Is the FZ20.. the perfect camera..??

[trog100]

having just obtained a panasonic FZ20 i think its the only camera on the planet at this moment in time.. as an all-round package its unbeatable.. and it dosnt cost an arm and a leg to own.. i used to laff when folks said "what is the best camera" now assuming that sub-minature.. fit in your shirt pocket dosnt play a big part in your life i would simply say the Panasonic FZ20.. he he

each time panasonic comes out with a new camera they seem to get things a little better..

cons..

perhaps it could have had a few more pixels.. but i think it has "enough" and panasonic have concentrated on things that matter instead of the usual "more mega pixels sell cameras aproach which is all too common..

it could have had a bigger battery.. perhaps the same one that was in the LC 5.. or even a bigger grip with four AAs in there..

it could have come with an AC adapter and charger..

basically the camera is built down to a price.. but in the "things that matter" department panasonic have gotten it spot on.. ten out of ten to em.. and i await their next offering with interest... he he

as for that Lieca digilux 2 or the next panasonic up.. well its a nice camera but it also only has five mega pixels (probably enough thow at the price folks will perhaps have a right to expect more) and a "lowly" by comparison 3 x zoom lense.. it certainly dosnt have an image stabilized 12 x zoom lense.. i think the "day of the super-zoom has well and truely arrived.. basically the panasonic FZ20 will do lots of things the 1800 dollar leica wont do but i cant think of any things the leica will do that the "cheapo" FZ20 wont.. it has a slightly faster lense but the "cheapo" image stabilizer lense probably more than makes up for that.

in side by side comparison the D2 would produce a slightly better image with slightly less noise.. but only if u stay within its limited zoom range.. beyond that and u wont get any image at all to compare..

the Digilux 2 compared to a cheap DLSR.. well it would lose on all counts except its "niche" factor and perhaps size..

the FZ20 compared with a cheap DSLR.. well is there any comparison.. when u throw in that 12 x stabilized lense i dont think there is... it seems to me that the days of the DSLR and its relatively huge and expensive lense kits are numbered.. there seems only one advantage left.. the ability to use high ISO and so inhance the cameras low light performance..

i do own a Leica Digilux 1 by the way so the little red dot and distinctive leica stying does mean something to me.. and yes i would spend the extra money to get the Leics brand as apposed to the panasonic..luckily there aint a Lieca version of the FZ20 so i have saved some money.. we all like to impress and own "nice" things even if we know its only "kidology".. he he

okay there is no such thing as the perfect camera.. but in a world where money and "reality" does matter the FZ20 is coming damn close.. he he..

i do have a feeling that we are being "spoilt" thow with this one.. it seems too "cheap" for what it does.. in other words "what comes next".. exactly the opposite to the Digilux 2 and all from the same company.. odd really..

trog100