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What now? No FZ60!

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Robiro

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Gosh,

I really do not know what to do. I am so satisfied with my FZ30. But, eventually, it's life span is going to come to an end.

What then?

I just hope GH1 with 14-140 kit lens won't be costing €1,500 in this country.

It probably is the single alternative to FZ30 I am willing to consider, theoretically.

Shame on you Panasonic for not producing a worthy FZ30/50 successor. Shame on you.
 
With the strong yen, they would have to sell an FZ60 at volume at 600€ or more. But with the competition (in the eyes of the market) from 25x budget zooms and entry DSLRs, it would sell in much smaller numbers than the predecessors. Spreading their fixed costs over a smaller number of cameras, maybe they'd have to charge 800€ or more.

Then we'd have the forum full of complaints about that. :-)

Just my two oere
Erik from Sweden
 
Ehrik said:
With the strong yen, they would have to sell an FZ60 at volume at
600€ or more.
Click to expand...
599 Euro is the actual recommended retail price from Panasonic for the FZ50 in Germany.

More than 2 years ago I payed 500 Euro for my FZ50 (sold it for 300 Euro last year).

And today amazon.de offers the FZ50 for 438.95 Euro.
Ehrik said:
But with the competition (in the eyes of the market)
from 25x budget zooms and entry DSLRs, it would sell in much smaller
numbers than the predecessors. Spreading their fixed costs over a
smaller number of cameras, maybe they'd have to charge 800€ or more.

Then we'd have the forum full of complaints about that. :-)
Click to expand...
What's wrong with 800 Euro for a good successor of the FZ30/50 ?

Olaf
 
olafk said:
What's wrong with 800 Euro for a good successor of the FZ30/50 ?

Olaf
Click to expand...
It probably won't sell, not at that price.

I admit I am a DSLR user, but I do have a soft spot for bridge type cameras. It looks to me like pannie is dead into this new G1 type camera, and bar the compact range, not much else.

DSLR's are too cheap now..it has had an impact for sure on this market.

There could be a chance for a really good bridge, at a decent price to do ok..but nobody is going to pay that much for one. And let's be honest, these cameras cost far less to make than many suggest. They could easily sell a new FZ-60 for £350 odd, and turn a decent profit on it.
 
Stick to your FZ30 for now.

Once P has the G-system on track, there should still be a fair chance of an FZ60.

And much of the technology they develop for the G-cameras can benefit the FZ60.
 
Torkil said:
Stick to your FZ30 for now.

Once P has the G-system on track, there should still be a fair chance
of an FZ60.

And much of the technology they develop for the G-cameras can benefit
the FZ60.
Click to expand...
I more see the chance of a successor to the FZ28 with manual focus and some of the features people want on an FZ60 than an actual FZ60.

--

playing photographer since 2006 | DMC-FS20 & DMC-FZ50 | previously owned DMC-LZ2 | http://www.ravalonline.com
 
Well, all the other camera companies think the bridge super zoom cameras are good money earners, just look at all the new entrants in this market segment in the last few weeks. Canon have even seen fit to introduce an entirely new sensor in this type. There is no equivilent lens in the G1 range to the FZ-50 so the G series simply does NOT replace the FZ as yet. July would be a natural time for Panasonic to introduce a class leader but I suppose we will just have to wait or go on using the wonderful FZ products of the past.
 
I agree with these assessments, plus P has learned from the implementation of technology in the TZ5 and LX3 over the last couple of years, as well as the FZ28.

I'm fairly sure a prototype FZ60 has been sitting on a Panny bench in Japan for quite a while, but they dare not release it because it would be so darn good it would challenge the G-system on both price and functionality.

OTOH, regardless of whether it would be profitable or not, it would be a prestige item for a company wishing to compete with Canonikon as a serious photography supplier. The FZ60 would be an instant class leader and no doubt win rave reviews similar to those the FZ30 got when it came out back in 2005. If there is no announcement of an FZ60 in July, the month both the 30 and 50 were announced, it'll be dead as far as I'm concerned.
Raval Online said:
Torkil said:
Stick to your FZ30 for now.

Once P has the G-system on track, there should still be a fair chance
of an FZ60.

And much of the technology they develop for the G-cameras can benefit
the FZ60.
Click to expand...
I more see the chance of a successor to the FZ28 with manual focus
and some of the features people want on an FZ60 than an actual FZ60.

--
playing photographer since 2006 | DMC-FS20 & DMC-FZ50 | previously
owned DMC-LZ2 | http://www.ravalonline.com
Click to expand...
--
Richard

EffZedThirty...AFiveSeventyIS
 
olafk said:
Ehrik said:
With the strong yen, they would have to sell an FZ60 at volume at
600€ or more.
Click to expand...
599 Euro is the actual recommended retail price from Panasonic for
the FZ50 in Germany.
Click to expand...
And that price was set before the Yen hike, not to mention the FZ50 was a second 'batch' of the 35-420 12x lens. The FZ60 would need an all new lens etc. Erik's estimate is unfortunately very realistic.
olafk said:
More than 2 years ago I payed 500 Euro for my FZ50 (sold it for 300
Euro last year).

And today amazon.de offers the FZ50 for 438.95 Euro.
olafk said:
But with the competition (in the eyes of the market)
from 25x budget zooms and entry DSLRs, it would sell in much smaller
numbers than the predecessors. Spreading their fixed costs over a
smaller number of cameras, maybe they'd have to charge 800€ or more.

Then we'd have the forum full of complaints about that. :-)
Click to expand...
What's wrong with 800 Euro for a good successor of the FZ30/50 ?
Click to expand...
Nothing's "wrong", but people won't buy it in satisfactory numbers, seen from Pany's point of view.

--

 
Barry Fitzgerald said:
Member said:
What's wrong with 800 Euro for a good successor of the FZ30/50 ?

Olaf
Click to expand...
It probably won't sell, not at that price.

I admit I am a DSLR user, but I do have a soft spot for bridge type
cameras. It looks to me like pannie is dead into this new G1 type
camera, and bar the compact range, not much else.

DSLR's are too cheap now..it has had an impact for sure on this market.

There could be a chance for a really good bridge, at a decent price
to do ok..but nobody is going to pay that much for one. And let's be
honest, these cameras cost far less to make than many suggest. They
could easily sell a new FZ-60 for £350 odd, and turn a decent profit
on it.
Click to expand...
I don't know what kind of pound you are talking about. Euro prices are mostly higher compared to US$ and the actual currency exchange rate , because we Europeans have to pay higher sales taxes.

Therefore let's talk about US$: I think a good FZ60 is worth a recommended retail price from Panasonic of 800-900 US$ and a street price of 650-750 US$.

I'm not talking about a FZ60 as a cheap camera. There are enough cheap super zooms. What's the actual price of the FZ28 in your country ?

I would like to see a high end decend zoom and decend MP with a fast non-extendable good Leica lens and a sensor size of approx. 1/1.6" and all the good things we know from the FZ30/50.

Olaf
 
radamczak said:
I agree with these assessments, plus P has learned from the
implementation of technology in the TZ5 and LX3 over the last couple
of years, as well as the FZ28.
I'm fairly sure a prototype FZ60 has been sitting on a Panny bench in
Japan for quite a while, but they dare not release it because it
would be so darn good it would challenge the G-system on both price
and functionality.
OTOH, regardless of whether it would be profitable or not, it would
be a prestige item for a company wishing to compete with Canonikon as
a serious photography supplier. The FZ60 would be an instant class
leader and no doubt win rave reviews similar to those the FZ30 got
when it came out back in 2005. If there is no announcement of an FZ60
in July, the month both the 30 and 50 were announced, it'll be dead
as far as I'm concerned.
Click to expand...
And I aggree with you. I'm happy that I replaced my FZ50 by a Nikon D90/70-300VR last year. In the meantime I took a lot of shots I never could have taken with the FZ50. Therefore I can wait.

But I still would be glad if Panasonic would release a FZ60 as an example what you can get out of a today's 1/1.6" sensor with class leading handling, a decend zoom factor and a decend number of MP.

And I would replace my FZ18 by a FZ60 even if I had to pay more than two times the price of the FZ18, if it would provide a fast EVF with the capability to take real action shots.

Olaf
 
I just can't believe that Panasonic is bowing out of the superzoom race by not producing a upgrade to the FZ50 now that everybody else has decided to step in. The FZ series has a following and the FZ50 as it's flagship should be kept on top. Panasonic could do it if they wanted to.
--
DonR
http://donr.zenfolio.com/
 
olafk said:
Ehrik said:
With the strong yen, they would have to sell an FZ60 at volume at
600€ or more.
Click to expand...
599 Euro is the actual recommended retail price from Panasonic for
the FZ50 in Germany.

More than 2 years ago I payed 500 Euro for my FZ50 (sold it for 300
Euro last year).

And today amazon.de offers the FZ50 for 438.95 Euro.
olafk said:
But with the competition (in the eyes of the market)
from 25x budget zooms and entry DSLRs, it would sell in much smaller
numbers than the predecessors. Spreading their fixed costs over a
smaller number of cameras, maybe they'd have to charge 800€ or more.

Then we'd have the forum full of complaints about that. :-)
Click to expand...
What's wrong with 800 Euro for a good successor of the FZ30/50 ?

Olaf
Click to expand...
All I know is I doubt I bite @ $600USD & wouldn't even bother at any price, if it didn't have the 2nd best EVF behind the G1 EVF, which for me means @ minimum twice the rez in the same size or larger... I'd really hope for weather-sealing too as well as the over-sized CCD for multi-aspect puposes for the same 8-10mp it already has & finally the newest venus tweeks, i-iso & better DR ala LX3 that one would assume they'd attempt in any normal update scenario...

And if they can't add to its zoom without losing the F/2.8-3.7, then leaving it as is would be my preference but I'll surely take any, hopefully the long end, addition they can muster without losing F/3.7... That would be where they could maintain avid interest, having the brightest glass even at the cost of not being as long in reach as the small Pinocchio cams.... And of course they'd need to maintain the rigid barrel with both rings & if that rigid barrel is ever lost, then they might just as well call it a day & forget about it altogether...
--
olafk said:
olafk said:
The Amateur Formerly Known as 'UZ'pShoot'ERS' 'Happy Shootin' Comments, Critique, Ridicule, Limericks, Jokes, Hi-jackings, EnthUZIastically, Encouraged... I Insist!



* rrawzz'a'gmail'dot'com * http://www.pbase.com/rrawzz *
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Lx3Fz50Fz30C8080wzE100rsC2100uz
 
they eventually do.. Even If they nail it exactly as I want it.. If it comes powered by a $70-$100 chipped battery.. I'm out of it.. Won't be held hostage to proprietary B/S @ a premium cost of DSLR standards... After all that's the whole point of the Bridge, so as not to ave to mortgage the house to participate in a hobby.... Anything more than $600USD max Street-Price for the initial kit is bound to fail & over-priced accessories already has got to have proved slow moving at best... But then again they probably over-price accessories to make up for their lax supplying of them for the saps actually willing to pay exorbitantly for them...
--
Robiro said:
Robiro said:
The Amateur Formerly Known as 'UZ'pShoot'ERS' 'Happy Shootin' Comments, Critique, Ridicule, Limericks, Jokes, Hi-jackings, EnthUZIastically, Encouraged... I Insist!



* rrawzz'a'gmail'dot'com * http://www.pbase.com/rrawzz *
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Lx3Fz50Fz30C8080wzE100rsC2100uz
 
It's probably simply a business decision. Panasonic is apparently making a huge investment with the G1 and its descendants and counting on this camera to make it a major player in the photo/video market. And it is presenting a unique product. In the stand-alone camera and video market, Panny is doomed to be hind end to Canon,and Sony, The G1-etc is Panny's chance to be leading edge in a new area. Success here will hopefully be reflected in the sales of other Panasonic camera and video offerings.

Sadly the superzoom category is becoming a bit me-tooish, exagerrated feature sets with dubious practical utility. No real advancements or refinements. That being the case, periodic tweaks to the FZ28 just to keep an entry in the field is probably the most to expect.

What I would expect - a some point an entry level G1 type offering, a bit more zoom in the lx3 offering for the enthusiasts, and a bit more zoom and even more simplification in the TZ line. JMHO
 
Torkil said:
Stick to your FZ30 for now.

Once P has the G-system on track, there should still be a fair chance
of an FZ60.

And much of the technology they develop for the G-cameras can benefit
the FZ60.
Click to expand...
--I do hope you're right,the question is how many customers does Panasonic lose meanwhile, whilst we are waiting for that elusive FZ60?

My opinion is just that.
 
I think you have a couple of options. Keep shooting what you already have. Get something different. Those are the 2 that come to mind anyway.

--
Stu
D40x, E510, TZ4
.
 
Robiro said:
Shame on you Panasonic for not producing a worthy FZ30/50 successor.
Shame on you.
Click to expand...
Let's not despair just yet. We have yet to hear P's response to Simon Joinson's "Questions for Panasonic at PMA" - a majority of which concerned the prospects for an FZ60.
 
Torkil said:
And much of the technology they develop for the G-cameras can benefit
the FZ60.
Click to expand...
Yes...and let's not forget the question of cost. If the FZ60 had the following:

G1 body - modified to accept a different sensor and a fixed lens
Sensor - 1/1.633 from the LX3
Processor - Venus IV (or V)
Lens - 35 - 400mm equiv; f/2.8W to f/3.6T; non-extending,

The only real development cost would result from redesigning the lens. The other development costs would have already been absorbed by - and presumably written off against - the G1 and the LX.

Certainly the lens would be a bit more expensive, and the camera a bit more bulky, than the FZ50 ... but dramatically less so than a Pentacanonikon with a "Bigma" mounted on it.
 
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