[aka_Gilo]

I am in the market for a new camera (upgrading from Canon A80) and am looking for a superzoom "bridge" camera.

Having played with my shortlist in a local shop I am pretty much settled on the Panasonic FZ50. It felt by far the nicest to handle and I really like the manual zoom and focus rings on the barrel.

However every review I've read on it, and other Panasonic models, mentions the issue of noise, and from the sample pics posted I can see what they mean. My question is, would the average amateur photograper such as myself really find this a problem, to the extent of regetting buying this camera? Most of my photos are viewed on my 19" lcd monitor, or 32" lcd TV, prints are unlikely to be bigger than A4.

Any advice before I shell out the cash appreciated.

[rickus]

hiya m8, going same way as you,noise prob put me off the fz50 so am looking at the canon s3 is and various reviews gave it as slightly better on noise levels.All the shops around here haven,t got one in to handle.On you,re travels ,did you handle one,if so whats it like!! Rick.

[aka_Gilo]

Hi rickus

Yep, I've played with a couple of S3's and it's a great camera, it's a very close second on my list behind the Panasonic. The main difference is the S3 is much smaller and lighter, if it was going to be my only camera I'd probably go for it for that reason, but as we have another couple of small point and shoot digicams in the house I can justify the size of the FZ50.

Cheapest I have seen the S3 at is about £250 and at that price it looks like a great buy.

[rickus]

Thanks aka gilo,jessops said they would price match at that price for me,I think thats the one for me.P.S went into currys today to look at panasonics and after waiting 10 mins a chap came over ,I asked to see the z7 ,he handed me the display one,I tried to switch it on but the batteries where not working.I told him this,and he just shrugged his shoulders and did not offer to change them ,I just walked out of the shop.:-[.Rick.Thanks again.

[beachy]

Originally Posted by rickus

P.S went into currys today to look at panasonics and after waiting 10 mins a chap came over ,I asked to see the z7 ,he handed me the display one,I tried to switch it on but the batteries where not working.I told him this,and he just shrugged his shoulders and did not offer to change them ,I just walked out of the shop.:-[.Rick.Thanks again.

typical of some of the muppets who work in these high street stores, i had a similar situation some time back in currys,just a case of can't be bothered.

regarding the FZ50, i just can't see why panasonic just can't sort this noise issue out, i had the FZ20 and while it was a great camera, the noise issue was a problem at high ISO, panasonic have known about it for sometime now, as every review of there cameras mentions the noise issue, it just makes me wonder is it another case of can't be bothered !

[toadoftoadhall]

if noise is really an issue for you, you have to go for DSLR.
I am just selling a Minolta A2 8Mpixie camera just because of noise. Perfect camera apart from that. Up to 200iso its fine, but after that forget it. Many people just use a noise program, but thats not the point, it shouldnt be there. Would rather camera companies sort this out rather than bunging as many pixies they can in a box at all costs.

toad

[rickus]

I like a bigger camera.(big mits) so the fz50 would have been better for me,not meaning to go above iso 200 ,but you never know do you.I would really like to go slr,had lots of 35mm olmpusys but can,t afford that road,even if you pick up a bargain you always want "just one more lens,piece of equipment." so I have decided to stick with a bridge camera.apologies to aka gilo for discussion on you,re string,come on you guys,what about that noise issue for aka,(and me :-]) Rick

[aka_Gilo]

rickus - no worries mate.

I'm the same, a DSLR would be nice but can't afford it and I know I'd end up maxing my credit cards out on different lenses etc so it's not an option for me at the mo. I also really want the flip-out lcd, I use this a lot on my Canon A80 for taking low level pics of the kids etc. For now a bridge camera suits my needs perfectly, if in a few years I've really got into serious photography I'll try and find the cash for a DSLR.

Replies to this and the same post on another forum have lead me to decide the FZ50 is for me.

Anyways, assuming my local camera shop (Bristol Cameras - great prices) has the delivery of FZ50's in tomorrow as they are expecting I'll be in there to buy one I'll report back when I've had a proper play with it over the weekend.

[rickus]

Originally Posted by aka_Gilo

rickus - no worries mate.

I'm the same, a DSLR would be nice but can't afford it and I know I'd end up maxing my credit cards out on different lenses etc so it's not an option for me at the mo. I also really want the flip-out lcd, I use this a lot on my Canon A80 for taking low level pics of the kids etc. For now a bridge camera suits my needs perfectly, if in a few years I've really got into serious photography I'll try and find the cash for a DSLR.

Replies to this and the same post on another forum have lead me to decide the FZ50 is for me.

Anyways, assuming my local camera shop (Bristol Cameras - great prices) has the delivery of FZ50's in tomorrow as they are expecting I'll be in there to buy one I'll report back when I've had a proper play with it over the weekend.

Hi m8 is you,re cam shop price matching,?? just got a call from jessops to say my canon s3 is is in ,they are doing it at lowest u.k website price. Funny enough ,I am getting the canon partly because of the flip out screen,you can reverse it with screen hidden when you stow it away as well,(I,m ham fisted so thats a big plus) anyway m8 all the best and thanks,happy snaping.

[JayCee]

Originally Posted by rickus

I am getting the canon partly because of the flip out screen,you can reverse it with screen hidden when you stow it away as well,(I,m ham fisted so thats a big plus)

You can do that with the FZ50 as well.

[aka_Gilo]

Originally Posted by rickus

Hi m8 is you,re cam shop price matching,?? just got a call from jessops to say my canon s3 is is in ,they are doing it at lowest u.k website price. Funny enough ,I am getting the canon partly because of the flip out screen,you can reverse it with screen hidden when you stow it away as well,(I,m ham fisted so thats a big plus) anyway m8 all the best and thanks,happy snaping.

Nice one, let us know how you get on with it.

I picked up my FZ50 today, ended up getting it from Jacobs in Bristol who were the same as the lowest internet price I could find, very few places in Bristol have the FZ50 in stock, and one other that did could only get within £40 of my best price.

Just waiting for the battery to charge up and I can have a play!

[jetjohnson]

For me it's a (relatively) straight choice between a used Canon 300D with lens....or a used 10D body (I've already got a few EOS Lenses from my 35mm days)

.....or a new Panasonic F50 ...no lenses to lug around and I won't be printing anything above A4

The best internet price I've seen the panny for is £350 (ish) inc P+P
reckon Jessops would match that?

So in a nutshell .....used Canon DSLR or a new Panny?

Any thoughts appreciated....

[rickus]

Originally Posted by jetjohnson

For me it's a (relatively) straight choice between a used Canon 300D with lens....or a used 10D body (I've already got a few EOS Lenses from my 35mm days)

.....or a new Panasonic F50 ...no lenses to lug around and I won't be printing anything above A4

The best internet price I've seen the panny for is £350 (ish) inc P+P
reckon Jessops would match that?

So in a nutshell .....used Canon DSLR or a new Panny?

Any thoughts appreciated....

If you get it at jessops m8 they will pricematch but you have to be persistent, then when they agree,drop the bombshell and tell them you have seen on the web that jessops also nock off 10% on top of that,they mite quible but I got mine. aka ,got the s3 is today £218 yeh,yeh.

[aka_Gilo]

Bristol Cameras http://www.bristolcameras.co.uk/ do the FZ50 for £355.00 & £10 p&p, or as mentioned, I got mine in my local Jacobs http://www.jacobsdigital.co.uk/content.php for £355.00 (ignore their web prices and phone, they're a lot cheaper).

rickus - that's a brilliant price, cheapest I saw the S3 for when I was thinking about one was £238.00

Havn't had a chance to have a proper play with my FZ50 yet, I took a few self-portraits while watching the TV last night when my wife was out, but that's it!

[rickus]

Originally Posted by aka_Gilo

Bristol Cameras http://www.bristolcameras.co.uk/ do the FZ50 for £355.00 & £10 p&p, or as mentioned, I got mine in my local Jacobs http://www.jacobsdigital.co.uk/content.php for £355.00 (ignore their web prices and phone, they're a lot cheaper).

rickus - that's a brilliant price, cheapest I saw the S3 for when I was thinking about one was £238.00

Havn't had a chance to have a proper play with my FZ50 yet, I took a few self-portraits while watching the TV last night when my wife was out, but that's it!

Dare not take self portaits old mate, only just got it,don,t want to claim on warrentyto soon, I think the wife,s are going to feel left out in the next few weeks m8 .

[aka_Gilo]

Agreed!

[Pirate!!]

ALL Panasonics suffer with 'noise' . . it's a trait of theirs due to the sensor size. Solution . . run via noise reduction software . . sorted.

It's nothing to concern yourself about . . really. I have an old FZ3 that still knocks out a half decent image after processing.

[bodoman]

Originally Posted by Pirate!!

ALL Panasonics suffer with 'noise' . . it's a trait of theirs due to the sensor size. Solution . . run via noise reduction software . . sorted.

It's nothing to concern yourself about . . really. I have an old FZ3 that still knocks out a half decent image after processing.

Pirate, you seem to be the man when it comes to noise and Panasonics, and you allay a lot of members fears when it becomes a dominant factor in deciding whether to buy on not to buy.

From what i have read on camera reviews it appears that every digital camera suffers from noise, so if they all do, is it always going to be there anyway.
Also it mainly seems to only become an issue when shooting with an ISO of over 400, i had a film SLR for years and never once bought a film with a higher ISO than 400, in fact the majority of my films were ISO 100 or 200.

So maybe, before making it deal breaking issue when choosing a digital camera, we should ask ourselves if when we was using film cameras, what ISO film we used on a regular basis, i suspect not many snappers ever bought a film over 400 ISO.

So are we all getting paranoid about noise and should we lay in bed at night worrying about it , or should we just go to the pub and forget all about it.

[gus607]

Just bought a Panasonic Lumix LX2. Superb results up to ISO 400. Not gone any higher, quite happy with that.

[bodoman]

Originally Posted by gus607

Just bought a Panasonic Lumix LX2. Superb results up to ISO 400. Not gone any higher, quite happy with that.

Off to the pub you go then

[rickus]

Originally Posted by bodoman

Pirate, you seem to be the man when it comes to noise and Panasonics, and you allay a lot of members fears when it becomes a dominant factor in deciding whether to buy on not to buy.

From what i have read on camera reviews it appears that every digital camera suffers from noise, so if they all do, is it always going to be there anyway.
Also it mainly seems to only become an issue when shooting with an ISO of over 400, i had a film SLR for years and never once bought a film with a higher ISO than 400, in fact the majority of my films were ISO 100 or 200.

So maybe, before making it deal breaking issue when choosing a digital camera, we should ask ourselves if when we was using film cameras, what ISO film we used on a regular basis, i suspect not many snappers ever bought a film over 400 ISO.

So are we all getting paranoid about noise and should we lay in bed at night worrying about it , or should we just go to the pub and forget all about it.

can you compare film iso 400 with digital iso 400 ? newbie to digital,got canons3is.Rick

[Pirate!!]

Originally Posted by bodoman

Pirate, you seem to be the man when it comes to noise and Panasonics, and you allay a lot of members fears when it becomes a dominant factor in deciding whether to buy on not to buy.

Originally Posted by bodoman

From what I have read on camera reviews it appears that every digital camera suffers from noise, so if they all do, is it always going to be there anyway.

Also it mainly seems to only become an issue when shooting with an ISO of over 400, I had a film SLR for years and never once bought a film with a higher ISO than 400, in fact the majority of my films were ISO 100 or 200.

So maybe, before making it deal breaking issue when choosing a digital camera, we should ask ourselves if when we was using film cameras, what ISO film we used on a regular basis, I suspect not many snappers ever bought a film over 400 ISO.

So are we all getting paranoid about noise and should we lay in bed at night worrying about it , or should we just go to the pub and forget all about it.

Personally, I've never taken an image at a higher ISO than 200 (and that was just an odd one). I usually have my FZ3 set at ISO 80/100 or Auto depending on conditions.

The beauty is that with the live view (in M,A or S modes), you can adjust aperture and shutter speed and see the results on screen. I've not researched into the FZ50 as far as the sensor make and size is concerned, but I believe the 'noise' issue is still there but to a lesser degree. Pop down the pub.

I have a dSLR as well. It's just 'normal' these days to run images via noise reduction software as a matter of course. Results may vary depending of what you use, but at the end of the day irrespective of 'noise' there will be colour variations from camera to camera.

There is (IMHO) no definitive answer. The FZ series have an abundance of features which I would love on my dSLR, so therein lies the trade-off. I love my little FZ3 which still takes a decent image with a fraction of the Mp of more up-to-date models. Bottom line is that it's the person taking the photo that is the big difference, but that said, if there was one camera in a particular price range that was the best of the best . . we'd all have one.

[bodoman]

Originally Posted by rickus

can you compare film iso 400 with digital iso 400 ? newbie to digital,got canons3is.Rick

i have always been under the impression that the values are the same, cant see why the wouldnt be, unless someone knows different

[rickus]

Originally Posted by bodoman

i have always been under the impression that the values are the same, cant see why the wouldnt be, unless someone knows different

cheers bodoman,was an old slr man but newish to digital.Now you watch,I bet some-one comes back with "nonsence,you lot know nothing"

[senu]

With film I also never used ISO more than 400. but It was with film i learnt the meaning of "bulb" and the use of a light meter to determine just how long the shutter would need to be open before the exposure was right

I also found that the wonderful tonal range transparency film gave was tempered by poor tolerance to shoddy exposure.
I also got to learn to live with "grain"

Im not advocating getting careless with digital but it does (IMHO) give a lot more scope with experimenting with value's ( ISO shutter speed : and exposure times) in an inexpensive way in the way film never could. And the results are instantaneously review able

Originally Posted by bodoman

i have always been under the impression that the values are the same, cant see why the wouldnt be, unless someone knows different

I don't know different but
I'm not sure the ISO values can be compared directly as
With film : same ISO speed exposed identically did not result in the same image because individual films had "character"
Similarly an Image taken with ISO 100 on 2 different digital cameras ( or DSLRs) with same exposure time and aperture may be more dissimilar than similar Noise, notwithstanding

The newer Cameras with better noise profile at high ISO are rightly making the end user ask why this is not the norm as using Higher ISOs allow more creative use of available light without needing to sacrifice IQ. I don't use noise reduction software routinely as there is often no need to: Canons CMOS sensors do a great job a lot of the time. Noise reduction can soften an image and remove fine detail +noise in which case Id rather keep the noise.
The last time I needed noise reduction majorly was from a CD of images scanned from film ISO 400