Overall better image quality: X-S1 or the Panasonic Lumix FZ70? I'm stuck! How are close-ups with this? And what filter size does it take, please?
883520
I recommend the X-S1, hands down. Close ups are fantastic, it has Macro & Super Macro modes allowing for photos of subjects at a 1cm range. It's got the 26x zoom, plus the Super Intelligent Zoom feature providing. A further 1.4, and 2.0 zoom with no pixel degradation. The filter size is 62mm. Hope this helps!
883521
I've never owned a Panny FZ70, but I did own a Panny FZ40 and I will say the FZ40 is a fine camera with excellent image quality. That being said, I love the image quality on the X-S1 and overall I think it is a better camera. I don't know about anybody else, but I had a problem with dust and dirt getting inside of the FZ40 camera's lens and it made the camera unusable. The X-S1 is an amazing camera and it is built very solid with many metal fittings instead of plastic pieces that you find on a lot of cameras. I love the manual zoom as well, it's got a pro-camera feel about it, I wouldn't trade my X-S1 camera for any other out there. The filter size is 62mm which I highly recommend getting to protect your lens. I bought a Fujicon clear UV filter lens and a Sigma polarized lens as well for bright sunlight days. I couldn't be happier with my X-S1 camera.
883522
Cant really answer this as I have not seen images from FZ70. I did read reviews and to my recall the image quality was not up to snuff. However, it all depends on how you will use it. I have been getting great quality photos for the X-S1. Here is a link to my images (mainly from X-S1) http://www.flickr.com/photos/110260652@N04/ . I did look at the FZ 200 which again has the smaller zoom, but is much higher rated for image quality.
883523
I own the FZ200 and returned the X-S1. Even though the X-S1 has a larger sensor which should result in better image quality, unfortunately the X-S1's auto focus is unreliable, image stabilization almost seems non-existent , and the lens has about the same slow and dark specs as a DSLR kit lens, which results in blurry pics more often them not. To get around that, you can up the ISO a bit, but that won't help focus issues and reduces the mirage quality. I get much better pics out of my Panasonic FZ200 and I suspect you would get the same out of the FZ70.
883524
As far as close up's I think it's great I don't have a filter on this camera but I also haven't used the P L FZ70, Don't know what the filter is for that your looking for but this camera has so much on it that you can do your self to make the pictures look like you want , so do your research but this is the one im sure you will pick. Also 62mm clear filter to protect lens or some other if you want special effects. other than that this camera is to great, You will be glad you picked it. I know I am.
883525
I think the XS1 is better for image quality, especially closeups, but I haven't worked much with Lumix.
209419
I really like the Panasonic ZS30. I do not have the Fuji f900, although I've heard nice things about it. Google www.dpreview.com. I think they have professional reviews of both cameras. Might also try www.whatdigitalcamera.com. Another good place for professional reviews is www.cameralabs.com. If you go to www.whatdigitalcamera.com, it is a British magazine, and the ZS30 is known as the TZ40 in Europe - same camera. Both the Fuji and the Panasonic are highly rated. Another option to consider - Panasonic has announced that the ZS40 - next upgrade - will be coming out in March. It will have a 30X zoom, RAW shooting, and EVF, and several other new features. Might want to check that one out if you can wait a bit.
1223646
Is the EVF viewer large enough to view comfortably? I was comparing the S3 to the Sony H2 and the EVF on the Sony seems smaller compared to the S3. Can't find a FZ7 in town to physically look at, but it sounds like a great camera for the price. Any info you can give would be greatly appreciated.
1078010
Low light with the kit lens is pretty bad. At f3.5 even with image stabilization you have to crank the ISO up. I'm talking on the beach by torchlight low light mind you. I mostly use the Sigma 19mm and 30mm f2.8 and the extra stop makes it a lot better. I'm sure with the Panasonic 25mm f1.4 this camera shines in low light. I recently took my G5 with 19mm to a gaming convention and the pics turned out really well.
568654
Very bad in my experience with it. It's a good camera outdoors, especially on sunny days. Indoors, the combo of the long zoom and small sensor make for dark pics and/or blurry pics. Almost all cameras are trade-offs. This one's trade0offs were not for me. The FZ150 is a much better camera and the FZ200 is probably better yet. The FZ200 is expensive, so not a truly fail comparison. It is also bigger.The best compact in the world right now (my belief and that of many others) has a 3 -4 x zoom and a 1" sensor and costs $650 --- the Sony RX100. It's the same size as the ZS15 or maybe even a bit smaller. I wish it were cheaper !!! :-). Very bad in my experience with it. It's a good camera outdoors, especially on sunny days. Indoors, the combo of the long zoom and small sensor make for dark pics and/or blurry pics. Almost all cameras are trade-offs. This one's trade0offs were not for me. The FZ150 is a much better camera and the FZ200 is probably better yet. The FZ200 is expensive, so not a truly fail comparison. It is also bigger.The best compact in the world right now (my belief and that of many others) has a 3 -4 x zoom and a 1" sensor and costs $650 --- the Sony RX100. It's the same size as the ZS15 or... » Read More Very bad in my experience with it. It's a good camera outdoors, especially on sunny days. Indoors, the combo of the long zoom and small sensor make for dark pics and/or blurry pics. Almost all cameras are trade-offs. This one's trade0offs were not for me. The FZ150 is a much better camera and the FZ200 is probably better yet. The FZ200 is expensive, so not a truly fail comparison. It is also bigger.The best compact in the world right now (my belief and that of many others) has a 3 -4 x zoom and a 1" sensor and costs $650 --- the Sony RX100. It's the same size as the ZS15 or maybe even a bit smaller. I wish it were cheaper !!! :-). « Show Less
489800
Sorry, haven't had the opportunity to try and compare the SX1is to the other two models.I'll tell you this though, after taking the SX30is for a test run there is NO WAY I would keep it over my SX20is when it xomes to the discussion of image quality.
240403
Skin tones from the XT1 in my eyes seem to be right on. I cannot compare the S5s or the Nikons as I have not shot a Nikon in years nor the Fuji S5s. Coming from a Leica M8 which always rendered skin warm I can say the XT1 is very natural to my eye.
391681
Look up "canon chdk". It's a firmware that you load from your sd card. I'm getting optical zoom in my SD800IS, along with many other features, like shooting in raw, and control over shutter speed. For those cameras with aperture control (mine just has a NS filter), you can even adjust that.Still, I really like the looks of the SX1 coming out. I'm going to start saving for Christmas now.
1193279
I agree. Recently my hubby and I were shopping, and I wanted either the Olympus FE-370, or the CAnnon sx-110-Is.Low and behold when I opened the parcel yesterday, there was that fugifilm s1000. every shot was blurry and just crap!Im returning it today, and going to get one of my first choices.
922251
I agree. I looked really hard at the S95, would have been happy to spend the extra bucks to get better photos in all conditions. But the 3X zoom was a bummer for me - when I can get just about as good photos with the S8100 with a super slick 10X zoom.Unless you are really a professional photog as need that extra f2.0 lens, I would say bite the bullet and take it back, again.
1190973
I agree. I looked really hard at the S95, would have been happy to spend the extra bucks to get better photos in all conditions. But the 3X zoom was a bummer for me - when I can get just about as good photos with the S8100 with a super slick 10X zoom. Unless you are really a professional photog as need that extra f2.0 lens, I would say bite the bullet and take it back, again.
263009
I wondered if there were better LCDs out there for outside photos than on my last two cameras (Fujis). Anyway, I am gravitating toward a slightly larger camera with a nice optical zoom. On the high end, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ35, and on the low end the Fuji S1500. These cameras tend to have viewfinders, but I need to do a lot more research before I make a final decision.
1338312
I have owned a Cannon S90 and now the Panasonic LX5. I found the S90 wasn't nearly as accurate with white balance and I also had to fiddle around with it too much to get a good pic in some situations. The LX5 while a little bigger is much easier to get a very good shot, meaning much less fiddling. And the updated 2.0 firmware makes it that much better. I'll take a little bigger size any day to get the ease of use and fantastic shots that I get with little effort. IMHO.
154001
Thank you. I bought the 2sx230 on 11/11/11 and I noticed outside in the bright sun light it captures movement well well and pretty sharp. Inside not so well. I want very much to learn how to use the ISO and how to make great photos using the manual functions. I bought the canon for its size, I will be traveling which is why I wanted a small camera. The shutter speed seemed to be the fastest. Thanks again these comments are very helpful, I'm really looking forward to getting to know my new camera.
1507232
Like the S90, it's decent at wide angle. At 24mm, it supports a maximum aperture of f/1.8 (so a little better). Plus, the newer processor will help reduce noise at higher ISO settings (again, a little better).For low light photography, you might look at a camera with a larger sensor like the Sony RX100 or RX100 II. I'd also look at the Panasonic LX7 if you need decent low light performance throughout the zoom range.
2178177
Ben, the images out of the SX200 are not blurry at all, even in low light conditions due to the wonderful stabilizer.I was worried at first, then I printed out some pics 8 X10 and WOWWWWWWWI do not miss the Superfine anymore. In addition to that, now I am able to email full resolution pics :)I am still an S80 owner. The SX200 is much faster in everything even zooming at max and in low light conditions.
1940851
Thanks again. I'll be deciding by the end of the week, because I'll have to return the Canon by Saturday! Another thing re: the Panasonic is that you can attach certain lenses to it to extend the zoom and possibly some other stuff. I like that Idea. I love cameras with big wide lenses on them!Take care, and thanks for your thoughts.