I Feel Weary, Oh So Weary

The lifeforce within me is slowly being vaporized by all of the negativity starting to surface toward newly posted FZ150 samples. It's this way every time a new model comes out. The pixel peepers are complaining about noise that most people will not notice in photos taken for general use, for vacations, holiday events, kids, pets, and bugs in the garden.

Why do you purchase an superzoom camera in the first place? Are you planning to shoot weddings? Are you doing professional portraiture? Are you being paid by National Geographic? Are you making your living with these cameras?

Of course not. These cameras are designed for hobbyists, for people who want to grab some bird shots, or kids playing in the yard, or mountains in the distance. And, they will do that. It looks like the FZ150 will do it better than its predecessor.

If you want outstanding image quality, buy a Nikon D700 (or the D7000 if you're on a budget) and invest thousands in lenses, and don't scream about the cost or weight.

Or, buy and enjoy an FZ. Learn the secrets of the best settings, get into good body posture for improved focus, and have some fun with photography!
--

"Promise me you'll always remember: You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think."
(A.A. Milne)

They don't know what they are talking about, the FZ150 samples I have seen with foliage in them show a substantial improvement over the FZ100, switch the noise reduction to low and I think this CMOS camera could rival the HS20 for fine detail retention.

Small sensor cameras are hardly ever about anything but pixel density, lower the density and image quality will improve. That is what Panasonic have done and the FZ150 is better, it is as simple as that.

The detractors are simply deluded, trolling, or purchase justifying.

Hear, Hear!!

Applies to many other cameras, too, IMHO.

And......understand that you likely won't write a great novel, nor out-paint Rembrandt, nor exceed Ansel Adams in photography.

Enjoy!

-Erik
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DP Review Supporter.



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

Agree! Agree!

I'll never be Ansel Adams (or Margaret Burke-White - since I don't do landscapes). And, at least once a month I need to remind myself of that depressing reality.

But, I still take pretty good pictures. And, the gear doesn't matter nearly as much as care that I take when taking a picture.
--

Peg

Well Said!!! - I own an FZ100 and I love it - no doubt the camera's of the future will develope even further bringing the hobbyist and amateur the possibility of even more stunning results........Do I follow like sheep......no way......I will decide when I am good and ready when to upgrade ( if thats the correct word to use) all too often it usually is: .."Two steps forward and three back"......Have Fun Suttzzs.

what most people don't seem to understand is the camera is just a tool and everything else depends on the person using it. i definitely agree with you on your point!
--
A New Hope

My hopes may have been ravage
and dreams turned to dust
but my soul will struggle
through this darkest night
and in this darkness,
my battered soul shall mend
to dream new dreams,
to hope without end.

I agree with V's original point and am with you, Sutzzs, very happy with the FZ100 . Stuart

Cheers, geoff
--
Geoffrey Heard

http://pngtimetraveller.blogspot.com/2010/12/what-does-standard-of-living-mean-in.html

--
http://www.pbase.com/jbrandt

Yeah man, the IQ is awesome. Let's compare

FZ35:









FZ150:





A true breaktrough in IQ, indeed. Your arguments are irrebatible. Long life to noise and blur.

I think that it may be more appropriate to compare shots from the FZ150 to its predecessor, the FZ100. These are both CMOS sensors and we should be able to see some of the changes that Panasonic states have been made to improve image quality. Otherwise, we are comparing apples to oranges.
--

"Promise me you'll always remember: You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think."
(A.A. Milne)

I very much agree with your opening post.

However, i do not completely agree with this one. Apples to oranges? Because the sensor is different technology? Sorry, I can't go along with that. I'm looking for a replacement for my FZ28 which is a SuperZoom. The FZ150 is a SuperZoom, too. Should I not compare them because one has a hot shoe and the other doesn't? Can we compare the Fuji SZ's; because their pixel array is oriented differently? I'd think it's more like comparing a Red Delicious apple to a Fuji or Cortland apple.

Sorry, they are all SZ's, and should be compared on the basis of image quality, build quality, and features. If their IQ gets downrated a little because of a CMOS sensor; then so did a lot of CCD sensor cameras.

Now, having got that out of my system, I am VERY interested in the FZ150; because it did very well in downloading the sample shots from DPR and printing them at 8" x 10" or as borderless 8.5" x 11" . The results at low ISO are at least as good as my FZ28, and the higher ISO shots are better with regard to noise control and detail. Color is very good throughout.

By the way, the sample images from the photographyblog are not so good. A lot of the long ones show blur from camera shake taken at 1/125 second. But the ones that don't show jiggle blur are quite sharp, like the couple on the grass, the one with the blond girl's leg extended.
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Jerry

I knew I was going to draw fire for my last comment. That little voice in my head that said "Are you sure you want to say that?" went off. I see your point about being able to compare cameras with different sensors in order to find the best image quality. Still, I've seen many folks here debate CCD vs. CMOS and come out in favor of the CCD for still photography. Thus, I'd still like to see a really hard nosed comparison of the FZ100 and the FZ150 to see how Panasonic has improved the CMOS-sensor-based model.

If it isn't the FZ50 then it's the FZ35 that all are being compared to for image quality and features. Let's see the two recent flagship models go at it. Of course, we would expect the FZ150 to win. If not, then Panasonic can just change the model number from year to year and make no significant changes that will improve IQ in stills as well as video. Has anyone compared the video performance of the 100 vs 150? They are trying to please two masters, you know
--

"Promise me you'll always remember: You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think."
(A.A. Milne)

Dear Mr. kretinaceo, your comparison is pretty much unfair.... Your pictures are taken with wide angle AND in bright day conditions. The images of FZ150 are taken at maximum tele angle AND in cloudy day. I own FZ38 and I know what it is capable on. I state that IQ of FZ35/38 is absolutely comparable with IQ of FZ150. But with FZ150 you will have some advantages: FullHD video (wich is very important to me), wider angle, more zoom and very fast performance. I think that at the moment the price is to big, but when it falls till acceptable price of 400$ I will definitely upgrade my FZ38 to FZ150.

Something to consider...every camera has some drawback. I have found through a few cameras (LX3 currently) that sometimes it's the drawbacks, and my effort to study, and work around them, that I become a better photographer. Everytime something comes along to tempt me away from my LX3, I go back in the yard and experiment until I find a work around that gives me an affect that frees me from the yearning to replace it with newer equipment. Then I leave the yard and get out in the crowds and environment where I can shoot.

Then I develop with my favorite tools...and I get a dozen shots a month, at least, printed on better gear than I have. People still love to hold a real photograph!!!

I don't care what people think I look like behind my camera, nor what people think my camera looks like. I DO care what people think of the photographs. My desk at work is plastered with matted 5X7 shots. Everyone is always stopping by to see what's new on my walls.

The next great camera will be surpassed. It doesn't mean it isn't still great...and that you can do great work with it long after it's off the manufacturing line.

What do you think Ansel Adams would use today? I'd bet on a wooden box camera with wet plates at least some of the time.

Nicely said. I've never found myself able to adapt well to a camera without a viewfinder attached. So, when I'm camera shopping, that's always a necessity. But, I've seen some grand work displayed here, particularly by people who use an LX series Panasonic. My arms are just better folded against my body than stretched out in front of my face. Does that make me a bit of an anachronism?
--

"Promise me you'll always remember: You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think."
(A.A. Milne)

Reall,

I'm still using the FZ28 (I prefer it to the FZ35/38). From the images I downloaded from DPR and printed, I think the FZ150 is on a par with the FZ28 and FZ35 at lower ISO, and better at higher ISO with better noise control, better detail, and fewer artifacts. No frog spawn noted, so far. If that opinion holds up, and I get a flip out LCD, faster AF, a wider and longer zoom range, and a hot shoe, I'd be absolutely delighted.
--
Jerry

nt
--
Jerry

Vandyu said:

Nicely said. I've never found myself able to adapt well to a camera without a viewfinder attached. So, when I'm camera shopping, that's always a necessity. But, I've seen some grand work displayed here, particularly by people who use an LX series Panasonic. My arms are just better folded against my body than stretched out in front of my face. Does that make me a bit of an anachronism?

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No, it makes you someone who prefers a superior method of framing a photo. IMO a viewfinder is superior to an LCD any day of the week.

--
Art is far superior to "artsy".

I was an OVF fanboy all this while and frowned upon low res EVFs... until I put my eyes on the latest state-of-the-art EVF on a display Sony NEX 7 during a press meet in my city. At first I doubted whether it was an OVF instead cuz the clarity was great... nothing like I had experienced before.

I think the day has finally arrived for EVFs... for even a die-hard OVF user like me is now impressed. And it can only get better and better from here.

That said, the older generation EVFs were all utter crap and crud. Its the latest newly available EVFs that have actually begun to impress me.

......
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