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Anyone have information what Panasonic will be doing with this camera?

Panasonic rep at the Ottawa Photo show said that it will not be
discontinued but repriced lower in Jan-Fen 2008.

The salesman at Best Buy said that Panasonic told them it is to be
discontinued.

Anyone have the real story?

Lud

On Wed, 28 Nov 2007 06:11:30 -0800 (PST), Lud <> wrote:
> Anyone have information what Panasonic will be doing with this camera?
>
> Panasonic rep at the Ottawa Photo show said that it will not be
> discontinued but repriced lower in Jan-Fen 2008.
>
> The salesman at Best Buy said that Panasonic told them it is to be
> discontinued.
>
> Anyone have the real story?

I can guess: There's probably a 'FZ60' that will replace it sometime in
the next few months.

-dms

On Wed, 28 Nov 2007 06:11:30 -0800 (PST), Lud <> wrote
in <39678f40-d8d8-4ba6-8f31->:

>Anyone have information what Panasonic will be doing with this camera?
>
>Panasonic rep at the Ottawa Photo show said that it will not be
>discontinued but repriced lower in Jan-Fen 2008.
>
>The salesman at Best Buy said that Panasonic told them it is to be
>discontinued.
>
>Anyone have the real story?

Why would you not think a Panasonic rep would have the real story?
Why would believe a Best Buy salesdroid who has no clue and only cares
about trying to sell you something today?
Why would you think anyone here has the real story?

--
Best regards,
John Navas
Panasonic DMC-FZ8 (and several others)

"Lud" <> wrote in message
news:39678f40-d8d8-4ba6-8f31-...
> Anyone have information what Panasonic will be doing with this camera?
>
> Panasonic rep at the Ottawa Photo show said that it will not be
> discontinued but repriced lower in Jan-Fen 2008.
>
> The salesman at Best Buy said that Panasonic told them it is to be
> discontinued.
>
> Anyone have the real story?

Yes. I do. I can gaurantee that my FZ50 will continue to provide excellent
service regardless of what happens in February. And unless Panasonic
introduces a "drop-dead" upgrade, I'm keeping it.

Nobody really knows, and those that know can't tell.

They will probably replace it. And, if you keep up what they have done they
will cram more resolution on the tiny sensor and increase the crappy noise
reduction that the FZ50 has so you will have an instant painting maker.
Panasonic needs to increase the size the sensors and do a hell of a lot
better job on the noise reduction. The FZ30 was great, the FZ20 was great.
The FZ50 sucked.

The Spider

On Wed, 28 Nov 2007 18:09:32 -0800, "The Spider Formally Seated Next To
Little Miss Muffet" <> wrote in
<474e1f5e$0$36336$>:

>They will probably replace it. And, if you keep up what they have done they
>will cram more resolution on the tiny sensor and increase the crappy noise
>reduction that the FZ50 has so you will have an instant painting maker.
>Panasonic needs to increase the size the sensors and do a hell of a lot
>better job on the noise reduction. The FZ30 was great, the FZ20 was great.
>The FZ50 sucked.

You're entitled to your opinion, but many would disagree. Regardless,
continuing advances in technology may well improve both sensitivity and
resolution. The recent announcement from Kodak looks especially
promising.

--
Best regards,
John Navas
Panasonic DMC-FZ8 (and several others)

The Spider Formally Seated Next To Little Miss Muffet wrote:
> They will probably replace it. And, if you keep up what they have
> done they will cram more resolution on the tiny sensor and increase
> the crappy noise reduction that the FZ50 has so you will have an
> instant painting maker. Panasonic needs to increase the size the
> sensors and do a hell of a lot better job on the noise reduction. The
> FZ30 was great, the FZ20 was great. The FZ50 sucked.
>
> The Spider

So maybe a 6MP FZ60, with a slightly bigger sensor, but a similar
beautiful lens? And a swivel LCD? One can but dream....

David

"The Spider Formally Seated Next To Little Miss Muffet" <>
wrote in message news:474e1f5e$0$36336$...
> They will probably replace it. And, if you keep up what they have done
> they will cram more resolution on the tiny sensor and increase the crappy
> noise reduction that the FZ50 has so you will have an instant painting
> maker. Panasonic needs to increase the size the sensors and do a hell of a
> lot better job on the noise reduction. The FZ30 was great, the FZ20 was
> great. The FZ50 sucked.

Uh, I seem to get really nice results from mine. Granted, the smaller
sensors cannot match the larger sensors, but that doesn't mean that the FZ50
isn't capable of producing excellent results. It can.

Use what you like.

Thanks to those that tried to provide some enlightenment.

I am aware of the limitations of the small sensor (it is not THE
smallest) and the problem of the Venus noise reduction shortcomings.
Unfortunately the FZ50 is the only digcam that I can find that
provides a good 10+ zoom with image stabilization, a largish small
sensor, a swing out LCD display and will provide RAW output. I DO NOT
want an SLR - yes I know they do produce a much better image. It's my
choice at this time. Currently I have a Canon S80 and I enjoy using it
- it's sensor is the same size as FZ50.

If anyone knows of another model that will do my requirements, I would
love to hear about it. The only similar ones are from Canon or Fuji
and they don't meet ALL my criteria above.

My reason for asking, I am waiting to see if Panasonic will improve it
and reduce the price in Canada - if they will discontinue it then I
don't want to miss buying.

On Thu, 29 Nov 2007 12:22:49 -0800 (PST), Lud <> wrote
in <22d2126d-945a-4be4-b857->:

>Thanks to those that tried to provide some enlightenment.
>
>I am aware of the limitations of the small sensor (it is not THE
>smallest) and the problem of the Venus noise reduction shortcomings.
>Unfortunately the FZ50 is the only digcam that I can find that
>provides a good 10+ zoom with image stabilization, a largish small
>sensor, a swing out LCD display and will provide RAW output. I DO NOT
>want an SLR - yes I know they do produce a much better image. ...

Not necessarily. The FZ50 can produce excellent output, particularly if
you use RAW with appropriate post-processing (e.g., Neat Image for
amazingly good noise reduction).

--
Best regards,
John Navas
Panasonic DMC-FZ8 (and several others)