So many FZ200 threads! Is it really that good?

This is not a complaint, merely an observation!!! :

I see a large number of FZ200 threads in this forum. I own the LX7 and I browse the forum for interesting tidbits, but FZ200 mania seems to be crowding out posts about other cameras, even current ones. Is the FZ200 really so good that it leaves other Panasonic cameras in the dust, or is the high thread count mostly because the FZ200 is so new? Just curious.

I've been unable to find an FZ200 to inspect and test; it's never in stock here in Denver. Maybe that fact answers my question above! I handled a Leica V-Lux 4 (FZ200) yesterday though. Yes the camera seems very nice if you want that kind of zoom range. I'll take f/1.4 @ 24mm rather than f/2.8 @ 600mm for my style of shooting!

Jim Pilcher
Summit County, Colorado, USA

Hi James:

I'm a new Panasonic camera owner and a new FZ200 owner. My guess is that all the activity is because it is so new and because we're still discovering it's strengths and weaknesses. At the same time we have some periodic visitors lobbing grenades at us telling us the Canon SX50 is better than the FZ200 so there a lot of activity spent in taking up that challenge to see if it's true or not. Since most of us dropped $600 (and a lot more in Europe) there's a lot at stake in trying to determine how good this camera actually is.

There is also a whole gob of people who own FZ150 and are VERY happy with it but are trying to figure out if they should take the plunge and upgrade to the FZ200.

When you add it all up it makes for an awful lot of posts here in the last couple of months. The LX& doesn't seem to have nearly as many issues or users.

Hope things settle down soon!

Rudy

Rudy Pohl said:

RudyPohl wrote:

When you add it all up it makes for an awful lot of posts here in the last couple of months. The LX7 doesn't seem to have nearly as many issues or users.

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The FZ200 was announced with the constant f/2.8 aperature before the competition rebutted so there's a lot of comparison going on. That lens itself another hot topic.

The LX7, however, was announced after the Sony RX100 had stolen its thunder so the LX7 is not the "King of the Hill" that the FZ200 is and thus is receiving much less interest here. Meanwhile, they're still wetting themselves over on the Sony forum.

Don't feel odd because you can't find a live FZ200 at your local Best Buy or whatever big box electronics store is in your city. I couldn't find an FZ150 last year, so ordered from Amazon based on buyer response and preview reports. Not sorry at all.

Whenever a new model comes out in the FZ line, folks get moderately crazy around here. And, when it turns out to be class leading, sales increase, people ask "how to" questions, and sample photos fill the forum. We saw that with the FZ150. While I'm not trying to make any decision about an upgrade (already have), I do like to pop in once in a while to see how the forum is. And, it's basically the same. Just some new names and faces here.

I miss reading all of the posts from FZ150 owners since that's the model I have. Some have moved on to the FZ200 and others have gotten their questions answered and don't necessarily post their photos here. I won't be upgrading this year. I really like the FZ150. If there is an FZ250 and the company fixes a major design flaw (no rubber cushion around the viewfinder), I may upgrade then. Like others, I'd also like to see the FZ200 morph into a restyled FZ50 with manual zoom. That would really grab my attention and, probably, my extra cash.

Yes. It is an excellent camera with fantastic capabilities which you can exploit to take superior pictures.

Hrafnakl

Not certain what point you’re trying to make other than you possibly wish there were less FZ200 posts and more LX-7.

“Yes the camera seems very nice if you want that kind of zoom range. I'll take f/1.4 @ 24mm rather than f/2.8 @ 600mm for my style of shooting!”

And that is fine of course but many others feel a need for more zoom range for “their” style of shooting. I don’t think anyone is downgrading your choice.

Pap

Probably . . . it looks as if Panny have decided to take the Compact Superzoom market seriously again, after drifting for 5 years. The new sensor may be even more significant than the new lens.

Mike

Vandyu said:

Vandyu wrote:

I miss reading all of the posts from FZ150 owners since that's the model I have. Some have moved on to the FZ200 and others have gotten their questions answered and don't necessarily post their photos here. I won't be upgrading this year. I really like the FZ150. If there is an FZ250 and the company fixes a major design flaw (no rubber cushion around the viewfinder), I may upgrade then.

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On the other hand it's nice to wallow in obscurity, eh?

Pap38 said:

Pap38 wrote:

Not certain what point you’re trying to make other than you possibly wish there were less FZ200 posts and more LX-7.

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You missed the point. I'm fascinated by the enthusiasm toward the FZ200, even when the LX7 also is still a relatively new offering. I'm curious to read what others have to say when I ask, "Is it really that good?" Nothing more, nothing less.

Actually, that's not true. I'm thinking an FZ200 can take the place of my M Zuiko 75-300mm f/4.8-6.7 zoom on my E-PL5. That lens is slow and difficult to manage on a Pen. For the relatively rare times I want/need the 150-600mm range, the FZ200 seems like maybe a good choice. So I ask, "Is it really that good?"

Pap38 said:

“Yes the camera seems very nice if you want that kind of zoom range. I'll take f/1.4 @ 24mm rather than f/2.8 @ 600mm for my style of shooting!”

And that is fine of course but many others feel a need for more zoom range for “their” style of shooting. I don’t think anyone is downgrading your choice.

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And neither was I downgrading theirs. All to often in these fora when a preference is expressed, those who do not share it assume there is an implied negative toward their own preference. That's an unfortunate tendency.

Jim Pilcher
Summit County, Colorado, USA

Mikedigi said:

Mikedigi wrote:

Probably . . . it looks as if Panny have decided to take the Compact Superzoom market seriously again, after drifting for 5 years. The new sensor may be even more significant than the new lens.

Mike

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Thanks, Mike. I'll do a little more reading about the sensor. As I posted above, I'm thinking of replacing my M Zuiko 75-300mm on my Pen with this superzoom camera. It's all about handling and the Pen + 75-300mm does not have it.

Jim Pilcher
Summit County, Colorado, USA

I think your conclusions have no basis regarding what I was commenting on. I didn’t question your integrity. My Jim, aren’t you just a bit touchy. Nowhere did I state my preference. You assumed something that wasn’t stated! Obviously the FZ 200 has been well received as many comments on this forum would indicate. For that matter so has the LX7.

Your quote: “

I'll take f/1.4 @ 24mm rather than f/2.8 @ 600mm for my style of shooting!”

O.K.

Pap

Mikedigi said:

Mikedigi wrote:

Probably . . . it looks as if Panny have decided to take the Compact Superzoom market seriously again, after drifting for 5 years. The new sensor may be even more significant than the new lens.

Mike

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Odd that that same statement applied to the FZ150 as well so the ship had already been righted. The FZ200 is more like a shiny new coat of paint.

kkardster said:

kkardster wrote:

kkardster said:

Mikedigi wrote:

Probably . . . it looks as if Panny have decided to take the Compact Superzoom market seriously again, after drifting for 5 years. The new sensor may be even more significant than the new lens.

Mike

Click to expand...

Odd that that same statement applied to the FZ150 as well so the ship had already been righted. The FZ200 is more like a shiny new coat of paint.

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Paint would be on the outside. The heart of the new camera is inside - new lens and new sensor. Are these not significant innovations?

Mike

Mikedigi said:

Mikedigi wrote:

Mikedigi said:

kkardster wrote:

Mikedigi said:

Mikedigi wrote:

Probably . . . it looks as if Panny have decided to take the Compact Superzoom market seriously again, after drifting for 5 years. The new sensor may be even more significant than the new lens.

Mike

Click to expand...

Odd that that same statement applied to the FZ150 as well so the ship had already been righted. The FZ200 is more like a shiny new coat of paint.

Click to expand...

Paint would be on the outside. The heart of the new camera is inside - new lens and new sensor. Are these not significant innovations?

Mike

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If you bother to look at the FZ150 reviews, it's major rave was its new sensor, which decreased the resolution in an effort to improve image quality. For that, Panasonic was lauded, so I meant that Panasonic had already "righted the ship" by improving the FZ sensor - which was the main problem for the FZ100. The ZS15 supposedly uses the FZ150 sensor as well and even thought the zoom is shorter, because of that it is preferred over the FZ20 my many due to slightly better IQ.

The FZ200 sports a new "high sensitivity" sensor, but many actually prefer the FZ150 sensor and the FZ200 is only slightly better in some areas.