Thread for Lumix FZ18 and FZ28 Series

[skyguy]

the photo by ombre is good... becoz of the gradient of colour, then just orange and red... i think i prefer sky with a gradient of colour...

Clunk, ur photo look like its been crop and enlarge or zoom...

haven't really got any sunset shot... i guess my best one is this for sunset

 

[Clunk]

Hi Skyguy, only thing that has been done to that photo is to fix tilt and put name on it.
I prefer more natural colours myself.
My closeup filters arrived today, so I had a play, before it got too windy, it will most likely rain soon.
It is certainly quite tricky, looking forward to getting more experience.
The filters are by Digital Optic and come in a set of four 58mm +1, +2, +4 and Macro +10, the adapter allows me to use the UV and PL filters that wife bought me.
Here are my first attempts

Black chilli flower

 

[skyguy]

yea.. taking shot of macro is quite tricky... especially insect when it just difficult to stop it from moving

 

[ombre]

Hi guys,

I liked skyguy's sunset, the sky's texture looks really smooth!

And pretty good macros from Rob. Actually quite surprised, I expected the quality to be much lower considering that most closeup filters are not achromatic. However, I was wondering if you ever tested using your FZ28 without the filters? The lens you got there is already a close-up (in fact its Macro) lens... you should have been able to go pretty close even without it. But I guess stacking it works better (you can go closer that is), but if you don't actually need it, less glass is better, since the CF filters introduce fringing.

Curious Rob, what's your camera processing settings? (NR, Contrast, saturation and all that), I'm under the impression that you're using high NR or something, the sunset looks a little pixel-y. Maybe its just that copy tho, the originals might have been fine?

 

[Clunk]

Hi ombre, NR, saturation, contrast ect. is all set on zero, maybe because of resizing cuz original looks ok.
I did try using macro function but definately able to get closer with filters.
These were handheld sitting at coffee table having a fiddle.

Still have to figure out manual focus.

 

[ombre]

Hey Clunk, NR should go to -2. NR at 0 is still on, its actually 3/5 notches. In a way, -2 being completely off. it should make things a little sharper.

Anyway the close up filter is pretty good.try zooming to 18X and see how close can you get, thats the true mark of a macro lens ^^, not the wide end. Hah. I'll try to match yours.... =X see if I can get a picture...

 

[skyguy]

hmm... i think rob close up filter is quite good... can see it really go nearer

for comparison, i have also taken micro photo of coin a few days ago... actually was suppose to take photo of an ants... but it just can't stop moving... so i end up taking coin... the lighting is using table lamp, tripod is being used also.. anyway, i think my NR is also at 0.... maybe should change to -2 some other time... ok all photo taken with FZ18 with Raynox 250 with full zoom x18

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3zfsBb4Unms/SRhQ1PtUHDI/AAAAAAAAAfs/g1LQhlHA0N4/s1600-h/P1010320.JPG

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3zfsBb4Unms/SRhQ0hKXx1I/AAAAAAAAAfk/vjBpWijUdOI/s1600-h/P1010319.JPG

from my 1st photo, the word NT (of cent) is in focus, while CE is abit out of focus... comparing it with ur filter... urs seem not bad...

 

[ombre]

Hmm, unfair comparison in my opinion =P You're using a Raynox macro lens and hes only using CF filters, by right CF filters don't allow you to do macro but the FZ18 is already a really strong macro on its own.

Also, kind of hard to tell if either of you magnified the object during the crop... but in another sense thats okay too. Using a better lens allows you for a higher resolution magnification, guess its not always about how close you can snap, but how much you can digitally zoom in... for my dSLR 100% crops are still dead sharp (not always!)....

I so happen to be awoken at 2:30am... painful experience, well, shall upload some photos then.

Oh what I wanted to say is, I learnt that in Macro, you should drop the aperture to about F8, to give the lens its sharpness and wider DOF, as you notice that you guys are getting about 3mm DOF only? I get as shallow as 1mm DOF on dslr for macro. so yea, stop down to F8. I learnt the hard way =X I lost 3 days of macro shots not knowing why they were all out of focus!

And hm, ever tried to stack up the closeup filters? They should work... how much did they cost by the way?

 

[ombre]

Before I post my pics, I notice that the Raynox lens preserves quite a lot of the color hm? Or did you re-level it in photoshop?

Alright anyway, here's my pics. I wasted quite a lot of shots... (being not very good ) Here's what I have out of about 25+ shots. Hah. C & C welcome =) But I have a few for myself... learning curve I guess.

I notice that I cared a lot about focus and forgot all about composition. =X In particular I forgot to look out for details to compose. (But partly also I couldn't keep the entire 300mm lens still. My lens is some 20cm long in actual length... I got pretty frustrated and monopod-ed the last 5 shots. 4 of the pictures below were using the monopod. Everything below has been done with flash on +1 compensation with my homemade diffuser. F8, ISO 100, and 1/200s (Thats the max speed for my flash). Exposure bias = 0.

Edge of a 5 dollar bill (25% of actual picture size, standard downsize)

I got abit lucky here, theres a 1mm DOF caused at the top right corner, kind of bringing the note out of the paper background. So happens that the note was slightly off the table!

Another 5 dollar bill (zoomed in portion is at about 80~% of actual res)

Never knew what was on the 5 dollar bill!

20 Cents, standard downsize

 

[ombre]

100% crop, bad choice of object... too bright, getting a lot of CA.

Lots of dust on the penny!

A little attempt to be creative. (about 80~% crop)

WHOOPS! Pictures came out a tad bit huge... sorry about that!

 

[Clunk]

Good morning gentlemen, thank-you for your advice, will turn off NR and try aperature at F8. The closeup filters cost $29 plus $15 postage from Hong Kong.
Got to to to work.
Cheers.

 

[skyguy]

haha... morning... ombre photo quite cool... seem even better than raynox.... anyway, the photo did not go through any photo shop, original image from the camera... maybe becoz of the lighting tats why the colour is better... but i dun think raynox micro is really tat good... maybe better resolution but if comparing how close it can get, the CF filter see good enough...

 

[ombre]

haha... morning... ombre photo quite cool... seem even better than raynox.... anyway, the photo did not go through any photo shop, original image from the camera... maybe becoz of the lighting tats why the colour is better... but i dun think raynox micro is really tat good... maybe better resolution but if comparing how close it can get, the CF filter see good enough...

Haha, well yours is much sharper than mine, or maybe its the picture size. Actually the Raynox seems good to me, but I really don't like the focusing! I wonder what happens if I put a raynox infront of my lens =X

 

[ay6810]

Hi,
New to FZ28 and about to get one. Just curious about the 46mm filters, do they screw on direct to the lens barrel thread or still needs a LA3 adapter thingy?

 

[Clunk]

Hi ay6810, welcome aboard, I am new also, but I can help you with this one. A 46mm filter will screw straight on to your lens barrel. I have a lens adapter that is for a FZ18 that screws to the lens cap adapter and allows me to use 58mm filters and can switch off or zoom without getting jammed.
I have a 46mm UV filter and CPL and just got a set of 58mm closeup filters and 58mm PL and UV.

I have had my FZ28 about 6 weeks and the people here are very helpful and generous with their knowledge and advice.
When are you planning to get your camera?

Cheers

 

[ombre]

Hi,
New to FZ28 and about to get one. Just curious about the 46mm filters, do they screw on direct to the lens barrel thread or still needs a LA3 adapter thingy?

Welcome to the thread! There MIGHT be an outing in Dec if you wanna join us! =) In anycase, you might want to ask Skyguy about 46mm filters if you haven't bought one, he should have some spares to sell off. =)

 

[skyguy]

Welcome to the thread! There MIGHT be an outing in Dec if you wanna join us! =) In anycase, you might want to ask Skyguy about 46mm filters if you haven't bought one, he should have some spares to sell off. =)

yea... i will be selling the following item:
Hoya 46mm Diffuser
Hoya 46mm MultiVision - 4
Hoya 46mm MultVision - 2
PL brand UV 46mm (very new 1mth old, and haven't even really use)
No Brand 46mm Front Cap
tokina 52mm CPL (very new 1mth old, and haven't even really use)

its my exam period now, so didn't have the time to post the things i wanna sell.... when the exam is over, will take a photo of the filter and the effect it give... let me know if u wan any of it... anyway, i selling it at low price if u buy all, even lower... haha

 

[Clunk]

Hi all, about the outing in Dec would it be possible to make it the weekend of Dec 20-21.
Just throwing that date out there, any venue, any time of day dun matter to me. I arrive in S/pore on 18th and go to Vietnam on 27th back on New Years Eve quite late. If Dec 20-21 does not suit most people make what ever suits the majority, I will be happy to catch up with Mr ombre Mr skyguy and anyone else in Jan 1-9.
Looking forward to meeting new friends.

 

[ay6810]

Thanks for the warm welcome! I was supposed to take delivery today but the shop near my office screwed up the order and brought in TZ15s instead. They have 2 silver coloured FZ28s that I didn't want as I wanted only sleek looking black!
@Clunk : tonight will be a sleepless night for me as I was waiting for the stocks to arrive since Monday, went down to the shop only to find that they screwed up the order!

Hope I get mine tomorrow!!!

 

[ay6810]

Hi, what's multivision for , I know abt ND and UV filters but this one's a new term to me! In your opinion, is it worth to have the LA3 thingy?