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advice on Panasonic FZ30 ...

  • 11-07-2008 04:06PM
    #1
    forbairt
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,594 ✭✭✭


    Background:
    I'm interested in photography have your run of the mill olympus point and click camera and am quite happy.

    I've wanted to get a dSLR for a while but the price is a factor (and how much I'll use it)

    I've a chance to buy said camera (Panasonic FZ30) secondhand from a mate for €230. (its 2 years old)

    I know the camera would be in good nick and there are no issues with it.

    What would peoples opinions be. Should I go for it ?
    Now I can go read all the rave reviews about it ... or the newer cameras but as an intro to dSLR cameras at a price that seems right to me would it be good ?

    Thanks for any advice,
    James

    Edit: The lens with it would be a Leica 12x Optical zoom lens with Mega Optical Image Stabilisation


Comments

  • #2
    Saggitarius
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 167 ✭✭Saggitarius


    forbairt wrote: »
    Background:
    I'm interested in photography have your run of the mill olympus point and click camera and am quite happy.

    I've wanted to get a dSLR for a while but the price is a factor (and how much I'll use it)

    I've a chance to buy said camera (Panasonic FZ30) secondhand from a mate for €230. (its 2 years old)

    I know the camera would be in good nick and there are no issues with it.

    What would peoples opinions be. Should I go for it ?
    Now I can go read all the rave reviews about it ... or the newer cameras but as an intro to dSLR cameras at a price that seems right to me would it be good ?

    Thanks for any advice,
    James

    Edit: The lens with it would be a Leica 12x Optical zoom lens with Mega Optical Image Stabilisation


    I think enough only once to if you try a dSLR then you don't want more a P&S camera. Leica make good quality optics BUT so big zoom working only with compromisses! Yes of course at normally light you can do "good" pictures but try in a normal room or a bit darken place without flash! I'm also had a good kind of bridge camera a Sony DSC-F828 with all manual zoom and Zeiss lens. In whole camera the lens was the best and the uniq laser hologram focus assist.
    The image stabilisation not a wizzard, only a small help, one stop more you have also not to much, better if you have a tripod or monopod. And the last: I think so not to much expensiver a second hand dSRL, like THIS new, on Ebay "buy it now" priced.


  • #3
    fguihen
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 669 ✭✭✭fguihen


    i used to have the panasonic FZ7 ( smaller version of the fz30) and it was/is a great camera. remember its not a dslr though. its all about what you want.

    the fz30 has a huge zoom which although versatile, wont be as good as a dslr with 2-3 lens to cover the same zoom range. theres a reason why dslrs use 2-3 lens to cover the 18-300 range, because doing it in one lens is quite a compromise on image quality ( quite a bit of distortion in images)

    Also the sensor is smaller so more prone to noise at higher ISO values.

    This camera has quite a bit going for it also.
    smaller sensor make it much better for macro work( with a close up lens) than a dslr with a 300mm lens with a close up lens. trust me on this, i have come nowhere near the quality of the macro i took with the panasonic at 300mm, and im using a dslr at 300mm. to equal or better it il have to buy a dedicated macro lens for 300-400 quid!

    also, with a dslr you will have to carry a few lens's at all times to get the focal range of this camera. if your one to leave/forget lens's at home all the time you could miss out on good shots. its better to have caught the shot on a moderate lens at 300, than not have the image at all with a tack sharp 55m m lens.

    also, the distortion from the panasonic is not that bad. nothing photoshop cant fix. there is quite a bit of purrple fringing at times, but you can learn to deal with that.


    this camera also has a focus ring like on a dslr which is a godsend.

    so, decide do you want to carry around a bag of lens's at all times to get the 18-300 focal range, if not, this is a terrific compromise. i would happily use one of these again if i had to get rid of the dslr.


  • #4
    Saggitarius
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 167 ✭✭Saggitarius


    fguihen wrote: »

    so, decide do you want to carry around a bag of lens's at all times to get the 18-300 focal range, if not, this is a terrific compromise.


    For this reason use many nontechnical hobby photographer the P&S cameras and over the time discover why use many non prof. a dSLR.


  • #5
    forbairt
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,594 ✭✭✭forbairt


    fguihen wrote: »
    i used to have the panasonic FZ7 ( smaller version of the fz30) and it was/is a great camera. remember its not a dslr though. its all about what you want.

    Cheers for that fguihen ... I'm obviously showing my lack of knowledge here in all things camera.
    fguihen wrote: »
    so, decide do you want to carry around a bag of lens's at all times to get the 18-300 focal range, if not, this is a terrific compromise. i would happily use one of these again if i had to get rid of the dslr.

    I basically want something that works ... that has a lack of extras I've got to bring around ... apart from maybe a spare battery pack which I'll look into.

    I read through some of the reviews on the grainyness / noise of the camera at different ISO levels ... (not fully understanding .. so more reading to do) .. and well I'd hope I'm fairly decent with photoshop :D (though having read one or two tutorials on photo touch ups there a hell of a lot more for me to know)

    Guess I'll pick it up monday from my friend if its still available :)

    Cheers for the help / review,
    James


  • #6
    Saggitarius
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 167 ✭✭Saggitarius


    forbairt wrote: »
    Cheers for that fguihen ... I'm obviously showing my lack of knowledge here in all things camera.



    I basically want something that works ... that has a lack of extras I've got to bring around ... apart from maybe a spare battery pack which I'll look into.

    I read through some of the reviews on the grainyness / noise of the camera at different ISO levels ... (not fully understanding .. so more reading to do) .. and well I'd hope I'm fairly decent with photoshop :D (though having read one or two tutorials on photo touch ups there a hell of a lot more for me to know)

    Guess I'll pick it up monday from my friend if its still available :)

    Cheers for the help / review,
    James

    The ISO levels thing simplest than you think. This ISO absolute same as you find on a normal photo film. Check it out. An usually film density (ISO level) are 100 or 200 sometimes 50 only. A 400 ASA film is rarely used 'cos have visible grain. Also ISO and ASA are same. If interest you HERE a link about this.
    All camera what have smaller than APS-C size picture sensor -without any exception- are noisly, doesn't matter is a cheap or expensive. Thats is physic. HERE about the image sensor sizes.


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  • #7
    forbairt
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,594 ✭✭✭forbairt


    Cheers for that Saggitarius :)


  • #8
    Saggitarius
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 167 ✭✭Saggitarius


    I'm ready to help everybody, giving advice, any knowledge and experience what I have but I'm not a professional, only a not too young amateur photo fun.:D


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