FZ50 Ultra Newbie Question

I'm a major newbie, used to using only point-and-shoot cameras but getting close to stepping up to the FZ50. Went to Fry's and played with the FZ50 for awhile and noticed that in the "Automatic" mode, there was no rocker or lever for zooming - you could only zoom manually using the ring around the lens. When I asked the sales people (at two different Fry's) both said the FZ50 did not have that function - there was no "quick zoom-type" thumb lever.

I know the point of the camera is not to shoot in manual mode, and it will take me some time to learn, however, I would think a camera as deluxe as the FZ50, and with the pricetag it has, would have the option of zooming using a thumb-type rocker/lever in addition to the barrel.

Is there a setting for this or were these salespeople correct? Didn't the FZ30 have a zoom rocker/lever?

Thanks.

No. It's a ring only and thats infinitly better then a lever. Levers are unperceise and prone to "going too far" by not releasing the switch soon enough. The ring you turn and get exactly what you want.

Tim

The FZ50 uses the manual zoom ring instead of a lever operated motor because it is faster and more precise.

The FZ50 (and the FZ30 before it) both have manual zoom rings on the lens, and no electrical zoom controls. This is MUCH MUCH faster and MUCH MUCH easier to control than any electronic zoom control ever was (not to mention one less thing to break (electrically speaking)). It matters not WHICH mode you are in, it's manual zoom all the way and most of us with cameras like this would have it no other way.

Perhaps if you are wanting an electrical zoom control then neither of these fine cameras are right for you. But once you've used a camera that has such a manual zoom control, you'll not want to return to the electronic type. PLUS you can 'dial in' virtually any focal length that's within the lens's zoom range. Lets see you do that with an electrical zoom control, which for the most part is limited to a few discrete focal lengths..

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Have a safe and happy 2006!

Bob the Printer

The salesmen were right. You can zoom only with the ring. But then don't all "real" DSLR cameras ?

In addition to what others have said, it also saves on battery power.

Roger
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If you think there is good in everybody, you haven't met everybody...

trust me... i had the FZ20 witht he rocker lever zoom which i enjoyed but when i went to the FZ30 with the zoom ring... well i never want a rocker zoom lever again... once you use the zoom ring you'lll never want to go back... its more precise, faster, feels better etc.
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Mike from Canada



http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?sort_order=views%20DESC&first_this_page=0&page_limit=31&&emailsearch=mighty_mike88%40hotmail.com&thumbnails=

I can only echo what everyone else has said. For serious photography this is the only way to go. That is not to say you couldn't take decent photographs with an electronic zoom, but you will find it much easier to do so with a manual.

Amongst current models, the FZ50 is one of only 3 cameras like this to provide a manual zoom, the others being a Samsung and the Fuji Finepix S9000/9500. You can buy other models of the super-zoom type including one from Canon that provide electronic zoom, but I don't know of any camera that provides both.

Peter

The Kodak P880 also has a manual zoom and focus rings.
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Trevor
P*850 & DX*6490
and maybe an FZ*50 in the future?

Ashas been said, manual zoom is the only option on the FZ50, and it is much better than using a lever.

From your subject line and your question, it seems like the basic concept and goal of a camera like the FZ50 are very new to you. It's well-worth the investment, though. It might take a bit but you'll grow into the camera and find that it offers the full gamut from simple automatic operation to complete manual control and will give good results. At the same time, the 'best' results will require some learning about both the camera and about photography in general.
Dan Daniel

rockheadjoe said:

I know the point of the camera is not to shoot in manual mode, and
it will take me some time to learn, however, I would think a camera
as deluxe as the FZ50, and with the pricetag it has, would have the
option of zooming using a thumb-type rocker/lever in addition to
the barrel.

Click to expand...

Believe me. You truly do not know what you are complaining about.

That very manual zoom ring is FZ50's killer feature!

It enables you to go from 35 mm to 420 mm within 0.5 of a second. Now try that with 'thumb-type lever'

Also, the manual zoom ring enables you to zoom during video capture without bad noise artefacts.

A manual zoom is the thing you WANT inyour camera. not the one you complain about....

the only disadvantage a manual zoom has, is that you won't be able to control it using a remote control....