Panasonic DMC FZ5

imbsysop wrote:
[]

Like many cameras today, the FZ5 offers both a simple point-and-shoot
mode, and full control with aperture-priority, shutter priority, and full
manual control. Its shape and image stabilised long zoom would suggest
that it's pointed towards the more serious photographer, though,

On a very quick and informal comparison, I would have said that degree of
sharpening on the Pansonic FZ5 was "about the same" as that on the Nikon
Coolpix 8400.

Cheers,
David

 

Don't they all work like this? The Canon Powershot S1 IS works
the same way, if my memory serves me well, and even the S2 IS.

Hans-Georg

 

"David J Taylor"

So would you recommend it over the new Canon S2 IS ? and if so an what
arguments ... I'm interested
The latest review for the S2 (at dpreview) and the comparison with the FZ5
is not very conclusive IMHO ..

 

imbsysop wrote:
[]

I think that's probably fair comment. I know that the FZ5 works well and
can produce good results. I wish it had a swivel LCD. The movie mode
doesn't bother me that much. I would prefer a camera in black, and one
which takes a single battery instead of multiple AA cells. If I were
buying today, the Canon would definitely be in the picture, but its size,
weight and colour would count slightly against it. Would the swivel LCD
compensate for the things I don't want? I'd have to try both cameras in
the shop!

Cheers,
David

 

thnx .. this nicely fits my personal views at the moment ..
unfortunately most European shops (all?) are not very keen on
customers that walk in & ask for an intensive "test" of cameras, any
camera actually :-( .. a "buy before you try" actually

 

PS a swivel LCD is a luxury that is a very big "loss" once one is used
to have one

 

Yes, I would agree. Originally, my wife wanted a camera to supplement her
Nikon Coolpix 990, so AA batteries and CF cards were on the feature list.
The Canon S1 would have met those requirements, but at only 3MP it offered
nothing extra in the way of resolution over the 990, so she went for the
FZ20, accepting the SD cards and Li-ion battery. She's quite happy with
the batteries, but the lack of the swivel finder on the FZ5 (compared to
the swivel body of the Nikon 990) is a significant drawback.

Cheers,
David

 

imbsysop wrote:
[]

Jessops in the UK sometimes allow this. Everything must be returned "as
new" with software unopened.

I was thinking of just trying the shop demo models in the shop, though.
Perhaps with gloves on if taking photos under the more extreme weather
conditions is important. See if there are any obvious handling
differences.

Cheers,
David

 

thnx .. maybe they're even more picky about this on the continent
oh well .. one can only give it a try