is it good for sports? What is the shutter lag time?
1481043
Shutter lag is almost zero - one of the principle reasons I opted for the Panasonic brand. WYSIWYG results. The FZ50 fits this old SLR guy like a glove, and I don't have to carry multiple camera bodies around my neck. The Leica lens doesn't hurt either. However, I think if you are looking to shoot fast action sports there are better choices out there if multi-image features are important to you. This one camera has all my old equipment sitting dusty on a shelf somewhere...
1625793
I've used it for sports and even portraits once in a while. Love that it's weather-sealed and while it's not the fastest focus (as say, the 75mm f/1.8), the limiter switch really helps. I've used it to photograph a few Spartan Races in wet/muddy conditions and it's performed very well for me.
1138815
Yes, the zoom and picture quality are great features to have when shooting sports photography. It also has a feature where the camera anticipates the photograph to eliminate blur. I've used it for basketball and bowling (in low-light conditions) and it works great.
460373
It's got good performance in the auto modes. While I haven't used the sports setting, I can say it's got plenty of shutter speed to stop action and good reproduction at ISO settings so you'll get good shots even in low light. The burst rate is good and the auto focus tracks reasonably well. It'll get the job done and you won't need to read more than the manual to get started.
1186139
It has great frame rates taking 4fps. The action setting makes shooting sporting events really easy I use it all the time for swim meets and my pictures turn out great. Make sure you look at the white balance for the indoor stadiums and other highly lit events so you don't use a flash and wash out your subjects.
1044866
The camera is very good but I have never tried it with sports. I use it only for domestic photos. Regarding the lens pack I felt it was useful for me.
1547553
I don't take a lot of sports photos but I find that on my 40D it focuses quickly and produces sharp images. With the wide aperture, you should be able to use a faster shutter speed, which would help stop the action. So I would think this would be a good lens for sports if you were close. If not, then your 70-200 mm would be better.
1694407
Hello. Unfortunately, neither of these will be very good for soccer. It is not a question of zoom, so much as response time. These types of cameras have to clear the sensor before they capture a shot, so none of them are going to be great for sports. They can work ok, but you're likely to miss "the moment". If that is acceptible, try the SX200 (or one of the new Lumix models with the super fast auto focus might be a bit better). But for best results shooting sports, you'd want something that didn't have to clear the sensor, like a DSLR (Canon Rebel, Nikon D40, etc.) Or if you want a small hybrid, you could consider the Lumix GF1, but they aren't cheap.
795054
This lens is great for bright daylight sport photography. Although it is a constant aperture F4 lens, it may not be fast enough (i.e. collect enough light to keep your shutter speed high) to be able to stop sports motion. Also the image stabilizer will not help you to stop motion, it is only designed to prevent camera shake which it does well. Keep in mind the other comparable lens is the significantly more expensive EF 70-200 2.8L but it is 1 stop faster (i.e. doubles your shutter speed or you can lower your ISO). So it is possible to take good sports photography with this lens but you'll need to crank up your ISO but 1 stop more than you normally would with a F2.8 lens. This is especially true with the newer camera sensors where you can crank up the ISO without much of a noise penalty.
32229
I have no complaints. There is a mode setting for fast action which sets a relatively higher ISO speed and opens up the F stop to maximize the shutter speed. And of course, if you halfway depress the shutter, it virtually eliminates shutter lag.
877873
The sx260 doesn't have shutter lag but it has picture lag. This it's where it takes a little too long to wait between repetitive shots
224454
this camera is GREAT for any and everything!! i've taken some great sports pictures with the lens it came with, but i'm sure it would be even better with a special lens. also, it really depends on the amount of light; if there's lots of light, no problem!! it's trickier the less light there is. the camera is amazing. i couldn't be happier with it in any way!! good luck!!
2236369
I do have this camera, and I have taken it to arena football games which have a lot of movement. I got GREAT pictures. It does not have image stabilization, but you can easily take shots of moving objects by adjusting the PASM levels and modes on the camera. Such as your shutter speeds, lighting, etc. As for dark area pictures, I took pictures of my dog in the dark and it looks like I took the picture in a well lit room. Just use your flash when you take photos in the dark, whether it is inside, or outside. As for the video, for a little camera, the sound and quality are impressive. JJ
28834
there is a lag time of about three seconds, great camera though. My favorite feature is that you can turn the flash ON, even on bright sunny days.
247343
I've been using it for about a year to shoot several weddings. The only sport like activity I have recorded has been related to running. The camera performs very well when recording in 60fps. The camera is lightweight and very sturdy. The one downside may be the lcd screen that is tucked away within the handle. It may be difficult to pull it in and out during sporting events. However, it should be fine if you leave it out. One thing I might add is that the camera isn't always amazing in low light. I would still recommend this camera over all others at the price range!
623352
i wouldn't recommend it for any sport photography,because it's wide angle and because it's manual focus. i would rather get a telephotolens
394706
Hello. Unfortunately, neither of these will be very good for soccer. It is not a question of zoom, so much as response time. These types of cameras have to clear the sensor before they capture a shot, so none of them are going to be great for sports. They can work ok, but you're likely to miss "the moment". If that is acceptible, try the SX200 (or one of the new Lumix models with the super fast auto focus might be a bit better). But for best results shooting sports, you'd want something that didn't have to clear the sensor, like a DSLR (Canon Rebel, Nikon D40, etc.) Or if you want a small hybrid, you could consider the Lumix GF1, but they aren't cheap. Hello. Unfortunately, neither of these will be very good for soccer. It is not a question of zoom, so much as response time. These types of cameras have to clear the sensor before they capture a shot, so none of them are going to be great for sports. They can work ok, but you're likely to miss "the moment". If that is acceptible, try the SX200 (or one of the new Lumix models with the super fast auto focus might be a bit better). But for best results shooting sports, you'd want something that didn't have to clear the sensor, like a DSLR (Canon Rebel, Nikon D40, etc.) Or if you want... » Read More Hello. Unfortunately, neither of these will be very good for soccer. It is not a question of zoom, so much as response time. These types of cameras have to clear the sensor before they capture a shot, so none of them are going to be great for sports. They can work ok, but you're likely to miss "the moment". If that is acceptible, try the SX200 (or one of the new Lumix models with the super fast auto focus might be a bit better). But for best results shooting sports, you'd want something that didn't have to clear the sensor, like a DSLR (Canon Rebel, Nikon D40, etc.) Or if you want a small hybrid, you could consider the Lumix GF1, but they aren't cheap. « Show Less