FZ30 Preview & Samples

[jhansolo]

I am keeping my FZ10 with me just for the purpose of Landscape shooting. I believe for landscape, the sharpness is sharper than DSLR lens (since I also have a D70, so I can actually compare), but for sure I can't speak for FZ20, since all along it was known by many of us that FZ20 create more noise than FZ10 in many instances...

I certainly can agree on your assessment as FZ30 is using the same CCD size ratio as FZ20. The noise is going to be a feature.

I heard a S$1,600 price tag on FZ30, I think I'm going to pass this deal.

I don't understand the problem when people make comparisons to entry level DSLR and higher end prosumer, when your budget falls within that region, isn't that a fair comparison?

To me FZ30 is a great improvement on the UI which stopped me from getting the FZ10 & FZ20, simply the fire button is at the wrong place.

 

[wrx_sti_22b]

I am keeping my FZ10 with me just for the purpose of Landscape shooting. I believe for landscape, the sharpness is sharper than DSLR lens (since I also have a D70, so I can actually compare)... ...

Really meh? :think:

 

[JimDavis]

I certainly can agree on your assessment as FZ30 is using the same CCD size ratio as FZ20. The noise is going to be a feature.

I heard a S$1,600 price tag on FZ30, I think I'm going to pass this deal.

I don't understand the problem when people make comparisons to entry level DSLR and higher end prosumer, when your budget falls within that region, isn't that a fair comparison?

To me FZ30 is a great improvement on the UI which stopped me from getting the FZ10 & FZ20, simply the fire button is at the wrong place.

Well, when the price falling within the range of prosumer and entry level DSLR, it will be all up to the person to choose if he wants to carry additional lens, or if he wants to just have a powerful travel camera.

Not everybody is going to be the same. Remember, each individual person in the world is unique.

 

[unseen]

I'm sorry.. heh maybe a bit personal.. but really, for a person with limited budget, it's certainly viable to compare various cameras given various limitations. I'm really put off by those to whom $$ is not that much of object. in the DSLR range, you get what you pay for. less $$ may get u good range, but definitely lousier clarity/colours/slower.

For most of us, we'll want the best out of our $$, not more expensive substitutes which perform bad.

I'll use the same arguments for any other prosumer cameras out there. I'll even defend an ixus. Bleah.. a canon ixus can take alot more photos that DSLR users can't. went clubbing, went some fashion shows, and etc.. big cameras are automatically not allowed in. small cameras, they don't even bat an eye.

Anyway like JD said, everyone's unique. There's a camera for everyone of us. FZ30's not for me. DSLR is out for now due to prohibitive cost of good long lens. FZ5 for me. for now. Peace out.

 

[lightning69]

Hi lightning69,

If you read my earlier post, NR software is just a suggestion for people who die-die must get the FZ30.

As for the noise level, all of us P&S and Prosumer users will either have to live with it or NR the photos. Unlike you, I prefer to loose that bit of details for a smoother photo. I usually print at 4R which seems fine to me almost all the time. But if you print at larger sizes frequently, yes, I agree with you that the prints can be quite disappointing.

But when you mentioned that noise in blue sky is noticeable, do you mean view on your screen or on print? My Fuji S5000 is noisy too in blue sky on screen but it is hardly noticeable in 4R print. In fact, most of the time, slightly noisy pics like this (not low light high ISO type) are fine when printed on 4R.

In any case, I think you should look into buying a DSLR. Buy the 350D I think very very highly of this one!!!! And I'm fondling it with my other hand now!!! Wohoo!

The noise will not appear on 4R print but most of my shots are use as wallpaper on my pc and that is when it hurts.

Yes, Dslr will be my next cam. I dont want to waste any more money & time on FZ30 or any fixed lens digicam. That is just my opinion.

 

[Zenten]

The noise will not appear on 4R print but most of my shots are use as wallpaper on my pc and that is when it hurts.

Yes, Dslr will be my next cam. I dont want to waste any more money & time on FZ30 or any fixed lens digicam. That is just my opinion.

My sentiments, exactly.........

 

[lightning69]

I feel your pain ... and also share the same sentiments about flash.

I can only agree on point 2, I realised how important is this after shooting on a lousy LC5. Shuttle lag should not have been there period.

1. super fast focus ... coming from OM4, I've missed out on the AF SLR era. Because I choose to. We see everything in 3D and that how we can train ourselves to lock focus, but to demand that in AF is really a technical achievement.

3. I don't understand the ISO in the digital environment. In film we use higher ASA film which results in more grain, but grains can be beauty. I can't say the same for noise.

1. AUTO focus is so advance and fast these days that we don't really need to use manual focus anymore unless certain situations that call for it. P&S digicam is still lagging behind in this area but the are improving. Will they ever reach the speed found it Dslr? I hope so but what i see is that camera company are more interest in pumping out higher Megapixels cam than improving speed and noise problem.

2. Yes, you right that grainy looks from higher ASA film can be artistic at times. But i absolutely hate digital noise cause they are plain ugly.

 

[lightning69]

Eerrrr....just want to make sure I don't get involve in the arguement, and yet maybe for my knowledge...when you take your sweet Sabrina photo using flash, have you ever use a bounce card?

When you take those fashion shots, what settings do you use? also, just wonder what flash are you using also...yes...FZ series's hotshoe is rather hopeless...they do not have TTL support, that is one of the big problems....

I am keeping my FZ10 with me just for the purpose of Landscape shooting. I believe for landscape, the sharpness is sharper than DSLR lens (since I also have a D70, so I can actually compare), but for sure I can't speak for FZ20, since all along it was known by many of us that FZ20 create more noise than FZ10 in many instances...

I don't have a bounce card but i do make them from white paper cut-out. The results is great.

I use Suntax 328DTZ flash with manual flash setting on the FZ20. Non ttl flash is a trial and error affair. I need a few shots to get it right and sometimes I just don't have that luxury.

 

[AncientMariner]

It appears to me that many in this sub-forum are obssessed with having a long telephoto range. I wonder why?
Using a digicam with only a 6-72mm lens, a newbie took this shot of a little heron in the mudflats from a hide in Sungei Buloh:

Of course, a teleconverter was used.

 

[JimDavis]

I don't have a bounce card but i do make them from white paper cut-out. The results is great.

I use Suntax 328DTZ flash with manual flash setting on the FZ20. Non ttl flash is a trial and error affair. I need a few shots to get it right and sometimes I just don't have that luxury.

Hmmmm...I understand your pain...this is certainly something that Panasonic need to seriously look into - TTL flash, both external and internal.

As for bounce card, it is not only for FZ-series.

You may want to seriously look into a bounce card, or lightsphere, else, even with TTL, the flash can still be harsh at time on a DSLR, such as Nikon or Canon...

Just for your info too, Suntax 382DTZ supports Nikon iTTL if I am not wrong...but of course, result is not as good as the SB600 or SB800...$$ matters...

 

[JimDavis]

Really meh? :think:

Yup, yup...I tried liaoz....

 

[unseen]

hmmm if anyone interested:
http://dc.watch.impress.co.jp/cda/compact/2005/07/21/1958.html
The more interesting parts are as below. the rest not very interesting..

FZ20 = 1/2.5" ccd, FZ30 = 1/1.8
thus ccd is a bit bigger.

Coz it's 8MP, thus if taking at 5MP, the zoom can "extend" from 35mm-530mm
similar to (casio?/canon?)'s smart zoom.

CIPA of 280 shots / charge

there's a 22mb tiff for you to observe.