera is the best fit for an individual. There's no one "best" camera. I shot for years with a Sony 7X7 (the 707 and then the 717). At the time and with my budget they were the best camera for me.

I'm seeing you and Kirwin posting fine shots with Lumix cameras. Some of my favorite pics were taken with my 7X7s. DSLRs are fine cameras but they are also very, very expensive and not as convenient as fixed lens cameras. The most valuable piece of photographic equipment is the skill behind the camera.

nzmacro

bfjr wrote:

Could you tell me how?
I have an FZ20 with Premeral adapter (62mm), no macro lens. What do I need to get?
thanks in advance
Ben

Howdy Ben. I mount my 35mm lenses onto the FZ10 by using a rear lens cap with the centre cut out. That now mates to the lens. Thats fixed to a ring thread that mounts onto the supplied FZ10 hood.

If we take a Canon 35-70mm lens for example, we can reverse that and it fits snuggly in the supplied hood with not need for attachments. hang on I've got a page somwhere.................http://www.nzmacro.50megs.com/fz10setups22.html

A shot of the adaptor



So thats the Canon one, I also use a Nikon and Pentax as well. The Canon 100mm F/2.8 FD mount is my favourite.

To be honest I would look at going to a Nikon 6T or 5T first and using another hood. Those twin element designs are superb with the FZ10/20 IMHO. Good ratios and corrected for CA.

All the best Ben. :

Danny.

bfjr

nzmacro wrote:

Howdy Ben
To be honest I would look at going to a Nikon 6T or 5T first and using another hood. Those twin element designs are superb with the FZ10/20 IMHO. Good ratios and corrected for CA.

All the best Ben. :

Danny.

Got both and have used the 6T for a couple of good results, but have not staked (spelling, my bad) both, will give it a go.
Thanks for your quick reply

mutineer

ridetwistyroads wrote:

Welcome mutineer! I pulled the trigger on a d70 a little while ago, love it!! Start posting some shots as soon as you get some.... I've learned alot here. It's really something to see someone over here get as passionate about composure and bokah as we have in JM over the random issues we discuss.

*sip*

I have barely touched it since I bought it. Work has been kicking my tail for months now.

I'll start shooting more when the weather breaks.

I know it is a terrible clihe but I have a real soft spot for old broken down barns and wanna shoot a series this summer. Great excuse for backroads rides too.


BFJR you are shooting better stuff than I am and I am using the D70, proof that is is the shooter not the equipment

bfjr

mutineer wrote:

I have barely touched it since I bought it. Work has been kicking my tail for months now.

BFJR you are shooting better stuff than I am and I am using the D70, proof that is is the shooter not the equipment

Very kind of you, unfortunatly only partly true . To many examples that equipment is only part of the image quotion. Albeit an important one, good or great equipment never made an image worse

As far as me being better, Na don't think so.
1st don't want to compete with you want to share

On any given day (heard that before) we could be standing in the same spot and I could take a great piccie and you could take a fabulous piccie, or visa versa. It's all in the "Light", well some people around here (you know who you are ) think it's "Food".

It's a cool compliment though, and will being using it in the near future rofl