FZ200: Shooting fast action... what I've learned

sherman_levine · Oct 3, 2012

I don't think FZ200 has two modes ( 1 and 2) as you cite them - although prior models did

FZ200 does have three AF modes - two of which continuously autofocus even while the shutter button is pushed halfway down

Sherm

topshot61 said:
PL. see the manual for the focus modes AF1, AF2.

In FZ 50 it is called Af1, Af2 and is accessible thru the screen menu and external button on top.

Af1 is continuous tracking Af mode, takes too much battery power and spoils the Af motor as well, so do not walk around with the camre on and set to this mode, as the motor will keep whirring all the time, refocusing on the objects!!!

AF2 is also called instant focus the camera does not track the objects at all til it finally takes the pic. it gives +1 ISo advantage in terms of Image satbi. in FZ 50 at least, over the conti Af mode. ( this is what i learned in 2006 from several forums then and from experience)

sherman_levine · Oct 3, 2012

Sometimes a bit of Schadenfreude is all that gets us through the day

Sherm

RudyPohl said:
John Miles said:

1/1000 - crikey! In another thread of yours I stated 1/200.... 2 1/2 stops quicker....

Click to expand...

Hi John:

Don't forget, the 1/1000th exposure time is to stop action of very fast and erraticly moving adult rugby players and fast and erratic moving dogs, lots of slower actions could be stopped with lesser speed.

Also, thanks for the encouraging words... my enthusiasm comes partly out of an experience not that long ago when I ended up buying the wrong kind of camera for me personally, and by the time I sold the kit off I lost a small fortune on the turnover. I did not want a repeat performance with FZ200. Sorry I drsgged you all through my angst.

Cheers,
Rudy

Rudy Pohl · Oct 3, 2012

sherman_levine said:
RudyPohl said:

John Miles said:

1/1000 - crikey! In another thread of yours I stated 1/200.... 2 1/2 stops quicker....

Click to expand...

Hi John:

Don't forget, the 1/1000th exposure time is to stop action of very fast and erraticly moving adult rugby players and fast and erratic moving dogs, lots of slower actions could be stopped with lesser speed.

Also, thanks for the encouraging words... my enthusiasm comes partly out of an experience not that long ago when I ended up buying the wrong kind of camera for me personally, and by the time I sold the kit off I lost a small fortune on the turnover. I did not want a repeat performance with FZ200. Sorry I drsgged you all through my angst.

Cheers,
Rudy

Click to expand...

Hi Sherm.... need clarification.... I looked up that weird word in and online dictionary.... here are the results....

-Rudy
scha·den·freu·de [shahd-n-froi-duh]
-noun

satisfaction or pleasure felt at someone else’s misfortune.

It comes from a combination of the German words for harm/damage (Schaden) and joy (Freude), and is often used as a loanword in English. Technically, schadenfreude should be capitalized like all German nouns, but when used in English it’s usually written in the lower case. As is the rule with most (but not all) loanwords in English, it should be italicized.

For your reference, here are two examples of schadenfreude used in a sentence:

•In a long-awaited moment of schadenfreude, Julie smiled as her ex-boyfriend slammed face-first into the sliding glass door.

•Jimmy could not help but feel a degree of schadenfreude when the jerk who nabbed his taxi got his foot ran over—twice.

topshot61 · Oct 3, 2012

Rudy, Shreman , I went thru the Pana FZ 200 user manual ( I do not have camera as yet )

I find that the AF modes available in FZ 200 are a less sophisticated than FZ 50!.
I have Af, Af (macro), MF ( lens side switch 3 position)

+ for Af area menu has several selections like area( full), center line, area small, area smallest (spot etc)

+ i have one button close to shutter button on top for the Af1/AF2 mode what I described earlier!

The FZ 200 manual says 3 Af, ( in reality only one mode with different area object selection) it is only continuous tracking mode or Af1 of FZ 50!
there is MF mode also.

Can somebody update me on this.
Ref : Pana web page manual dated 18-07-12

alanmcdonley · Oct 3, 2012

sherman_levine said:
I don't think FZ200 has two modes ( 1 and 2) as you cite them - although prior models did

FZ200 does have three AF modes - two of which continuously autofocus even while the shutter button is pushed halfway down

I think the AF1 described is "Quick Focus:On" in the FZ200

sherman_levine · Oct 3, 2012

RudyPohl said:
sherman_levine said:

RudyPohl said:

John Miles said:

1/1000 - crikey! In another thread of yours I stated 1/200.... 2 1/2 stops quicker....

Click to expand...

Hi John:

Don't forget, the 1/1000th exposure time is to stop action of very fast and erraticly moving adult rugby players and fast and erratic moving dogs, lots of slower actions could be stopped with lesser speed.

Also, thanks for the encouraging words... my enthusiasm comes partly out of an experience not that long ago when I ended up buying the wrong kind of camera for me personally, and by the time I sold the kit off I lost a small fortune on the turnover. I did not want a repeat performance with FZ200. Sorry I drsgged you all through my angst.

Cheers,
Rudy

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Hi Sherm.... need clarification.... I looked up that weird word in and online dictionary.... here are the results....

-Rudy
scha·den·freu·de [shahd-n-froi-duh]
-noun

satisfaction or pleasure felt at someone else’s misfortune.

It comes from a combination of the German words for harm/damage (Schaden) and joy (Freude), and is often used as a loanword in English. Technically, schadenfreude should be capitalized like all German nouns, but when used in English it’s usually written in the lower case. As is the rule with most (but not all) loanwords in English, it should be italicized.

For your reference, here are two examples of schadenfreude used in a sentence:

•In a long-awaited moment of schadenfreude, Julie smiled as her ex-boyfriend slammed face-first into the sliding glass door.

•Jimmy could not help but feel a degree of schadenfreude when the jerk who nabbed his taxi got his foot ran over—twice.

Rudy,

Solely an attempt at humor, in which I indulged only because you had finally found success after so many valiant attempts. There was certainly no joy in watching you struggle.

Sherm

sherman_levine · Oct 3, 2012

Hope you have this manual, and not the short one.
http://service.us.panasonic.com/OPERMANPDF/DMCFZ200_ADV.PDF

Page 93
You can choose among several autofocus areas

(moveable spots of various sizes, multiple, face detect) and "AF tracking", where the camera follows the subject while it moves

Page 139

Beyond that, there are several autofocus "styles" which operate even when you have the shutter button pushed down half-way. In previous models the focus was locked by half-push.
AFS (autofocus single...what you've had previously. The lens is locked)

AFF (autofocus flexible)...The camera follows unpredictable movement. If the subject goes out of focus, the camera attempts refocus.

AFC (autofocus continuous)..The camera follows movement, and predicts focus based on the subject's velocity and direction.

Sherm

topshot61 said:
Rudy, Shreman , I went thru the Pana FZ 200 user manual ( I do not have camera as yet )

I find that the AF modes available in FZ 200 are a less sophisticated than FZ 50!.
I have Af, Af (macro), MF ( lens side switch 3 position)

+ for Af area menu has several selections like area( full), center line, area small, area smallest (spot etc)

+ i have one button close to shutter button on top for the Af1/AF2 mode what I described earlier!

The FZ 200 manual says 3 Af, ( in reality only one mode with different area object selection) it is only continuous tracking mode or Af1 of FZ 50!
there is MF mode also.

Can somebody update me on this.
Ref : Pana web page manual dated 18-07-12

Robiro · Oct 3, 2012

RudyPohl said:
2) Shutter Speed: This is the most crucial setting, minimum 1/1000th of a second.

Ha, ha, ha! Exactly what I was telling you a few days ago!

Admit it, Rudy. I knew what I was talking about, didn't I? ;-)

Never forget that what you are asking your FZ200 to do is close to a miracle.

This is what your FZ200 replaces (a Canon 600mm f4 lens):

So whisper a prayer for Panasonic engineers who spared you carrying around that monstrosity!

Glad to hear you are beginning to like your Panasonic... I enjoyed your findings.

Rudy Pohl · Oct 3, 2012

sherman_levine said:
Solely an attempt at humor, in which I indulged only because you had finally found success after so many valiant attempts. There was certainly no joy in watching you struggle.

Sherm

I know Sherm, I was just pullin' your leg as well! LOL and all that! Good to be here, I like this forum, informative AND fun, how can you beat that?

Cheers,
Happy Rudy

Rudy Pohl · Oct 3, 2012

Robiro said:
RudyPohl said:

2) Shutter Speed: This is the most crucial setting, minimum 1/1000th of a second.

Click to expand...

Ha, ha, ha! Exactly what I was telling you a few days ago! Admit it, Rudy. I knew what I was talking about, didn't I? ;-)

Never forget that what you are asking your FZ200 to do is close to a miracle.

This is what your FZ200 replaces (a Canon 600mm f4 lens):

So whisper a prayer for Panasonic engineers who spared you carrying around that monstrosity!

Glad to hear you are beginning to like your Panasonic... I enjoyed your findings.

Hi Robiro:

Yep, you were absolutely right to remind me and the rest of us that what we are asking the FZ200 to do is nothing short of a miracle!

Thanks,
Rudy

John Macri · Oct 3, 2012

Thanks for documenting your findings. I'm going to setup a custom mode using your settings. Much appreciated!

sherman_levine · Oct 3, 2012

RudyPohl said:
sherman_levine said:

Solely an attempt at humor, in which I indulged only because you had finally found success after so many valiant attempts. There was certainly no joy in watching you struggle.

Sherm

Click to expand...

I know Sherm, I was just pullin' your leg as well! LOL and all that! Good to be here, I like this forum, informative AND fun, how can you beat that?

Cheers,
Happy Rudy

Glad to hear that. There's such a narrow line between tongue-in-cheek and foot-in-mouth.

Sherm

Rudy Pohl · Oct 3, 2012

sherman_levine said:
Glad to hear that. There's such a narrow line between tongue-in-cheek and foot-in-mouth.

Sherm

Ain't that the truth!?

Rudy

Tootsall · Oct 3, 2012

Rudy, there is a camera store in Calgary that likes to post videos. To add to what Robiro posted, check out this video! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfnv9pRUJrU

After that you might like to cruise around their other videos: they've got quite a few.
--
"Kites rise highest against the wind - not with it." - Winston Churchill

Buzz Lightyear · Oct 3, 2012

Thanks for this reminder/clarification, Sherm. I'm trying to put the descriptions into some kind of real frame of reference to help me remember what they do. Tell me if this sounds reasonable....

sherman_levine said:
Beyond that, there are several autofocus "styles" which operate even when you have the shutter button pushed down half-way. In previous models the focus was locked by half-push.

sherman_levine said:
AFS (autofocus single...what you've had previously. The lens is locked)

This looks like it would be appropriate for the slow moving or still objects like the moon + sitting birds and animals.

sherman_levine said:
AFF (autofocus flexible)...The camera follows unpredictable movement. If the subject goes out of focus, the camera attempts refocus.

And this for flying insects and birds (esp. hummingbirds).

sherman_levine said:
AFC (autofocus continuous)..The camera follows movement, and predicts focus based on the subject's velocity and direction.

And the for soccer / rugby / football matches / car-motorcyle races.

sherman_levine said:
Sherm

sherman_levine · Oct 3, 2012

In principle, yes. In practice, I've not tested it myself or seen a comparison here.

Sherm
Buzz Lightyear wrote:

Buzz Lightyear said:
Thanks for this reminder/clarification, Sherm. I'm trying to put the descriptions into some kind of real frame of reference to help me remember what they do. Tell me if this sounds reasonable....

sherman_levine said:

Beyond that, there are several autofocus "styles" which operate even when you have the shutter button pushed down half-way. In previous models the focus was locked by half-push.

Click to expand...

Buzz Lightyear said:

AFS (autofocus single...what you've had previously. The lens is locked)

Click to expand...

This looks like it would be appropriate for the slow moving or still objects like the moon + sitting birds and animals.

Buzz Lightyear said:

AFF (autofocus flexible)...The camera follows unpredictable movement. If the subject goes out of focus, the camera attempts refocus.

Click to expand...

And this for flying insects and birds (esp. hummingbirds).

Buzz Lightyear said:

AFC (autofocus continuous)..The camera follows movement, and predicts focus based on the subject's velocity and direction.

Click to expand...

And the for soccer / rugby / football matches / car-motorcyle races.

Buzz Lightyear said:

Sherm

Click to expand...

Rudy Pohl · Oct 4, 2012

Tootsall said:
Tootsall wrote:

Rudy, there is a camera store in Calgary that likes to post videos. To add to what Robiro posted, check out this video! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfnv9pRUJrU

After that you might like to cruise around their other videos: they've got quite a few.
--
"Kites rise highest against the wind - not with it." - Winston Churchill

Hi Tootsall:

Great video! Perfectly summarizes my own decision to sell my 5DMKII and lens ($6000) and buy the FZ200.

Thanks for posting, Rudy

antoineb · Oct 4, 2012

I own an old Panasonic larger superzoom, a more recent pocketable Panasonic superzoom, and a Nikon D7000 DSLR.

Ergonomics of successor models to my old superzoom have failed to impress me (no joystick, to start with), not to mention issues of IQ on some models.

The Nikon D7k is capable of nice shots of course, but it's big, heavy, even worse if I want to travel with a couple lenses - and thus it's at odds with my desire to always be able to have my camera with me.

Now the FZ200 is looking quite good, and your review of continuous shooting makes it look even better. Thanks!

Rudy Pohl · Oct 4, 2012

antoineb said:
antoineb wrote:

the FZ200 is looking quite good, and your review of continuous shooting makes it look even better. Thanks!

Hi Antoineb:

Your welcome. I am feeling better and better about this camera with every outing.... actually, it's quite good!

Thanks,

Rudy

Harveydad · Oct 4, 2012

You might consider a Red Dot Sight. Not everybody likes them, but I have found with all the Panasonics I have owned, that a RDS with the focus-lock-beep turned on and the settings you mentioned have produced good results.

FZ200: Shooting fast action... what I've learned

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