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  1. #1
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    Is the FZ20.. the perfect camera..??

    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
    Last edited by trog100; 01-15-2005 at 08:55 AM.

  2. #2
    Sleep is optional Sebastian's Avatar
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    Re: Is the FZ20.. the perfect camera..??

    I suggest you put this in the Reviews section of this site so others can benefit from it. The link is near the top of the page.
    -Seb

    My website

    (Please don't edit and repost my images without my permission. Thank you)

    How to tell the most experienced shooter in a group? They have the least amount of toys on them.

  3. #3
    Sitting in a Leaky Dingy Michael Fanelli's Avatar
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    Re: Is the FZ20.. the perfect camera..??

    Quote Originally Posted by 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..
    It's nice to have a camera you like! For me, the FZ20 is just too noisy, more than its competitors. Also, I personally don't like EVF. But all in all, its a good camera with some excellent features.
    "Every great decision creates ripples--like a huge boulder dropped in a lake. The ripples merge and rebound off the banks in unforseeable ways.

  4. #4
    Liz
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    Michael

    What equipment are you using these days???

    FZ20 is just too noisy, more than its competitors.

    This is the main reason I may not get this camera as almost all the reviews and comments from owners in various places say the same thing.

    The G5 & G6 have one of the best ratings for less noise. I never had a problem with the G3. I think the G2 had more issues with noise.

    I may even get a used G3 or G5 - I read that the G3 is a better camera than the G5.

    Liz

    Quote Originally Posted by Michael Fanelli
    It's nice to have a camera you like! For me, the FZ20 is just too noisy, more than its competitors. Also, I personally don't like EVF. But all in all, its a good camera with some excellent features.

  5. #5
    Liz
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    Noise........

    I spent a while last night checking out reviews from FZ20 users and looking at sample images taken with it. While the images in broad daylight looked great - with excellent color, contrast, etc., the images in just slight lower light were noisy and some of them very soft. This is my biggest concern about the camera.

    Today I checked out the camera at Circuit City which is close by, and I love the feel of it. However, I am STUCK on the noise and lowlight situation!

    I also checked out the G6.......(drool). I am a Canon person, through and through. I love that 2.0 aperture and sharp images! I also found a couple of used G3 and G5's (even in black). I read that the G3 has less noise than the G5. The G5 & G6 (not sure about the G3) has a better sensor. The G6 is over my budget at the moment, though.

    However, I haven't given up yet. But so many people suggest getting this camera if you're an outside daylight photographer.

    This could drive a person nuts! I never went through this with my Rebel 300D - I knew the day it was a press release I wanted that camera and would find the $ to pay for it. But now for a 2nd camera, it's becoming an obsession! I always use my tax refund for photo equipment, so I don't want to waste any of it!

    Liz

  6. #6
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    Re: Michael

    yes i spose i am an outside "daylight photographer.".. its a good point.. i like taking pics in reasonable light.. never have been happy with consumer digitals in low-light situtations to be honest.. if anyone is into handheld low-light photography the FZ20 isnt for u.. mind u i cant think of a none DLSR camera that is..

    i also dont agree with the all too common comment that image quality is everything.. i go more for the usability and overall package..i also like lots of zoom and dont mind paying a slight image quality price for having it.. plus the cost of the camera plays a big part of course..

    having said that.. i might well be in a minority.

    imagine camera A that is a dream to use has lots of zoom and encourages u to take lots of nice general purpose reaonable light pictures.. imagine camera B which isnt so nice to use has limitted zoom.. so u dont take as many pictures but when u do.. its image in a fullsize side by side comparison with camera A wins out.. which one do u buy..

    with me its camera A cos i believe as long as a cameras image is "good enough" its usability factor .. zoom range.. and other things carry more wieght than having the "best" image out there.. as i said somewhere else i dont really agree with this full-size pixel by pixel image comparing thats all too common with internet camera picking.. okay if u cant feel and use the thing what else can u do.. but it does have its downside..

    dont get me wrong.. my idea of "good enough" is reasonably high..and whats "good enough" for me today might well not be good enough in a couple of years time it does keep changeing as things get generally better.. .. but it dosnt have to be the "best" in its class.. i accept the fact that u cant have everything just as u would like it..

    Liz.. if u are a canon person i see only one reason u dont go out and buy the camera that u want.. that reason is price.. he he.. scrape the extra money together u need and buy what u want cos u wont really be happy with anything else..as i say.. u cant have it all ways.. miracles aint gonna happen..

    course being as u cant make your mind up u should have plenty of time to find the extra cash needed.. and the camera of your desires might well get cheaper.. trouble is a better one will be here by then and u will be back at square one.... only joking.. honest.. he he

    competitors to the FZ20.. does that mean other five megas pixel cameras.. does it mean cameras in the same price range.. does it mean other long zoom camers at any price or just those in the same price range.. with most cameras its easy to find a competitor to compare with.. with the FZ20 i aint so sure it is.. i think we would have to go with roughly the same price and roughly the same abilities zoom-wise to be fair.. so what does that leave us.. ??

    a camera i like.. an interesting one that.. i like it compared to what else is on offer at the moment.. but.. hmmmm.. in a perfect world it has lots of faults..

    EVF.. well thats one of those "perfect world things" i aint too keen on it either but it does seem a price one has to pay with long zoom con/prosumer cameras at least at the moment it does.. and u do get to see (vaguely.. he he) what the lense sees.. i think in the near future the best we can expect is better ones with more pixels.. at least the FZ20 dosnt go blank on u when u press the shutter as a lot do.. but it would certainly benifit from moe pixels.. again its not a low-light thing..

    as for considering my comments a review.. they dont go into enough detail to be one of those.. threads give more info.. the problem being of course is that they disappear a little too quickly sometimes.. perhaps linking somewhere permanent to any in-depth thread discussion about particular cameras might be a good idea..

    trog100



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  7. #7
    Sitting in a Leaky Dingy Michael Fanelli's Avatar
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    Re: Noise........

    Quote Originally Posted by Liz
    I spent a while last night checking out reviews from FZ20 users and looking at sample images taken with it. While the images in broad daylight looked great - with excellent color, contrast, etc., the images in just slight lower light were noisy and some of them very soft. This is my biggest concern about the camera.

    Today I checked out the camera at Circuit City which is close by, and I love the feel of it. However, I am STUCK on the noise and lowlight situation!

    I also checked out the G6.......(drool). I am a Canon person, through and through. I love that 2.0 aperture and sharp images! I also found a couple of used G3 and G5's (even in black). I read that the G3 has less noise than the G5. The G5 & G6 (not sure about the G3) has a better sensor. The G6 is over my budget at the moment, though.

    However, I haven't given up yet. But so many people suggest getting this camera if you're an outside daylight photographer.

    This could drive a person nuts! I never went through this with my Rebel 300D - I knew the day it was a press release I wanted that camera and would find the $ to pay for it. But now for a 2nd camera, it's becoming an obsession! I always use my tax refund for photo equipment, so I don't want to waste any of it!
    Well, you know, opinions do change. I used to be a real image quality freak. But I realize that there are other features that might prove to be more important to some people.

    For example, very fast startup speed is something many people lust after. I don't really care and don't even look at the numbers. A larger aperture might be a good compromise for a bit more purple fringing. Maybe a little extra noise can be traded off for a shorter shutter lag or a long range lens.

    I still consider image quality my number one priority, noise really bothers me (don't even ask about film grain these days!). But I can understand that others have have different priorities.

    I've stripped down my photo equipment considerably. The film cameras are gone except for a nostolgic Pentax LX and a few lenses for it. Other than that, its the Canon S400 which I love and the Rebel for more serious stuff. Thank goodness I have digital, there is no way I can afford film and processing anymore!
    "Every great decision creates ripples--like a huge boulder dropped in a lake. The ripples merge and rebound off the banks in unforseeable ways.

  8. #8
    Liz
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    Re: Noise........

    I still consider image quality my number one priority, noise really bothers me...

    I'm with you 100% there. However, I'm considering another option (2 actually). I'm considering the Canon SI IS because of the price ($300). I have a friend who would trade her G3 for that one.........so if I didn't like it - well, I'll get the G3 back.

    I've also recycled my equipment. I now have the Rebel 300D and just 3 lenses: All Canons 17-40mm, 50mm and 85mm. That covers enough for me.

    It's good to see you around.

    Liz

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