Panasonic DMC-FZ30

I have made over 2000 photos with my FZ30 and I am happy with it. I upgraded
from FZ20. I did a lot of research, printed a few of FZ30 photos and only
then I decided to get one. I think knew very well what to expect. I often do
quite large prints and noise was never an issue. Well, almost. Under very
bad light, the Lumix does indeed produce noise - but I still have to see a
compact camera which does not. When I need to enlarge pictures taken under
low light, that is, maximum 10% of all, I use NeatImage or NoiseNinja and
that does it.

The FZ30 is lightweight but sturdy, has superb handling like a professional
SLR and, above all, the Leica lens is outstanding. Whatever opinion you
read, no one would even try to hint at some problems with lens and picture
quality. I would never buy a superzoom without image stabilizer and the FZ30
has an excellent one.

Yes, there is some noise but I believe not less or more than in all other
compact cameras using small chips. Unless you intend to do extreme
enlargements, noise is really not an issue.

Generally, noise is a very favoured theme of many reviewers. They should
focus more on the lens qualities in different models - this is where gaping
differences exist, not in noise levels.

I believe the RAW capabilities tipped the scale in favour of FZ30. When you
really want a superb picture, shoot RAW and do your postprocessing in the
Photoshop RAW converter. No noise.

Regards,

Pavel
"Sandy Bloom, Ph.D." <sbloom.TakeThisOut@new.rr.com> pí¹e v diskusním pøíspìvku
news:h06tf.14455$0e.11003@tornado.rdc-kc.rr.com...
> I'd appreciate hearing what you folks think of this camera. I have read
> many good reviews along with some very critical ones about image quality
> and
> noise. I was considering a DSLR, but the price and features of this
> camera
> have caused me to rethink my plan.
>
> Some suggested that the quality control of this camera's production may be
> quite variable. With your help. my brother-in-law bought the Z5, and he is
> very happy with it.
>
> Thanks in advance for your help.
>
> Best,
>
> Sandy
>
>
 >> Stay informed about: Panasonic DMC-FZ30 

On Fri, 30 Dec 2005 16:59:41 +0100, "P" <ptrcka.DeleteThis@volny.cz> wrote Re Re:
Panasonic DMC-FZ30:

>I have made over 2000 photos with my FZ30 and I am happy with it. I upgraded
>from FZ20.

Can you tell us what you prefer about the FZ30 over the FZ20? I would
be interested.
--
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 >> Stay informed about: Panasonic DMC-FZ30 

Vic Dura wrote:
> On Fri, 30 Dec 2005 16:59:41 +0100, "P" <ptrcka.RemoveThis@volny.cz> wrote Re Re:
> Panasonic DMC-FZ30:

>>I have made over 2000 photos with my FZ30 and I am happy with it. I upgraded
>
>>from FZ20.
>
> Can you tell us what you prefer about the FZ30 over the FZ20? I would
> be interested.

Here's the list of advantages I put together a while back:

It has a RAW mode.
It boots in 1 second versus 5 because the lens doesn't extend.
It has a manual zoom ring in addition to the focus ring.
Viewfinder and LCD have 1.4x the resolution
Tripod mounting hole is inline with the lens.
LCD gains up in low light.
Separate control dials for shutter, aperture.
VGA-quality 30fps movie mode.
55mm filter threads, no adapter needed.
Battery and memory card can be changed while camera is on a tripod.
(The FZ20's battery/memory door looks like a tripod head would block
it.)

Not all of those are killer differences, but the package is really
attractive.

For balance, here's my list of cons:

Only slightly better image quality than the FZ20 after dealing with
noise.
Effective focal length is slightly shorter.
Heavier and larger by a little bit.
Macro slightly less capable than the FZ20.
Some CA at the wide end, some distortion, relative to the FZ20.
IS not quite as effective due to the higher resolution.

I don't own the camera and have simply dredged this stuff out of
reviews. Some of this stuff might even be wrong. I'd be interested
in hearing from owners of the FZ30 about which of these things
are actually important.

Paul Allen
 >> Stay informed about: Panasonic DMC-FZ30 

"Paul Allen" <"paul dot l dot allen at comcast dot net"> wrote in message
news:WPadnS7XR71t8CjeRVn-ig@comcast.com...


Random Usenet posters, or serious reviewers? Do you have any links?

I read them at dpreview.com. What do you think?

Thanks,
Sandy



> Sandy Bloom, Ph.D. wrote:
> > I'd appreciate hearing what you folks think of this camera. I have
read
> > many good reviews along with some very critical ones about image quality
and
> > noise. I was considering a DSLR, but the price and features of this
camera
> > have caused me to rethink my plan.
>
> You'll get better image quality with a DSLR: more dynamic range and much
> better low-light performance. But, you give up some things like pre-
> exposure histogram and being able to frame using that big LCD.
> > Some suggested that the quality control of this camera's production may
be
> > quite variable.
>
> Random Usenet posters, or serious reviewers? Do you have any links?
>
> > With your help. my brother-in-law bought the Z5, and he is
> > very happy with it.
>
> The few reports I've seen from owners have been positive. Serious
> photographers are not buying this camera, so we're hearing from people
> who can tolerate its limitations. It's a trade-off.
>
> Paul Allen
 >> Stay informed about: Panasonic DMC-FZ30 

On Fri, 30 Dec 2005 08:15:09 GMT, "Sandy Bloom, Ph.D."
<sbloom DeleteThis @new.rr.com> wrote:

>I'd appreciate hearing what you folks think of this camera. I have read
>many good reviews along with some very critical ones about image quality and
>noise. I was considering a DSLR, but the price and features of this camera
>have caused me to rethink my plan.

Grab one of the noisy images from sites like dpreview.com and run it
though a program like Neat Image. If the program works, produces the
noise reduction you need while maintaining enough of the detail, then
the camera is obviously a good choice because it has the highest
resolution of any camera like it. But it is noisier than other
cameras in it's class.
-Rich
 >> Stay informed about: Panasonic DMC-FZ30 

The reviews were by users I believe.
Sandy



"Sandy Bloom, Ph.D." <sbloom DeleteThis @new.rr.com> wrote in message
news:%Wetf.21106$Dk.8401@tornado.rdc-kc.rr.com...
>
> "Paul Allen" <"paul dot l dot allen at comcast dot net"> wrote in message
> news:WPadnS7XR71t8CjeRVn-ig@comcast.com...
>
>
> Random Usenet posters, or serious reviewers? Do you have any links?
>
> I read them at dpreview.com. What do you think?
>
> Thanks,
> Sandy
>
>
>
> > Sandy Bloom, Ph.D. wrote:
> > > I'd appreciate hearing what you folks think of this camera. I have
> read
> > > many good reviews along with some very critical ones about image
quality
> and
> > > noise. I was considering a DSLR, but the price and features of this
> camera
> > > have caused me to rethink my plan.
> >
> > You'll get better image quality with a DSLR: more dynamic range and much
> > better low-light performance. But, you give up some things like pre-
> > exposure histogram and being able to frame using that big LCD.
> > > Some suggested that the quality control of this camera's production
may
> be
> > > quite variable.
> >
> > Random Usenet posters, or serious reviewers? Do you have any links?
> >
> > > With your help. my brother-in-law bought the Z5, and he is
> > > very happy with it.
> >
> > The few reports I've seen from owners have been positive. Serious
> > photographers are not buying this camera, so we're hearing from people
> > who can tolerate its limitations. It's a trade-off.
> >
> > Paul Allen
>
>
 >> Stay informed about: Panasonic DMC-FZ30 

On Fri, 30 Dec 2005, at 08:15:09 [GMT GMT] (19:15:09 Friday, 30 December
2005 where I live) "Sandy Bloom, Ph.D." wrote:

> I'd appreciate hearing what you folks think of this camera. I have read
> many good reviews along with some very critical ones about image quality and
> noise. I was considering a DSLR, but the price and features of this camera
> have caused me to rethink my plan.

Every review, bar none, that I have read about this camera mentions noise,
noise, noise.

That put me off it, ended with a Canon Powershot A620 for carrying around,
does a great job.
 >> Stay informed about: Panasonic DMC-FZ30 

On Fri, 30 Dec 2005 15:24:04 -0800, Paul Allen <"paul dot l dot allen
at comcast dot net"> wrote Re Re: Panasonic DMC-FZ30:

>Vic Dura wrote:
>> On Fri, 30 Dec 2005 16:59:41 +0100, "P" <ptrcka.TakeThisOut@volny.cz> wrote Re Re:
>> Panasonic DMC-FZ30:
>
>>>I have made over 2000 photos with my FZ30 and I am happy with it. I upgraded
>>
>>>from FZ20.
>>
>> Can you tell us what you prefer about the FZ30 over the FZ20? I would
>> be interested.
>
>Here's the list of advantages I put together a while back:

Thanks very much.
--
To email me directly, remove CLUTTER.
 >> Stay informed about: Panasonic DMC-FZ30 

Also, Steves Digicams does not join the noise lamentation choir! Go see
their ISO comparison pics.
My Canon S2IS, as well as most other super zoom cameras have much more noise
att 400 ISO than the FZ30!
/per
 >> Stay informed about: Panasonic DMC-FZ30