I have had a Panasonic Lumix &amp; I want more opt. zoom. I am wavering between FZ70 and LZ40. Other than zoom difference, any comments?
1054323
LZ40 is a stripped down super zoom camera without an electronic viewfinder. The FZ70 has an EVF and takes excellent images and video. The FZ70 operates like a dSLR in that you have a viewfinder which helps stabilize the camera. The LZ40 is closer to a compact camera and long zoom images will likely be blurred from motion unless you use a tripod. Get the FZ70 it's a much better camera for the money.
1580339
I would recommend to you Panasonic LUMIX G 20mm f/1.7 and even more Panasonic 25mm f/1.4 Leica DG Summilux - I use both for more than 5 years and they are excellent, sharp and fast. Nowadays, more fast lenses are coming but I don't have them so can't recommend.
968167
I liked my older model of the Panasonic Lumix - only thing - I dropped too many times and now it's not working and I really want to get a new camera - but am hesitant about another brand - I am hoping this is the one to get and the people that said the quality wasn't good - I'm hoping that they are wrong. If you print "zoomed" photos - they are usually not as good unless you have an SLR with a zoom lens. I figured that would be the case here.
1704461
I owned the LX3 and loved it! Took it to the UK and it took outstanding photos that I eventually published in a Shutterfly book. I was able to blow up portions of pictures and the resolution was still beautiful. Then my son wanted to trade me mine for his because he wanted the RAW capability of the camera. I missed it. Just recently ordered the LX5 after returning the G12. I take a lot of photos of grandchildren and the G12 was so-o-o slow and sluggish that I lost a lot of photos. Can't wait to see what the LX5 will do!
648520
The new lens is faster than the old one: f2.0-2.8You can have a fast lens with high quality and shorter range, which helps you avoid noisy high ISO settings and gives you more creative control, or you can have a slower zoom with longer zoom ratios. For the serious photographer that Panasonic is targeting with the LX3, the fast lens with real wide angle capability is very attractive. I have an LX2 and will replace it with an LX3 and the fast lens is one of the main reasons.
2009521
I'm a bit of a lens snob too, being a contax shooter. I bought the Lumix fz50 for my wife and it arrived yesterday, and let me tell you, it is fantastic; best digital camera I've ever held. We considered the nikon d80, but my wife preferred the LCD preview on the Lumix, and although it is easy to use, the manual options are versatile. FZ50 is not lighter than the nikon, but on the other hand, it has a 420mm Leica lens, so it does the job of two lenses.The price is incredibly low, I think because once you get out of the 300 dollar range, people think they need skip over to a DSLR. They're wrong! Lumix provides all you need with a Leica lens. I'm a bit of a lens snob too, being a contax shooter. I bought the Lumix fz50 for my wife and it arrived yesterday, and let me tell you, it is fantastic; best digital camera I've ever held. We considered the nikon d80, but my wife preferred the LCD preview on the Lumix, and although it is easy to use, the manual options are versatile. FZ50 is not lighter than the nikon, but on the other hand, it has a 420mm Leica lens, so it does the job of two lenses.The price is incredibly low, I think because once you get out of the 300 dollar range, people think they need skip over to a... » Read More I'm a bit of a lens snob too, being a contax shooter. I bought the Lumix fz50 for my wife and it arrived yesterday, and let me tell you, it is fantastic; best digital camera I've ever held. We considered the nikon d80, but my wife preferred the LCD preview on the Lumix, and although it is easy to use, the manual options are versatile. FZ50 is not lighter than the nikon, but on the other hand, it has a 420mm Leica lens, so it does the job of two lenses.The price is incredibly low, I think because once you get out of the 300 dollar range, people think they need skip over to a DSLR. They're wrong! Lumix provides all you need with a Leica lens. « Show Less
1306625
Donald,I've had the FZ40 2 weeks but haven't taken a bunch. Those I've examined in closeup are excellent. At least as, probably better than, the FZ28. I took some flower shots then zoomed in on computer. The petals are crystal clear.The 24x Zoom was my main reason (Wow!), but now I'm finding lots of extras -for instance Date Stamping individually and separately from original. Maybe the 28 did, too? All told I'm glad I got it. Great price, too.Will
440164
I had no trouble making the choice for the LX3. The only real advantage of the G10 is the zoom range, and even though my previous camera was a Panasonic DMC-TZ5, with a fantastic 10x zoom, I never used it. The f/2.0 lens and the dynamic black and white mode sold me. Now that I have it I absolutely love my LX3.
1721985
Thanks for the gory details. Its flaky metering, fumbling auto-focus and inexcusably slow (F:5.7@100mm) telephoto definitely knock the Canon SX10 off my list. What were the designers at Canon thinking? The FZ28 with its fat lens and RAW recording looks better and better.
825630
&gt;&gt;I didn't realize this camera was out there when I bought my FZ28! I notice that in the copy under the camera description, significantly more bought the FZ28K than the FZ50. Presumably the price is the reason, I suppose along with the 18x optical zoom.&lt;&lt; this one came out before the fz28, but at the time i only paid about $440 &gt;&gt;Many reviewers above said the FZ50 is "almost" a dslr - but many, many dslrs are considerably less expensive than the FZ50, which I think costs more now than when it came out....and I think I saw on the digital review site that the camera has been discontinued. &lt;&lt; i didn't know about it being discontinued so soon. it compares to a dslr in many ways. but the ISO settings are pretty noisy above ISO 400, whereas in good dslr's you can get good results up to ISO 3200. this is a very good review that gives all of its specs. http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/panasonicfz50/ here it is compared to the canon rebel XT where you can see the ISO 1600 on both cameras. the canon is better. http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/panasonicfz50/page17.asp &gt;&gt;The user photos for this camera are wonderful! I have a Canon Rebel XS, which cost quite a bit less than this camera, and an FZ28K....I'm now wondering if I should sell the FZ28 K, return the Canon, and get a used FZ50.&lt;&lt; yeah, i get better pictures than i ever have. &gt;&gt;What is it about this camera that makes it worth nearly a thousand dollars? &lt;&lt; i don't know. i don't understand. i haven't seen that happen with any other camera.
910058
Photofun123-I am in a similar situation. What did you decide on and what do you think of it? I will be getting a 50d and only one lens. My main subject will be my toddler. I am considering 24-70 and 24-105. Thanks.
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.
955459
I actually ended up w/ Pana ZS1. Got a deal from Costco and felt it suited me fine because I don't ever use the video. I like it better than Canon so far because I don't have to adjust it all the time for a decent shot.
821881
Leica v lux 30. Older model but should take the same quality photos. The 40 is amazing. I would think the 30 would be too except not as long a zoom
2234811
Yeah the biggest complaint for the SX200IS was the automatic flash every time. I'm gonna wait to see if that has been fixed in the SX210IS before I go ahead an order. Looks like a great improvement in every other area!I'm glad I held out on getting my super-zoom point and shoot! Within the last few weeks Nikon, Fujifilm, Canon, and Panasonic all announced their Spring 2010 models. There are some real good options out there!
1864519
Instead of the RX10, at $400 less with 400mm zoom verses 200mm with the RX10, and 4k video in which you can play back and get 8mp photos from, I would consider the Panasonic FZ1000 camera instead. It is coming out at the end of July and can be pre-ordered now.
1054322
a friend suggested the Fz70. He has a lot more experience than I do. I find it amazing! I can take hand held pictures of the moon and you can see all the craters and the mountains around the edges. Its a little slow for most of my work but Iif you want great close ups (I've taken images on pill bottles within an inch of the label) I don't think you can beat it even if you wanted to pay a lot more.