Thread for Lumix FZ18 and FZ28 Series

[skyguy]

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:

copy from wiki: A flash diffuser spreads the light from the flash of a camera. In effect, the light will not come from one concentrated source (like a spotlight), but rather will spread out, bounce from reflective ceilings and walls, thus getting rid of harsh light, and hard shadows. This is particularly useful for portrait photographers, since harsh light and hard shadows are usually not considered flattering in a portrait.

i also got a question, the diffuser do u all make it just enough to cover the flash (to redure the harshness) or as big as possible to spread out the flash more???

 

[ombre]

copy from wiki: A flash diffuser spreads the light from the flash of a camera. In effect, the light will not come from one concentrated source (like a spotlight), but rather will spread out, bounce from reflective ceilings and walls, thus getting rid of harsh light, and hard shadows. This is particularly useful for portrait photographers, since harsh light and hard shadows are usually not considered flattering in a portrait.

i also got a question, the diffuser do u all make it just enough to cover the flash (to redure the harshness) or as big as possible to spread out the flash more???

Hi Skyguy,

Actually I try to do both. Too bad I don't have a picture to demonstrate it... maybe I can try to draw it here... this is actually the diffuser on top.

Haha, okay that's quite crude, but its better than nothing I guess. Thats how I did it. Basically

(yellow) represents the diffused light rays with harshness reduced.
(blue) half of the light should be bounced off the diffuser back against you
(pink) the white cardboard behind bounces light rays from (blue) I believe this creates the "ambient" light, basically spreading it out. This is my concept but I don't have proof for it! haha. After all the FZ18 flash unit wasn't superb, but I think below 3 meters, the effect stands. More for "In your face" flash portraits I guess.

Actually, if its tripod mounted, I sometimes bend the bounce card myself to control the direction of the flash.


Those who made your own diffusers should also play with your M mode while using flash. I think the effect changes a lot, especially when you drop the shutter speed.


AHHH I want my camera back!

Lol, qiqi, skyguy and riscal, and whoever here from singapore still active with your FZ18, you guys wanna organize an outing or something?

 

[ricsal]

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

I know...but I dun want to crop. There are some photographers who said why not crop. then when you crop, the non-believer of cropping says WHY you cropped?? so its kinda hard to pleased everyone so I just let it be. haha. But I agree lah it needs to be crop

 

[ricsal]

Hi Skyguy,

Actually I try to do both. Too bad I don't have a picture to demonstrate it... maybe I can try to draw it here... this is actually the diffuser on top.

Haha, okay that's quite crude, but its better than nothing I guess. Thats how I did it. Basically

(yellow) represents the diffused light rays with harshness reduced.
(blue) half of the light should be bounced off the diffuser back against you
(pink) the white cardboard behind bounces light rays from (blue) I believe this creates the "ambient" light, basically spreading it out. This is my concept but I don't have proof for it! haha. After all the FZ18 flash unit wasn't superb, but I think below 3 meters, the effect stands. More for "In your face" flash portraits I guess.

Actually, if its tripod mounted, I sometimes bend the bounce card myself to control the direction of the flash.


Those who made your own diffusers should also play with your M mode while using flash. I think the effect changes a lot, especially when you drop the shutter speed.


AHHH I want my camera back!

Lol, qiqi, skyguy and riscal, and whoever here from singapore still active with your FZ18, you guys wanna organize an outing or something?

Now you dissapointed right??? hahaha!

I'm alright with outing. :thumbsup:

 

[Eternalz]

Hi guys!

New owner of fz28 here. Hoping to learn from all of you.

Maybe will upload some pictures for your comments and criticisms (pls be kind :embrass

 

[skyguy]

Hi Skyguy,

Actually I try to do both. Too bad I don't have a picture to demonstrate it... maybe I can try to draw it here... this is actually the diffuser on top.

Haha, okay that's quite crude, but its better than nothing I guess. Thats how I did it. Basically

(yellow) represents the diffused light rays with harshness reduced.
(blue) half of the light should be bounced off the diffuser back against you
(pink) the white cardboard behind bounces light rays from (blue) I believe this creates the "ambient" light, basically spreading it out. This is my concept but I don't have proof for it! haha. After all the FZ18 flash unit wasn't superb, but I think below 3 meters, the effect stands. More for "In your face" flash portraits I guess.

Actually, if its tripod mounted, I sometimes bend the bounce card myself to control the direction of the flash.


Those who made your own diffusers should also play with your M mode while using flash. I think the effect changes a lot, especially when you drop the shutter speed.


AHHH I want my camera back!

Lol, qiqi, skyguy and riscal, and whoever here from singapore still active with your FZ18, you guys wanna organize an outing or something?

hmm... nice explaination, can see u really took effort to explain... haha

i'm ok with outing, but have to wait until dec... nov is all my exam stuff...

 

[ombre]

Haha thanks. Yea actually these two months are a killer for me too. + I got no camera now haha. Wonder if the coming IT show will have any good offers.


And welcome Eternalz! How much did you get that FZ28 for anyway?

 

[Clunk]

Hi all, I arrive in Singapore on 18 Dec, would love to meet and have an outing with you guys.

 

[skyguy]

Hi all, I arrive in Singapore on 18 Dec, would love to meet and have an outing with you guys.

good... this mean u are coming to singapore at the right time... haha

 

[ombre]

good... this mean u are coming to singapore at the right time... haha

I still may not have a camera yet! Ahh!

 

[Eternalz]

I actually got it at $660.

As I understand it, a little bit more than some of the others who bought theirs. But it's ok. It's not like it's hundreds of dollars more.

 

[johnjohn1989]

u brought it in jn 3:16?

cus they r selling at that price also

 

[Clunk]

Hi ombre, if we can arrange an outing you are welcome to use my FZ28 in exchange for some tips. My wife and I are are taking her son to Vietnam for a holiday before he starts national service early next year. We arrive Dec 18 go to Vietnam 27- 31 Dec, return Oz 9 Jan
I want to purchase a Tcon and filters in Sinapore before Vietnam.
I think it would be nice to meet as many CS people as possible because there is a very strong possibility I will be living in S/pore once my wife's older two sons have children of their own.

 

[ombre]

Hi ombre, if we can arrange an outing you are welcome to use my FZ28 in exchange for some tips. My wife and I are are taking her son to Vietnam for a holiday before he starts national service early next year. We arrive Dec 18 go to Vietnam 27- 31 Dec, return Oz 9 Jan
I want to purchase a Tcon and filters in Sinapore before Vietnam.
I think it would be nice to meet as many CS people as possible because there is a very strong possibility I will be living in S/pore once my wife's older two sons have children of their own.

Hey Clunk thanks for the offer, though I must say I can't really offer much tips! I'm only good with the more "mathematical" aspects of the camera, you should ask the rest for picture taking tips =) skyguy's pretty good, I've seen his stuff. haha.

May I just casually ask, why is it that you want to come live in Singapore? Many Singaporeans would die to get out! lol. Singapore has a pretty harsh pace of life.

As for the TCON, you will need to get the DMW-LA3 first, unless you want to go for 3rd party (i've seen a few, don't recommend them). There's almost no chance you'll get the adapter here, I bought mine from Ebay, same link someone gave quite awhile back. And yea, I hope you know which shops to go to! Can't say that enough and I guess you know why.

 

[ombre]

By the way, just wondering if anyone has complains about the iA mode? I for one never liked it when using the FZ18.

 

[skyguy]

Hey Clunk thanks for the offer, though I must say I can't really offer much tips! I'm only good with the more "mathematical" aspects of the camera, you should ask the rest for picture taking tips =) skyguy's pretty good, I've seen his stuff. haha.

May I just casually ask, why is it that you want to come live in Singapore? Many Singaporeans would die to get out! lol. Singapore has a pretty harsh pace of life.

As for the TCON, you will need to get the DMW-LA3 first, unless you want to go for 3rd party (i've seen a few, don't recommend them). There's almost no chance you'll get the adapter here, I bought mine from Ebay, same link someone gave quite awhile back. And yea, I hope you know which shops to go to! Can't say that enough and I guess you know why.

yea very true... sg have quite high cost of living... alot people hope to get out... but for old people i guess sg is consider a safer place to live in...

for the DMW-LA3, i actually got a 3rd party version of it... but hardly use it as i got the 46mm step up ring to 52mm from him, and seldom use tele... so i could sell u at low price

 

[5h00t]

Was quoted $580 before GST for FZ28 today at one of the shops on ground floor at SLS(not AP).

 

[skyguy]

Was quoted $580 before GST for FZ28 today at one of the shops on ground floor at SLS(not AP).

my advise to u... dun go down to shop so fast... call them and ask for quote... then slowly think at home, which have benefit, which is cheaper... and to me, if got one shop that tell me before GST is wat price then after GST is wat price, i condem tat shop and won't go there at all... the GST thingy is like old trick liao loh...

anyway i heard sitex coming... u might wanna wait? (more freebie)

and someone is selling 2nd hand FZ28 in this forum, u might wanna consider... alittle more environmental, reduce reuse recycle... haha

and oh yea, alan photo cannot totally be trusted... example, u ask for original fz18 battery price, they say until quite cheap, then when u go there to buy, they show u 3rd party battery at tat price...

 

[ombre]

Dug into my folders today and found some pretty decent pictures that I've never uploaded. I don't think the composition is awesome but basically played around some unlikely stuff. These pictures are really backdated now, like 3 months?

DOF at extreme wide angle =) This is at F2.8 at 5mm (28mm equiv). Using some syringes I have at home. (Love to play with syringes lol)

I really don't remember if I used a CPL for this one. But I shot it around more than -2 EV down and desaturated by half in photoshop.

I call this one black and white. It was inspired by one of my friends who loves black and white pictures. Coincidentally I looked out the window and there was a white car approaching the black car. Taken in 16:9 aspect ratio.

 

[coolzephyr]

By the way, just wondering if anyone has complains about the iA mode? I for one never liked it when using the FZ18.

yup i don't really like the IA mode too, but when i have no time to do adjustments, i just use the IA mode..but i hate it when my IA mode photo appears dark.

and count me in for the FZ18 outing! after november though.. cos the damned exams are drawing near..