[alfa] Re: Digital Cameras

[Ron Loewy <rloewy@xxxxxxxxxx>]

We have a Canon S10 we bought several years ago. I got it to document the 
process of restoring an old Honda CB350 - and it turned out to be an 
excellent investment for this purpose and for taking pictures of the kid to 
put on a web site for grandparents consumption. It was however slow, only 
2mp (limited size prints) and small optical zoom.

We have just bought a DMC-FZ10 for my wife's birthday and we have been 
trying to get used to it since. Here are some impressions:

1. The optics are very nice when you get the shot right - but so far we 
have a lot more problems getting "every shot" to be right - maybe it is 
because the camera has a lot more options and capabilities compared to the 
old Canon and I think the wife got some of the options wrong - the manual 
is not very clear. Time will tell. I assume that if you have a lot of 
experience with manual, high-quality 35mm cameras - you will be OK. When we 
get the images just right - they are stunning.

2. The camera is physically bigger than some other digital cameras 
available - which is a bit of a bummer. It is not as small as an Olympus 
C-750 or Canon G5 for example - but it does have the image stabilizer which 
is a bonus. By comparison - the old S10 is tiny and can easily be thrown in 
a small pocket of a bag. No so with the Panasonic. It is surprisingly light 
for such a big body - I think it could benefit from some extra weight - but 
this is a matter of personal preference.

3. Ergonomically, I am not crazy about the placement of the zoom and 
despite the camera's larger physical shape - it feels a little cramped for me.

4. The camera requires a lens cap - which can not be tethered to the camera 
- so I expect it to be lost sooner or later (I know the wife will do it 
sooner or later. I am always looking for lens caps for her cameras).

We still have 2 weeks before we need to return it if we decide not to keep 
it - but I think that we will keep it. We got a good photography book and 
Camera World (A Ritz cameras company - where we got it) offer a free 18 
class course as part of the deal - which we plan on taking to try and take 
advantage of the camera. I think that it has a lot of potential - and it is 
us that do not live up to what it can do.

Overall - I think that it is a great bargain for the money. I would go down 
to look at one and play with it at a store to see if it feels right for 
you. If not this, IMHO - the next step up is the Digital Rebel - but you 
are talking $999 entry fee here (or $899 if you already have the Canon lens).

Hope this helps, and good luck in your search.

Ron.

At 09:34 PM 12/21/2003, you wrote:

> Nope can't afford a top of the line Nikon (or?) but saw a notice in Time
> Mag. regarding the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ10 4-megapixel 12x optical-zoom
> (one review said this is equivalent to a 420 mm - 35 mm lens) camera
> with a Leica lens. Retail $600, street (at the moment $520+). It is
> apparently a still camcorder.
>
> What I really like is It Looks Like A Real Camera.
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