Which one of these cameras?

[KK]

I'm looking for a camera that can take decent pictures zoomed in. The Canon SX10 has 20x zoom, the FZ28 has 18x and the TZ5 is 10x. Benefits to the Canon is 20x, and the hot shoe. the benefit to the FZ28 is the 720p video recording and lower price(~260). The benefit to the TZ5 is even lower prices(~220) and the smaller package. Cons I can see to the canon is more expensive, and it doesn't record video in 720p. Cons to the FZ28, no hot shoe, or no external flash capability. Cons for the TZ5 is the 10x only zoom. Now those are the physical pros and cons I can tell, some are minor some are more important. How are the photos coming out of these cameras at the different zoom levels, and how is the focusing out at the higher zoom levels. Which one will perform better under indoor/lowlight conditions? Anybody have any input.

 

[996GT2]

All 3 will have similar image quality, so you don't need to worry about that.

As for the hot shoe on the Canon, how often do you really think you will use an external flash? For most point and shoot users, the built in flash is fine, and even low end external flashes (like the Canon 220EX) are relatively expensive at $120+. Higher end models like a 580EX can easily cost more than the cameras you are considering.

Personally, I would pick the FZ28 if size wasn't really a factor, and the TZ5 if I wanted something that was still semi-pocketable. I like the FZ28 for its cheaper price, 720P video recording, and superior continuous shooting (the Canon only does 1.4 FPS).

The FZ28 has the advantage of slightly more wide angle coverage, although it gives up a little in telephoto coverage (486 vs 560mm). However, I really don't think you will notice the difference between 486 and 560mm much at all.

You can use this tool here to compare what a picture would look like at various focal lengths.

http://www.tamron.com/lenses/l...-length-comparison.php

 

[KK]

yeah, I have a sunpak 544 flash which I was thinking of using, but the canon I noticed didn't have the pc synch ability. I'm sure they make an attachment to make it go to the hot shoe but I probably wouldn't use it much. I went ahead with the tz5 as it appeared to be the same camera as the fz28 only smaller and with less zoom. and by your link, the 280mm vs 480mm wasn't that big of a difference to warrant the bigger size.

 

[LS21]

check out noise on the panasonic. i have panasonic FX-series and it is quite noisy compared to comparable canons. i generally like it though

 

[996GT2]

Originally posted by: LS21
check out noise on the panasonic. i have panasonic FX-series and it is quite noisy compared to comparable canons. i generally like it though

The older Panasonics (prior to the Venus IV image processor) were known to have noise issues and way too strong NR, but Panasonic has come a long way with Venus IV, and is on par with Canon in the noise department (even beating Canon in some cases now).

 

[KK]

I hope it isn't too noisy, I like to take nature pics and wouldn't want to disturb anything.



Hopefully I'll get it tomorrow to try out. Picked up a transcend 16GB SDHC card along with a lowepro rezo 30 case.

 

[Miklebud]

Originally posted by: 996GT2

Originally posted by: LS21
check out noise on the panasonic. i have panasonic FX-series and it is quite noisy compared to comparable canons. i generally like it though

The older Panasonics (prior to the Venus IV image processor) were known to have noise issues and way too strong NR, but Panasonic has come a long way with Venus IV, and is on par with Canon in the noise department (even beating Canon in some cases now).

I think the FZ28 is damn quiet. I just got one yesterday for Xmas, and it's very quiet. Minimal noise when zooming in. And a very faint click when I take a picture. I'm very happy with it! I love the zoom and the HD video! I just have to read up on how to take advantage of all the bells and whistles!

 

[ivan2]

Originally posted by: KK
I hope it isn't too noisy, I like to take nature pics and wouldn't want to disturb anything.



Hopefully I'll get it tomorrow to try out. Picked up a transcend 16GB SDHC card along with a lowepro rezo 30 case.

by "noise" he mean the artifacts that exist in the picture when using high ISO...

edit: ok i see there might be 2 conversations about real noise and image noise going on here, might want to clarify a bit people?

 

[davestar]

Originally posted by: ivan2

Originally posted by: KK
I hope it isn't too noisy, I like to take nature pics and wouldn't want to disturb anything.



Hopefully I'll get it tomorrow to try out. Picked up a transcend 16GB SDHC card along with a lowepro rezo 30 case.

by "noise" he mean the artifacts that exist in the picture when using high ISO...

edit: ok i see there might be 2 conversations about real noise and image noise going on here, might want to clarify a bit people?

dude, it was a bad joke...

 

[Miklebud]

Originally posted by: ivan2

Originally posted by: KK
I hope it isn't too noisy, I like to take nature pics and wouldn't want to disturb anything.



Hopefully I'll get it tomorrow to try out. Picked up a transcend 16GB SDHC card along with a lowepro rezo 30 case.

by "noise" he mean the artifacts that exist in the picture when using high ISO...

edit: ok i see there might be 2 conversations about real noise and image noise going on here, might want to clarify a bit people?

No, you're right. The two of us misunderstood what he meant by "noise". It is audibly very quiet! But, he was talking about image noise, woops. Yes, I will vouch for the noise in higher ISO shots. But at 100iso it's actually pretty sharp!

 

[LS21]

Originally posted by: 996GT2

Originally posted by: LS21
check out noise on the panasonic. i have panasonic FX-series and it is quite noisy compared to comparable canons. i generally like it though

The older Panasonics (prior to the Venus IV image processor) were known to have noise issues and way too strong NR, but Panasonic has come a long way with Venus IV, and is on par with Canon in the noise department (even beating Canon in some cases now).

although this is what ive heard, i have the venus 4 on my fx-35 and the noise is definitely visible across ISO range compared directly to a SD1100IS. in fact it is even quite visible at ISO100. I set max on 400 and refuse to shoot further.

now if someone could combine the speed of canon elphs, with wide angle and build quality of panasonic, and the high-iso performance of fuji, that would be awesome

 

[quackagator]

I have a Panny fz28. Heres some shots I took Sat
http://picasaweb.google.com/quackagator/RiverRideDec08#

 

[996GT2]

Originally posted by: LS21

Originally posted by: 996GT2

Originally posted by: LS21
check out noise on the panasonic. i have panasonic FX-series and it is quite noisy compared to comparable canons. i generally like it though

The older Panasonics (prior to the Venus IV image processor) were known to have noise issues and way too strong NR, but Panasonic has come a long way with Venus IV, and is on par with Canon in the noise department (even beating Canon in some cases now).

although this is what ive heard, i have the venus 4 on my fx-35 and the noise is definitely visible across ISO range compared directly to a SD1100IS. in fact it is even quite visible at ISO100. I set max on 400 and refuse to shoot further.

now if someone could combine the speed of canon elphs, with wide angle and build quality of panasonic, and the high-iso performance of fuji, that would be awesome

The camera you are looking for is the Panasonic LX3

Review Here

 

[LS21]

Originally posted by: 996GT2

The camera you are looking for is the Panasonic LX3

Review Here

hot shoe. loosk like classic leica rangefinder. very dope. a little pricey for casual ps'ers though