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lovelost9
59 days ago
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What do you guys think of this camera?
It will sound absolutely foolish but I was watching the movie Twilight and I noticed one of the character's was using this camera and Iit really caught my eye. It's attractive for sure but I don't know much about it. What do you guys think? I'm thinking of getting a camera for my birthday in November and I like the look of this one.
http://boxwish.com/spots/view/2837
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panasonic_Lumix_DMC-FZ50
I haven't checked if Panasonic still carries it though...I always thought I'd go with a Cannon or Nikon (or even Fuji) but I like Panasonic's gadgets and assorted electornic devices so I may consider this camera too.
Can't wait to hear what you all think 
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Willtastic
59 days ago
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(obligatory: ewww, Twilight)
I'm actually surprised I didn't notice the camera when I watched it, I guess I was too busy talking.
It has a manual zoom lens, as in you twist it to zoom instead of a toggle switch, which to me is freakin awesome. My first serious camera was a Fuji S6000 which was another bridge with a manual zoom and it was so liberating not fooling around with a little dial that had preset places to zoom too. The sensor on the Panasonic isn't bad either, 1/1.8" is pretty large and while you can purchase larger it's still got a hefty size advantage.
Now here's the problem: It's not made anymore. It's a very old camera and because it's not made it costs nearly $1000 (and it was a pricy camera to begin with).
Panasonic does now have the DMC-FZ35/FZ38 but it's missing the manual zoom and has a much smaller sensor. I wouldn't touch it.
You might want to check out the Fuji S200EXR. It has the manual zoom, very large sensor, image stabilization, and huuge zoom range. It hasn't been reviewed by dpreview and it's very new but I'd throw a lot of faith behind it. Currently about $550 on Amazon, I think.
However, with the prices of bridge cameras as high they are (my bridge was only $225..) I'd just make the jump to a DSLR. You'll be so happy you did. You could even get a 4/3 DSLR so it's still nice and tiny.. a Panasonic DMC-G1 is $639 and no larger than these bridges you're looking at. Of course, if you're more interested in photo quality rather than camera size you can get a D40 or a Rebel XS. Both of those should be around 550 including lens. (D40 is actually $470 including lens)
But if huge size isn't your thing you can go for a G11, S90, or a Fuji compact with large sensor and still get great photos.
Obviously there's a lot of great options. Panasonic hasn't released anything really interesting recently so I have trouble suggesting them even though there's nothing wrong with them. Bottom line I'd say make a choice between compact, bridge, and SLR first. A compact is cheap, has little zoom, and pocketable. A bridge is large and has a huge amount of zoom. An SLR is large and will have low zoom (until you buy more lenses) but is the path to go for more serious photography. Whether or not Kristen Stewart has handled them shouldn't matter ;P
EDIT: By the way, my favorite brands for compacts are Fuji and Canon (Fuji if cheap, Canon if expensive) and my favorite SLRs are Nikon. Those are just personal preference that have developed over time and I'm sure you won't have any trouble at all finding someone to disagree.
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superdewa
58 days ago
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I know a lot of people who love their panasonics, and I know panasonics generally get good reviews. Other than that (and his review of the movie), listen to Will
I liked the movie -- it's one of the rare cases where I thought the movie was better than the book it was based on, and while I didn't love the book, I'm 40, and I know I would have loved it as a teen.
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ben-s
57 days ago
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Will's got all the important points, so read his post twice
Now that proper DSLRs are a more sensible price than they were 5/6 years ago, there's not so much reason to go for a bridge camera unless you really need the long zoom range in one lens.
Personally, I like Panasonic for video gear; their broadcast cameras are really nice machines, and extremely reliable in my experience, but I prefer Canon for stills.
If you want an SLR, Will's suggestions are sound. Compact wise, I'd heartily recommend the Canon G series. The new S90 also looks like it'll be well worth considering if you want a skinny little camera that punches far above it's weight.
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lovelost9
45 days ago
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Thanks Willtastic...it's a shame that they don't make that camera anymore. I love the aesthetics of it and I like that it was a manual zoom lens too.
What's the difference between a small and large sensor? And bridge is another way to refer to manual zoom cameras?
Yea I often wonder whether I should go for SLR or just go to DSLR and what the difference may be, since I'm not too tech savvy. I appreciate your advice there. Camera size is nice but photo quality is a MILLION times more important to me.
So compact cams are the portable digital cameras people use to snap photos? Bridges have manual features? And what differentiates an SLR from those and DSLRs?
"An SLR is large and will have low zoom (until you buy more lenses) but is the path to go for more serious photography."
- Yes, I definitely want to get serious about photography and handle a larger camera as well as a smaller one. People tend to discourage me from buying a bigger camera, they say "you'll never use it." But I want to take a couple classes and try out some of the projects and assignments from Photojojo and study what I can.
Lol, to the Kristen Stewart joke...I always notice the "gadgets"used in movies 
"By the way, my favorite brands for compacts are Fuji and Canon (Fuji if cheap, Canon if expensive) and my favorite SLRs are Nikon. Those are just personal preference that have developed over time and I'm sure you won't have any trouble at all finding someone to disagree."
Thank you for the tips, I'm in agreement about Fuji and Canon for a compact and I was always torn about whether to do Canon or Nikon for SLRs but I'm learning towards Nikon if simply because I lot of people seem to like them.
Thanks again, Willtastic!
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lovelost9
45 days ago
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Superdewa, I am in agreement about the movie...Twilight crossed my path when it first came out as a book and I made a mental note to check out the book. Never did get to read it and I forgot about until my sister's BF (which is soo funny because it's considered a chick flick and all) got the movie and made us watch it. I wasn't sure whether I would like it or not or how to summarize. Eventually I read the books (months after) and I think the concept is brilliant but the writing is so so, I supposem even so I was hooked and finished all four! Imagine if another writer had written the story?
I still like/respect Stephenie Meyer of course because she did something creative and I think she is brave for that.
Anyhow, considering that in retrospect I really like the movie it was atmospheric and did a good job recreating or improving on the books (depending on your opinion of the story)
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lovelost9
45 days ago
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Thanks to you too ben-s. You make a good point.
I actually don't know much about lenses and lense needs.
"there's not so much reason to go for a bridge camera unless you really need the long zoom range in one lens."
Since I still haven't decided what to get (and I will definitely re-read Willtastic's post! ) and I'm trying to learn all I can, can I ask, why would someone need a long zoom range in one lense? People don't do that anymore?
Thank you for the compact recommendation. I definitely want to get a compact along with an SLR or DSLR (whichever one of those two I end up getting, probably the latter) and I'm between a Canon (love the looks of theres and ability) and a Fuji as Will recommended too.
Now that you mention videogear that is another thing I want to get into too! I am leaning towards Panasonic or Sony and will make a new thread about this in the future, or later today even.
Thanks to everyone you are all so helpful and knowledgeable!
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tufteach
45 days ago
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I read the entire Twilight series. Rather immature for my tastes, but because my grand daughter and my daughter-in-law were reading them I did, as well. Have yet to see the movie, though. When I do I will look for that camera.
The good thing that came out of reading those books is they got be back into reading! At one time I was a voracious reader, but technology--computers mainly--took over my spare time. Since reading the Twilight series I have gotten back into that, "can't go to sleep without a good book" mode!
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Willtastic
45 days ago
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lovelost9 wrote:
Thanks Willtastic...it's a shame that they don't make that camera anymore. I love the aesthetics of it and I like that it was a manual zoom lens too. No problem, and yeah, I've seen lots of broken hearts over discontinued cameras 
What's the difference between a small and large sensor? To put it simply, the way a sensor works are they put little photodiodes on a chip. Each pixel is a separate little diode, so in a 10 megapixel camera you've got 10 million little diodes detecting light. However, sensors are often less than a square inch in size, so that's a square inch divided into 10 million little pieces.. obviously they're very tiny.
These diodes work better when they have more space. Larger diodes detect more light and emit less noise. Besides that, larger sensors also grant shallower depth of field because the light hits a larger surface. A larger sensor is one of the main differences between high end DSLRs and $100 compacts. To sum it up, large sensor = better at low light, less noise, and prettier blur.
And bridge is another way to refer to manual zoom cameras? No, sadly most bridges don't have manual zoom. Bridge just refers to anything that's larger than a compact and thus focuses on image quality over portability, but is not a DSLR with interchangeable lenses. It's called a bridge because it's sort of the halfway point between the two. They're honestly not very popular. Their main attractive feature is usually an insane amount of zoom range.
So compact cams are the portable digital cameras people use to snap photos? Bridges have manual features? And what differentiates an SLR from those and DSLRs? Yeah, compact cams are what you see most. Bridges are usually larger bodies with more features (including manual, yes) built around a compact sensor. SLRs/DSLRs (often the same thing, D stands for digital) are the ones with replaceable lenses and professional features.
- Yes, I definitely want to get serious about photography and handle a larger camera as well as a smaller one. People tend to discourage me from buying a bigger camera, they say "you'll never use it." But I want to take a couple classes and try out some of the projects and assignments from Photojojo and study what I can. Well, I don't know you so I can't say what you will or won't use, but it's definitely fun once you get into it and get motivated to take photos. A class will obviously motivate you, since photos are part of your assignments 
Lol, to the Kristen Stewart joke...I always notice the "gadgets"used in movies Same here, I notice phones a lot.
Thanks again, Willtastic! No problem
can I ask, why would someone need a long zoom range in one lense? People don't do that anymore? I could go really in depth into how focal multipliers work, but to be brief often DSLR users will have multiple lenses with different ranges of zoom for different situations. You might have a wide one for landscapes and group shots, a medium one for portraiture, and even a third one for sports and wildlife where you need that long telephoto zoom. It's a hassle to stop in the middle of a shoot and remove your lens and attach a different one, and even risky because you expose the internals of your camera and they're a pain to clean. Dust can fall in and then you've go to pull out the canned air and the brushes and stuff. Having all your zoom in one lens is a lot more convenient, but usually lower quality too.
By the way, for selecting a DSLR you might want to also read the first paragraph of my post here: http://photojojo.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=2259
The second and third paragraphs are more specific to her, but that first one is good advice for anyone deciding to buy a DSLR. You can listen to all the technological advice in the world, but sometimes it comes down to practicality.
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lovelost9
43 days ago
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Thanks again Willtastic
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ElectricDa
n
42 days ago
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I had a Lumix DMC-FZ30, great camera overall and took great shots-- except in low light. The sensor just wasn't sensitive enough. Had it for a little more than 3 years before outgrowing it. My son now has it and is very happy with it.
I moved up to the Nikon D-90. I haven't been this happy since gettin that BB gun under the Christmas tree so many years ago :-)
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IAmBroom
32 days ago
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lovelost9, I own a Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ50 (black), and just bought a new Canon SX10 IS. I don't know where Willtastic got his prices; I've never seen them for more than about $5-600, new or used (and I've looked recently). Talk to me, if you're interested.
As far as my impression of the camera goes, I loved everything about it except the noise levels at high ISO settings (low light levels); this is the fault of the small detector, as Willtastic so well described. (FWIW, I'm an optical engineer, and I couldn't have put it better.) The controls are easy to learn, intuitive for the most part, and easy to access one-handed. Prefocused, it has a pretty good response time (for a non-SLR; under a half-second), and can go full manual. All in all, I much prefer its controls to my new Canon.
The extreme zoom is really only useful for nature shots, but I do a lot of hiking, and catching the eagle in its nest sometimes takes a real zoom. For most "ground shots", I prefer a wider setting. Wide settings don't "sell" a camera ("Now with 1/4X!!!"), so cameras don't push the envelope that direction, unfortunately.
Take a look through almost any forum here. Telephoto shots are fairly rare. Landscapes, portraits, and up-close/macro shots are all at wider angles - they predominate.
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lovelost9
17 days ago
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Thank you IAMBroom and sorry I missed your reply I haven't been online in awhile, yes, that seems to be the deal with the Panasonic...the noise. Otherwise, many of the reviews seem to state that all it's other features or abilities are great.
Do you think I should look around for one, maybe on Ebay? I still haven't sat still long enough to research my camera choices put the Panasonic is one of them. I guess I'll have to dedicate some time to my search
Thanks again, I really appreciate your point of view.
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Willtastic
17 days ago
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IAmBroom wrote:
I don't know where Willtastic got his prices It was a while ago so I can't remember, but I'd guess I looked them up on Amazon. It's what I usually do
IAmBroom wrote:
The controls are easy to learn, intuitive for the most part, and easy to access one-handed. I want to emphasize the important of what he said here. Controls on a camera are incredibly important. Bad controls on a tool you use as much as a camera could be disastrous. Always do your best to try the controls on a camera (or a similar one) if possible.
Also what he said about wide being underrepresented is so true.
Also a note on what he said about high noise levels, if you're the type of person that usually only photographs things in bright daylight, things that sit still, or both then that's really a non-issue. Noise becomes the biggest issue when it's indoors and people are moving around because you need a high shutter speed to avoid blur. You also need high shutter speeds when you're using a lot of zoom, but from what I've seen people nearly always zoom in bright daylight (photo hikes, kids playing sports, etc) so it's not usually an issue.
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superdewa
17 days ago
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I feel, personally, like if I'm going to spend that kind of money on a camera, I don't want to have to reserve it for being outside on a sunny day.
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