Entry level DSLR beater ?

mjw123 · 20-07-2005, 1:07 PM

I know compacts get short shrift on here but this new model from Panni must give the entry level DSLR's something to worry about.......

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0507/05...sonic_fz30.asp

Any thoughts ? - a £550 it ain't gonna be cheap but it's a serious bit of kit. Personally the FZ20 will be fine for my requirements and I may upgrade to one now the new daddy is on the way.

mr jones · 20-07-2005, 1:45 PM

yes, but the reason alot of people buy DSLR's is the fact that your not stuck with a factory fitted lens, makng the camera rediculously versetile compared to a compact.

a lens that can fill anywhere between 35mm and 420mm simply cannot be as good throughout its range as a selection of interchangeable lenses. jack of all trades master of none etc. it might be a brilliant prosumer camera but a DSLR it isnt, so how it can beat a dslr at being a dslr i dont know.

either way looks like a damngood camera

technofan · 20-07-2005, 1:50 PM

I had an FZ20 and it was a great all-rounder, I did not get on very well with the EVF and it was a little too noisy above ISO 200. The new FZ30 looks like another winner to me

Image Stab is a great feature on these compacts...I wish ALL DSLRs came with internal image stab as standard....ultrasonic dust removal would be good too

dejongj · 20-07-2005, 1:53 PM

Don't think there is anything to be worried about...Life is too much fun to worry about compact (well it hardly is, isn't it...) versus dSLR...They do serve different purposes as already stated...Neither wrong or right, all depends on what you want...More choice is good I think...

MattB1 · 20-07-2005, 2:11 PM

Just read the preview. It looks excellent. This will definitely tempt me to upgrade if and when the price comes down.

technofan · 20-07-2005, 2:52 PM

Wow...looks like they have doubled the number of pixels in the EVF

This should make manual focus much more accurate as it was not easy to tell if the focus was spot on with the FZ20. Internal lens zooming and more pixels on a new swivel LCD!!! Viewfinder is now in line with the center of the lens!!

These are great improvements and this could prove to be all the camera anyone could hope for in a zoom compact. Well done Panasonic....MASSIVE improvements upon the current FZ range

mjw123 · 20-07-2005, 3:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr jones

it might be a brilliant prosumer camera but a DSLR it isnt, so how it can beat a dslr at being a dslr i dont know.

either way looks like a damngood camera

I think what i'm getting at is now the FZ30 has pushed the bar even higher with this incredible piece of kit. It really can do everything (and probably pretty well) - Macro, Wide, Long Zoom, fast, slow, long exposure, 8Mb, RAW, Incredible image stabilisation, Hotshoe etc.... Because of this fact I think the gap between this camera and the cheapest DSLR's is getting very small.

Would there really be a noticeable difference in picture quality ? - i'm not so sure.

Either way guys you've goota take your hat of to Panasonic for been bold enough to produce something like this - good effort !

Looking forward to seeing some results.

Guys - I'm not winding anyone up here but I would like to know your answers.....Why should a low end DSLR always produce better results than something like this - or should it at all ? Is it the case that in an average photographer the FZ30 would probably give better results but for someone who really knows their stuff they could get the extra quality from the low end DSLR ?

Johndm · 20-07-2005, 4:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mjw123

Guys - I'm not winding anyone up here but I would like to know your answers.....Why should a low end DSLR always produce better results than something like this - or should it at all ? Is it the case that in an average photographer the FZ30 would probably give better results but for someone who really knows their stuff they could get the extra quality from the low end DSLR ?

Not wishing to start another 'compact vs DSLR' war.....BUT

The DSLR 'should' still be better....better sensor, better glass, better processor, you actually see what you photographing etc etc.

Jack of all trades...master of none...

I know its a real pain to carry around a big bag full of lenses and accessories, and there will always be the size/weight/convenience debate, but I'd wager that armed with this new compact, I'd get far less 'keepers' or acceptances onto Airliners net than with my DSLR and lenses.

My main lens cost more than the camera... (300D, Canon 100-400L)

Thats what its all about...getting the best image into the camera to start with.

technofan · 20-07-2005, 4:20 PM

If the lens is good I think this will be an awesome camera...I'm not biaised either way...let the camera speak for itself!!

Peakoverload · 20-07-2005, 4:20 PM

Yeah, it's not all about resolution either.

A 6MP DSLR WILL produce better images than a 6MP compact. The reason for this is two fold.

1. Sensor size. The smaller the sensor the more prone to noise they are and compacts have smaller sensors then DSLR's

2. Resolution of the lens. I cant remember the figures off the top of my head but an SLR lens will resolve MANY more lines than a compact cameras lens ever could. Just take a look at the size of the front of the average SLR lens and compare it to the size of the front of the average compact lens. The SLR lens is much bigger, therefore more light coming in, therefore more lines of resolution being resolved onto the sensor, therefore more definition in the final image.

technofan · 20-07-2005, 4:25 PM

It's very easy to get into an argument over this so all i can say is...

I AM THE WORLDS BEST PHOTOGRAPHER....so there

(stands well back)

MattB1 · 20-07-2005, 4:28 PM

Surely it would depend on the quality of the lens. I wouldn't agree that necessarily to be the case with a cheap and nasty lens or even some of the DSLR kit lenses.

Agree about the sensor size BTW especially at higher ISO's.

Anyway, as technofan said lets not get into another argument.

mjw123 · 20-07-2005, 4:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peakoverload

2. Resolution of the lens..... Just take a look at the size of the front of the average SLR lens and compare it to the size of the front of the average compact lens. The SLR lens is much bigger, therefore more light coming in, therefore more lines of resolution being resolved onto the sensor, therefore more definition in the final image.

I wouldn't class this as an average compact lens though (see attachment)