-
Welcome to the new forums! Please read this first. For known issues we are working to resolve, click here.
What now? No FZ60!
- Thread starter Robiro
- Start date
Russell Ervin
Senior Member
People don't seem to care about cameras that exist, but they always complain about cameras that don't exist. If Panasonic came out with a '60' model, people would complain that there is no '70' model...heheh.
They are only plastic and metal boxes with a piece of glass in front. They all take photos. That is what I use them for. Be happy..make pretty pictures.
Russ
--
http://www.flickr.com/photos/quietrvr/
Gear=A camera with a lens.
They are only plastic and metal boxes with a piece of glass in front. They all take photos. That is what I use them for. Be happy..make pretty pictures.
Russ
--
http://www.flickr.com/photos/quietrvr/
Gear=A camera with a lens.
Don Simons
Forum Enthusiast
Yours is of course the best philosophy Russ.
Just noticed that GE have also joined the club that feel that there is a future in bridge cameras with their latest release.
Just noticed that GE have also joined the club that feel that there is a future in bridge cameras with their latest release.
linuxworks
Forum Pro
fz series is a no-accessory (mostly) system. NO EXTRA PROFITS.
swappable lens cams, now THERE's some whiff of money that pany smells.
come on - you KNOW its ALL about dollars and cents. they see they can charge over $1k for a lens, where they can't even come much over the $500 point for a COMPLETE p/s cam.
they know where the money is. say goodbye to the idea of the fz60 - that part of history is over for pany. they smell the money in glassware
and they want a piece of that action.--
Bryan
Adam Maas
Well-known member
That's mostly because they're all selling the same camera. The Nikon P90, Pentax X70 and the Kodak 24x zoom body are all lightly (or heavily in the case of the Kodak) restyled versions of the same 24x, 12MP sensor-shift IS OEM body.
--Adam
Gary R.
Senior Member
No surprise, I didn't really expect one, at least not right now. Still glad I bought a second FZ50 when they were cheap, at least if something happens I don't have to be so concerned as to how to replace it.
The G1 and GH1 or whatever it's called is probably getting most of their effort right now, and it appears they're doing a fine job...I see people from all sorts of backgrounds excited about it.
The way Panasonic is taking the lead with things, I'm hoping that eventually they'll see a spot for an FZ50-type successor, but it may take a while. With the LX3's popularity, it may tell them that there really IS a market for genuine quality geared to real photographers, without megapixel or megamegazoom hype. Even if the price is a bit high, as the LX3's is in comparison to more 'normal' models.
If they can avoid the "aperture creep" (or in some cases leaps and bounds) that seems to be so normal now, with f/5.6 being "OK", and make a good FZ50-style 10x or 12x zoom with the image quality and ISO tolerance of the LX3, a revolutionary fast lens (I'll accept 30-300mm on an f/2.8 throughout, or f/2-2.8) with a solid 10 megapixels and the features of the LX3, I'll bite. As long as they don't leave out the viewfinder, or do stupid things with the battery so I can't afford spares.
Otherwise, the FZ50's should last me a long time, and maybe eventually something better will come along.
--
Gary
Photo albums: http://www.pbase.com/roberthouse
The G1 and GH1 or whatever it's called is probably getting most of their effort right now, and it appears they're doing a fine job...I see people from all sorts of backgrounds excited about it.
The way Panasonic is taking the lead with things, I'm hoping that eventually they'll see a spot for an FZ50-type successor, but it may take a while. With the LX3's popularity, it may tell them that there really IS a market for genuine quality geared to real photographers, without megapixel or megamegazoom hype. Even if the price is a bit high, as the LX3's is in comparison to more 'normal' models.
If they can avoid the "aperture creep" (or in some cases leaps and bounds) that seems to be so normal now, with f/5.6 being "OK", and make a good FZ50-style 10x or 12x zoom with the image quality and ISO tolerance of the LX3, a revolutionary fast lens (I'll accept 30-300mm on an f/2.8 throughout, or f/2-2.8) with a solid 10 megapixels and the features of the LX3, I'll bite. As long as they don't leave out the viewfinder, or do stupid things with the battery so I can't afford spares.
Otherwise, the FZ50's should last me a long time, and maybe eventually something better will come along.
--
Gary
Photo albums: http://www.pbase.com/roberthouse
Vandyu
Veteran Member
Wonder if their cameras will be as good as their appliances? I was looking at their X3 model, but they decided to limit the tele to only 12X while everyone else seems intent on doubling that with 24x. I never complained about the 12x of the FZ20. Just the problem with low light focus issues.
PhillipA
Veteran Member
I have never used an FZ50, but looking at the DPReview test of that camera against the smaller, newer FZ28, can someone tell me what the FZ50 does better? The FZ28 seems to have much better high ISO noise, has a longer zoom, has the same Mp. and is smaller and lighter. The quality of the images in the samples doesn't show (to me) any great benifit for the larger but older sensor on the FZ50, Could someone who has compared both enlighten me please? I too would like to see a new "larger" camera, perhaps with the LX3 sensor, but the FZ28 seems to do a creditable job in the meantime. BTW, I don't have an FZ28, I'm just looking in from the DSLR world.
Robiro
Veteran Member
Try the manual zoom ring. Once you get spoiled, you'll never want to return to a motor-driven zoom mechanism.
The quality of FZ50 images (if it had Venus IV) would definitely surpass the quality of FZ28 images. Can't beat physics.
Don Richardson
Senior Member
--fz series is a no-accessory (mostly) system. NO EXTRA PROFITS.
swappable lens cams, now THERE's some whiff of money that pany smells.
come on - you KNOW its ALL about dollars and cents. they see they
can charge over $1k for a lens, where they can't even come much over
the $500 point for a COMPLETE p/s cam.
they know where the money is. say goodbye to the idea of the fz60 -
that part of history is over for pany. they smell the money in
glassware
--
Bryan
(pic stream: http://www.flickr.com/photos/linux-works ) ~
DonR
http://donr.zenfolio.com/
I don't agree, with Cannon, Nikon, Pentax, Sony and everyone else jumping into the superzoom race it's clear that money is to be made in this class without hurtuing DSLR sales. Panny has always led the field in superzooms IMHO with the FZ 50 and now they are just basicly pulling out. This leaves a lot of Panny customers having to choise between interchangable lens cameras or go elsewhere. With the economy the way it is I don't think this is a good time to be giving ultimatums to anyone. There's kust a lot of people that want long zooms and good IQ without having to change lenses.
linuxworks
Forum Pro
perhaps pany's strategy was to get a hooked user-base (get brand name recognition in a field) and then 'slowly cook the lobster' by removing the highest end of their superzoom product and replacing it with the cash cow known as 'interchangeable lenses'.
to nudge their upper segment into taking that BIG leap.
"no no, its NOT an slr! its our new better-than-bridge-but-not-slr camera"
their fz28 line may still be safe, but the fz30/50 line seems quite terminated, to me.
at some point, perhaps they remove even the fz28 (used to call it the 'fz#' line).
--
Bryan
(pic stream: http://www.flickr.com/photos/linux-works ) ~
to nudge their upper segment into taking that BIG leap.
"no no, its NOT an slr! its our new better-than-bridge-but-not-slr camera"
their fz28 line may still be safe, but the fz30/50 line seems quite terminated, to me.
at some point, perhaps they remove even the fz28 (used to call it the 'fz#' line).
--
Bryan
I suspect the FZ28 and variations of it are probably the present and future of Panasonic superzooms/bridge cameras. It's small, versatile, powerful, capable, and relatively cheap. It sits at the perfect point where its price is still attractive to average consumers impressed by all the features and yet capable enough to appeal to enthusiasts and advanced amateurs tired of lugging heavier stuff around. And it's fun to use. I think Panasonic finds this a comfortable place in the market because it doesn't take much any more on their part to stay competitive at this level. In many ways the FZ50 is almost the DSLR everyone wishes existed. It has a serious heft , optical excellence, it's mechanically smooth and has great sophistication in features and design. Using one delivers pleasure and satisfaction similar to driving a finely tuned automobile. But it suffers from limitations imposed by the small sensor necessary to make the whole package possible. Obviously there have been technological advances to make an updated FZ60 possible though it would be an expensive camera. Certainly there are people ready to buy such a camera. The question for Panasonic is are there enough buyers to make sufficient return on the investment and does such a camera represent the direction Panasonic wants to go.
The G1 etc represents a big investment for Panasonic and one they do want to fail. It represents not just R&D and manufacturing dollars for the body and lenses, but promotional dollars to make this camera a success in the consumer, enthusiast. and even some professional markets. The FZ60 may not be a dead idea, but I bet it's at least indefinitely on hold.
The G1 etc represents a big investment for Panasonic and one they do want to fail. It represents not just R&D and manufacturing dollars for the body and lenses, but promotional dollars to make this camera a success in the consumer, enthusiast. and even some professional markets. The FZ60 may not be a dead idea, but I bet it's at least indefinitely on hold.
Trevor Carpenter
Forum Pro
You have to handle an FZ50 to understand, the ergonomics are great, the mf and zoom rings are great, the menu system is great, the fuction button is great, the controls are generally all in the right place . I have taken over 70,000 pictures on FZ50s and it's because you just want to take pictures. Fun with a capital F. The FZ28 and every other ultrazoom, all nice cameras but believe me the FZ50 (and FZ30) was a different beast.
--
eFZed50, Oly TeeCON17, RaynoxDCR150 DCR250
My Galleries are at
http://picasaweb.google.com/trevorfcarpenter
mazoeca
Forum Enthusiast
I appreciate your comment, but would respectfully suggest that, if a customer buys an FZ60 instead of a G1 or an LX3, it still represents a sale for Panasonic. As long as the price is roughly the same (as is the case here), the effect on profit is roughly the same - regardless of the model sold.
So, in that sense, it doesn't really matter if one of the above models is substituted for another - the customer still goes away happy with his or her new Panasonic product and Panny still pockets the cash.
Panasonic loses, of course, where the customer buys a competitive product (e.g an S100FS) because Panasonic cannot offer what the the customer really wants.
That's IMHO, at least.
Maz.
TEBnewyork
Forum Pro
I was at PMA and asked the same questions to Panny. Ehrik. Your answers are exactly what they said. People want more zoom. Don't really know about slow lenses. The vocal group here on the forum does not equate to mass market appeal.
terry
http://tbanet.zenfolio.com/
--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
terry
http://tbanet.zenfolio.com/
I was certain there would be no FZ50 release now. If there was one, it'd come at photochina last year. Also, Luc S-E said there wouldn't be one :B
However, there's always the next fall collection. I won't say that I think there will be a FZxx this fall, cause I have mostly given up on that series. However...
Nomatter how you turn this matter around,
there is a HUGE market gap between the
DMC-FZ28, 27-486mm @ $400
and
DMC-G1, 28-400mm (14-200mm) @ $1000
Panasonic currently doesn't have one camera for every segment. This fall they will put a camera in that range. What sort of camera, only they know. Maybe a DMC-G10, maybe a DMC-FZx0. It can be anything. But they'll not leave that big a gap for other manufacturers to fill. Although, current trend is, it may be a superduperultrazoom with 20000000 fps video.
However, there's always the next fall collection. I won't say that I think there will be a FZxx this fall, cause I have mostly given up on that series. However...
Nomatter how you turn this matter around,
there is a HUGE market gap between the
DMC-FZ28, 27-486mm @ $400
and
DMC-G1, 28-400mm (14-200mm) @ $1000
Panasonic currently doesn't have one camera for every segment. This fall they will put a camera in that range. What sort of camera, only they know. Maybe a DMC-G10, maybe a DMC-FZx0. It can be anything. But they'll not leave that big a gap for other manufacturers to fill. Although, current trend is, it may be a superduperultrazoom with 20000000 fps video.
Once you use an FZ50 (or 30) you'll understand its appeal:
1. There is no comparison between manually focusing a lens on the FZ50 vs. 'manual focus by wiggle switch' on other cameras.
2. Ditto manually zooming on the FZ50 vs. zoom via 'wiggle switch' on other cameras.
3. The FZ50's tilt / swivel screen makes it possible to take many, many photos that would otherwise require you to bodily hang out a window, lie on the floor, or perform other gymnastics.
4. The FZ50's brilliant internally zooming lens does not grow like Pinocchio's nose when you zoom it; filters mount to it and stay put, and things like polarizers do not lose their 'phase' either as the lens is zoomed. I love the fact that I can point the camera at something and zoom in, and nobody watching sees a honkin' lens growing out the front of the camera. They can't see that I'm zooming in and I like that - because the natural tendency for others is to wonder what you're zooming in on. I'm not taking photos for their amusement.
5. For my hands at least, the FZ50's larger size makes it easier to hold and handle.
6. Frankly - and I know the FZ28 is a nicely made camera - all the smaller cameras feel like toys compared to the FZ50.
Each camera has its strong points and some limitations; with the FZ50, it's shooting at ISO400 and over, which often benefits from shooting RAW. At ISO200 and below there is no reason not to shoot JPG as long as you keep the NR setting on LOW.
There's nothing else like the FZ50 (and 30) from the standpoint of features and handling. Others suggested as alternatives generally are pale imitations. Granted the FZ50 isn't the greatest low light camera but I've gotten surprisingly good results with it under a wide variety of conditions - including low light. It's not for low-light action photos though...
John Miles
Veteran Member
The FZ50, although linked by brand to the FZ28, is an entirely different camera to use, which a surprising thing to say when even Panasonic seem to consider it the equivalent.
The FZ50 is, by necessity, a two handed camera and, like driving a car, benefits from this greatly. Many threads on this forum, lots of them mine, will speak of the FZ50's outright speed at setting up a shot. An FZ50 user misses fewer shots than any other camera user; just about. Now this fact means one very important thing: because the FZ50 is so fast to use, it is also fantasticaly easy to use at leisure. The FZ50 glides into a shot with all the ease in the World. I can, without any effort at all, be zooming to compose a shot whilst adjusting the EV, in the same way I can brake and change gear when driving. Can you imagine the sum total of effortless time saving through the life of the camera?
DSLR users have many of these benefits to hand, but the FZ50 is a small sensor digicam with them; a vital and near unique difference that allows the FZ50 to sport a single, Leica quality lens, and massive depth of field. The odds of something being in focus are improved. Macro depth of field is unsurpassable.
So there you are. Couple the handling with the small sensor and bingo, you have the most brilliant, fabulous, wonderful and enjoyable photo taking machine ever built. Sadly, and beware, the FZ28 is dissapointing when picked up by an FZ50 owner. The FZ28 is a common motorised right index finger and thumb machine; drives you nuts and wildlife can hear it.
The FZ50 is, by necessity, a two handed camera and, like driving a car, benefits from this greatly. Many threads on this forum, lots of them mine, will speak of the FZ50's outright speed at setting up a shot. An FZ50 user misses fewer shots than any other camera user; just about. Now this fact means one very important thing: because the FZ50 is so fast to use, it is also fantasticaly easy to use at leisure. The FZ50 glides into a shot with all the ease in the World. I can, without any effort at all, be zooming to compose a shot whilst adjusting the EV, in the same way I can brake and change gear when driving. Can you imagine the sum total of effortless time saving through the life of the camera?
DSLR users have many of these benefits to hand, but the FZ50 is a small sensor digicam with them; a vital and near unique difference that allows the FZ50 to sport a single, Leica quality lens, and massive depth of field. The odds of something being in focus are improved. Macro depth of field is unsurpassable.
So there you are. Couple the handling with the small sensor and bingo, you have the most brilliant, fabulous, wonderful and enjoyable photo taking machine ever built. Sadly, and beware, the FZ28 is dissapointing when picked up by an FZ50 owner. The FZ28 is a common motorised right index finger and thumb machine; drives you nuts and wildlife can hear it.
Similar threads
Keyboard shortcuts
- f
- Forum