Confusing Reviews

After spending a few hours (in a store - side by side) with the
Panasonic FZ5 and the Canon S2 IS, I have observed that the FZ5, while
having not quite as many features, do have more significant features
such as a grid for composition, speed of focus and zoom, and a better
balance and weight.

I have also read a few reviews from some of the photo review sites such
as dpreview and steves where both got very decent reviews.

Now PCMAG has come out with 3 reviews. One for the Canon, Fuji S5200
and another for the FZ5.

Here are the links.

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,1785992,00.asp FZ5

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,1836605,00.asp S2

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0%2C18...05073%2C00.asp Fuji

In the beginning of the FZ5 review, a poor rating, they said that the
FZ20 was an editors choice. Now it is my understanding there is not
much difference between the two. Based on this review either I am not
looking at the Camera the right way or the review is flawed.

If some of the FZ5 users out there would read the PCMAG review and let
us know what level of accuracy it has I would be appreciative.

I need to make a digital Camera purchase before June. I am hoping there
will be a successor to the FZ5 out there either an FZ6,7,or 8 but I have
not heard any rumors. Anybody know anything.

On Fri, 13 Jan 2006 19:09:15 GMT, measekite wrote:
Now PCMAG has come out with 3 reviews. One for the Canon, Fuji S5200
and another for the FZ5.

Here are the links.

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,1785992,00.asp FZ5

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,1836605,00.asp S2

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0%2C18...05073%2C00.asp Fuji

Why in God's name are you looking for camera reviews in a computer
magazine? Look in a photo mag, or a photography website.

In the beginning of the FZ5 review, a poor rating, they said that the
FZ20 was an editors choice. Now it is my understanding there is not
much difference between the two. Based on this review either I am not
looking at the Camera the right way or the review is flawed.

If some of the FZ5 users out there would read the PCMAG review and let
us know what level of accuracy it has I would be appreciative.

It's a lousy review. For example, they rate the image quality as
signficantly lower than the FZ20. Look at the side-by-side comparison
that DPReview did,
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/panasonicfz5/page8.asp
and you'll see little or no difference. PCMag's recommended alternative
is a 4 MP, 10x unstabilized, camera from Olympus. Apples and oranges.

I could continue, but frankly I don't think it's worth my time. Note,
also, that the reader reviews disagree strongly with the main reviews.

I am very happy with the FZ5. Some sample shots from my most recent
album:

Close-up: http://ri22.uchicago.edu/~dmsilev/ha...s/page_18.html
(normal focus mode, not macro mode. I was a few meters away from the
blossom)

Night: http://ri22.uchicago.edu/~dmsilev/ha...s/page_24.html
(this one was hand-held at 160 mm and 1/10s)

Large dynamic range:
http://ri22.uchicago.edu/~dmsilev/ha...s/page_58.html

Burst shooting:
http://ri22.uchicago.edu/~dmsilev/ha...s/page_10.html

-dms

measekite wrote:
[]
I need to make a digital Camera purchase before June. I am hoping
there will be a successor to the FZ5 out there either an FZ6,7,or 8
but I have not heard any rumors. Anybody know anything.

In addition to Daniel's valuable comments, the way things are going
megapixels are winning over noise, and if a new camera came out it might
have more megapixels, perhaps slightly more noise, and would perhaps
therefore be a poorer compromise than the FZ5. Whilst I'm as keen as
anyone to have the latest kit, if you get your FZ5 now, by June you will
be completely at home with it, which should improve your picture taking as
you'll know how to handle any occasion.

Cheers,
David

"measekite" wrote in message
t...
After spending a few hours (in a store - side by side) with the Panasonic
FZ5 and the Canon S2 IS, I have observed that the FZ5, while having not
quite as many features, do have more significant features such as a grid
for composition, speed of focus and zoom, and a better balance and weight.

I have an FZ5 and never use the grid for composition ... to me, that's a
gimmick.

I have also read a few reviews from some of the photo review sites such as
dpreview and steves where both got very decent reviews.

Now PCMAG has come out with 3 reviews. One for the Canon, Fuji S5200 and
another for the FZ5.

PCMAG is not a good source for this kind of information, in my opinion.

In the beginning of the FZ5 review, a poor rating, they said that the FZ20
was an editors choice. Now it is my understanding there is not much
difference between the two. Based on this review either I am not looking
at the Camera the right way or the review is flawed.

The FZ20 is a better choice for some folks. You must weigh your needs
against the specification sets.

If some of the FZ5 users out there would read the PCMAG review and let us
know what level of accuracy it has I would be appreciative.

Sorry, I'd rather not bother as PCMAG camera reviews are not worth my
effort. Have you checked reviews at sites such as www.dpreview.com?

I need to make a digital Camera purchase before June. I am hoping there
will be a successor to the FZ5 out there either an FZ6,7,or 8 but I have
not heard any rumors. Anybody know anything.

Nope ... I have no info. I'll add that my FZ5 works very well and that my
wife also likes using it.

Charles Schuler wrote:
[]
I have an FZ5 and never use the grid for composition ... to me,
that's a gimmick.

I don't use so much for composition, but to ensure that the horizons stay
horizontal! Quite handy, and the Nikon 8400 has it as well.

David

On Sat, 14 Jan 2006 00:19:09 GMT, David J Taylor wrote:
Charles Schuler wrote:
[]
I have an FZ5 and never use the grid for composition ... to me,
that's a gimmick.

I don't use so much for composition, but to ensure that the horizons stay
horizontal! Quite handy, and the Nikon 8400 has it as well.

It's not really that rare a feature; a lot of cameras have it as an
option. The fact that the reviewer made a big deal about it was one
(more) strike against the review's credibility for me. Personally, I
find the live histogram to be a more useful tool than the grid lines.

-dms