Thinking about a new camera
Discussion
Hi all, don't usually post in here (just look at the pictures 
) but I'm after a bit of advice if thats OK. I'm thinking about buying a Panasonic Lumix FZ30. I've read a few reviews and been and pestered the lovely people at Jessops but I was wondering if any of you have any first hand experience of this camera?
) but I'm after a bit of advice if thats OK. I'm thinking about buying a Panasonic Lumix FZ30. I've read a few reviews and been and pestered the lovely people at Jessops but I was wondering if any of you have any first hand experience of this camera?dougc said:
Hi all, don't usually post in here (just look at the pictures ) but I'm after a bit of advice if thats OK. I'm thinking about buying a Panasonic Lumix FZ30. I've read a few reviews and been and pestered the lovely people at Jessops but I was wondering if any of you have any first hand experience of this camera?
) but I'm after a bit of advice if thats OK. I'm thinking about buying a Panasonic Lumix FZ30. I've read a few reviews and been and pestered the lovely people at Jessops but I was wondering if any of you have any first hand experience of this camera?I've first hand experience with the FZ20, and it works exceptionally well. Some slight noise issues at exposures longer than 1 second or so, and at ISO 400, but that's about it; lens quality is amazing, and even at ISO 100, motion blur is minimal. I would expect all these issues to be fixed though on the new camera, as I'm only shooting with a 1/2.5" sensor, whereas the FZ30 has a larger, 1/1.8" sensor.
Thanks guys. Decided to go for it in the end. In the reviews I read there were a couple of issues mentionned but I'm moving up from a point and shoot so not sure if I'll see them like a professional would. Going to try and teach myself a bit more about the art of taking a good photograph as opposed to getting lucky with 1 in every 500 as I seem to at the moment!
davidd said:
I'd really like to know how you get on with this as I'm torn between one of those, a canon powershot s3 or saving up for a bit and getting a 350d.
Cheers
D
Cheers
D
I may get rocks thrown at me for this... but if you're considering a high-end P&S and a DSLR, it's usually an indication that you're not quite in the market yet for a DSLR. What I mean to say is, if you really should get a DSLR, you would be looking at that exclusively, and would have already eliminated any P&S camera. And quite frankly, until you get a bit of training with a DSLR, you'll be getting better pictures out of the box from a high-end P&S.
imperialism2024 said:
I may get rocks thrown at me for this... but if you're considering a high-end P&S and a DSLR, it's usually an indication that you're not quite in the market yet for a DSLR. What I mean to say is, if you really should get a DSLR, you would be looking at that exclusively, and would have already eliminated any P&S camera. And quite frankly, until you get a bit of training with a DSLR, you'll be getting better pictures out of the box from a high-end P&S.
I think that's good advice. A DSLR is not just an expensive point and shoot, it is an entirely different proposition. Just because it costs more does not mean you will get better shots 'out of the box'. You need to learn an SLR to get the best out of it and that means investment in time and money. You will get better results eventually, but for those who just want good photos without the fuss, you are better off with a high end point and shoot.
I'm in all three camps here... using a D2X, a D50 and an S80 compact.
It's actually quite simple. The compact takes great shots, the D50 takes better shots and the the D2X the best of the three.
But in each case one has to work harder to get the results.
You just have to take your choice.
It's actually quite simple. The compact takes great shots, the D50 takes better shots and the the D2X the best of the three.
But in each case one has to work harder to get the results.
You just have to take your choice.
It should also be noted that to get the same funtionality as a high-zoom, high-end P&S, that is, a 10x-12x optical zoom, image stabilization, and macro capabilities, you will be spending much more than the base price for a low-end DSLR. Unlike a P&S camera, a DSLR requires more expenses than just the base price of the camera. If you're happy with the equivalent of a 2x optical zoom, limited macro capabilities, and not as good lens quality as a high-zoom P&S, then sure, you can pick up a D50 or 350D for only a little more than an S3 IS or equivalent. But if you factor in a telephoto zoom lens, extension tubes, filters, and two or more photo bags, you're really running up the cost; in my personal experience, I spent about $1100 on my D70 kit, and over the next year about $2500 on other aspects of my kit.
marctwo said:
imperialism2024 said:
I may get rocks thrown at me for this... but if you're considering a high-end P&S and a DSLR, it's usually an indication that you're not quite in the market yet for a DSLR. What I mean to say is, if you really should get a DSLR, you would be looking at that exclusively, and would have already eliminated any P&S camera. And quite frankly, until you get a bit of training with a DSLR, you'll be getting better pictures out of the box from a high-end P&S.
I think that's good advice. A DSLR is not just an expensive point and shoot, it is an entirely different proposition. Just because it costs more does not mean you will get better shots 'out of the box'. You need to learn an SLR to get the best out of it and that means investment in time and money. You will get better results eventually, but for those who just want good photos without the fuss, you are better off with a high end point and shoot.
The assumption you are making is that I don't know how to handle an SLR. I did have an EOS 650 with a couple of decent canon lenses (cannot remember what they were, 35-55 and 55-300 seem to ring a bell). I had a pile of filers and my own enlarger (I was never really that bothered about actually developing the film but I used to love making prints). I have a friend who is a professional photographer who taught me photography and how to use the EOS and for a couple of years it was my main hobby. However other things took my time and so I dropped it. Then I got a konica Revio APS p&s which was really handy and so I used that a bit, then I got an olympus p&s then my ixus 500 which I love, however it does not give me the results I want. I can use photoshop to sort of get what I want but I think a better camera will make life easier. I have been looking at the powershot s3 and such as I was not sure if a bridge camera was just a DSLR with easier controls in which case it would have have been a cheap option, I know now that this is not the case.
So I will probably get a 350d or a couple of lenses, I know it will cost more but then it will give me what I need.
Doug, sorry to hijack this.
D
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