I currently have a Panasonic Lumix FZ-20 with 12x lens, and would like any comments about this camera. I mainly bought it because of the lens, but would also like to know your opinions on the good, bad, and the ugly about digital cameras. What features do Digital SLR's have over this or a similar camera. Thx
Okay, I'll take a crack at this one. First, the Panasonic Lumix FZ-20 looks like a very nice pro-sumer camera. It has a nice lens and a reasonable file size for fairly large prints. I am a big proponent of having this kind of camera in your kit so that you always have something usable with you for grab shots. Right now I have a Canon Digital Elph that satisfies that need for times when I don't want to lug my DSLR kit around. The 12X magnification and image stablilization on your camera is exceptional.
When you make the leap to a DSLR, you are not just buying a camera. Well, you could buy something like a Digital Rebel with a kit lens and stop there, but you would be denying yourself the advantages of buying into a camera system. Going with a DSLR opens you up to a world of general purpose and specialty lenses, flash units, programmable releases, remote flash controls and other system components that all work with each other. I, for example, have two Canon bodies and a dozen Canon lenses, flashes, remote, etc. Each lens has a purpose and though other lens might do a reasonable job for a lens' specification, none can do as well as the chosen lens. Does that make sense? Let me say it differently. The lens that does extroidinarily well from macro/close up situations to wide angle to 12X magnification has yet to be built. To get optimal performance for each application and each band along the focal range requires that you have a component lens optimized for that application.
Photographers are artists. Our SLR/DSLR/MF/LF kits are our "brushes". An acryllic medium artist could surely create some pleasing art with a few tubes of paint and one brush, but how much better could the work be with a full pallet of color and many, many brushes? Our tools set us free.
Hi Joe - DSLR's are completely digital, hence no film. I'm not familiar with your current camera, but with a DSLR you will have the same advantages you currently enjoy plus much more flexibility and growth potential. Kelly's analogy of paint with and withour a full gamut of paint is excellent. When you start looking for another camera system do your research and homework and buy wisely. Look at the entire system - body, lenses, tripod, et al. Buy smartly in the beginning and you won't have to trade up all the time.
I'm not too familiar with the Panasonic Lumix FZ-20 but looked it up on the web and really can't see anything inherently "wrong" with the camera. It's my philosophy to match a camera with the owners intentions for output. Looks to me like the camera you have should do fine for many situations and smaller resolution prints or web posts. If you'd like to upgrade to a DSLR you may possibly increase the camera resolution or sharpness by adding more megapixels. Also, having a smaller spread of lens zoom ranges may increase the overall sharpness of your results generally and across the entire frame at certain focal distances. Theoretically, this could make a more pleasing presentation for larger sized prints and possibly for some web presentations. It is easy to get pulled into more or very expensive camera options. A different camera won't make a better photographer of a person. Though I own some equipment that I consider decent, much of it I got by "bottom fishing" on eBay and uses 20 or 30 year old film technology. In most instances it's ok. There are some things I would like to do better with. If you are getting the results you desire from what you have then that's fine. If not, then what would you like to improve, and what type of equipment would allow those improvements. I'm no gear expert, but that's my humble take on things.
Thanks Roger. I have a variety of gear with the Lumix 5.1 MP-- External Flash, 3x zoom lens, UV/POL/FLO Filters, and additional batteries. I absolutely love the 12x zoom lens.
The Shutter Speed ranges from 1/2000 - 8 seconds
The Aperture ranges from 2.8 - 8.0
I have found out that you are exactly correct-- it's not the camera, but the person taking the pictures. I also have discovered lighting and using manual settings is the answer, as well as using some sort of support, like a monopod or tripod. Thanks Again!
Joe,
You mentioned that the aperture range on your camera is from 2.8 to 8.0. That's one of the really big changes when going to a DSLR; you' be able to get a much wider range of apertures. A DSLR is basically just a digital version of all those 35 mm film cameras, and in fact, many of those old Nikon and Canon lenses will work on the DSLRs. so you're able to get an aperture of f16 or f22 or f 28, depending on the lens. As you have found out, going with manual settings is the way to go. A DSLR just gives you more. One thing I noticed about my DSLR versus my old Olympus and Minolta digitals is that there is definitely a difference in the sensors. If you ever seem to get "noise" in areas of photos like the sky; that's one thing that really improves with a DSLR. It'll just give you more; more f-stop range, more pixels(probably), and lots more ways to spend money!!!!
Joe, at this stage I would suggest you concentrate on technique rather than equipment. Your camera is very capable and you may wnt to spend some time making sure you're tapping it to its full potential.
From looking at the specs, I can see that it has a TIFF capture mode which you will likely want to use. More importantly - digital capture implies digital post-processing. If you don't already have Photoshop or other full featured editing program - I would suggest it will be your next purchase rather than more gear. The processing learning curve is likely steeper than the camera's and you need to be proficient in both to create maximize your control over the final image.
"Joe,
You mentioned that the aperture range on your camera is from 2.8 to 8.0. That's one of the really big changes when going to a DSLR; you' be able to get a much wider range of apertures........"
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Hi Anne,
Just for clarification - the relatively tiny sensors on most fixed lens digicams including the FZ20 change the entire situation for "aperture" settings. F8 on this camera is essentially equivalent to F32 on a full frame DSLR for practical purposes such as depth of field. The biggest issue with the smaller sensors is getting short depth of field for portraits, etc., because they tend to pur everything in focus except at the largest aperture settings.
I'm a long time user of the FZ10, FZ20 and FZ30 and they are great little cameras with wonderful image stabilization and excellent image quality within a limited range of ISO. One of the major improvements Joe will see is as you say, lower noise with higher ISO settings. Another very BIG improvement will be the ability to focus under low ambient lighting. Even though the FZ 20 maintains it's large aperture for nearly the entire zoom range, it still hunts badly in low light for focus lock. Most any of my dSLR's (seven in all) with about any lens of similar aperture will easily lock focus where my FZ20 is still "trying"......
Discussion
8 repliesWhen you make the leap to a DSLR, you are not just buying a camera. Well, you could buy something like a Digital Rebel with a kit lens and stop there, but you would be denying yourself the advantages of buying into a camera system. Going with a DSLR opens you up to a world of general purpose and specialty lenses, flash units, programmable releases, remote flash controls and other system components that all work with each other. I, for example, have two Canon bodies and a dozen Canon lenses, flashes, remote, etc. Each lens has a purpose and though other lens might do a reasonable job for a lens' specification, none can do as well as the chosen lens. Does that make sense? Let me say it differently. The lens that does extroidinarily well from macro/close up situations to wide angle to 12X magnification has yet to be built. To get optimal performance for each application and each band along the focal range requires that you have a component lens optimized for that application.
Photographers are artists. Our SLR/DSLR/MF/LF kits are our "brushes". An acryllic medium artist could surely create some pleasing art with a few tubes of paint and one brush, but how much better could the work be with a full pallet of color and many, many brushes? Our tools set us free.
The Shutter Speed ranges from 1/2000 - 8 seconds
The Aperture ranges from 2.8 - 8.0
I have found out that you are exactly correct-- it's not the camera, but the person taking the pictures. I also have discovered lighting and using manual settings is the answer, as well as using some sort of support, like a monopod or tripod. Thanks Again!
You mentioned that the aperture range on your camera is from 2.8 to 8.0. That's one of the really big changes when going to a DSLR; you' be able to get a much wider range of apertures. A DSLR is basically just a digital version of all those 35 mm film cameras, and in fact, many of those old Nikon and Canon lenses will work on the DSLRs. so you're able to get an aperture of f16 or f22 or f 28, depending on the lens. As you have found out, going with manual settings is the way to go. A DSLR just gives you more. One thing I noticed about my DSLR versus my old Olympus and Minolta digitals is that there is definitely a difference in the sensors. If you ever seem to get "noise" in areas of photos like the sky; that's one thing that really improves with a DSLR. It'll just give you more; more f-stop range, more pixels(probably), and lots more ways to spend money!!!!
From looking at the specs, I can see that it has a TIFF capture mode which you will likely want to use. More importantly - digital capture implies digital post-processing. If you don't already have Photoshop or other full featured editing program - I would suggest it will be your next purchase rather than more gear. The processing learning curve is likely steeper than the camera's and you need to be proficient in both to create maximize your control over the final image.
Guy
You mentioned that the aperture range on your camera is from 2.8 to 8.0. That's one of the really big changes when going to a DSLR; you' be able to get a much wider range of apertures........"
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Hi Anne,
Just for clarification - the relatively tiny sensors on most fixed lens digicams including the FZ20 change the entire situation for "aperture" settings. F8 on this camera is essentially equivalent to F32 on a full frame DSLR for practical purposes such as depth of field. The biggest issue with the smaller sensors is getting short depth of field for portraits, etc., because they tend to pur everything in focus except at the largest aperture settings.
I'm a long time user of the FZ10, FZ20 and FZ30 and they are great little cameras with wonderful image stabilization and excellent image quality within a limited range of ISO. One of the major improvements Joe will see is as you say, lower noise with higher ISO settings. Another very BIG improvement will be the ability to focus under low ambient lighting. Even though the FZ 20 maintains it's large aperture for nearly the entire zoom range, it still hunts badly in low light for focus lock. Most any of my dSLR's (seven in all) with about any lens of similar aperture will easily lock focus where my FZ20 is still "trying"......
Best regards,
Lin