FZ20 status relative to Sony H1 etc ?

I believe the Panasonic FZ5 is usually classed as an affordable
prosumer product and a direct competitor to cameras such as the Sony H1
and Canon S2, while the FZ20 was intended as a high-end fixed-lens
model. But the FZ20 was introduced well over a year ago and has been
succeeded as Panasonic's flagship model by the FZ30.

Looked at this way, and individual preferences aside, would the FZ20
still be classed above the H1 and the S2 ? Or is such a question quite
meaningless ?

IOW, what I find attractive about the FZ20 are the manual focus ring,
powerful flash and hot shoe, constant F2.8 throughout the zoom range;
etc. Besides these obvious features, are there any subtler ones that
still elevates it above the FZ5 and its contemporaries ?

David J Taylor wrote:

> mianileng DeleteThis @yahoo.com wrote:
> > I believe the Panasonic FZ5 is usually classed as an affordable
> > prosumer product and a direct competitor to cameras such as the Sony
> > H1 and Canon S2, while the FZ20 was intended as a high-end fixed-lens
> > model. But the FZ20 was introduced well over a year ago and has been
> > succeeded as Panasonic's flagship model by the FZ30.
> >
> > Looked at this way, and individual preferences aside, would the FZ20
> > still be classed above the H1 and the S2 ? Or is such a question quite
> > meaningless ?
> >
> > IOW, what I find attractive about the FZ20 are the manual focus ring,
> > powerful flash and hot shoe, constant F2.8 throughout the zoom range;
> > etc. Besides these obvious features, are there any subtler ones that
> > still elevates it above the FZ5 and its contemporaries ?
>
> I see it as different models for different needs. Panasonic offer the FZ5
> (light weight, 5MP), FZ20 (5MP), FZ30 (8MP), and the new FZ7 (6MP). The
> Canon S2 IS is broadly equivalent to the FZ5, but with some differences.
> Canon have nothing to compete with the FZ20 or FZ30. The Leica lenses on
> the Panasonic beat the Canon and (I suspect) the Sony lenses.
>
> (The Sony uses proprietary memory, and DP Review suggests its image
> stabilisation is not as good as the Canon or the Panasonic. With twice
> the weight of the FZ5, that would rule it out for me).
>
> You might find that handling the different cameras would reveal
> differences which the specifications do not. The FZ5/FZ7/S2 IS are one
> level, then the FZ20 and FZ30 another level. Which camera best suits your
> own photographic needs?
>
> David

Thanks David. Fact is, I live in such a place that there's no chance of
handling each of those cameras before deciding to buy one of them. I
have to make a choice and send for it from a distant city.

I've read the DP Review articles on the FZ5, FZ20, FZ30, H1, S2, Kodak
P850 and others, and personal interactive replies like yours make
invaluable complements to those reviews.

After a couple of weeks of research, I'd narrowed it down to either the
Sony H1 or the FZ20. What made me eliminate the others were -

FZ30 - out of my present budget.
Canon S2 - Significantly more costly with no obvious advantage.
FZ5 - "Little brother" features or lack of them.

Weight is not a major issue for me. I already stated what I like about
the FZ20. What I like about the Sony H1 : Cheap non-proprietary
battery, proprietary memory not very much more expensive, good movie
mode, 3:2 format, large LCD, USB 2.0, flash only marginally weaker than
FZ20, cosmetics.

The FZ20 costs about 5% more at my source (not the main deciding
factor). I'd just about decided on going for the Sony, but then I got
an offer of an 8-month old FZ20 for about 80% of a new H1. And I've
become undecided again.

I know the decision must ultimately be made by me, but if I may ask
outright - what would be your choice in such a situation ?