Camera Shopping - help?

[Talie]

I'm looking for a new camera, I've been using a 3mp sony and it's been ok for what i've needed but I want something better now that I have a little to spend. I'm looking at the Panasonic LUMIX DMC-FZ30 and the Fujifilm Finepix s5900

Anyone know anything about either of these?

I think I'm leaning towards the panasonic because I can see the image stabalization will be a great bonus for me....also the longer zoom - it's less megapixels but i'm not sure how much difference that will make.

I do prefer the idea of the fact that the Fujifilm uses AA batteries though - it's good to be able to just pop in some off-the-shelf replacements if you need to at any time.

Feedback would be great - cause I dont' know what to look for

Oh....and there's a great website somewhere but I can't for the life of me find it - my sister showed it to me a few weeks ago... you can compare images taken with different cameras - they have a set image of a box that was set up with all kinds of things in it to show how well the camera deals with shades of color and stuff - and also another set of standard images that are taken with every camera - you can compare the images for different cameras side by side anyone know the site i'm talking about?

 

[superduperblake]

Get the Canon 20D.

 

[GK]

Before I decided to go ahead and get a dSLR, I looked at both those cameras. They're both good and you'll be happy with either. I leaned toward the lumix, both for the greater optical zoom and because I thought it looked cool.

You aren't alone, though, in liking AA batteries. One of the reasons I chose the dSLR I did is that it takes AA. I keep a couple sets of rechargables for regular work, they're much less expensive to replace than proprietary batteries, and if I'm out on a shoot and run out, I can always pick up a pack at any corner store.

 

[Boss_BlueAngels]

First of all, the best place I found for camera reviews is www.dpreview.com Excellent resource, has image samples, reviews, and forums for everything.

Also since the FZ-30 is pretty spendy, you may just want to wait another month or so and save up for a Digital SLR. It will give you MANY more options for taking your photos, not to mention the quality will be better as well. I've only reviewed the Panasonic and it sounds like an excellent camera. I was going to buy one, but then some friends pointed me toward DSLR and I now have a Canon Rebel XT. (Much cheaper than the 20D)

Anyway, good luck and let us know how your search progresses!

 

[Pete Harcoff]

Yeah, I'd 2nd saving up a bit more and getting a DSLR. The fact that you can swap lenses on a DSLR means you have options available for future upgrades. Plus, the quality of DSLR's and good lenses is higher.

 

[GK]

Digital SLRs aren't the right choice for everyone, though.

 

[Talie]

Emergentpdx - exactly - i have zero need to swap lenses - the primary reason i didn't want an SLR - i have an old (non-digital) slr that i rarely used anyway - though part of the reason was that I couldn't manage without autofocus - I have visual problems so most of my pics would end up out of focus!

Anyway, sure if i wanted to become a photographer, I'd want an SLR - but I don't - I just happen to be in a lot of situations - mostly related to work - where I need to take good photos.

If I was looking for an SLR, i'd have asked for feedback on those, but as I said, i'm not....

 

[Talie]

I got hold of my sister today - the website I was referring to is this http://www.imaging-resource.com/IMCOMP/COMPS01.HTM

it's excellent for comparing different cameras

 

[Talie]

miss post

 

[2Bhumble]

Talie-
I have last year's Panasonic FZ20 and it's an amazing camera. I've logged about 1,200-1,300 images on it so far. I absolutely love everything about it. Image stabilization is one of many great features and nothing beats a Leica lens. You'll hear a lot of "get a Canon or Nikon or Fuji" because the Panasonic is the greatest camera no one's heard of. Yes I can swap lenses on this camera but I don't as the range is incredible. Mine's 5 megapixles and that's way more than enough. The 12x optical zoom is plenty. If you decide to go with the Panasonic you won't be sorry.

 

[Boss_BlueAngels]

If I was looking for an SLR, i'd have asked for feedback on those, but as I said, i'm not....

It was just a suggestion. I started my search a month ago saying I only wanted a point and shoot like the FZ30 as well. Also, DSLR's do have autofocus. And once you have a basic understanding of exposure... I found DSLR to be WAY easier than even pont and shoot.

If what you are goint to be photographing is always going to be stationary, then P&S's will do just fine

 

[Talie]

If what you are goint to be photographing is always going to be stationary, then P&S's will do just fine

perhaps you don't realise the range of functions most digital cameras have these days - you can have a LOT of control over the image - you don't have to have everything set on automatic

 

[Talie]

If what you are goint to be photographing is always going to be stationary, then P&S's will do just fine

perhaps you don't realise the range of functions most digital cameras have these days - you can have a LOT of control over the image - you don't have to have everything set on automatic

 

[Justin Horne]

Get the Canon 20D.

Honestly, I still have to agree with that.
Well, Perhaps the XT (350D, same thing, different names) may work for you a bit better, it's one step down.
Regardless, I can totally respect your not-wanting a dSLR, but with the level off cameras you are considering buying, an SLR actually does fit in nicely.
They are both into the 8 mps, or thereabouts. The 350D is 8, and the 20D is 8.3. The dSLRs have all the control and autofocus and the like, and the XT is cheaper. By the time you add a lens, it would be a tad more money, but the difference would likely be noticable.

But then again, that's just my opinion. It jsut seems to me with the money you are already spending about the same, you may as well get a better camera. Even if you don't need to change lenses now, that option is incredibly powerful. A few months ago, I bought a lens for around $80, which is F/1.8. You just can't get stuff like that without the option to change lenses..


Anyway, sorry.
Oh, and as much as I plug Canon, Nikon has some alright stuff too.. (It kills me to say that. While their image quality is, at least, comparable, I find the physical cameras and interfaces very un-intuitive.. But that's a different rant. )

 

[Talie]

the canon 20D is TWICE the price of the camera I'm looking at PLUS the cost of a zoom lense....it's not comparable at all when you look at it that way, not for someone on a very low income - it'd be alright if i was in a high paid job or have money thrown at me from elswhere like you seem to be if you think it's not much difference.

I'm not saying that to have a stab at you - just pointing out that you must not be aware of what it's like to have to take forever to save for something "small" like a camera

 

[Justin Horne]

Hmm. Never noticed those prices werent American. 840 IS quite in line with the 350 an 20 Ds, but never noticed that where you are, 840 is much less than it is here..
Hmm, sorry about that.

 

[Talie]

well, i took the plunge and got the Panasonic FZ30.

Here's a shot I took with it this afternoon, just a point and click shot (with flash because the sun was quite bright)

You can view the uncompressed/shrunk version here if you like but it's 3mb http://www.talhost.net/images/kittyboy_original.jpg

 

[2Bhumble]

Talie-
What a great photo. Good choice on the camera - glad to see you got the Panasonic. Have fun with it!

 

[Talie]

I think the thing that won me over in the end was that there was so much packed into this camera. I looked at a few DSLRs but the cost was way too far out of my range considering to get basiclaly the equiv. (including zoom range etc) in a DSLR I'd have to buy not only the camera but at least two lenses.....and I just KNOW i'd never be wanting to swap lenses all the time - having all that range with just the one built in lesnse makes sense when - as I said - I'm not wanting to become a professional photographer! Then there was all the weight/size bag you'd have to carry around to accommodate the lenses etc as well as the camera itself.

This camera - apart from some image quality that a non - DSLR simply can't match with what's out there at the moment - has everything I think I could want, you can go totally manual, totally automatic, or anywhere in between - that's a big bonus in my book. The BIG downfall with this camera is it comes shipped with a 32 MB SD card - a bit of a joke for a high res camera to come with such a teeny card so i'll have to buy a 1GB chance as soon as I can.

I can see however, it's going to take me a long time to learn how to use this camera even to a fraction of it's potential. I'm kind of contemplating doing a photography course (cause I really don't know the first thing about taking photos) if I can find the $$ - cause there's just too much to learn when you're essentially starting from scratch!

 

[Boss_BlueAngels]

Hey, congrats on the new camera!!

I was really impressed with what people had to say about the FZ30 as it is certainly one of the best (if not tne best) P&S cameras on the market.

I was surprised how easy it was with my step to DSLR... once you understand exactaly how to achieve proper exposure in manual mode it's a piece of cake. And even understanding that part of it really is quite simple.

Anyway, good luck and keep posting your new pics.