Spanish GP example from Panasonic FZ5

"David J Taylor" writes:

Interesting - I've not go into burst mode yet (we get about 2 pictures per
second), but it is an obvious tool for motor racing!

I leave my FZ20 in burst mode all the time. It works exactly the same
as single shot mode unless you hold down the shutter button. It's very
handy for group portraits since a single shot rarely catches everyone
at their best.

Does the FZ5 have the "pan" scene mode? That'd be worth trying, too.

-Dave

Dave Sill wrote:
"David J Taylor"
writes:

Interesting - I've not go into burst mode yet (we get about 2
pictures per second), but it is an obvious tool for motor racing!

I leave my FZ20 in burst mode all the time. It works exactly the same
as single shot mode unless you hold down the shutter button. It's very
handy for group portraits since a single shot rarely catches everyone
at their best.

Does the FZ5 have the "pan" scene mode? That'd be worth trying, too.

-Dave

Interestingly, the FZ5 like the FZ20, has the top button for quick access
to burst mode. I like the group portrait idea! Yes, it has panning mode
as well - another thing to try sometime.

Cheers,
David

David J Taylor wrote:
Dave Sill wrote:

"David J Taylor"
writes:


Interesting - I've not go into burst mode yet (we get about 2
pictures per second), but it is an obvious tool for motor racing!

I leave my FZ20 in burst mode all the time. It works exactly the same
as single shot mode unless you hold down the shutter button. It's very
handy for group portraits since a single shot rarely catches everyone
at their best.

Does the FZ5 have the "pan" scene mode? That'd be worth trying, too.

-Dave


Interestingly, the FZ5 like the FZ20, has the top button for quick access
to burst mode. I like the group portrait idea! Yes, it has panning mode
as well - another thing to try sometime.

Cheers,
David


Thanks for the intersting thread and comparisons. I am still debating my
camera options between FZ5 class camera (portability and cost
advantages) and DSLR (image quality/speed/handling advantages).
My heart says DSLR but as I like to go most places by motorcycle, I
worry that I will leave it behind most of the time! I guess I am just
looking for reassurance that the FZ5 (or Canon S2) will give me the
speed and quality I want for sport/motorsport photography.
I had a loan of an Olympus C770, but found the refresh rate of the EVF
to be too haphazard on fast moving motorcyles! Still got a reasonable
rate of success with it (but they were noisy and not as sharp as I would
like).

Cheers
Steve

Bartshumandad wrote:
David J Taylor wrote:
Dave Sill wrote:

"David J Taylor"
writes:


Interesting - I've not go into burst mode yet (we get about 2
pictures per second), but it is an obvious tool for motor racing!

I leave my FZ20 in burst mode all the time. It works exactly the
same as single shot mode unless you hold down the shutter button.
It's very handy for group portraits since a single shot rarely
catches everyone at their best.

Does the FZ5 have the "pan" scene mode? That'd be worth trying, too.

-Dave


Interestingly, the FZ5 like the FZ20, has the top button for quick
access to burst mode. I like the group portrait idea! Yes, it has
panning mode as well - another thing to try sometime.

Cheers,
David


Thanks for the intersting thread and comparisons. I am still debating
my camera options between FZ5 class camera (portability and cost
advantages) and DSLR (image quality/speed/handling advantages).
My heart says DSLR but as I like to go most places by motorcycle, I
worry that I will leave it behind most of the time! I guess I am just
looking for reassurance that the FZ5 (or Canon S2) will give me the
speed and quality I want for sport/motorsport photography.
I had a loan of an Olympus C770, but found the refresh rate of the EVF
to be too haphazard on fast moving motorcyles! Still got a reasonable
rate of success with it (but they were noisy and not as sharp as I
would like).

Cheers
Steve

Steve, one possibility is to get both cameras - the DSLR for when you need
high ISO or interchangeable lens, the P&S as a knock-about, go anywhere
camera.

Comparing the cost, you could start with the P&S and see if you really
need anything better. If you want the image stabilised 432mm focal length
(say 300mm on a DSLR) that's going to set you back quite a bit, but you
will get a more responsive, if heavier and bulkier system. BTW: when
measuring noise, look at your prints, not at 1:1 on the screen which may
give a pessimistic result.

Cheers,
David

TO ALL READERS OF Spanish GP example from Panasonic FZ5

I know that most of you are probably partial to the FZ5. I like it also
and am considering buying it at the end of the summer.

However, I am totally torn between that the the Canon S2. While the
better movie mode is nice on the S2 it is by no means critical. As a
matter of fact I like the fact that the Z5 comes in black (I do not
especially like silver) but that is not a reason to buy a camera.

I do like the fact that you can turn off the information in the FZ5 and
I am not sure if you can with the S2(the S1 did not have this capability)

One thing in Canon's favor is they have been a top camera mfg (in the
class - recently - of Nikon which rule the world for a long time) for a
long time and have a reputation that Panasonic does not have. Panasonic
has to depend on Leica for lenses.

If one proved to be substantially less noisy at higher ISO that would go
far. From a couple of reviews of both cameras it appears they are
evenly matched as far as features unless I missed something.

Eventually I plan to buy either a Canon DSLR (DRXT or a 20D) or
successor unless the successor to the D70S sways me over since people I
speak to feel Nikon is still the ultimate in lens quality and some say
DSLR quality.

The deciding factor for me is the bottom line results. I am sure that
some of you out their may have used both and will testify that the
results are indistinguishable from each other.

I do not want to flip a coin so I need some advice on how to choose. A
few $$$ one way or the other is not a deciding factor. If Fuji had an
IS long zoom replacement for the S5100 I would also consider that since
the results from Fuji seems quite good at first glance.

Sorry this was so long but I really have no basis for choosing one over
the other. It does seem like Canon is more instep with most people so I
may need a good reason to buy the Panasonic. Most of the touting of the
Leica lens are from people who bought the FZ20 and not the FZ5

Pete Fenelon wrote:

David J Taylor wrote:


Manual focus might have been nice, but I would still need to keep my
finger half-pressed to minimise shutter lag. I ended up with more usable
shots than I expected - perhaps 1/3 to 1/2 were usable, although only say
5-10% were really good, and perhaps 1 - 2% excellent (like the one I
showed).



Having used an FZ10 for racing for about a year, I'd generally agree
with those proportions, although I'm learning *my* limitations on
reaction time etc. better now and I tend not to shoot in circumstances
where I don't think I'll catch the cars properly!



I was more successful looking the other way to a section of the
first bend where the panning speed was more uniform, but the cars were
further away so not so much detail. Manual zoom might have been easier as
well, rather than the push buttons.



This I agree with. Maybe FZ30 will fix that

pete