Canon S1 IS vs Panasonic FZ20

Forget for now that the Canon is unfortunately a 4MP and the Panasonic
is a 5MP. Which camera is a superior camera in any respect and why?

If Canon were to update the S1 to 5MP and make now other changes, which
would be better?

measekite wrote:
Forget for now that the Canon is unfortunately a 4MP and the Panasonic
is a 5MP. Which camera is a superior camera in any respect and why?

If Canon were to update the S1 to 5MP and make now other changes,
which would be better?

You may want to review some of the discussions in the ZLR newsgroup:

news:rec.photo.digital.zlr

as well as here. I'll set follow-ups there.

The Canon is only 3MP, by the way.

Cheers,
David

measekite wrote:
Forget for now that the Canon is unfortunately a 4MP and the Panasonic
is a 5MP. Which camera is a superior camera in any respect and why?

If Canon were to update the S1 to 5MP and make now other changes, which
would be better?

Right now? The Panasonic, no question. I tried both; they're both *good*
cameras, but the Canon's a good 2003 camera and the Panasonic's a good
2004 device. The Panasonic is more capable. Longer reach and better
glass than the Canon, ignoring 5Mp vs 3Mp. Of course, the Canon is
cheaper and physically smaller, but even the older FZ-10 was a better
camera than the S1 IS.

If you're looking for a Canon to go up against the FZ-20 I suggest you
look at the Pro-1.

pete
--
"Send lawyers, guns and money...."

I do not think that the Pro 1 has IS and I think it more expensive
albeit 8MP. That was a very good answer. I am thinking of that
camera. I am concerned that Panasonic (despite the Leica lens) does not
have the name, build, and quality of Canon in general.

Pete Fenelon wrote:

measekite wrote:


Forget for now that the Canon is unfortunately a 4MP and the Panasonic
is a 5MP. Which camera is a superior camera in any respect and why?

If Canon were to update the S1 to 5MP and make now other changes, which
would be better?



Right now? The Panasonic, no question. I tried both; they're both *good*
cameras, but the Canon's a good 2003 camera and the Panasonic's a good
2004 device. The Panasonic is more capable. Longer reach and better
glass than the Canon, ignoring 5Mp vs 3Mp. Of course, the Canon is
cheaper and physically smaller, but even the older FZ-10 was a better
camera than the S1 IS.

If you're looking for a Canon to go up against the FZ-20 I suggest you
look at the Pro-1.

pete

After struggling for eight months with our S1 IS, we finally
decided it is not up to Canon's usual standards with regard
to image quality. Terrible fringing problems, even in cases
where there shouldn't be any. Bottom line: the sensor is too
small in this camera.

"measekite" wrote in message . com...
I do not think that the Pro 1 has IS and I think it more expensive
albeit 8MP. That was a very good answer. I am thinking of that
camera. I am concerned that Panasonic (despite the Leica lens) does not
have the name, build, and quality of Canon in general.

Pete Fenelon wrote:

measekite wrote:


Forget for now that the Canon is unfortunately a 4MP and the Panasonic
is a 5MP. Which camera is a superior camera in any respect and why?

If Canon were to update the S1 to 5MP and make now other changes, which
would be better?



Right now? The Panasonic, no question. I tried both; they're both *good*
cameras, but the Canon's a good 2003 camera and the Panasonic's a good
2004 device. The Panasonic is more capable. Longer reach and better
glass than the Canon, ignoring 5Mp vs 3Mp. Of course, the Canon is
cheaper and physically smaller, but even the older FZ-10 was a better
camera than the S1 IS.

If you're looking for a Canon to go up against the FZ-20 I suggest you
look at the Pro-1.

pete

camera. I am concerned that Panasonic (despite the Leica lens) does not
have the name, build, and quality of Canon in general.

the FZ20 is built like a tank. We're not talking canon dSLR robustness (but
then again it doesn't weigh as much either), but it is definitively on the
high end of the sturdy scale when it comes to prosumers/ZLR's.

Tony

Mikey wrote:

After struggling for eight months with our S1 IS, we finally
decided it is not up to Canon's usual standards with regard
to image quality. Terrible fringing problems, even in cases
where there shouldn't be any. Bottom line: the sensor is too
small in this camera.



Does the Panasonic have a larger sensor?

"measekite" wrote in message . com...


I do not think that the Pro 1 has IS and I think it more expensive
albeit 8MP. That was a very good answer. I am thinking of that
camera. I am concerned that Panasonic (despite the Leica lens) does not
have the name, build, and quality of Canon in general.

Pete Fenelon wrote:



measekite wrote:




Forget for now that the Canon is unfortunately a 4MP and the Panasonic
is a 5MP. Which camera is a superior camera in any respect and why?

If Canon were to update the S1 to 5MP and make now other changes, which
would be better?




Right now? The Panasonic, no question. I tried both; they're both *good*
cameras, but the Canon's a good 2003 camera and the Panasonic's a good
2004 device. The Panasonic is more capable. Longer reach and better
glass than the Canon, ignoring 5Mp vs 3Mp. Of course, the Canon is
cheaper and physically smaller, but even the older FZ-10 was a better
camera than the S1 IS.

If you're looking for a Canon to go up against the FZ-20 I suggest you
look at the Pro-1.

pete

"measekite" wrote in message om...


Mikey wrote:

After struggling for eight months with our S1 IS, we finally
decided it is not up to Canon's usual standards with regard
to image quality. Terrible fringing problems, even in cases
where there shouldn't be any. Bottom line: the sensor is too
small in this camera.



Does the Panasonic have a larger sensor?

Slightly larger (1/2.5" compared to the S1's 1/2.7"), although
the difference in MP (5 vs. 3.2) would negate any advantage
for the FZ20.

It's not that the S1's image quality is particularly bad.. It's just
that we've become spoiled by our previous Canon models --
even our ancient A40 (at less than half the cost of the S1)
absolutely blows away the S1 with regard to chromatic
aberration, noise, and range of conditions under which it
easily produces pleasing images.

measekite wrote:
I do not think that the Pro 1 has IS and I think it more expensive
albeit 8MP. That was a very good answer. I am thinking of that
camera. I am concerned that Panasonic (despite the Leica lens) does
not have the name, build, and quality of Canon in general.

Panasonic does not have a DSLR product line - so they don't have to
cripple their P&S cameras to protect the profit margin on their DSLRs.

In article , says...
"measekite" wrote in message om...


Mikey wrote:

After struggling for eight months with our S1 IS, we finally
decided it is not up to Canon's usual standards with regard
to image quality. Terrible fringing problems, even in cases
where there shouldn't be any. Bottom line: the sensor is too
small in this camera.



Does the Panasonic have a larger sensor?

Slightly larger (1/2.5" compared to the S1's 1/2.7"), although
the difference in MP (5 vs. 3.2) would negate any advantage
for the FZ20.

It's not that the S1's image quality is particularly bad.. It's just
that we've become spoiled by our previous Canon models --
even our ancient A40 (at less than half the cost of the S1)
absolutely blows away the S1 with regard to chromatic
aberration, noise, and range of conditions under which it
easily produces pleasing images.

I think in this case the lens makes the difference, rather than the
sensor size. The FZ20 has a pretty special lens.