Want a new camera.... But....

I keep yearning for a new camera like the Panasonic FZ-20. I want IS and
that nice manual focus ring....but...seems like every time I go out on a
shoot with my Olympus C-750, I am so pleased with my shots that it's hard to
justify the next step up in technology. I think I'll wait for the FZ-25
before making my move.
Ed

Ed wrote:
I keep yearning for a new camera like the Panasonic FZ-20. I want IS
and that nice manual focus ring....but...seems like every time I go
out on a shoot with my Olympus C-750, I am so pleased with my shots
that it's hard to justify the next step up in technology. I think
I'll wait for the FZ-25 before making my move.
Ed

Well, it seems to me that the FZ5 is the next step following the FZ20, and
it has dropped the manual focus ring. Panasonic are supposedly entering
the DSLR market with the 4/3 system at some point in the future, to they
may not want to instrodfuce models which conflict with a low-end DSLR.
You would find the IS a big boon, so you have a choice of the heavier FZ20
with manual focus, or the lighter FZ5 with no maunal focu or hot shoe.
The rest of the specs are in the same class as your C-750, but adding the
IS greatly increases the usability of the longer end of the zoom. The
range (36 - 432mm) is slightly greater as well.

If you really must wait, I'd suggest that having a swivel LCD finder,
perhaps a bigger sensor than the 1/2.5 inches, and perhaps a better EVF
were worth having. Some might want better video as well.

Cheers,
David

David J Taylor wrote:
Well, it seems to me that the FZ5 is the next step following the FZ20, and
it has dropped the manual focus ring.

No, the FZ5 is aimed at a lower point in the market than the FZ20. Its
relationship to the FZ20 is similar to the Konica-Minolta Z series'
relationship to the A series, IMHO. The Zs and the FZ4/5 are good
cameras, but the As and the FZ10/15/20 are nicer all round.

pete
--
"We ask ourselves 'what will become of Evil Gazebo?'"

Pete Fenelon wrote:
David J Taylor
wrote:
Well, it seems to me that the FZ5 is the next step following the
FZ20, and it has dropped the manual focus ring.

No, the FZ5 is aimed at a lower point in the market than the FZ20. Its
relationship to the FZ20 is similar to the Konica-Minolta Z series'
relationship to the A series, IMHO. The Zs and the FZ4/5 are good
cameras, but the As and the FZ10/15/20 are nicer all round.

pete

Part of my point was with a DSLR potentially coming, Panasonic may want to
move away slightly from the higher-end cameras like the FZ20.

Having used and compared both the FZ20 and FZ5, there is little, if any,
difference in quality, just a slight difference in facilities (f/3.3
instead of f/2.8 lens at maximum zoom) and no flash hot-shoe or manual
focus. There is less difference between the FZ20 and FZ5 than between the
A and Z Minolta - I was disappointed to see the excellent A2 viewfinder
had been dropped even from the A200.

David

David J Taylor wrote:

Part of my point was with a DSLR potentially coming, Panasonic may want to
move away slightly from the higher-end cameras like the FZ20.

Ah, I see what you mean - you think the 20 might be the last in that
particular line.


Having used and compared both the FZ20 and FZ5, there is little, if any,
difference in quality, just a slight difference in facilities (f/3.3
instead of f/2.8 lens at maximum zoom) and no flash hot-shoe or manual
focus. There is less difference between the FZ20 and FZ5 than between the
A and Z Minolta - I was disappointed to see the excellent A2 viewfinder
had been dropped even from the A200.


I find the 5 feels rather flimsy - the 10 and 20 are very close to Canon
build quality; you can feel that corners have been cut on assembly and
materials! That said, I'm sure you can get images as good as a 20 from
a 5, under most circumstances.

pete
--
"We ask ourselves 'what will become of Evil Gazebo?'"

Pete Fenelon wrote:
David J Taylor
wrote:

Part of my point was with a DSLR potentially coming, Panasonic may
want to move away slightly from the higher-end cameras like the FZ20.

Ah, I see what you mean - you think the 20 might be the last in that
particular line.

Just a possibility, although I thought that the release of the FZ5 might
also be a hint.

[]
I find the 5 feels rather flimsy - the 10 and 20 are very close to
Canon
build quality; you can feel that corners have been cut on assembly and
materials! That said, I'm sure you can get images as good as a 20
from
a 5, under most circumstances.

pete

Yes, there is certainly a difference in the feel - whether the FZ5 is
actually any less robust I wouldn't like to say. You pays your money and
takes your choice!

Cheers,
David

David J Taylor wrote:

Ed wrote:


I keep yearning for a new camera like the Panasonic FZ-20. I want IS
and that nice manual focus ring....but...seems like every time I go
out on a shoot with my Olympus C-750, I am so pleased with my shots
that it's hard to justify the next step up in technology. I think
I'll wait for the FZ-25 before making my move.
Ed



Well, it seems to me that the FZ5 is the next step following the FZ20, and
it has dropped the manual focus ring. Panasonic are supposedly entering
the DSLR market with the 4/3 system at some point in the future, to they
may not want to instrodfuce models which conflict with a low-end DSLR.
You would find the IS a big boon, so you have a choice of the heavier FZ20
with manual focus, or the lighter FZ5 with no maunal focu or hot shoe.
The rest of the specs are in the same class as your C-750, but adding the
IS greatly increases the usability of the longer end of the zoom. The
range (36 - 432mm) is slightly greater as well.

If you really must wait, I'd suggest that having a swivel LCD finder,
perhaps a bigger sensor than the 1/2.5 inches, and perhaps a better EVF
were worth having. Some might want better video as well.

Cheers,
David



Are we not getting near to the description of the Canon S2?

On Fri, 20 May 2005 23:05:10 GMT, measekite
wrote:

If you really must wait, I'd suggest that having a swivel LCD finder,
perhaps a bigger sensor than the 1/2.5 inches, and perhaps a better EVF
were worth having. Some might want better video as well.

Cheers,
David



Are we not getting near to the description of the Canon S2?

Slap a flash hotshoe onto the Canon S2, and I wouldn't find much else
to long for in a non-DSLR. Probably only a better EVF with an
instantaneous refresh rate.

Jan Böhme
Korrekta personuppgifter är att betrakta som journalistik.
Felaktigheter utgör naturligtvis skönlitteratur.

Anyone know if the Canon S2 shows all of the menu information in the EVF
like the Z5? I like that feature.

Jan Böhme wrote:

On Fri, 20 May 2005 23:05:10 GMT, measekite
wrote:



If you really must wait, I'd suggest that having a swivel LCD finder,
perhaps a bigger sensor than the 1/2.5 inches, and perhaps a better EVF
were worth having. Some might want better video as well.

Cheers,
David




Are we not getting near to the description of the Canon S2?



Slap a flash hotshoe onto the Canon S2, and I wouldn't find much else
to long for in a non-DSLR. Probably only a better EVF with an
instantaneous refresh rate.

Jan Böhme
Korrekta personuppgifter är att betrakta som journalistik.
Felaktigheter utgör naturligtvis skönlitteratur.

I don't know, but I also value that feature on my C-750. Sometimes you just
have to use the EVF in bright sun to set menu items. I think its one of the
secret (and overlooked)advantages of having a camera with an EVF over one
with an optical viewfinder.
Ed

"measekite" wrote in message
m...
Anyone know if the Canon S2 shows all of the menu information in the EVF
like the Z5? I like that feature.

Jan Böhme wrote:

On Fri, 20 May 2005 23:05:10 GMT, measekite
wrote:



If you really must wait, I'd suggest that having a swivel LCD finder,
perhaps a bigger sensor than the 1/2.5 inches, and perhaps a better EVF
were worth having. Some might want better video as well.

Cheers,
David




Are we not getting near to the description of the Canon S2?



Slap a flash hotshoe onto the Canon S2, and I wouldn't find much else
to long for in a non-DSLR. Probably only a better EVF with an
instantaneous refresh rate.

Jan Böhme
Korrekta personuppgifter är att betrakta som journalistik.
Felaktigheter utgör naturligtvis skönlitteratur.