Some help for a new FZ5 wannabe buyer

[felixcat8888]

Go to www.mscolor.com.sg then select e-quote.

After you have received a reply, remember to print it out and bring along when you want to purchase.

 

[Bfrost]

hey.. I'm also interested in getting a FZ5 too... went to john 3:16, was quoted a price of 670... but the shop owner told me that its quite "pixelated" and recommended me to get canon instead...

i've done some checking, and saw dpreview saying the opposite.. haha.. who should I believe?

 

[Hexlord]

hey.. I'm also interested in getting a FZ5 too... went to john 3:16, was quoted a price of 670... but the shop owner told me that its quite "pixelated" and recommended me to get canon instead...

i've done some checking, and saw dpreview saying the opposite.. haha.. who should I believe?

Which Canon camera did he recommend for you instead?

 

[JimDavis]

hey.. I'm also interested in getting a FZ5 too... went to john 3:16, was quoted a price of 670... but the shop owner told me that its quite "pixelated" and recommended me to get canon instead...

i've done some checking, and saw dpreview saying the opposite.. haha.. who should I believe?

John 3:16 will try to sell you Canon, as much as Lords will want to sell you Nikon. Get what I mean??

 

[JimDavis]

Hi! Just another advise to Fadeout...

512MB not enough for a holiday trip. You'll need more memory. I went on a 10-day China trip and brought along a 1GB and 512MB CF card. Just about enough!

So unless you intend to bring a notebook or a portable HDD along, you'll need more memory...

Portable HDD is good!

I have one that can house 30GB, while it only cost me S$200, much cheaper if I were to use the same amount of $$ to buy SD or CF card...

 

[JimDavis]

I'm a noob to the camera scene, but have been doing alot of research on reviews and such and have settled on the Lumix FZ5 as the cam that best fits my requirements/budget. I will be travelling quite abit next year (to North America) and am getting the camera now to tune up my skills to get the most out of it.

Anyway, I went down to Lucky Plaza earlier today for some price quotes and advice and was quoted prices ranging from $640-$600 for the FZ5. However I find some of the shops quite aggressive or unfriendly with their sales tactics and the experience leaves me dubious as to whether I should get the cameras from these places. I visited APO Foto & Electronics and Max Mobile & Electronics there, among others.

My question is, where can I get a good deal on the FZ5 and what are the things I should look out for as a new camera buyer? I'm a student and hope to spend as little as possible... all I need is the basic accessories like a 512 SD card and a camera case. Hope the experienced people here could offer me some advice on where to shop for the camera.... right now I'm thinking of visiting Sim Lim Sq tomorrow to look around. Many thanks!

Maybe someone should start a MO for FZ5?

 

[Bfrost]

Which Canon camera did he recommend for you instead?

he didn't recommend me any specific model, just canon itself. he rated olympus as the best camera, followed by canon.

he said if not coz of the xd card, many would have chosen olympus...

haha.. but i admit.. even at iso 80, its quite noisy... i took a pic at a shop, and zoomed in using the preview function of the camera.. so still very unsure... sigh..

 

[Bfrost]

oh yah. another thing he said... the IS for canon is at the lens, while the IS for panny maybe done digitally.

then i said.. panny wrote OIS, so should be at the lens too, and his reply was... "that's what they claim la.. "

hmm..

 

[watchthewaves]

Bfrost,

Mega OIS technology: http://www.letsgodigital.org/en/news/articles/story_3883.html

What you heard sounds like throwaway comments from someone who either has no product knowledge or is not interested in doing a good job. Ask him to back up his statements. He seems to be trying to make you think that Panasonic is deceiving people, but if pushed to back up his statement, he will probably say he heard other people say only (maybe that's why he said "maybe", hoping that no one can hold him to his word?)

I'm on a similar quest as you, and am considering the FZ5 and IS2. I just want to know simply, features aside, which gives me better pictures.

I am a bit confused because:
- DPreview likes both. From staring at the pics, the FZ5 looks a bit sharper (Personally, I like that. Can't tell what is "oversharp though). Colour-wise, is the IS2 pushing some colours like the red a bit more? Noise-wise, I think it looks like the FZ5 handles it better.
- But there are other user opinions which say that the Canon takes better indoor shots. If that is the case, that's going to be a major factor for me.

Anyone with any experience comparing the photos from these 2 cams? Especially that point on indoor photos. Your views would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Bfrost]

Yep I understand about OIS... So I was :bigeyes: and walked away from the shop.

Anyway.. from what I read in the dpreview, the reviewers preferred the FZ-5 coz it is cheaper and thus more value for money. I also couldn't really tell the difference in the pictures what they meant by more sharp, and I would think that the colors produced by the FZ-5 to be more natural than the S2..

I also heard that the indoor shooting of FZ-5 is not as great as the S2... But I'm not planning to buy a 12x camera to take many indoor photos, so it doesn't really matter.

As for the noise, from what I see in the dpreview, both FZ-5 and S2 are almost as noisy under similar conditions... So in terms of price n features, FZ-5 would be my preferred choice... But yeah... I'd want to see actual images between the 2 cameras before making a good comparision...

 

[fadeout]

Batteries are a good idea Don't need an extra SD card though since I plan to bring along my laptop while travelling. The cam's fantastic! My only worry is the cam freezing up in sub-zero temperatures in Canada ;p

Also, my shots of sky over water (while on the boat ride from Changi to Ubin) somehow all appeared abit washed out and drab in terms of the colour. It was a fair weather day, not many clouds. I had to manipulate the highlights and shadows later on to fix it. Any suggestions on how to get better colour in such situations?

 

[watchthewaves]

Anyone can give more info on FZ5's performance indoors (especially relative to the S2)? Am concerned about this issue.

Bfrost,
If you get to compare the photos side-by-side, do let us know your views.

Thanks.

 

[xiaowugui82]

i have been a FZ5 user for more than 1/2 yr and taken more than 5K of pictures. it's a rather good camera i would say and it cost much cheaper. the lecia lens is darn good and could capture different shades of green veri well. like individual tones of grass.. etc... hmm will post tat up later if i can find the pictures.

about the noise problem. frankly speaking, noise exist in all prosumer cameras for Fz5 it's best not to go above iso100 though. but with and external flash, you could get pictures like this.

so tat's not tat bad rite? it's bounce flash by the way. i'm sure with and external flash other cameras may produce the same results. but if u really wanna reduce noise then have no choice and lug around a slave flash lor haha.

 

[xiaowugui82]

erm sorrie the picture too big haha but i dun knoe about canon cameras.i know tat canon cameras usually over saturate the reds... (i once had sun burn and took a picture of my self using my canon and woah! i look like a overcooked lobster haha)

i'm afraid that i dun have S2 pictures for u to compare though.
but compare the price. if i have the choice i will still buy my FZ5 back without thinking.

oh yes, panasonic's OIS is the best around for these cameras. u go see dpreviews for other cameras like the new kodak and other cameras like konica min with IS, OIS is better if not comparable.

if u wan other type of pictures u tell mi k?
then i post up for u so see.

 

[metallilan]

i have been a FZ5 user for more than 1/2 yr and taken more than 5K of pictures. it's a rather good camera i would say and it cost much cheaper. the lecia lens is darn good and could capture different shades of green veri well. like individual tones of grass.. etc... hmm will post tat up later if i can find the pictures.

about the noise problem. frankly speaking, noise exist in all prosumer cameras for Fz5 it's best not to go above iso100 though. but with and external flash, you could get pictures like this.

so tat's not tat bad rite? it's bounce flash by the way. i'm sure with and external flash other cameras may produce the same results. but if u really wanna reduce noise then have no choice and lug around a slave flash lor haha.

oOo. mind asking what external flash are you using?

btw, im a abit new here. i own a Fz5 and some pics you can find at my photoblog...:sweat:

 

[Bfrost]

Anyone can give more info on FZ5's performance indoors (especially relative to the S2)? Am concerned about this issue.

Bfrost,
If you get to compare the photos side-by-side, do let us know your views.

Thanks.

Hey.. I've seen some FZ-5 photos, but I think I'm unable to get S2 IS shots.. But I'd admit... it is quite noisy especially taken at night (high ISO)...

Anyone can provide links to FZ-5 shots and S2 IS shots on singapore night skyline of CBD?

because i think that's the best way to see the sharpness and effects of the camera...

 

[metallilan]

Hey.. I've seen some FZ-5 photos, but I think I'm unable to get S2 IS shots.. But I'd admit... it is quite noisy especially taken at night (high ISO)...

Anyone can provide links to FZ-5 shots and S2 IS shots on singapore night skyline of CBD?

because i think that's the best way to see the sharpness and effects of the camera...

check out my photoblog. click. this one was when i took the new years fireworks and other stuff there.

 

[Bfrost]

thanks! very nicely done shots i'd say...

i find the day shots very nice, great colours.. but when it comes to night shots, its pretty noisy...

u used iso 400 for the fireworks shots?

 

[metallilan]

thanks! very nicely done shots i'd say...

i find the day shots very nice, great colours.. but when it comes to night shots, its pretty noisy...

u used iso 400 for the fireworks shots?

no, didn't want to spoil the whole picture, so sticked to iso 100. didn't have the time to change settings once the fireworks started so... ;p

 

[Bfrost]

ic... but very nicely taken!

i think i'm almost confirmed in getting a fz5... just waiting for the right price..