FZ20 status relative to Sony H1 etc ?

I believe the Panasonic FZ5 is usually classed as an affordable
prosumer product and a direct competitor to cameras such as the Sony H1
and Canon S2, while the FZ20 was intended as a high-end fixed-lens
model. But the FZ20 was introduced well over a year ago and has been
succeeded as Panasonic's flagship model by the FZ30.

Looked at this way, and individual preferences aside, would the FZ20
still be classed above the H1 and the S2 ? Or is such a question quite
meaningless ?

IOW, what I find attractive about the FZ20 are the manual focus ring,
powerful flash and hot shoe, constant F2.8 throughout the zoom range;
etc. Besides these obvious features, are there any subtler ones that
still elevates it above the FZ5 and its contemporaries ?

wrote:
I believe the Panasonic FZ5 is usually classed as an affordable
prosumer product and a direct competitor to cameras such as the Sony
H1 and Canon S2, while the FZ20 was intended as a high-end fixed-lens
model. But the FZ20 was introduced well over a year ago and has been
succeeded as Panasonic's flagship model by the FZ30.

Looked at this way, and individual preferences aside, would the FZ20
still be classed above the H1 and the S2 ? Or is such a question quite
meaningless ?

IOW, what I find attractive about the FZ20 are the manual focus ring,
powerful flash and hot shoe, constant F2.8 throughout the zoom range;
etc. Besides these obvious features, are there any subtler ones that
still elevates it above the FZ5 and its contemporaries ?

I see it as different models for different needs. Panasonic offer the FZ5
(light weight, 5MP), FZ20 (5MP), FZ30 (8MP), and the new FZ7 (6MP). The
Canon S2 IS is broadly equivalent to the FZ5, but with some differences.
Canon have nothing to compete with the FZ20 or FZ30. The Leica lenses on
the Panasonic beat the Canon and (I suspect) the Sony lenses.

(The Sony uses proprietary memory, and DP Review suggests its image
stabilisation is not as good as the Canon or the Panasonic. With twice
the weight of the FZ5, that would rule it out for me).

You might find that handling the different cameras would reveal
differences which the specifications do not. The FZ5/FZ7/S2 IS are one
level, then the FZ20 and FZ30 another level. Which camera best suits your
own photographic needs?

David

David J Taylor wrote:

wrote:
I believe the Panasonic FZ5 is usually classed as an affordable
prosumer product and a direct competitor to cameras such as the Sony
H1 and Canon S2, while the FZ20 was intended as a high-end fixed-lens
model. But the FZ20 was introduced well over a year ago and has been
succeeded as Panasonic's flagship model by the FZ30.

Looked at this way, and individual preferences aside, would the FZ20
still be classed above the H1 and the S2 ? Or is such a question quite
meaningless ?

IOW, what I find attractive about the FZ20 are the manual focus ring,
powerful flash and hot shoe, constant F2.8 throughout the zoom range;
etc. Besides these obvious features, are there any subtler ones that
still elevates it above the FZ5 and its contemporaries ?

I see it as different models for different needs. Panasonic offer the FZ5
(light weight, 5MP), FZ20 (5MP), FZ30 (8MP), and the new FZ7 (6MP). The
Canon S2 IS is broadly equivalent to the FZ5, but with some differences.
Canon have nothing to compete with the FZ20 or FZ30. The Leica lenses on
the Panasonic beat the Canon and (I suspect) the Sony lenses.

(The Sony uses proprietary memory, and DP Review suggests its image
stabilisation is not as good as the Canon or the Panasonic. With twice
the weight of the FZ5, that would rule it out for me).

You might find that handling the different cameras would reveal
differences which the specifications do not. The FZ5/FZ7/S2 IS are one
level, then the FZ20 and FZ30 another level. Which camera best suits your
own photographic needs?

David

Thanks David. Fact is, I live in such a place that there's no chance of
handling each of those cameras before deciding to buy one of them. I
have to make a choice and send for it from a distant city.

I've read the DP Review articles on the FZ5, FZ20, FZ30, H1, S2, Kodak
P850 and others, and personal interactive replies like yours make
invaluable complements to those reviews.

After a couple of weeks of research, I'd narrowed it down to either the
Sony H1 or the FZ20. What made me eliminate the others were -

FZ30 - out of my present budget.
Canon S2 - Significantly more costly with no obvious advantage.
FZ5 - "Little brother" features or lack of them.

Weight is not a major issue for me. I already stated what I like about
the FZ20. What I like about the Sony H1 : Cheap non-proprietary
battery, proprietary memory not very much more expensive, good movie
mode, 3:2 format, large LCD, USB 2.0, flash only marginally weaker than
FZ20, cosmetics.

The FZ20 costs about 5% more at my source (not the main deciding
factor). I'd just about decided on going for the Sony, but then I got
an offer of an 8-month old FZ20 for about 80% of a new H1. And I've
become undecided again.

I know the decision must ultimately be made by me, but if I may ask
outright - what would be your choice in such a situation ?

On 23 Jan 2006 13:05:38 -0800, wrote:


D

FZ30 - out of my present budget.
Canon S2 - Significantly more costly with no obvious advantage.
FZ5 - "Little brother" features or lack of them.

Weight is not a major issue for me. I already stated what I like about
the FZ20. What I like about the Sony H1 : Cheap non-proprietary
battery, proprietary memory not very much more expensive, good movie
mode, 3:2 format, large LCD, USB 2.0, flash only marginally weaker than
FZ20, cosmetics.

The FZ20 costs about 5% more at my source (not the main deciding
factor). I'd just about decided on going for the Sony, but then I got
an offer of an 8-month old FZ20 for about 80% of a new H1. And I've
become undecided again.

I know the decision must ultimately be made by me, but if I may ask
outright - what would be your choice in such a situation ?

If the movie function is very important to you Canon is the
best in that area. The Sony won't zoom in movie mode. Not sure about
the FZ20 but a friend who owns one says that the movie function is not
one of its strengths. I bought the S2 and am happy with it. I
considered the FZ20/30 and although the image quality is said to be
better the functionality of the Canon better fit my needs.

John H

On Tue, 24 Jan 2006 02:32:48 GMT, John H wrote:

On 23 Jan 2006 13:05:38 -0800, wrote:


D

FZ30 - out of my present budget.
Canon S2 - Significantly more costly with no obvious advantage.
FZ5 - "Little brother" features or lack of them.

Weight is not a major issue for me. I already stated what I like about
the FZ20. What I like about the Sony H1 : Cheap non-proprietary
battery, proprietary memory not very much more expensive, good movie
mode, 3:2 format, large LCD, USB 2.0, flash only marginally weaker than
FZ20, cosmetics.

The FZ20 costs about 5% more at my source (not the main deciding
factor). I'd just about decided on going for the Sony, but then I got
an offer of an 8-month old FZ20 for about 80% of a new H1. And I've
become undecided again.

I know the decision must ultimately be made by me, but if I may ask
outright - what would be your choice in such a situation ?

If the movie function is very important to you Canon is the
best in that area. The Sony won't zoom in movie mode. Not sure about
the FZ20 but a friend who owns one says that the movie function is not
one of its strengths. I bought the S2 and am happy with it. I
considered the FZ20/30 and although the image quality is said to be
better the functionality of the Canon better fit my needs.

John H

I meant to add on some samples from the S2 should you care to
have a look http://members.accesswave.ca/~parklane/thumbnails.html

John H

wrote:
[]
The FZ20 costs about 5% more at my source (not the main deciding
factor). I'd just about decided on going for the Sony, but then I got
an offer of an 8-month old FZ20 for about 80% of a new H1. And I've
become undecided again.

I know the decision must ultimately be made by me, but if I may ask
outright - what would be your choice in such a situation ?

Without doubt, the Panasonic FZ20. My wife has one, and it has survived a
trip to Antarctica and back. Battery life is good, and the batteries are
widely available. Get a could of backups from a good 2nd brand name (in
Europe I would recommend Hahnel).

David

wrote:
David J Taylor wrote:


wrote:

I believe the Panasonic FZ5 is usually classed as an affordable
prosumer product and a direct competitor to cameras such as the Sony
H1 and Canon S2, while the FZ20 was intended as a high-end fixed-lens
model. But the FZ20 was introduced well over a year ago and has been
succeeded as Panasonic's flagship model by the FZ30.

Looked at this way, and individual preferences aside, would the FZ20
still be classed above the H1 and the S2 ? Or is such a question quite
meaningless ?

IOW, what I find attractive about the FZ20 are the manual focus ring,
powerful flash and hot shoe, constant F2.8 throughout the zoom range;
etc. Besides these obvious features, are there any subtler ones that
still elevates it above the FZ5 and its contemporaries ?

I see it as different models for different needs. Panasonic offer the FZ5
(light weight, 5MP), FZ20 (5MP), FZ30 (8MP), and the new FZ7 (6MP). The
Canon S2 IS is broadly equivalent to the FZ5, but with some differences.
Canon have nothing to compete with the FZ20 or FZ30. The Leica lenses on
the Panasonic beat the Canon and (I suspect) the Sony lenses.

(The Sony uses proprietary memory, and DP Review suggests its image
stabilisation is not as good as the Canon or the Panasonic. With twice
the weight of the FZ5, that would rule it out for me).

You might find that handling the different cameras would reveal
differences which the specifications do not. The FZ5/FZ7/S2 IS are one
level, then the FZ20 and FZ30 another level. Which camera best suits your
own photographic needs?

David


Thanks David. Fact is, I live in such a place that there's no chance of
handling each of those cameras before deciding to buy one of them. I
have to make a choice and send for it from a distant city.

I've read the DP Review articles on the FZ5, FZ20, FZ30, H1, S2, Kodak
P850 and others, and personal interactive replies like yours make
invaluable complements to those reviews.

After a couple of weeks of research, I'd narrowed it down to either the
Sony H1 or the FZ20. What made me eliminate the others were -

FZ30 - out of my present budget.
Canon S2 - Significantly more costly with no obvious advantage.
FZ5 - "Little brother" features or lack of them.

Weight is not a major issue for me. I already stated what I like about
the FZ20. What I like about the Sony H1 : Cheap non-proprietary
battery, proprietary memory not very much more expensive, good movie
mode, 3:2 format, large LCD, USB 2.0, flash only marginally weaker than
FZ20, cosmetics.

The FZ20 costs about 5% more at my source (not the main deciding
factor). I'd just about decided on going for the Sony, but then I got
an offer of an 8-month old FZ20 for about 80% of a new H1. And I've
become undecided again.

I know the decision must ultimately be made by me, but if I may ask
outright - what would be your choice in such a situation ?

I've used an FZ10 and loved it. By all accounts, the FZ20 is an
incremental refinement of the FZ10. I'd go with the Panasonic because
it's a known quantity. But then I've never handled an H1. You probably
need to hear from a passionate H1 owner before you make up your mind.

Paul Allen

John H wrote:

On Tue, 24 Jan 2006 02:32:48 GMT, John H wrote:

On 23 Jan 2006 13:05:38 -0800, wrote:


D

FZ30 - out of my present budget.
Canon S2 - Significantly more costly with no obvious advantage.
FZ5 - "Little brother" features or lack of them.

Weight is not a major issue for me. I already stated what I like about
the FZ20. What I like about the Sony H1 : Cheap non-proprietary
battery, proprietary memory not very much more expensive, good movie
mode, 3:2 format, large LCD, USB 2.0, flash only marginally weaker than
FZ20, cosmetics.

The FZ20 costs about 5% more at my source (not the main deciding
factor). I'd just about decided on going for the Sony, but then I got
an offer of an 8-month old FZ20 for about 80% of a new H1. And I've
become undecided again.

I know the decision must ultimately be made by me, but if I may ask
outright - what would be your choice in such a situation ?

If the movie function is very important to you Canon is the
best in that area. The Sony won't zoom in movie mode. Not sure about
the FZ20 but a friend who owns one says that the movie function is not
one of its strengths. I bought the S2 and am happy with it. I
considered the FZ20/30 and although the image quality is said to be
better the functionality of the Canon better fit my needs.

John H

I meant to add on some samples from the S2 should you care to
have a look http://members.accesswave.ca/~parklane/thumbnails.html

Beautiful !!
I'm rather partial to Canon as a brand myself. I did have a Canon AF-1
a long time ago, and often used my brother's AE-1 before that. I'm
attracted to the Canon's fast response times, superb movie, use of AA
batteries, USB2.0, etc etc including my own happy memories of Canon
quality. What made me reluctantly eliminate it was that the S2 is
appreciably more expensive than the other two (at the sources available
to me), and it has the smallest LCD and the weakest flash of the three
with no hot shoe.

Paul Allen wrote:

wrote:

............[snip]..........

The FZ20 costs about 5% more at my source (not the main deciding
factor). I'd just about decided on going for the Sony, but then I got
an offer of an 8-month old FZ20 for about 80% of a new H1. And I've
become undecided again.

I know the decision must ultimately be made by me, but if I may ask
outright - what would be your choice in such a situation ?

I've used an FZ10 and loved it. By all accounts, the FZ20 is an
incremental refinement of the FZ10. I'd go with the Panasonic because
it's a known quantity. But then I've never handled an H1. You probably
need to hear from a passionate H1 owner before you make up your mind.

Paul Allen

A fair and very relevant statement, Paul. I'd very much like to hear
from H1 owners, please.

I've used an FZ10 and loved it. By all accounts, the FZ20 is an
incremental refinement of the FZ10. I'd go with the Panasonic because
it's a known quantity. But then I've never handled an H1. You probably
need to hear from a passionate H1 owner before you make up your mind.

Paul Allen

All these cameras are good. The H1 has one major advantage over the
others. Shutter lag (pre-focus) is .011 seconds. If you get frustrated
by slow shutter speeds then chose the H1.