flaash
Active member
I just got done reading the S2 / Panasonic FZ5 thread (whew), and I'll admit I'm another one of those fence riders, wondering which one I should go with.
Actually, I just got my S2 from Dell, but am thinking about either sending it back or listing it on Ebay (blasphemy??).
I've read plenty on both of these models and understand their limitations. I currently own an Olympus CZ-750 and the lack of image stabilization is becoming more painful to endure.
I often use the Oly in low-light situations (at long zoom and often in conjunction with the digital zoom), such as concerts and similar dim-lighted events.
Here's what I need to know from you S2 owners:
How does this camera perform in such low-light scenarios, especially when you're zooming in quite a bit? Especially important is how quickly and accurately the camera focuses in this type of situation, is there a lot of "focus hunt" at long zoom and in low light? Yeah, I know I can use the pre-focus lock method, but I need to get an idea of how fast this camera responds "spontaneously" in these situations, when you just push the shutter button and try to capture the moment.
And how detailed are images where the digital zoom was used, even at the max range? I use the digital zoom on the Oly quite a bit and I think it performs quite well, even under adverse lighting conditions.
From what I'ver read of the Panasonic FZ5, it appears to do quite well and it's response/focus times are relatively quick under adverse lighting conditions. Plus the digital zoom appears to be pretty decent, with the Leica lens.
The reason I'm asking S2 owners these questions is because I haven't seen much here about the S2's performance in these areas. The S2 seems to have the clear advantage in the "features" department vs. the FZ5, especially in video mode.
But how does it perform in NON-DAYLIGHT conditions?
I need a camera that's going to give me consistent PHOTO results under the aforementioned lighting & zoom conditions (within the camera's limitations) and that's why I thought I'd pick the brains of you S2 owners who have taken pictures under these conditions.
So here's the scenario: You're attending the Paul McCartney concert at the local event center and you're seated in the upper balcony, but fairly close to the stage. You can zoom way in to get Paul by himself, but of course the stage lighting (or lack thereof) is reeking havoc with your exposure and shutter times. You decide to bump the ISO up to 200 and even 400, to help increase shutter speeds, while realizing this will bump up the noise level as well. You occasionally engage the digital zoom to capture Paul closeup as he walks toward your end of the stage.
You've got your choice between a Canon S2 and a Panasonic FZ5 to capture these once-in-a-lifetime moments, under "much less than ideal" photgraphic conditions.
Which camera would you choose??
(And don't tell me a DSLR - stick to the choices!!)
Actually, I just got my S2 from Dell, but am thinking about either sending it back or listing it on Ebay (blasphemy??).
I've read plenty on both of these models and understand their limitations. I currently own an Olympus CZ-750 and the lack of image stabilization is becoming more painful to endure.
I often use the Oly in low-light situations (at long zoom and often in conjunction with the digital zoom), such as concerts and similar dim-lighted events.
Here's what I need to know from you S2 owners:
How does this camera perform in such low-light scenarios, especially when you're zooming in quite a bit? Especially important is how quickly and accurately the camera focuses in this type of situation, is there a lot of "focus hunt" at long zoom and in low light? Yeah, I know I can use the pre-focus lock method, but I need to get an idea of how fast this camera responds "spontaneously" in these situations, when you just push the shutter button and try to capture the moment.
And how detailed are images where the digital zoom was used, even at the max range? I use the digital zoom on the Oly quite a bit and I think it performs quite well, even under adverse lighting conditions.
From what I'ver read of the Panasonic FZ5, it appears to do quite well and it's response/focus times are relatively quick under adverse lighting conditions. Plus the digital zoom appears to be pretty decent, with the Leica lens.
The reason I'm asking S2 owners these questions is because I haven't seen much here about the S2's performance in these areas. The S2 seems to have the clear advantage in the "features" department vs. the FZ5, especially in video mode.
But how does it perform in NON-DAYLIGHT conditions?
I need a camera that's going to give me consistent PHOTO results under the aforementioned lighting & zoom conditions (within the camera's limitations) and that's why I thought I'd pick the brains of you S2 owners who have taken pictures under these conditions.
So here's the scenario: You're attending the Paul McCartney concert at the local event center and you're seated in the upper balcony, but fairly close to the stage. You can zoom way in to get Paul by himself, but of course the stage lighting (or lack thereof) is reeking havoc with your exposure and shutter times. You decide to bump the ISO up to 200 and even 400, to help increase shutter speeds, while realizing this will bump up the noise level as well. You occasionally engage the digital zoom to capture Paul closeup as he walks toward your end of the stage.
You've got your choice between a Canon S2 and a Panasonic FZ5 to capture these once-in-a-lifetime moments, under "much less than ideal" photgraphic conditions.
Which camera would you choose??
(And don't tell me a DSLR - stick to the choices!!)
