I'm hesitating...

First of all sorry for my english. Here is my question. Since the last few week i'm looking for my next compact camera. I'have read many reviews about the possible ones : Panasonic LX2, Fuji F30 and since last days TZ3
Here are my conclusions :

LX2 : a lot of manuel controls, raw format,16/9 sensor but apparently bad picture performances above 100 ISO, various opinion on image quality, wide angle

F30 : high performances indoor,average outdout,about 230 € on the net manuels controls, only 35 mm (no wide angle)

TZ3 : a bit expensive in France (like the LX2), enormous zoom from wide to tele, image quality (?), no manuels controls

Now (but it could change tomorow;-) i'm hesitating between the TZ3 (fantastic Mingthein gallery on Flickr) and LX2 (Bjorn Utpott Gallery on Pbase)....

Help Help Help

Antony
--
Still learning...

I have all 3 of them and if I had to pick just one it would be theTZ3. It is a very versatile little camera. If I take indoor pics I use flash and from what I have seen sofar it is just fine. I set it on iISO 400.

mac anto said:

First of all sorry for my english. Here is my question. Since the
last few week i'm looking for my next compact camera. I'have read
many reviews about the possible ones : Panasonic LX2, Fuji F30 and
since last days TZ3
Here are my conclusions :
LX2 : a lot of manuel controls, raw format,16/9 sensor but
apparently bad picture performances above 100 ISO, various opinion
on image quality, wide angle
F30 : high performances indoor,average outdout,about 230 € on the
net manuels controls, only 35 mm (no wide angle)
TZ3 : a bit expensive in France (like the LX2), enormous zoom from
wide to tele, image quality (?), no manuels controls

Now (but it could change tomorow;-) i'm hesitating between the TZ3
(fantastic Mingthein gallery on Flickr) and LX2 (Bjorn Utpott
Gallery on Pbase)....

Click to expand...

First of all, your English is just fine (certainly much better than my French!). I have both the TZ3 and a Fuji F20. I've had the F20 for about 6 months now, and have been impressed with it, but was intrigued enough by the specs of the TZ3 to give it a try. My hope is that it could take the place of both my F20 and my Canon S3 (I also have a DSLR for more serious work).

So far, my impressions are mixed. My biggest gripes with the TZ3 are the noise reduction and the sharpness of the images, while the flash is a bit underpowered too. It's also just a tad too thick to comfortably carry in a pocket.

That said, when you really think about what you're gettin in such a compact package, you can overlook some of the shortcomings. The ability to zoom from 28-280mm, with IS is just unheard of in such a small camera. Throw in the beautiful 3 inch screen (one of the best I've seen so far) and the widescreen format which brings your wide angle out to about 25mm and it's a tough choice between the two for me. The Fuji wins on image quality indoors (outdoor is about equal, until you throw in the zoom range), but if you're only viewing on screen or printing at 8x10 or less, I'm not sure there's enough of a difference to matter.

I'll have to evaluate some more the rest of the week before making a final decision. The other camera I might look at is the Sony T100 - the higher ISO samples I've seen so far have been impressive (nearly to the level of the Fujis), plus it has a 5x IS zoom (which can be used during movies) and it's a smaller, lighter package.

--
Keith
equipment in profile
http://www.pbase.com/themitty/
http://www.picasaweb.google.com/themitty

Hello Puttin, thanks you for your answer. One more question, is the lack of manual controls of the TZ3 a problem vs LX2 ?

Antony

--
Still learning...

mac anto said:

Hello Puttin, thanks you for your answer. One more question, is the
lack of manual controls of the TZ3 a problem vs LX2 ?

Antony

--
Still learning...

Click to expand...

It has enough control for me. I think it does a lot for what it is. I have other cameras with lots of contols, and I don't miss them when I use the TZ3. I have only had this camera for a couple of days and sofar I really like it. Remember that no matter what camera you buy someone will say somethig else. So think real hard and buy the one that suites your needs.
Wayne

Hello Keith,

Thanks you for you very complete answer, very helpfull . As you said, the ideal camera doesn't exist at the moment, i totally agree you have to compromise on something...

Reading the various answers i receive the TZ3 is now more and more attractive...I have to think about it because, the prices between US and Europe are huge. Just to give you an idea, you find the TZ3 around 400€ in France wich means more or less 520$us !!

Antony
--
Still learning...

puttin said:

I have all 3 of them and if I had to pick just one it would be
theTZ3. It is a very versatile little camera. If I take indoor pics
I use flash and from what I have seen sofar it is just fine. I set
it on iISO 400.

Click to expand...

The moment the TZ3 is available in local stores I will be abandonning my FX50 to purchase one.

Since you have the LX2, TZ3 and F30, how would you compare the IQ of the TZ3 in good light, for straight out of the camera pics, with no PP ? TIA !

Roger

--



If everything is coming your way, you're in the wrong lane !

FZ50 and FX50 ( soon to be, TZ3 )

mac anto said:

Hello Keith,

Thanks you for you very complete answer, very helpfull . As you
said, the ideal camera doesn't exist at the moment, i totally agree
you have to compromise on something...
Reading the various answers i receive the TZ3 is now more and more
attractive...I have to think about it because, the prices between
US and Europe are huge. Just to give you an idea, you find the TZ3
around 400€ in France wich means more or less 520$us !!

Click to expand...

Antony - you're welcome. Best of luck with whatever you decide, and yes, that is quite a difference in price - the TZ3 can be found here for about $320 (including a free 1GB SD card). I know a few people from Europe who actually buy their DSLR lenses here in the states (or Japan) and just pay the import fees - still coming out ahead of the European prices.

Keith
equipment in profile
http://www.pbase.com/themitty/
http://www.picasaweb.google.com/themitty

WinGsor said:

puttin said:

I have all 3 of them and if I had to pick just one it would be
theTZ3. It is a very versatile little camera. If I take indoor pics
I use flash and from what I have seen sofar it is just fine. I set
it on iISO 400.

Click to expand...

The moment the TZ3 is available in local stores I will be
abandonning my FX50 to purchase one.

Since you have the LX2, TZ3 and F30, how would you compare the IQ
of the TZ3 in good light, for straight out of the camera pics, with
no PP ? TIA !

Roger

--



If everything is coming your way, you're in the wrong lane !

FZ50 and FX50 ( soon to be, TZ3 )

I keep the LX2 & TZ3 at ISO 100 and under 400 for flash and do not see any difference. I don't do any PP except red eye removal. As far as the F30 I have taken mostly indoor shots. I would pick the F30 for indoors and the TZ3 for outdoors

Click to expand...

Wayne

thanks you Wayne...i only want to make the good choice and don't want to regret it..As i said in my other post, camera prices in Europe are very high compare to US or Asia, that's means for me it's a big deal....
--
Still learning...

puttin said:

WinGsor said:

puttin said:

I have all 3 of them and if I had to pick just one it would be
theTZ3. It is a very versatile little camera. If I take indoor pics
I use flash and from what I have seen sofar it is just fine. I set
it on iISO 400.

Click to expand...

The moment the TZ3 is available in local stores I will be
abandonning my FX50 to purchase one.

Since you have the LX2, TZ3 and F30, how would you compare the IQ
of the TZ3 in good light, for straight out of the camera pics, with
no PP ? TIA !

Roger

--



If everything is coming your way, you're in the wrong lane !

FZ50 and FX50 ( soon to be, TZ3 )

I keep the LX2 & TZ3 at ISO 100 and under 400 for flash and do not see any difference. I don't do any PP except red eye removal. As far as the F30 I have taken mostly indoor shots. I would pick the F30 for indoors and the TZ3 for outdoors

Click to expand...

Wayne

Click to expand...

I would say if I were to pick one for looks it would be the LX2. Looks like a baby Lieca rangefinder

puttin said:

puttin said:

I keep the LX2 & TZ3 at ISO 100 and under 400 for flash and do not see any difference. I don't do any PP except red eye removal. As far as the F30 I have taken mostly indoor shots. > Wayne

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Good Stuff ! Thx again !

Roger
--



If everything is coming your way, you're in the wrong lane !

FZ50 and FX50 ( soon to be, TZ3 )

Based on comments on the Sony forum, the W80 and W90 have even better picture quality than the T100. Might want to check those out too...