ZS3 wish list

Let me start with I really like this camera. After 3 weeks of use I just printed a little over 100 photos and they are amazing.

What I wish this camera had:

1. Exposure lock. I'd really like the exposure stay the way I adjust it and not change due to different light situations.

2. Focus ON/OFF switch. I hate taking a movie and see the focus moving from one subject to other just like that. I'd like to focus, turn it OFF and start filming. This way the camera would not refocus on the new subject coming into the frame.

3. I wish the camera had a way of using polariser filters. A front thread, front attachment or anything to let me use a polariser.

I wish Panasonic would add one of these useful features (for me, at least) into their next camera instead of GPS or more megapixels. I probably ask too much. If any of the above comes in the new Sony camera I might consider it.

panpen wrote in part:

panpen said:

Let me start with I really like this camera. After 3 weeks of use I just printed a little over 100 photos and they are amazing.

What I wish this camera had:

Click to expand...

panpen said:

3. I wish the camera had a way of using polariser filters. A front thread, front attachment or anything to let me use a polariser.

Click to expand...

-#3 At least is pretty easy to do - just hold the filter gently against the front of the lens & shoot.

You can view the effect through the LCD, or just orient the filter by eye to the effect you want and then move it in front of the lens without turning it & you'll be OK.

-Erik

--
DP Review Supporter.



'He who hesitates is not only lost - he's miles from the next Exit.'
http://www.flickr.com/ohlsonmh/

Erik Ohlson said:

Erik Ohlson said:

Let me start with I really like this camera. After 3 weeks of use I just printed a little over 100 photos and they are amazing.

What I wish this camera had:

Click to expand...

Erik Ohlson said:

3. I wish the camera had a way of using polariser filters. A front thread, front attachment or anything to let me use a polariser.

Click to expand...

-#3 At least is pretty easy to do - just hold the filter gently against the front of the lens & shoot.

You can view the effect through the LCD, or just orient the filter by eye to the effect you want and then move it in front of the lens without turning it & you'll be OK.

-Erik

--
DP Review Supporter.



'He who hesitates is not only lost - he's miles from the next Exit.'
http://www.flickr.com/ohlsonmh/

Click to expand...

Pemaraal Adapter Company. Check it out. Puts a 37mm thread at your disposal. You can use a step up ring to 43mm or 46mm (to prevent vignetting) and add polarizers,etc. I'm ordering mine this weekend to see how it goes. At the very least I want to have a filter of some kind on it, and maybe add a lens cap. I did not realize how flimsy the Pannys built-in lens cover would be.

Re the flimsy lens cover, I'm just keeping mine in a plastic sandwich bag (not ziplock type) and then inside the leather Panny case that came with mine. Seems to be keeping the camera very clean and dust free so far, although at the cost of a little extra work to take it out and put it away.
--
Peter

I think the ZS3 already does #1 and #2 for you:

Exposure lock: use the panorama mode, it will lock the settings for multiple pictures

Focus lock in video: go in the menus while you are in the mode to be video recording. Look for the setting for continuous focus - turn it off. That way, it will focus once at the beginning, and not while you are shooting

mongatu said:

Re the flimsy lens cover, I'm just keeping mine in a plastic sandwich bag (not ziplock type) and then inside the leather Panny case that came with mine. Seems to be keeping the camera very clean and dust free so far, although at the cost of a little extra work to take it out and put it away.
--
Peter

Click to expand...

The sandwich bag has worked for me for years

RE: the flimsy lens cover - I bouught a TZ-3 and just recently, a TZ-5 with "broken" lens covers, for a greatly reduced price.

Then, a drop of glue on each cover, and prop the covers in "full open" position overnight, add a Kaiser push-on plastic lens cap & "you're good to go", so it's not that big a problem if they do get compromised.

Cheers, -Erik

--
DP Review Supporter.



'He who hesitates is not only lost - he's miles from the next Exit.'
http://www.flickr.com/ohlsonmh/

KingFatty said:

I think the ZS3 already does #1 and #2 for you:

Exposure lock: use the panorama mode, it will lock the settings for multiple pictures

Click to expand...

I need the exposure to be locked when I'm recording.

KingFatty said:

Focus lock in video: go in the menus while you are in the mode to be video recording. Look for the setting for continuous focus - turn it off. That way, it will focus once at the beginning, and not while you are shooting

Click to expand...

Now the camera is a keeper. I had no idea that I can have the focus lock and stay that way. Thank you