FZ3 vs. FZ20, which to buy?

I got home about an hour ago from CircuitCity and have a brand new FZ20 sitting on the table still unopened..., wondering if I should go back to get the FZ3? Is that f2.8 a big advantage even over what the FZ20 offers? If anybody could explain the plusses and minuses of each, would help me to decide. Would picture quality be any better with the FZ20? This is my first Panasonic and I need some insight.
Thanks.

Both the FZ 3 and FZ20 have constant aperture 35 to 420 Leica F2.8 lenses. Can you tell the difference in an 8 x 10 ??? Wish I knew. I am sure we'll have guesses...but to really KNOW! We need someone who'll try out both cameras side by side creating 8 X 10's under totally identical conditions. Volunteers????

Why not also consider the FZ15. Nightowl.com will have them the end of September for $419 plus $8 shipping???

I've seen fine 8X10s from 2MP (older) Panasonics, they're plenty sharp. The differences you'll see with the FZ20 is a little more zoom (432mm vs 420mm), a little less wideangle (36mm vs 35mm), obviously smaller size. The FZ20 gives you two things the FZ3 doesn't: a manual focus ring, and a hot shoe for external flash. (Oh, and of course there's that extra 2 megapixels) At present, it will be easier to buy third-party addon accessories for the FZ20, since its sizes are compatible with old FZ10 sizes, and that's not the case for the FZ3, yet. As a stand-alone camera, I'd bet you'd have a lot of fun with either one.
--
Just let a smile be your umbrella!

John Reed

Panasonic Big and Lil Fluzis, Nikon Macromaker

I am sorely tempted by the FZ 3 not only by its price/performance ratio, but by its small size and light weight.

terribird said:

Why not also consider the FZ15. Nightowl.com will have them the
end of September for $419 plus $8 shipping???

Click to expand...

RMac said:

I got home about an hour ago from CircuitCity and have a brand new
FZ20 sitting on the table still unopened..., wondering if I should
go back to get the FZ3? Is that f2.8 a big advantage even over
what the FZ20 offers? If anybody could explain the plusses and
minuses of each, would help me to decide. Would picture quality be
any better with the FZ20? This is my first Panasonic and I need
some insight.
Thanks.

Click to expand...

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postman I just returned my z20 dude...I bought the fz3 instead..Why?????Well I really don't need a BIG camera!The fz3 is not that much smaller .. but I fell it is a better size for me..I think that the specs are not that different..No hot shoe..more megapics..But that is about it...The guality is about the same..A LITTLE MORE SIMPLE!!!I don't need to lug a large camera around!!For me it's the zoommmmmmmm.And they are the same..

harry bowman said:

RMac said:

I got home about an hour ago from CircuitCity and have a brand new
FZ20 sitting on the table still unopened..., wondering if I should
go back to get the FZ3? Is that f2.8 a big advantage even over
what the FZ20 offers? If anybody could explain the plusses and
minuses of each, would help me to decide. Would picture quality be
any better with the FZ20? This is my first Panasonic and I need
some insight.
Thanks.

Click to expand...

--
postman I just returned my z20 dude...I bought the fz3
instead..Why?????Well I really don't need a BIG camera!The fz3 is
not that much smaller .. but I fell it is a better size for
me..I think that the specs are not that different..No hot
shoe..more megapics..But that is about it...The guality is about
the same..A LITTLE MORE SIMPLE!!!I don't need to lug a large camera
around!!For me it's the zoommmmmmmm.And they are the same..

Click to expand...

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postman OH yes !!Made in JAPAN DUDE> > > 200 less...

You returned the Konica Minolta Z20 or the Panasonic FZ 20? The KM Z20 does NOT have any IS.

harry bowman said:

--
postman I just returned my z20 dude...I bought the fz3
instead..Why?????Well I really don't need a BIG camera!The fz3 is
not that much smaller .. but I fell it is a better size for
me..I think that the specs are not that different..No hot
shoe..more megapics..But that is about it...The guality is about
the same..A LITTLE MORE SIMPLE!!!I don't need to lug a large camera
around!!For me it's the zoommmmmmmm.And they are the same..

Click to expand...

jimr said:

harry bowman said:

--
postman I just returned my z20 dude...I bought the fz3
instead..Why?????Well I really don't need a BIG camera!The fz3 is
not that much smaller .. but I fell it is a better size for
me..I think that the specs are not that different..No hot
shoe..more megapics..But that is about it...The guality is about
the same..A LITTLE MORE SIMPLE!!!I don't need to lug a large camera
around!!For me it's the zoommmmmmmm.And they are the same..

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

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postman Returned the panasonic Fz20..Rmac ..please read review of fz3..In reviews...Sorry for wrong model!This is what I meant about size..

from a 2MP camera. This 8x10 print size should be no problem with the FZ3 and may render indistinguishable from the FZ20 output of the same size.
gil

jimr said:

Both the FZ 3 and FZ20 have constant aperture 35 to 420 Leica F2.8
lenses. Can you tell the difference in an 8 x 10 ??? Wish I knew. I
am sure we'll have guesses...but to really KNOW! We need someone
who'll try out both cameras side by side creating 8 X 10's under
totally identical conditions. Volunteers????

Click to expand...

I ended up keeping the FZ20, and just took my first few photos.., real nice cam. I am sure that either one would make one happy!!
http://www.pbase.com/rmac/panasonic_dmcfz20

RMac said:

I got home about an hour ago from CircuitCity and have a brand new
FZ20 sitting on the table still unopened..., wondering if I should
go back to get the FZ3? Is that f2.8 a big advantage even over
what the FZ20 offers? If anybody could explain the plusses and
minuses of each, would help me to decide. Would picture quality be
any better with the FZ20? This is my first Panasonic and I need
some insight.
Thanks.

Click to expand...