Thread for Lumix FZ18 and FZ28 Series

[-Qiqi-]

Thanks =) Sadly I sold my camera le haha.

Qiqi, just search ebay.sg for DMW-LA3.

You should have 3 results, all similarly priced from Japan. Approx 29-34 USD + 15 USD for delivery. I bought the cheapest, it was from some japanese comic + trading card shop, though it sounds ulu, it shipped in 3 days and in perfect condition.

Hope you enjoy the cam! Have you tried the Marco anyway? Skyguy was very kind to let me use his cam with the marco, after that, I discover that it wasn't really my cup of tea. The pictures are nice but the focusing was a real pain. The AF tends to miss, because the range is actually quite small, and you'll have to manually move the camera to/from the object to get a more optimal range.

Manual focusing is also just as painful, me feels. Very... awkward. :sweatsm:

Bidding for the adapter now, so haven't tried macro yet. Am worried me too noob for it though I'm willing to give it a shot. I understand it takes a lot of skills and patience to shoot macro. Kudos to those who shoot great macro pictures using FZ18. I don't think the awkward focusing button makes it any easier. :bsmilie:

Oh, mind telling me, if I wanna take pictures of birds, what kinda lens should I go for? My area has an array of birds, and its a pity even the 18X zoom cannot get close enough!

 

[pixelate]

Bro, you're right. Thanks. Anyway, now when at any other mode other than iA, my AF Assist Lamp does not come on even though I set it to ON in the Setup Menu. Please enlighten. Thanks again.

Menu ---> AF assist lamp ---> OFF

the above step is for other mode... for iA mode, u cannot change it... the assist lamp is part of the iA calculation thingy i guess, so u can't off it

so if u do not wish to have tat lamp, i guess u will have to use other mode

 

[ombre]

Manual focusing is also just as painful, me feels. Very... awkward. :sweatsm:

Bidding for the adapter now, so haven't tried macro yet. Am worried me too noob for it though I'm willing to give it a shot. I understand it takes a lot of skills and patience to shoot macro. Kudos to those who shoot great macro pictures using FZ18. I don't think the awkward focusing button makes it any easier. :bsmilie:

Oh, mind telling me, if I wanna take pictures of birds, what kinda lens should I go for? My area has an array of birds, and its a pity even the 18X zoom cannot get close enough!

Haha, please check out my flickr for the birds. Those bird pics were actually taken without a Tele-conversion lens! Actually the trick about birds is not zooming for the bird, but going upclose to the bird. Even with an 800mm equivalent, I try to bring myself up to less than 5 metres to the bird. Where do you stay anyway? I guess geographic location matters sometimes =X I notice birds are more timid in certain areas.

 

[ombre]

Bro, you're right. Thanks. Anyway, now when at any other mode other than iA, my AF Assist Lamp does not come on even though I set it to ON in the Setup Menu. Please enlighten. Thanks again.

It has to be dark. In my opinion, just leave it off. I seldom trust the AF assist, its also pretty distracting and its in a position that's easily covered anyway. =X Don't use it unless you're in pitch black situations.

 

[-Qiqi-]

Haha, please check out my flickr for the birds. Those bird pics were actually taken without a Tele-conversion lens! Actually the trick about birds is not zooming for the bird, but going upclose to the bird. Even with an 800mm equivalent, I try to bring myself up to less than 5 metres to the bird. Where do you stay anyway? I guess geographic location matters sometimes =X I notice birds are more timid in certain areas.

Nice shots! You took them with FZ18? Got tripod?
Hahaha, interesting observation about birds. I shall try to creep up close! :bsmilie:

 

[ombre]

Nice shots! You took them with FZ18? Got tripod?
Hahaha, interesting observation about birds. I shall try to creep up close! :bsmilie:

Haha no tripod, freehand. I always try to use EVF, that helps a lot in my opinion. I think if you tripod its really hard to bird unless you know where their nests are. Too big and noisy haha.

 

[Clunk]

Mr and Mrs Stone Curlew (also know as Bush Thick-knee Burhinus grallarius)

This is the male.

 

[ombre]

nice pictures Clunk, really lovely birds around your area. I was just wondering, have you ever considered a prone position on the floor to get a really nice shot? I think it would have looked better, but I myself wouldn't have done it =X Some fanatics will insist though. Are you shooting with a TCON?

 

[Clunk]

Thanks, no I have not got Tcon yet, have to wait until I come to Singapore at Christmas, Darwin has so very few camera outlets and very expensive.
Have not thought of laying down, but will keep in mind. These Curlews lay their eggs on the ground and are quite aggressive when you get too close, they raise their wings and run at you making a growling sound. It was enough to make me stop and keep my distance.
I came across these birds while some of my Biology students where conducting field reseach this morning during their lessons.
Might go down there tomorrow and see if I can get a shot as you suggest.
Thank-you again.

 

[ombre]

Good luck with that! Don't get mobbed by them lol.

 

[Clunk]

OK this one is while laying prone.

This is after standing up very quickly after near mobbing,by one angry curlew.

Glad I don't shoot lions!:bigeyes:

 

[ombre]

OK this one is while laying prone.

This is after standing up very quickly after near mobbing,by one angry curlew.

Glad I don't shoot lions!:bigeyes:

Ah so you did try it, the angle looks better =) 2nd one is gorgeous! Good catch of the moment. These birds camo well with the ground though, makes the colors a little less outstanding, but good effort nonetheless =)

 

[Clunk]

Yes you are right, the angle is better prone, a flip out screen would be an advantage for these low angle shots. The birds are incredibly well camoflaged and play a huge game of bluff when protecting their nesting ground. Don't know if I will flop to the ground each time I shoot I'm getting far too old for that caper.

 

[skyguy]

nice shot... like the part when it open its wings...

 

[Clunk]

Crabby little critters

 

[Clunk]

Was checking out other threads and found some about home-made flash diffusers. Don't know if anyone has had a go at making one for FZ18 or FZ 28 so I found a near empty vinegar bottle, started of with a paper template, half an hour later and second proto type works very well.

 

[ricsal]

So far so good my FZ18 works really well.

Taken FZ18+RaynoxDCR250 and a DIY diffuser

I call this title : OMG! you scared the sh I T out of me! lols

 

[ombre]

Here's my DIY Flash Diffuser when I still had my FZ18. I put quite a bit of thought into it, but I'm not sure if i'm good at explaining it. =X

I'll start with the one on the bottom. I noticed that when using the flash diffusers, a lot of the flash is reflected back towards me, thus I black taped the rear to prevent myself from going blind. Later I discovered that the black part can be rotated forward so that only half of the flash is being used, further controlling its strength and indirectly also direction.

As for the one on top, it has a little slot in between. I usually put in one or two layers of white paper when I don't need much flash, usually outdoor fill flashes. Another idea would have been to use colored cellopane paper inbetween to use creative colored flashes. Never got to do it though. Again much of the flash is rebounced. Thus I used a self-made cardboard that is black on one side and white on the other, pretty big in size, about the size of the FZ18 box. The cardboard is slotted between the loop behind the flash. The white side would bounce the bounced-flash forward again. When I don't need that much flash, I'd flip the cardboard around so that the black side is facing forward, inhibiting the flash from bouncing. I was able to get quite good results, removing most of the flash-shadows, infact I was able to use a hood without the flash casting a shadow for the hood. =)


Hope I'm able to inspire something better! I love doing DIYs actually. =)

 

[skyguy]

wow, cool diy...

i think the spider shot u might wanna crop it... so tat can see more of the spider in the pic... nice micro anyway

 

[-Qiqi-]

ombre,

your diffuser looks really cool!

Erm, I wanna ask a noobie question (don't whack me!). How does having a diffuser improve photos? I seldom use flash in my shots cos I usually take them in the daylight so would love to learn more about this aspect.

Also, any tips from experts here willing to share tips on how to minimise shaking if I don't wanna use tripod? I love taking shots of birds and insects but most of my shots come out blur cos I shake too much. :cry: Also, which anti shake mode should I use for my FZ18?

Thank you in advance to all! :sweat: