Panasonic Lumix Series (FZ3, FZ10, FZ20)

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital,rec.photo.digital.zlr (More info?)

"Jessie Miletop" <fartlover@whocutthecheez.com> wrote in message
news:cm0adb$994$1@newsx.cc.uic.edu...
> Greetings. I've been using film SLR's for over 20 year, and the time is
> right for me to take the digital jump. I have decided to NOT go in the
> DSLR
> direction for a few years. I's like to buy an SLR type digital camera as
> my
> first digital capture source. I'm particularly interested in the Panasonic
> Lumix ZLR series, largely because of the convenient all in one lens, IS,
> and image quality that I've seen in sample photos.
>
> I can't make up my mind. The FZ3, FZ10, and FZ20 have all gotten amazing
> reviews compared to other models in their classes. I know the FZ3 has the
> least MegaPixels of the three, and some of the features on the FZ10 and
> FZ20 are more advanced. I like the small size of the FZ3, but I've only
> seen it in silver. Does this model also come in black like the others?
>
> Sorry for all the questions. This will be my first digital camera and I
> don't want to make a rushed purchase.
>
> Thanks in advance for any advice that comes my way.

If it's your first digicam, consider all other cams with the same basic
features. I was looking at the lumix cams, the olympus 765, and 770, and the
dimage z3.

I opted for the z3 because it had many of the lumix features, but not the
large size. I also wanted a cam that used normal type batteries, just in
case my rechargebles ran out, and I needed a quick emergency set, and I also
wanted the more popular sd card format, because of price, speed, and size.

So far (after just a few weeks) I'm very happy with the Z3, and about the
only thing I would have liked would have been the lens hood the lumix's
have.

The Z3 is larger then my old Oly d-550 zoom, and I'm really glad I didn't
get a even larger cam like the lumix, because I take mine on hiking trips,
and like to have it with me as much as possible.

Best tip someone gave me: Get the best cam you can afford.. because after
you are used to it, you'll want more. With my first digital cam, I took 4400
pics my first year. 44 HUNDRED pics! I took very few with older standard
cams because of film and developement cost.

Last year, I slowed down, and only took about 1700 pics! LOL!!

If you do decided to stick with the lumix cams.. get either the 10 or the
20.. otherwise you'll always wish you had...


--
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Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital,rec.photo.digital.zlr (More info?)

Jessie Miletop wrote:

> Greetings. I've been using film SLR's for over 20 year, and the time is
> right for me to take the digital jump. I have decided to NOT go in the
> DSLR direction for a few years. I's like to buy an SLR type digital
> camera as my first digital capture source. I'm particularly interested
> in the Panasonic Lumix ZLR series, largely because of the convenient
> all in one lens, IS, and image quality that I've seen in sample photos.
>
> I can't make up my mind. The FZ3, FZ10, and FZ20 have all gotten amazing
> reviews compared to other models in their classes. I know the FZ3 has
> the least MegaPixels of the three, and some of the features on the FZ10
> and FZ20 are more advanced. I like the small size of the FZ3, but I've
> only seen it in silver. Does this model also come in black like the
> others?
>
> Sorry for all the questions. This will be my first digital camera and I
> don't want to make a rushed purchase.
>
> Thanks in advance for any advice that comes my way.

I have the FZ10. This is my third digital camera, and the best by far.
You can't go wrong with any of the three ZLR models you listed.

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital,rec.photo.digital.zlr (More info?)

On Sat, 30 Oct 2004 15:02:04 +0000 (UTC), "Jessie Miletop"
<fartlover@whocutthecheez.com> wrote:

>I can't make up my mind. The FZ3, FZ10, and FZ20 have all gotten amazing
>reviews compared to other models in their classes. I know the FZ3 has the
>least MegaPixels of the three, and some of the features on the FZ10 and
>FZ20 are more advanced. I like the small size of the FZ3, but I've only
>seen it in silver. Does this model also come in black like the others?

Jessie,

yes, I believe the FZ3 is also available in black. But you'll
find that out quickly.

I use a Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1-2 and have read lots of reviews
on the other ones.

These cameras have lots of very strong points, let me
concentrate on the shortcomings.

One thing I like is the tilt and swivel viewfinder of the Canon
Powershot S1 IS, which these Panasonic cameras lack (not sure
about all of them though---check again).

Not all of them have an autofocus assist light, neither does the
Canon. Without it these cameras can't be used very well for
candle-lit scenes, but note that autofocus assist lights and
flashes only have a rather short range anyway.

There seem to be some problems with the brightness of the
viewfinder, or it is too dark. Check this carefully.

One final hint of an unusual approach. You could buy a used FZ1
for not much more than $100, upgrade it to FZ2 firmware (just
what I did) and use it for a while to get some experience. After
this you'd be able to make a much more educated decision, and
you've gained a small spare digital camera on top.

Hans-Georg

--
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Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital.zlr (More info?)

Lukas Varossieau wrote:
[]
> Be certain to look at the Olympus Camedia C-8080 before you buy. This
> is the best of the current ZLR type cameras. I know. I have it. It
> gets better reviews than the other 8 megapixel models, and it has the
> best build. Image quality is outstanding - at the SLR level. :-)

Thanks for your opinion, but that model lacks image stabilisation which is
a most helpful feature for using long zooms effectively.

David

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital.zlr (More info?)

Lukas Varossieau wrote:
> "David J Taylor" <david-taylor@invalid.com> wrote in message
> news:<300ns7F2q5o35U1@uni-berlin.de>...
>> Lukas Varossieau wrote:
>> []
>>> Be certain to look at the Olympus Camedia C-8080 before you buy.
>>> This is the best of the current ZLR type cameras. I know. I have
>>> it. It gets better reviews than the other 8 megapixel models, and
>>> it has the best build. Image quality is outstanding - at the SLR
>>> level. :-)
>>
>> Thanks for your opinion, but that model lacks image stabilisation
>> which is a most helpful feature for using long zooms effectively.
>
> Thank you for your opinion, but not everyone requires that particular
> feature, as nice as it may be. And please get your facts in order. The
> Olympus C-8080 is not a long zoom by any means. It is a wide zoom. I
> wish it was wider than 28mm, but the lens has virtually no distortion
> throughout the zoom range. I find that to be a more helpful feature,
> but that's just me.

My facts /are/ in order, thanks very much!

As the OP was asking about the longer zoomed Panasonic series (up to
432mm), IS will be very important to them.

Once you have tried image stabilisation, you don't want to go back. Even
with the limited zoom on the Olympus (just 140mm), IS would certainly help
get sharper pictures in low light conditions. Don't take my word,
though - try it for yourself and see.

If you want a wider zoom, then the Nikon Coolpix 8400 would be a good
choice, with its 24mm wide-angle. It seems that affordable consumer
optics are not yet up to a 24 - 432mm IS zoom.

David

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital.zlr (More info?)

The Oly has no IS and has a wide zoom. I have owned the Oly in IMHO the
picture quality on the Panasonic Z20 is better even with less pixels. The
Z20 also has a better Macro mode. For my purposes the Z20 is the superior
camera

Greg
"Lukas Varossieau" <varossieau@mail2Netherlands.com> wrote in message
news:7c03b8b0.0411170159.2f053db2@posting.google.com...
> "Jessie Miletop" <fartlover@whocutthecheez.com> wrote in message
> news:<cm0adb$994$1@newsx.cc.uic.edu>...
>
>> Greetings. I've been using film SLR's for over 20 year, and the time is
>> right for me to take the digital jump. I have decided to NOT go in the
>> DSLR
>> direction for a few years. I's like to buy an SLR type digital camera as
>> my
>> first digital capture source. I'm particularly interested in the
>> Panasonic
>> Lumix ZLR series, largely because of the convenient all in one lens, IS,
>> and image quality that I've seen in sample photos.
>>
>> I can't make up my mind. The FZ3, FZ10, and FZ20 have all gotten amazing
>> reviews compared to other models in their classes. I know the FZ3 has the
>> least MegaPixels of the three, and some of the features on the FZ10 and
>> FZ20 are more advanced. I like the small size of the FZ3, but I've only
>> seen it in silver. Does this model also come in black like the others?
>>
>> Sorry for all the questions. This will be my first digital camera and I
>> don't want to make a rushed purchase.
>>
>> Thanks in advance for any advice that comes my way.
>
> Be certain to look at the Olympus Camedia C-8080 before you buy. This
> is the best of the current ZLR type cameras. I know. I have it. It
> gets better reviews than the other 8 megapixel models, and it has the
> best build. Image quality is outstanding - at the SLR level. :-)

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital.zlr (More info?)

"Chuck" <nospammm@no_spam.com> wrote in message news:31fbg4F39q8c3U1@individual.net...
> isnt the 8080 only a 7X ?

The 8080 is 5X, actually. It's strenghts are not in the zoom so much as the high resolution & wide
angle capabilities it offers. You mix in a 5x zoom on a wide angle lens and you have a pretty good
outfit for both outdoor shooting as well as group photos, etc. If you want to spy on your neighbors
then the Panasonic Lumix 12X series is the way to go...

> "Lukas Varossieau" <varossieau@mail2Netherlands.com> a écrit dans le message
> de news:7c03b8b0.0411170159.2f053db2@posting.google.com...
> > "Jessie Miletop" <fartlover@whocutthecheez.com> wrote in message
> news:<cm0adb$994$1@newsx.cc.uic.edu>...
> >
> > > Greetings. I've been using film SLR's for over 20 year, and the time is
> > > right for me to take the digital jump. I have decided to NOT go in the
> DSLR
> > > direction for a few years. I's like to buy an SLR type digital camera as
> my
> > > first digital capture source. I'm particularly interested in the
> Panasonic
> > > Lumix ZLR series, largely because of the convenient all in one lens, IS,
> > > and image quality that I've seen in sample photos.
> > >
> > > I can't make up my mind. The FZ3, FZ10, and FZ20 have all gotten amazing
> > > reviews compared to other models in their classes. I know the FZ3 has
> the
> > > least MegaPixels of the three, and some of the features on the FZ10 and
> > > FZ20 are more advanced. I like the small size of the FZ3, but I've only
> > > seen it in silver. Does this model also come in black like the others?
> > >
> > > Sorry for all the questions. This will be my first digital camera and I
> > > don't want to make a rushed purchase.
> > >
> > > Thanks in advance for any advice that comes my way.
> >
> > Be certain to look at the Olympus Camedia C-8080 before you buy. This
> > is the best of the current ZLR type cameras. I know. I have it. It
> > gets better reviews than the other 8 megapixel models, and it has the
> > best build. Image quality is outstanding - at the SLR level. :-)
>
>
>