[melliott1963]

Firstly of all, sorry if this is a long post.

I'm looking to purchase a new Bridge Camera to replace my ageing Minolta A1. I thought that I had more or less decided on the Canon S5 when, on reading further reviews, there was mention that the image quality is 'inconsistent'. Other reviews have been quite glowing so I don't know if it's one of those things that you may be lucky and get a camera that gives good results all the time, or you may get a rogue one that doesn't!

As a result, I've started looking at other cameras, in particular the Panasonic range. The FZ50 also gets good reviews and seems to have everything I want, but then I read about photos being noisy. I've also read about the new FZ18 which appeals to me because I'm used to have a lense start at 28mm (the S5 and FZ50 start at 35mm I think), but again, whilst it comes out very good, it too isn't perfect. One of the reviews states that you can say goodbye to seeing any blue skies in your photos because the camera suffers with regards to highlights. I'm off to Florida next year, and the last thing I want is for all my photos to have white skies!!!

Now I know that there isn't going to be a 100% perfect camera, but, bearing in mind how much these bridge cameras cost, surely the photos they produce can't be that bad? Is it more the case that the reviewers are being over picky? Can I forget about any 'noise' issues considering that 99% of the photos I keep are printed at 6x4?

So can people help me out please? My main requirements are:-

• An SLR'like' camera without the hassle of interchangeable lenses
• A decent zoom range, preferable starting at 28mm, but will manage with 35mm
• Good sharp photos with good colour reproduction, taking into account that 99% of the photos I keep will be printed at 6x4 with only a very few being enlarged to 10 x 8.
• The ability to shoot fully auto and all stages down to fully manual.
• I've found an auto exposure lock to be very useful in the past so would like one.
• Fast startup
• Fast autofocus in all or most lighting situations.
• Fast flash recycling
• Tilting/rotating LCD screen (which probably rules out the FZ18). Although if every other requirement is met, I can forgo this

I can afford any of the current bridge cameras, so cost doesn't come into the equation.

Reading other threads I suspect that the FZ50 is going to be the one recommended to me, but as the threads are now over 2 months old, people may have other opinions.

Of course, if there are any other cameras that I haven't thought about then I'd love to hear about them as I don't have any allegience to one particular make.

Thanks for any help.

[Pirate!!]

FZ50. End of lesson. Best in class. Sony R1 might be worth researching, but I think you'll find the FZ50 probably ticks most, if not all of your boxes.

[GarryF]

I'll throw a spanner in the work and say if money is no object how about a cheap SLR body with something like a Sigma 18-200, that would give you 35mm equivalent of 28.8 to 320

Then you get SLR performance without changing lenses

[melliott1963]

Originally Posted by GarryF

I'll throw a spanner in the work and say if money is no object how about a cheap SLR body with something like a Sigma 18-200, that would give you 35mm equivalent of 28.8 to 320

Then you get SLR performance without changing lenses

I didn't say that money was no object, but that I can afford any of the curent range of bridge cameras so cost didn't come into the equation, which is slightly different.

I had been toying with maybe going back to an SLR (I used to be heavily into photography and had all the kit(pre digital)), but with 2 young children, we have enough stuff to carry around without the extra bulk of an SLR. But in addition, even going for a 'cheap' body and large lense, I'm not sure I could justify the extra expense, especially as I'm also looking at replacing my camcorder with a High Def model, but that's another story!

Can someone confirm that noise isn't going to be an issue when printing at 6x4, only when viewing it at full resoultion on a computer screen or big enlargement?

[Dennis Leighton]

I bought a Panasonic FZ50 in July on the recommendation of Pirate and others on this forum and am delighted with it. It is a wonderful camera to use and the results are excellent, so much so , I went out and bought another for my wife

[GarryF]

Well I owned a G7 for 6 months and currently have the G9 as well, noise won't be an issue on any camera if you keep the iso low, as soon as you dial it up you'll run into problems over 400-800, you can edit it with noiseware etc to improve things.

I got on quite well with a G7 on holiday, it has 35-210 zoom but I also got the x2 tele convertor which gives it same zoom as the S5, G9 would now be considered the best compact available but it doesn't have the long zoom you want and would cost £400 including the x2 tele which is almost double a S5 from amazon at 240 last time I looked

generally you'll find that these cameras are all pretty close, go into a canon forum and consensus is the S5 is best, go into panny forum and it's the other way around.

[melliott1963]

I must admit, the more I read about the FZ50, the more it seems to be a natural replacement for my Minolta A1. I do like the idea of a manual zoom ring which I've got on the A1. Not only does it save on the battery, but it's a lot more precise than using a button.

I see that you can buy a converter lense to get it to 28mm. Are they any good?

Also, if I did decide on the FZ50, is there any difference in the build quality between the black and the silver models i.e do they use different types of plastic? Although I'd probably go for the black as it's the more 'traditional' colour and looks more professional in my opinion!

[Dennis Leighton]

I bought a 55mm wide angle lens from ebay and found it satisfactory except when using flash (it cost , if I recall, something like £12!!). When flash is used the top part of the lens casts a shadow in the immediate foreground but this is very easily cloned out.

Here is an example, the first without the wide angle lens fitted and the second with.

[melliott1963]

Sorry, but I've just thought of another question with someone may or may not be able to help with.

From what I can see, the FZ50 has now been out for about a year and a half. I assume, therefore that the FZ60 (or whatever they're going to call it) must be well on it's way.

Has anyone heard if this is coming and if so, when?

As I don't need a new camera until next April, the last thing I want to do is rush out and buy one now, only to find out that a new 'improved' model comes out a few months later in time for my Florida trip.

Thanks.

[Pirate!!]

No . . and no! Check the Panny website and also the Panny forum on DPReview. If anyone's going to know, it's those guys.

Oh, and keeping up with the Jones's can be an expensive business. The FZ50 for now is pretty much as good as it gets. Panasonic though do not issue firmware updates, so if they want to improve something, new model release instead.

[melliott1963]

It's not really a case of "keeping up with the Jones's". As I said in my first post, ideally I'd like the camera lense to start at 28mm although I'd make do with 35mm if everything else ticked the right boxes. BUT, it would really peeve me if the next version of the FZ50 came out with a 28mm starting point AND in time for my Florida trip.

[Pirate!!]

35mm - 420mm isn't too shabby, though you can always screw on a wide angle adapter like an Olympus WCON-17 or similar, though do check the thread size first..

[GarryF]

Buy what you need now, only you can weight up how many pictures you will miss before April.

If you don't need the camera until April then get it then, it will be cheaper or replaced by then, technology changes fast with P&S.

[melliott1963]

Well I won't miss any shots before April as I've still got my Minolta A1, and if that breaks, a small Nikon Coolpix to fall back on.

I'm only looking now because once I decide I want something, I like to do a lot of homework beforehand, but then when I've made a decision I don't like to hang about. That's just me!

If I knew for certain there wasn't going to be a new model before April I'd seriously look at getting the camera sooner rather than later so that I've had plenty of time to play around with it.

The only problem with buying a wideangle adapter is that it then starts to become like an SLR, having to carry extra bits and bobs around, which I'd prefer not to do. I also guess that the result wouldn't be as good as having a 'native' 28mm lense.

[melliott1963]

Just thought I put this is case anyone else is interested. I emailed Panasonic about when any new models might be coming out and have got this reply:-

We launch a series of products throughout the year. The first of those products are to be introduced at our trade fair in the spring. We will not receive any further information regarding new releases until that time. You may wish to periodically check our website www.panasonic.co.uk as details will be added as soon as they are available.

Now whilst this is possibly a stock answer, assuming it's true, then it looks like any new version of the FZ50 won't be released in time for my trip in April.

I've downloaded some images (from Steve's digicams) and printed them off as I would if they were mine and was very impressed.

So that's it - will get the FZ50. Might wait until after Christmas when there should hopefully be some good offers. This will still give me a few months to 'play' before my trip.

Thanks everyone for all your help.

[Pirate!!]

Camerabox

emilyandlily on eBay.

[melliott1963]

Just thought I'd end this thread by saying that, having seen the fantastic price that Camerabox was selling the FZ50 for, I went and bought one earlier than I was intending to.

I have to say how impressed I am with the quality of the photos, especially indoor shots which are brilliantly exposed with good colours.

Thanks everyone for your help and advice.

[Pirate!!]

Enjoy it and post some images when you can.