Panasonic -12x Zoom - FZ20 results

[Steve]

Hi all,

I have had chance to take a good number of photos with my recently acquired Panasonic FZ-20 camera now, so I thought I'd share a couple of thoughts on it...

The lens still seems amazing, and this is a 'for instance' below...

The Whitehouse isn't all that close is it:






..but the Leica lens on the Panasonic FZ-20 allows for this photo of President Bush to be taken:







Another example is this one...






..with the lens on the FZ20 producing this image below...



So, personally I'm still very impressed with the FZ-20 camera.

Everything above was of course taken with the camera handheld. These small examples have been crushed down quite a lot so as not to make this message too large. They mainly show the distance/telephoto effects more than image quality.

Anyone wanting a reasonable review of the camera could try this one: http://www.steves-digicams.com/2004_reviews/fz20.html


All the best,

Steve

[Daveo]

Those pics are soo clear!! especially the polar bear one, wish I had that camera!!

Daveo

[Steve]

Originally posted by Daveo
Those pics are soo clear!! especially the polar bear one, wish I had that camera!!

The strange thing is that it isn't an expensive camera.

Some here have paid amounts such as 5 times as much for their cameras plus lenses etc. Even with thousands spent few seem to have setups that could match the 12x lens performance of the FZ-20.

I don't know of these folks but I found them with a price search: http://www.cameras2u.com/products/de...20BB&refer=klk

...and they claim stock and next day delivery at under £360.

A 2nd battery and a good size SD card or two are the only other things ideally needed....well assuming the buyer has a bag to put it in.

A tripod to try with it may be an idea.

I have bought a light tripod to try with it and I have the external release cable on order, costs £16.36 including delivery and VAT... when they get some stock.

I'm looking forward to trying it with the tripod and cable etc.

I'm not suggesting this is the right camera for others but mainly just saying how pleased I am with it. Sanjay here seems very pleased with his FZ-10 too doesn't he.

Steve

[Daveo]

Looks very good indeed, if I get into this photography more then I may well need a better camera but at the moment im happy with my F700

I really need to read the manual too and get the most from it

Daveo

edit how weird to have taken a picture of P. Bush like that!!

[Steve]

Originally posted by Daveo
Looks very good indeed, if I get into this photography more then I may well need a better camera but at the moment im happy with my F700

I have my F700 in front of me and I have hundreds of photos on here from it, I think you have a great small camera there.

Your camera also produces very good video, and one of many examples on expert is this one: http://www.ukexpert.co.uk/photopost/...php?photo=4601

I really need to read the manual too and get the most from it

I don't think I ever went to that extreme... Just in auto or video mode those cameras seem to give very good results... the only tricks seem to be the normal ones, to try and keep the camera totally still, and to take lots of photos so you can select out the best to keep/share.

Bright days help of course.

edit how weird to have taken a picture of P. Bush like that!!

To have one day in Washington and get that shot is unusual I'm sure.

One of my aims in buying the FZ-20 was to get photos of people like Blair and Bush as I mentioned here a while back....the lens makes that more likely.

Some of my American relatives were saying to me that they have never seen the President.

On my last visit to Washington I took this photo of Vice President Al Gore:





That was thanks to ukexpert member Jim McNulty, who got us all into a very special event.

Steve

[Daveo]

O yeah im really happy with the camera so far it does everything I need and much more, as u can see with the shots I've done and thats with no special tweaking! Still it would be nice to amaze friends and family by going all technical on them

Daveo

[Steve]

Originally posted by Daveo
O yeah im really happy with the camera so far it does everything I need and much more, as u can see with the shots I've done and thats with no special tweaking! Still it would be nice to amaze friends and family by going all technical on them

The most meaningful way to impress them is probably by telling them the URL of your members area here, and telling them to go see your photos. ie...

http://www.ukexpert.co.uk/photopost/...500&ppuser=364

Relatives and friends anywhere anytime being able to see what you are doing and photographing is one of the big plus sides of this system.

Steve

[BadBoy_Remixed]

I really do like your camera steve, and maybe i should think about it as my fuji, is starting to cough and splutter, which is really kickin me in the theeth when it come to wanting to carry on taking pictures so maybe a better cam will perk thing's up


Lee

[Walter]

I really do like your camera steve, and maybe i should think about it as my fuji, is starting to cough and splutter, which is really kickin me in the theeth when it come to wanting to carry on taking pictures so maybe a better cam will perk thing's up


Lee

I bought my FZ20 from cameras2u.com £359.99 Inc VAT and 3 day shipping, next day shipping + £7.95, they used City Link. They also have an extra 2 years warranty if required for £45 making 3 year’s total.

I phoned them before I ordered as I had a couple of queries and I found them very helpful.

I looked at a lot of cases but I ended up buying a nice Samsonite case from Jessops.

I am very pleased with it and as soon as my mouth swelling subsides I will start using it.

[Steve]

I bought my FZ20 from cameras2u.com £359.99 Inc VAT and 3 day shipping.

I am very pleased with it and as soon as my mouth swelling subsides I will start using it.

You do know that is the first time you have told everyone you've bought an FZ20....so you kept that rather quiet for a while there.

I'm not sure how many here have them or variants of them now, three or four so far I guess.

I'd expect you to have some questions about it, and add ons for it etc... do fire away here if you have.

It is ideal for things like yesterday, where Nelson Mandella was speaking in Trafalgar Square.... it could mean really clear good photos of him from anywhere in the square if you could find a way to keep the camera totally still, resting it on something or using a tripod etc.

This is also the first time you have mentioned being unwell, sorry to hear that, any particular cause/problem?

Steve

[Walter]

You do know that is the first time you have told everyone you've bought an FZ20....so you kept that rather quiet for a while there.

I'd expect you to have some questions about it, and add ons for it etc... do fire away here if you have.

It is ideal for things like yesterday, where Nelson Mandella was speaking in Trafalgar Square.... it could mean really clear good photos of him from anywhere in the square if you could find a way to keep the camera totally still, resting it on something or using a tripod etc.

This is also the first time you have mentioned being unwell, sorry to hear that, any particular cause/problem?

Steve

It was not intentional to keep quiet but I have been getting very tired and the mouth swelling, it is not pain full and I guess it is just a virus that will pass in time.

I have been useing the time experimation with the settings which will help me to get used to all the settings.

I do have a spare battery pack for it, I think I will invest in a new tripod as the one that I have is large ( 60cm closed) and is very heavy to carry around. Has any one any suggestions as to which tripod to look at, it needs to be light and the closed size less that 26 cm?

[Walter]

I think I will invest in a new tripod as the one that I have is large ( 60cm closed) and is very heavy to carry around. Has any one any suggestions as to which tripod to look at, it needs to be light and the closed size less that 26 cm?

I have been looking at smaller and lighter tripods this after noon and the ones that I have seen that are smaller closed and lighter are too flimsy, I have even looked at Velbon which were the best in my old 35mm days of 30 odd years ago.

Perhaps some one will suggest a tripod.

As for add ons the only add on that I may look at is a remote shutter control.

[Steve]

Walter,

I got an Antler leather case for mine, from PC World. Love that, very good.

Got a spare battery from Panasonic via their online store.

Got the cable release eventually there too...at first they seemed not to stock it in the UK and I tried to buy one via Sanjay in Hong Kong even, but eventually the UK listed it and even though they took a month to then get it in stock I got one in the end, and it seems to work fine.

I got a cheap £10 light tripod in the USA, at Radio Shack, seems fine, and Alice carried it round all day at Albuquerque Zoo on her shoulder, but we didn't actually use it. That's where I took that photo you asked about the other day by the way.

Got the SD cards for it from Dabs one way or another.

That's about it I guess.

I would see your Dr about that health problem, you never know what things are and it may need treatment or something.

Steve

[Walter]

Walter,
Got the cable release eventually there too...at first they seemed not to stock it in the UK and I tried to buy one via Sanjay in Hong Kong even, but eventually the UK listed it and even though they took a month to then get it in stock I got one in the end, and it seems to work fine.

I got a cheap £10 light tripod in the USA, at Radio Shack, seems fine, and Alice carried it round all day at Albuquerque Zoo on her shoulder, but we didn't actually use it. That's where I took that photo you asked about the other day by the way.

I would see your Dr about that health problem, you never know what things are and it may need treatment or something.

Steve

Panasonic web are quoteing end of March for the release.

What is the UK Radio Shack called?

Get a opointment with my doc you have got to be jokeing!

There used to be four doctors but two doctors left the surgery, and we have been told they will not be replaced.

There is another doctor's surgery in the area but they are not taking on new paitients

[Steve]

Walter,

Radio shack were something like Tandy in the UK weren't they, but they closed down. I think almost any photo supplies shop will have better tripods than the one I bought anyway.

I'd order your release now then, or you may not get one from that batch and it could be the end of the year for the lot after that etc. Sadly their system sends you an email every single day saying it is not yet in stock, so you'll probably get about 60 emails from them before you get it.

All Drs seem to mess about like that, don't let it bother you. You aren't well, so I'd call and make an appointment, you may really need it like crazy by the time it comes around...and if you don't you can cancel it well before it is due so someone else can have it. I'd make sure you tell them what it is for.

Steve