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Panny for close up shots: LX2 or FZ7?

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LemonNB

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I am looking to buy my 1st decent digital camera. It will be used for lots of close up shots mainly, and of course to be taken out and about for usual holiday snaps etc.

Really like the panasonic range, and after a little looking round they seem to be quite well thought of.

I have narrowed my choices down to 2 very different cameras. The LX2 and the FZ7. both are around my budget but I was thinking the large optical zoom of the FZ7 would come in handy. Like I said earlier the bulk of my photos will be close up and would like your views on which of the above cameras are better at this kind of work? Here are a couple of examples of the kind of shots I want to be taking (please excuse the quality as these were taken with my mobile phone)

TS400



TS400


TIA for any advice on which model to choose.
 
They are actually very different in price. The FZ7 can be found now for about $230 since the FZ8 was released a couple of weeks ago at $299. The LX2 is still I thought in the $400 range. I have both the FZ8 and the Leica equivalent of the LX2.

Similarities
Full Manual control
RAW capability

The LX2 is certainly more pocketable. However, the FZ7/8 is surprisingly small.

You have a bigger zoom range with the FZ7/8 but your starting point is 36mm vs 28 (but actually from a horizontal field of view actually a bit wider).

The LX2 does not have a viewfinder either optical or electronic. I am liking having a good EVF on the FZ8.

Both are fun to use. If you look through the recent threads on this forum there are a lot of people doing close up work with macro close up lenses. Is this how close up you want to get. Then hands down the FZ7/8.

terry
 
I really wouldn't suggest the LX2 for serious closeup work, the lens just isn't suited to it. If you have the cash then the only way to go is a DSLR plus macro lens.

Closeup work with a compact camera is always a compromise but excellent results can be obtained. In the Panny forum, I would find out what tchaunye uses. He has an inexhaustable supply of exotic insects to practice on which makes me very envious but he does it extremely well.

I have been using a Canon A620 & other compacts + closeup lenses for mcaro work so far but hopefully I am getting a proper macro lens for my DSLR this year.

Malcy
----------------



http://www.flickr.com/photos/malcy/sets
http://picasaweb.google.com/lumachrome
 
TEBnewyork said:
Both are fun to use. If you look through the recent threads on this
forum there are a lot of people doing close up work with macro
close up lenses. Is this how close up you want to get. Then hands
down the FZ7/8.

terry
Click to expand...
Yeah, I have been leaning towards the FZ7 (In the UK it also has dropped in price, but nowhere nearly as much as you lucky guys over there) The LX2 over here can be had for around £75-£100

more than the FZ7 which is about $145-$195. I just can't decide if its worth extra money.
 
IKB said:
I really wouldn't suggest the LX2 for serious closeup work, the
lens just isn't suited to it. If you have the cash then the only
way to go is a DSLR plus macro lens.

Closeup work with a compact camera is always a compromise but
excellent results can be obtained. In the Panny forum, I would find
out what tchaunye uses. He has an inexhaustable supply of exotic
insects to practice on which makes me very envious but he does it
extremely well.

I have been using a Canon A620 & other compacts + closeup lenses
for mcaro work so far but hopefully I am getting a proper macro
lens for my DSLR this year.

Malcy
Click to expand...
Without a doubt there are some lovely macro shots on this forum, and I realise that to get the best results a DSLR and lens would be needed, but alas I am very tightly on a budget with the LX2 being at the top of that and the FZ7 being easily affordable (as long as it will suit my needs)
 
LemonNB said:
The LX2 over here can be had for around £75-£100
Click to expand...
Are you sure this is the LX2, and not the LZ2? Or perhaps the LS2?
The LX2 should cost around £200-£300!

--
Marty
Panasonic FZ20, Panasonic FZ7, Olympus C7000
 
IKB said:
If you are really set on one of these two cameras, I will say again
that the LX2 is a poor choice for macro work. If you have to chose
between the two, go for the FZ7 of the FZ8 that has replaced it.

--
Malcy
Click to expand...
Maicy, from your wording I get the feeling you think I can do better for the similar money? I am as always open to suggestions. I really am not very knowledgeable in this field and will be very greatful for a 'shove' in the right direction.
 
Maybe my perspective is screwed up but
LemonNB said:
I am looking to buy my 1st decent digital camera. It will be used
for lots of close up shots mainly, and of course to be taken out
and about for usual holiday snaps etc.

Really like the panasonic range, and after a little looking round
they seem to be quite well thought of.

I have narrowed my choices down to 2 very different cameras. The
LX2 and the FZ7. both are around my budget but I was thinking the
large optical zoom of the FZ7 would come in handy. Like I said
earlier the bulk of my photos will be close up and would like your
views on which of the above cameras are better at this kind of
work? Here are a couple of examples of the kind of shots I want to
be taking (please excuse the quality as these were taken with my
mobile phone)
Click to expand...



LemonNB said:
TIA for any advice on which model to choose.
Click to expand...
Neither of those really seems to be a Macro but both are close-ups... I beleive there's a difference & I'd imagine each cam would pull them off well enough... Lookin through the EVf or framing with the LCd with either of them might be difficult for that second shot though.... Unless of course it's somone elses foot.... ;-}

I can't really say which would be the better choice, since I have neither but should you want to go macro with achromat assisted magnification... The Fz7 is probably easier to affix an achromat to..... But then again there have been some pretty simple home-made adapters exhibited here by the more ingenious of our resident Lx shooters....

I gotta say though, if you can afford the Lx but decide on the Fz7, why not consider the Fz8??? If it's as good as everyone says, I beleive the better EVF might be worth the additional cost, plus you get the RAW comparable to the LX....

But like I typed, I have neither... These are just a few points that crossed my mind...
--

The Amateur Formerly Known as 'UZ'pShoot'ERS' 'Happy Shootin' Comments, Critique, Ridicule, Limmericks, Jokes, Hi-jackings, EnthUZIastically, Encouraged... I Insist!



* [email protected] * http://www.pbase.com/rrawzz * EffZeeThreeZero / CeeEightZeroEightZeroDoubleUZee / CeeTwoOneZeroZeroUZee / EOneHuderedAreEss
 
LemonNB said:
(please excuse the quality as these were taken with my
mobile phone)
Click to expand...
Maybe I'm alone.... but I am very impressed with the quality of that mobile phone cam....

--
Marty
Panasonic FZ20, Panasonic FZ7, Olympus C7000
 
You're not completely alone...
Marty4650 said:
LemonNB said:
(please excuse the quality as these were taken with my
mobile phone)
Click to expand...
Maybe I'm alone.... but I am very impressed with the quality of
that mobile phone cam....
Click to expand...
I'm more like 'pretty impressed'... "very" is a bit if a stretch though.. ;-}
--

The Amateur Formerly Known as 'UZ'pShoot'ERS' 'Happy Shootin' Comments, Critique, Ridicule, Limmericks, Jokes, Hi-jackings, EnthUZIastically, Encouraged... I Insist!



* [email protected] * http://www.pbase.com/rrawzz * EffZeeThreeZero / CeeEightZeroEightZeroDoubleUZee / CeeTwoOneZeroZeroUZee / EOneHuderedAreEss
 
Rossieurs...

My guess is that he has one of those 1.3 mp camera phones. It doesn't look nearly as bad as some I have seen

--
Marty
Panasonic FZ20, Panasonic FZ7, Olympus C7000
 
For a photo that size 1 mp is plenty
--
------------------------------------------------------------
Gene
From Western PA.

Panasonic FZ 20 and FZ30
D50 and lenses.

http://imageevent.com/grc6



Just trying to learn and it's slow going!
 
For close up with a compact I would look for these features:

1. The ability to take close up lenses via a threaded lens or adaptor.
2. A twist & flip LCD.

3. A telephoto that can be used in macro mode at around 200mm which seems to work well with close up lenses.

These features suit the sort of close up images that I shoot which is largely insects which you cannot get too close to, shooting at the tele end also means less distortion. I have been using a Canon A620 recently which can give good results but the lens is a bit short and the LCD difficult to see in sunlight. The best compact that I had for this was the Pentax Optio 750Z which gave a tele macro magnification of 1:2 without closeup lenses.

It's difficult to recommend cameras that I have not used (I have an LX2) but the Canons are usually well suited, look at the S3is which has all of the above features. The Panny FZ20, 30 & 50 would be good. The Sony H9 may be worth looking at when it comes out as would the Olympus SP550UZ. If you take out the need for a twist & flip display (essential for me) then there are lots of others like the Canon A710IS, G7, the Panny FZ7/8 etc.

--
Malcy
----------------



http://www.flickr.com/photos/malcy/sets
http://picasaweb.google.com/lumachrome
 
IKB said:
It's difficult to recommend cameras that I have not used (I have an
LX2) but the Canons are usually well suited, look at the S3is
which has all of the above features. The Panny FZ20, 30 & 50 would
be good. The Sony H9 may be worth looking at when it comes out as
would the Olympus SP550UZ. If you take out the need for a twist &
flip display (essential for me) then there are lots of others like
the Canon A710IS, G7, the Panny FZ7/8 etc.

--
Malcy
Click to expand...
Cheers Maicy, off to check out some of the models you mentioned.
 
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