Your opinion FZ80 & FZ200?

I've been using the FZ82 for over 2 years now and I'm impressed by the features that come in this camera.

To start with 20mm wide.

Than the long end exceeding by far my old FZ30.

Than the wifi capabilities, using the remote control functions, the transfer of pics to smartphone or tablet.

The touchscreen is a real benafit.

There still is a world of functions I have not yet explored.

Sometimes I miss the articulating screen.

In brief I am very happy.















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keep on shooting!

I have the FZ200, and I bought the FZ80 for the longer zoom length.

IMO overall the FZ200 overall IQ especially at higher ISO's required by small max apertures vs the FZ200 larger pixel size and constant f/2.8 max aperture. Even when downsizing 'my' FZ80 18MP images to 12MP to match the FZ200's 12MP, 'my' FZ200 images have better overall IQ.

I agree with the comments on the FZ80 in the following review:
Panasonic FZ300 vs FZ80 Bridge camera comparison (HERE)

IMHO, Yes the FZ80 'can' provide 'good' IQ with the right conditions:
• GOOD Daylight Lighting (as lighting decreases, IQ decreases)
• Low ISO settings (which is difficult with the tele small apertures)
• Main subject (i.e., bird) 'FILLS' the image area

Would highly recommend reading several of the full F80/ FZ82 Reviews (e.g., Imaging Resource FZ80 Review HERE) that have full size sample images you can download and view on your system, as the majority of the FZ80 images I've seen posted are generally downsized to small resolution sizes.

Can also read a couple rather lengthy FZ80 Pros/ Cons threads HERE and HERE as to.

All depends on the intended use of the images. If mainly want small resolution images to share online, with good daylight and low ISO the FZ80 will be OK.

Images below from older post HERE:

FZ80 PP RAW images downsized:











Originally thought I just got a bad FZ80 sample; but after reading various reviews and viewing images 'my' FZ80 on par with those in reviews.

Graham Houghton FZ82/ FZ80 Review :









Camera Ergonomics: Panasonic FZ80 (andFZ300) Thoughts from a user





Good Luck,
Jon

Thanks jon I appreciate your detailed response.

Thank you arnoud, I'm impressed with all the FZ80 features but the IQ is where I focus.

photoholiko said:

Thank you arnoud, I'm impressed with all the FZ80 features but the IQ is where I focus.

Click to expand...

Image quality is not the strongest point of the FZ80. The larger Sony DSC-RX10IV has the same 600mm EFL long reach of the FZ200 but with a larger sensor and better cropping abilities, partly due to larger pixel count, partly due to very good image quality. It is, however, really large and really really expensive in comparison.

The FZ300 is an upgrade in features to the FZ200 but the image quality is pretty consistent (possibly a bit stronger in its noise reduction defaults when using JPEG).

So in short, besting the FZ200 in the image quality department alone is sort of trickier and/or more expensive than one would think in relation to a camera from 2012.

photoholiko said:

I have the FZ200 that I've been using for general photography and flowers. I notice from pictures I see taken with the FZ80 are impressive and have excellent IQ. I want to use this format for macro and I'm wondering if i would gain much by using an FZ80.

Click to expand...

I'm not sure what you'll gain for macro vs. you FZ200. Perhaps a bit more magnification before you might need to add a closeup lens? But then you're FZ80 will be stopping down to smaller apertures, killing the light. I'm just not sure of the benefit. You might be better off upgrading to the FZ300 instead, gaining the newer features while maintaining the full-range 1f/2.8 lens and articulating screen.

kkardster said:

photoholiko said:

I have the FZ200 that I've been using for general photography and flowers. I notice from pictures I see taken with the FZ80 are impressive and have excellent IQ. I want to use this format for macro and I'm wondering if i would gain much by using an FZ80.

Click to expand...

I'm not sure what you'll gain for macro vs. you FZ200. Perhaps a bit more magnification before you might need to add a closeup lens? But then you're FZ80 will be stopping down to smaller apertures, killing the light. I'm just not sure of the benefit. You might be better off upgrading to the FZ300 instead, gaining the newer features while maintaining the full-range 1f/2.8 lens and articulating screen.

Click to expand...

For macro at significant magnification, I stop down the FZ200 as far as it will go anyway. But frankly, the depth of field is such at maximum focal length that even F8 does not buy you a whole lot of depth.

Dak on cam said:

kkardster said:

photoholiko said:

I have the FZ200 that I've been using for general photography and flowers. I notice from pictures I see taken with the FZ80 are impressive and have excellent IQ. I want to use this format for macro and I'm wondering if i would gain much by using an FZ80.

Click to expand...

I'm not sure what you'll gain for macro vs. you FZ200. Perhaps a bit more magnification before you might need to add a closeup lens? But then you're FZ80 will be stopping down to smaller apertures, killing the light. I'm just not sure of the benefit. You might be better off upgrading to the FZ300 instead, gaining the newer features while maintaining the full-range 1f/2.8 lens and articulating screen.

Click to expand...

For macro at significant magnification, I stop down the FZ200 as far as it will go anyway. But frankly, the depth of field is such at maximum focal length that even F8 does not buy you a whole lot of depth.

Click to expand...

That's partly why I recommended upgrading the FZ200. Focus racking via the 4K Photo Mode Post-Focus feature could help significantly with DOF issues, albeit at 8 MP. Unfortunately, the FZ300 does not stack images in-camera but for best results this is best done using external software anyway.

I want to thank all who have responded to my post for supplying the information I needed to make a decision. It sounds that I won't gain what I thought with the FZ80, so I think I will stay with the FZ200 and try it with a Raynok Macro filter.

Again, thank you for your useful advice.

photoholiko said:

I want to thank all who have responded to my post for supplying the information I needed to make a decision. It sounds that I won't gain what I thought with the FZ80, so I think I will stay with the FZ200 and try it with a Raynok Macro filter.

Click to expand...

I use the FZ200 a lot for close-up/macro of insects, spiders etc, mainly with a Raynox 150 but also a Raynox 250 sometimes. Which one is best depends on how small you want to go. These probably all used the 150. I find the FZ200 fine for this sort of thing. (That said, I have found that flash setup/diffusion and post processing are more important for image quality for this sort of image than the camera I use.)



























--
Nick
Summary of photo activity and output since 2007 https://fliesandflowers.blogspot.com/2019/01/when-i-retired-in-2006-i-had-it-in-mind.html
Flickr image collections http://www.flickr.com/photos/gardenersassistant/collections/

Thank you, those are great shots, I hope to equal those results.

photoholiko said:

Thank you, those are great shots, I hope to equal those results.

Click to expand...

I had just put up a few samples with and without closeup lens in a different thread to illustrate that once you involve a closeup lens, lack of zoom range is not really a big limitation with the FZ200 for typical flower shots.

I'm going the nikon P950. 24-2000 mm reach.

had a curiousity itch i had to scratch.

Would you gain much? No. From FZ200 to FZ80 you would gain a bit. If you want a leap in quality, you would have to buy a fz1000/tz200.

I was in the same dilemma and studied all the tz and fz series, along with canon sx series and sony hx series. The tiny sensor cameras are outdated today(exception: when you really need 30-50X optical zoom). If you have the fz200, keep using it. If you want a significant upgrade, a 1 inch sensor camera would be it.

I had the chance to get a fz1000 at a very low price but decided to go with a tz100 because it fits in a pocket, size was important. The zoom is the only limit with that camera, i get very good IQ even at 2X digital "intelligent" zoom, but at that point the quality is almost the same with what a tz80 would produce. Anyway, the tz100 is a keeper, wish i had the tz200 with 16x optical, but not a deal breaker for me(i casually photograph cats).

Don`t know what the macro performance is like on the fz200, i`m impressed with what the tz100 produces, with some minor image tweaks(-5 noise reduction, +1 sharpness, +1 saturation) . I imagine the tz80 is the same or even better.

In conclusion, my recommendation would be to skip on the fz80- unless you can get it at such a low price that getting wouldn`t pose any financial strain. You already have the fz200. You should also definitely try one of the 1 inch models if you can, there will be a noticeable increase in image quality. That being said, i have a sony hx30v from the same era as the fz200 and i`m still satisfied with the IQ and ease of use, but i suspect the panasonic is a bit more sluggish by comparison(i also had a tz25 and was very dissapointed with it, no comparison with either the hx30v or the tz100 from today).


No edit. Test image. Macro AF mode.


No edit. Test image, Macro zoom AF mode with 3X digital zoom.


Made a HDR from 1 jpeg for increased color saturation and contrast.


Full zoom+ 2X intelligent zoom. Added contrast and reduced brightness in jpeg.

Thanks, based of the responses above I will stay and work some more with with the FZ200.