Panasonic FZ3 Vs S1 IS

I am considering buying an Ultra Zoom ZLR camera. Of the few available
I had finally shortlisted FZ3 and S1. From the many reviews and user
experiances that I came across it is very clear that both are
excellent cameras and value for money.
From reviews it is also clear that FZ3 has slight edge over S1 due to
better glass from Leica, my decision will mostly depend on their
capability to take night pictures. The min shutter speed on FZ3 is 8
sec compared to 15 sec for S1. does it means that S1 can take pictures
which otherwise would have remained underexposed on FZ3.
On dcresources there are sample night shots of both the cameras,and
the one from S1 looks much better
http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/ca.../nightshot.jpg
http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/pa.../nightshot.jpg
It is also evident from the above snap that FZ3 shows vignetting.
Based on these two pictures, is it fair to conclude that S1 does a
better job at nocturnal photography.

tks,
Amit

Amit Gangrade wrote:
I am considering buying an Ultra Zoom ZLR camera. Of the few available
I had finally shortlisted FZ3 and S1. From the many reviews and user
experiances that I came across it is very clear that both are
excellent cameras and value for money.

If the two cameras are that close for you, why not visit your photo store
and compare the ergonomics of the cameras? Battery type and memory card
type may also affect your choice. The two night shots you listed are so
dissimilar as to make comparison impossible, I would contend.

Our personal choice was the Panasonic FZ20 over the Canon S1 IS, but they
are not as comparable as the FZ3 and the S1 IS.

Cheers,
David

"David J Taylor" wrote in message ...
Amit Gangrade wrote:
I am considering buying an Ultra Zoom ZLR camera. Of the few available
I had finally shortlisted FZ3 and S1. From the many reviews and user
experiances that I came across it is very clear that both are
excellent cameras and value for money.

If the two cameras are that close for you, why not visit your photo store
and compare the ergonomics of the cameras? Battery type and memory card
type may also affect your choice. The two night shots you listed are so
dissimilar as to make comparison impossible, I would contend.

That seems logical, but the only problem is the place where I am
living, penetration of Panasonic digital cameras is very less. Most
stores are stuffed with Canon and Nikon products. I thought it would
be better to know more abt FZ3 before jumping on to S1 IS.

Our personal choice was the Panasonic FZ20 over the Canon S1 IS, but they
are not as comparable as the FZ3 and the S1 IS.

FZ3 with proprietary battery would have done slightly more damage to
my pocket but for better night pictures, those few extra $ were worth
it.

Thnx for your reply. I think I will go ahead and buy S1 next week.

Amit

You might check this written by someone who have tried both cameras:
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/re...ssage=11835210

I have the S1IS, and apart from some low light focusing problems I'm very
happy with it.

--
Jan Otto

"Amit Gangrade" wrote in message
om...
I am considering buying an Ultra Zoom ZLR camera. Of the few available
I had finally shortlisted FZ3 and S1. From the many reviews and user
experiances that I came across it is very clear that both are
excellent cameras and value for money.
From reviews it is also clear that FZ3 has slight edge over S1 due to
better glass from Leica, my decision will mostly depend on their
capability to take night pictures. The min shutter speed on FZ3 is 8
sec compared to 15 sec for S1. does it means that S1 can take pictures
which otherwise would have remained underexposed on FZ3.
On dcresources there are sample night shots of both the cameras,and
the one from S1 looks much better
http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/ca.../nightshot.jpg
http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/pa.../nightshot.jpg
It is also evident from the above snap that FZ3 shows vignetting.
Based on these two pictures, is it fair to conclude that S1 does a
better job at nocturnal photography.

tks,
Amit

"Amit Gangrade" wrote in message
om...
I am considering buying an Ultra Zoom ZLR camera. Of the few available
I had finally shortlisted FZ3 and S1. From the many reviews and user
experiances that I came across it is very clear that both are
excellent cameras and value for money.
From reviews it is also clear that FZ3 has slight edge over S1 due to
better glass from Leica, my decision will mostly depend on their
capability to take night pictures. The min shutter speed on FZ3 is 8
sec compared to 15 sec for S1. does it means that S1 can take pictures
which otherwise would have remained underexposed on FZ3.
On dcresources there are sample night shots of both the cameras,and
the one from S1 looks much better
http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/ca.../nightshot.jpg
http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/pa.../nightshot.jpg
It is also evident from the above snap that FZ3 shows vignetting.
Based on these two pictures, is it fair to conclude that S1 does a
better job at nocturnal photography.

Go with the Canon. You will not regret it.

True211 wrote:
[]
Go with the Canon. You will not regret it.

Is it about time that Canon brought out a 5MP camera with IS? 3MP is only
marginally adequate these days....

Cheers,
David

"David J Taylor" wrote in message
...
True211 wrote:
[]
Go with the Canon. You will not regret it.

Is it about time that Canon brought out a 5MP camera with IS? 3MP is only
marginally adequate these days....

PMA is just around the corner. To be fair, I was comparing the 3MP version
of the Panasonic. Of course, the S1 cannot touch the higher res Panasonics.
Those ZLRs kick ass. I'm not sure, however, if the new cheaper versions of
the FZ20 and FZ15 will hold up to the grade. The images look pretty jaggy
to me in the FZ5 review I posted to this group.

David J Taylor wrote:
Is it about time that Canon brought out a 5MP camera with IS? 3MP is only
marginally adequate these days....


The (potentially affordable!) camera I really wanted was the back end of
a G5 with the lens from an S1 IS. Alas Canon didn't see fit to build it ;P

pete
--
"there's no room for enigmas in built-up areas"

"Pete Fenelon" wrote in message
...
David J Taylor wrote:
Is it about time that Canon brought out a 5MP camera with IS? 3MP is
only
marginally adequate these days....


The (potentially affordable!) camera I really wanted was the back end of
a G5 with the lens from an S1 IS. Alas Canon didn't see fit to build it ;P

Do you like the Pro1? They are heavily discounted now. Rumors say that a
replacement might be in the works.

True211 wrote:
"David J Taylor" wrote in message
...
True211 wrote:
[]
Go with the Canon. You will not regret it.

Is it about time that Canon brought out a 5MP camera with IS? 3MP
is only marginally adequate these days....

PMA is just around the corner. To be fair, I was comparing the 3MP
version of the Panasonic.

Accepted - I was moving the conversation in a slightly different
direction....

Of course, the S1 cannot touch the higher
res Panasonics. Those ZLRs kick ass. I'm not sure, however, if the
new cheaper versions of the FZ20 and FZ15 will hold up to the grade.
The images look pretty jaggy to me in the FZ5 review I posted to this
group.

The images we're seeing from the FZ20 have no such artefacts. We can
reasonably expect all manufacturers to produce better and better pictures,
but one problem with thw very long zoom cameras is that if the sensor gets
too big (as more megapixels might force it to), the lenses themselves
would get bigger and heavier, and some of the size advantage enjoyed by
the present range of cameras might be lost.

BTW: Canon (as I recall) promise "20 new digital cameras" last year. Did
they deliver on what they promised? (Just for interest - I'm not trying
to say they did or they did not).

Cheers,
David