[Deepsycher]

After I get my previous one sorted out I saw a Panasonic camera on the shop shelf today which I tried out. To me that was just perfect for what I needed. Manual focusing switch on the lens so I can adjust the lens manually, usable without the memory card, larger size lens, 12 x zoom and 10.1 megapixels, onscreen display adjustment and less picture blurriness on zooming to the full. I like the multi angled display so I can turn it in to prevent damage in a bag. The metal one is what I am going for. So in dark environments I can manually set it without focus problems unlike filming with the Olympus C770.



Now does this look quality?

The only problem is the supplied 710 mah battery. The input is 8.4 volts so I can make two four AA cartridges with copper wiring on the strap.

I have been thinking about an SLR camera which is over double than the above to the one I want but to buy a quality 10x zoom lens to go with it is going to cost near the price of the camera.

I am going to give Panasonic a call to ask my usual bunch of questions.
The unit is made in Japan and the fittings look strong.

Any thoughts?

This post has been edited by Deepsycher: 26 March 2007 - 02:22 PM

[mireaux7]

panasonic, sony, and fuji are good brands. i know cheflef recently had bad luck with a sony camera he bought, to me i would classify that as being a rare experience.

i own many sony products, and have had limited technical troubles with them. they are innovative and durable.

but, no matter what,..i would recommend to always test out a display model before you finalize your purchase. never buy impulsively. usually, you are going to form many lasting impressions of the product the moment you pick it up and hold it. does it feel cheap?..probably is. is it too complicated to use? probably is. too many buttons? not easy to grip, or feels awkward or cumbersome? these impressions you should never second guess, but trust them with your gut instinct.

but even if you are willing to forgive some bad qualities you tend to notice, to cash in on getting what you believe to be a fair-value camera at a great price. always make sure you are protected with a money-back return guarantee from the retailer. if you cant get that,..dont buy it.

[Deepsycher]

Yes it is heavy and it doesn't look or feel cheap.

I turned it on and asked the man for the books. But of course there is a return policy if I am unhappy with the product within a certain amount of days. (As claiming to do something it doesn't do well.)

I spent over twenty minutes looking, capturing on preview and playing around with settings whilst the manager was packing my other camera away to send off for possibly a display replacement. (Display scratching caused by their display wipers and I expect them to do it free of charge once they see the video of evidence I made. That wasn't easy!)

The impulse wasn't about buying a new one. I was curious at first by the size on the shelf. After experimenting with the features which the other one didn't have I think it is worth a try.

To me:
It wasn't so difficult when I turned it on to use.
Fairly simple setup.
Manual focus control on the lens which is very handy.
Too many buttons? Once I get to know them.
It is large and heavy but it grips well in my hands.
Protection is my money back if I am not happy as everywhere else.

Compared to what I currently got:
Olympus C770

What is important is that the picture didn't blur on maximum zoom close range like the other one.

I have tried a Fuji 4 megapixel camera and it is useless for short range capturing. It doesn't focus well on capturing too close but that is just one and perhaps the cheapest. I read the manual too. On bright long range distances there are no problems.

Just came across this:

http://www.photograp...lumix_dmc_fz50/

I have purchased FZ50...though it looks great and good zoom...but noise it stiil there. I am not a pro and not handleled best cameras but this is what I came across...
"But high resolution (better to call them high pixel count) chips in digicams are another thing. The 10MP sensor in the Panasonic FZ-50 is 7.18 X 5.32mm in size, while the 10MP sensor in the 10MP Nikon D80, for example, is 23 X 15.8mm. Do the math. The Nikon's 10MP chip has 373 sq/mm of surface area while the one in the Panasonic has 38 sq/mm. This gives the Nikon's sensor nearly 10X the recording area for the same number of pixels."
"It seems to me that the race to make digicams with pixel counts equivalent to current DSLRs is one being fueled by camera maker's marketing departments. Of course the naive consumer plays right into their hands. If camera A has 10MP and camera B has 10MP, then other factors aside they must be pretty similar – right? Certainly standing at the camera counter holding a 10MP DSLR in one hand and a 10MP super-zoom digicam in the other, the uninformed consumer won't understand that one has a sensor 10X the area of the other, and the salesman likely won't explain this or possibly even fully appreciate it himself."
http://luminous-land...n-quick06.shtml
best is to go for NIKON D50 or D80 and buy a good lense from another cheap manufacturer (if your hands are steady.) or go for canon.
hope this helps,
-praful.

Better get researching into this.
Then I'll become miserable again knowing some truth.

This post has been edited by Deepsycher: 26 March 2007 - 03:46 PM

[Deepsycher]

What a shame. All the features I want but noise reduction lets it down.

Well I might try it to see for myself a bit longer.

This post has been edited by Deepsycher: 26 March 2007 - 04:52 PM

[mrRobinson]

Maybe you already got one but I had to make this decision a while ago and ended up with the Nikon D50 and then just purchased a couple great lenses. I have zero complaints and clearest photos I've ever seen.

[Deepsycher]

No I haven't brought one yet but I have tried a Nikon D200 (single lens) of someone and I am pleased with the performance and lens size so I am considering of saving up for that.

I looked at many reviews and the Panasonic led to my dissatisfaction over noise problems and over noise reduction.