Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ5 opinions please!!

branners69

Hi,

I am looking for advice on the above, from the reviews I have read it seems to be highly recommended. But I was wondering what the shutter lag is like?? And if current owners would recommend one. I want a camera for general use holidays, family pics at xmas etc.

Finally if anyone has another model I should know about please let me know!!

Many thanx,

Branners

donncha

It's a great camera! When I don't want to drag around my Canon 20D it's what I shoot with. Here's some examples:
http://inphotos.org/2005/11/05/man-in-the-hat/
http://inphotos.org/2005/10/15/the-bride-and-groom/
http://blogs.linux.ie/xeer/2005/09/08/fun-lovin-pictures/
http://blogs.linux.ie/xeer/2005/07/18/pontius-pilot-and-the-nail-drivers-old-oak/
http://blogs.linux.ie/xeer/2005/04/19/panasonic-lumix-dmc-fz5/

It's a great camera, image stabilizer is good, but manual controls are a bit fiddly. Nothing to worry about if you never use them and tbh, I usually shoot in P mode on it anyway. 12x zoom is great!
There are better cameras out there, as the FZ5 is getting on a bit now, but I'll still recommend it.

branners69

donncha wrote:

It's a great camera! When I don't want to drag around my Canon 20D it's what I shoot with. Here's some examples:
http://inphotos.org/2005/11/05/man-in-the-hat/
http://inphotos.org/2005/10/15/the-bride-and-groom/
http://blogs.linux.ie/xeer/2005/09/08/fun-lovin-pictures/
http://blogs.linux.ie/xeer/2005/07/18/pontius-pilot-and-the-nail-drivers-old-oak/
http://blogs.linux.ie/xeer/2005/04/19/panasonic-lumix-dmc-fz5/

It's a great camera, image stabilizer is good, but manual controls are a bit fiddly. Nothing to worry about if you never use them and tbh, I usually shoot in P mode on it anyway. 12x zoom is great!
There are better cameras out there, as the FZ5 is getting on a bit now, but I'll still recommend it.

Thanx for the reply!!

Would I be better going for the FZ30?? I have anywhere up to €800 to splash on this but dont want to buy over my needs!! Or when you say there are better cameras out there what should I be looking at?? I didnt realise the FX5 was that old so I might have a look on ebay for one!!

BTW I love you night photos ( http://inphotos.org/category/night/ ) I take it you used you 20D for those??

Thanx again for the reply, I really appreciate it!!

donncha

Take a look at http://dpreview.com/ and find their camera comparision page. It's a great place to start looking at cameras. I'm impressed with the controls on Sony cameras. They're well designed and the old 717 was *very* accessible. That was a dream to use.

Those night images were taken with the Canon 20D but the FZ5 could have taken similar images, although not quite as wide.

branners69

donncha wrote:

Take a look at http://dpreview.com/ and find their camera comparision page. It's a great place to start looking at cameras. I'm impressed with the controls on Sony cameras. They're well designed and the old 717 was *very* accessible. That was a dream to use.

Those night images were taken with the Canon 20D but the FZ5 could have taken similar images, although not quite as wide.

The reviews on dpreview are excellent!! It gives a good review of the FZ5 so I reckon it will do what I want and its priced reasonably enough too and from your pics its spot on there aswell..

Thanx a million for the advice!!