A done deal

Well, I drove down heavily traveled stretch of interstate to the camera store and bought the FZ50. Only problem was that when I got home and was going to charge the battery the charger was no where to be seen. Got to looking and the unit was obviously one someone had bought and returned. It was torn in two places and inside was a mess. I called and that was the only one they had so the manager called around to find out what he could and called me back and said he found one, that there were only four in the whole state, but he had them check it to be sure it was brand new and they are sending it to him and will get there by next week. It was listed by Ritz as an item that will no longer be available I am happy I got one of the last here in Georgia. Looking forward to using it and posting some pics here. Thanks to all for the advice and encouragement.
--
Russ

LOL, I just replied to your other post but think you will be happy with the 50. Post some pics once you get started. Good luck with the charger.

--
my FZ30 pictures at: http://www.memoriesinmosaic.com/16.html

I have been looking at getting a FZ-18 and I've noticed that quiet a few of them from different online stores do not include a battery charger. I thought that was kind of crazy to sell a camera without a battery charger, especially a camera that uses its own secial type of battery. By the way, I take it your in Georgia, what part of the state, I'm from Albany, used to work with the GA DNR, so there is not too many places in Georgia I haven't crossed paths in, far way from home now in Moscow, Russia. Glad everything worked out for you.
JD

Russ,

If your as happy with your FZ50 as I am with mine you are going to love it........

Poll: How long before Russ dumps the FZ50?
A. 72 hours
B. 2 weeks
C. 4 weeks
--
Kevin Coppalotti
http://maxhr.zenfolio.com/
http://razorsharp.smugmug.com

Good on you, Russ !

Glad to see you made the move. I know I've had mine for nearly a year and half and it's going to take alot for me to relinquish it to future replacements.

Roger
--



FZ50 and TZ3

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

Good deal, Russ! Does it use 55mm filters? Got one to send you if it does.
Watch the mail, I'm about to send a bunch of stuff your way!
The camera will do fine, you just need to find the stuff to feed it.
http://www.pbase.com/tsiya/root
http://photobucket.com/albums/v244/tsiya/
--
tsiya [Bob]

It's nice that you're going to help Russ get started with his FZ50. I'm betting that Russ will like this new camera and will be showing us some great photos before long. As far as any poll is concerned, I'm betting Russ will hang onto the FZ50--at least until Panny releases an FZ60! And then a lot of folks will probably be trading up.

Thank you for the nice reply. I am in Cartersville, about 40 miles north of Atlanta. Strangely, I have never been in Albany. Always headed north or south when traveling. Never got to Moscow either)

--
Russ

meant to say that battery charger is standard with the FZ50, someone just bought the outfit and when they returned it either forgot the charger or kept it.
--
Russ

Thank you, I sure am excited about it. A fine camera.
--
Russ

I did a lot of that when using my 30D and buying and selling lenses but am good to go now with the G9 and FZ50. Love both of them.
--
Russ

Bob, you rascal. Yeah, it is 55mm, same as FZ30 and I'll be on the lookout.
--
Russ

Vandyu, I sort of got the impression today that the FZ50 is not going to be around much more. We'll see. End of that line I hear.
--
Russ

When you go to pick up your new camera (or is it just the charger) please ask the manager who told you Ritz will not get any more the following:

1: Why not? Slow sales? Discontinued? Will be replaced?

2: Who in Ritz would know for sure? Can I have his phone number? I have a friend who wants to investigate this situation.

He probably is too low in the huge organization to know for sure, that is why maybe there is someone he can lead you to who would know.

Your story fits with my observation tha Costco's web site no longer offers it, and Frys Electronics no longer offers it.

Thanks

Hell, the next offering is going to be 24MP, 24X, and have noise particles the size of sockerballs. I give up!
--
tsiya [Bob]

24 to 36 hours

Kevin Coppalotti said:

Poll: How long before Russ dumps the FZ50?
A. 72 hours
B. 2 weeks
C. 4 weeks
--
Kevin Coppalotti
http://maxhr.zenfolio.com/
http://razorsharp.smugmug.com

Click to expand...

--
Ron_M
Sometimes I sits and thinks and sometimes I just sits.

If you don't ask questions, no one will have to tell you any lies!
--
tsiya [Bob]

Russ, you are really going to love this camera...I love mine!

Robin-Lee

That is a warning flag. Something ain't right.

If you buy a FZ18 from one on the internet resellers who have high customer ratings from Reseller Ratings.com, your camera will come to you in a sealed box as shipped by Panasonic along with the included accessories: a battery pack, battery charger, cable, etc.

On the other hand, if you visit a camera store, or a Costco, if you're lucky enough to have one nearby, you can inspect the camera and packaging before you buy. Personally, I would be reluctant to buy a camera from a store if the packaging had been opened, for that camera might be a "return" from another customer, or a camera used by the store as a demonstrator, and possibly damaged and/or with some of the included accessories missing.

Vann's, B&H, BuyDig.com, Adorama, and Beach Camera are highly rated resellers, among others.

Before you buy a camera (or any big ticket item) from an internet seller or a mail order house, I suggest that you check their rating on Reseller Ratings.com ( http://www.resellerratings.com/reseller_list.pl?rating_type=2&rating_history=1&category=5 )

Before I bought my FZ5 a few years ago, Butterfly Camera was underselling most of the internet resellers. I was about to buy from them. Then I read, maybe on this site, some unfavorable comments about Butterfly. When I checked their rating on Reseller Ratings.com, their ratings were not favorable. No further deliberation. I did not then need, nor do I now need unnecessary problems.

I paid about $20 more to buy my camera from a recommended internet reseller. There was a liberal return policy. For $20 the peace of mind insurance I bought was well worth it.

The FZ18 is a great camera. I am so glad I bought it. I got a good price from Vann's and never had a moment of anxiety about the sale.

Tom