James Morgan has sounded Alarm Bells!

Hi James (or anyone else who's listening),

I read your post, James, about returning your FZ10 for unsatisfactory focusing in cloudy conditions.

I'm a real novice in digital photography, and have been using my son's Pentax Optio 550 to get started. I don't like it for the following reasons:
Tiny size doesn't suit my none too steady hands.
Optical viewfinder - no image info, and 80% view.

Very small LCD screen, difficult to see details in daylight - eyes ain't so good either!
Very noisy images.

I've researched the Fuji S5000, Kodak DX6490, and Olympus UZ750, before reaching the FZ10 and this Forum, where I've been lurking and learning as much as possible for quite a while now. Thanks everyone!

I intend/intended to buy an FZ10 at the end of the Month, when I hope my birthday will top up my camera fund. I live not a million miles from Glasgow, where our cloudy conditions are giving you the problems, James.

Does this mean I ought to think again?

Regards, Jim H.

jimh said:

Hi James (or anyone else who's listening),

I read your post, James, about returning your FZ10 for
unsatisfactory focusing in cloudy conditions.

I'm a real novice in digital photography, and have been using my
son's Pentax Optio 550 to get started. I don't like it for the
following reasons:
Tiny size doesn't suit my none too steady hands.
Optical viewfinder - no image info, and 80% view.
Very small LCD screen, difficult to see details in daylight - eyes
ain't so good either!
Very noisy images.

I've researched the Fuji S5000, Kodak DX6490, and Olympus UZ750,
before reaching the FZ10 and this Forum, where I've been lurking
and learning as much as possible for quite a while now. Thanks
everyone!

I intend/intended to buy an FZ10 at the end of the Month, when I
hope my birthday will top up my camera fund. I live not a million
miles from Glasgow, where our cloudy conditions are giving you the
problems, James.

Does this mean I ought to think again?

Regards, Jim H.

Click to expand...

Hi Jim,

I must have missed the thread you you mention, do you have a link.

thanks,

marko

He's not the only one to give up on the FZ10. I know of 3 or 4 people that have had issues with the FZ10. One that comes to mind swore up and down that the Minolta Z1 ran circles around the FZ10. Others went the DSLR route in search of perfect noise free pictures. Some were Oly 2100 'UZI" users who thought they had found the genetic copy of their beloved cam. It isn't BTW. Different strokes for different folks.

FZ10 is not the best point and shoot camera. It takes patience to learn what will and will not work. I have steered a number of people away from buying FZ10 if they were looking for a P/S or if their primary need was indoor snapshots.

If you are concerned, buy from a retailer that allows no question returns without hassle or restocking fees.

jimh said:

Hi James (or anyone else who's listening),

I read your post, James, about returning your FZ10 for
unsatisfactory focusing in cloudy conditions.

I'm a real novice in digital photography, and have been using my
son's Pentax Optio 550 to get started. I don't like it for the
following reasons:
Tiny size doesn't suit my none too steady hands.
Optical viewfinder - no image info, and 80% view.
Very small LCD screen, difficult to see details in daylight - eyes
ain't so good either!
Very noisy images.

I've researched the Fuji S5000, Kodak DX6490, and Olympus UZ750,
before reaching the FZ10 and this Forum, where I've been lurking
and learning as much as possible for quite a while now. Thanks
everyone!

I intend/intended to buy an FZ10 at the end of the Month, when I
hope my birthday will top up my camera fund. I live not a million
miles from Glasgow, where our cloudy conditions are giving you the
problems, James.

Does this mean I ought to think again?

Regards, Jim H.

Click to expand...

--
Olympus C5050, Panasonic FZ1, FZ10K, Oly Tcon 1.7
http://www.pbase.com/ramblin_mo/galleries

Yes Virginia, there is no perfect camera. What might come close is one whos price is around $2000 ~$3000 or more, and requires a 'camera caddy' to carry the bag of accessories around.

I realize there may be a better camera, in the price range, of the FZ10 but I don't have a lifetime to investigate, research, and sample and compare camera after camera after camera. I hope you find your camera soon, as life is much to short!

I love the FZ10 for what it can and does do for my particular interests. I am shooting now, and having lots of fun.

jimh said:

Hi James (or anyone else who's listening),

I read your post, James, about returning your FZ10 for
unsatisfactory focusing in cloudy conditions.

I'm a real novice in digital photography, and have been using my
son's Pentax Optio 550 to get started. I don't like it for the
following reasons:
Tiny size doesn't suit my none too steady hands.
Optical viewfinder - no image info, and 80% view.
Very small LCD screen, difficult to see details in daylight - eyes
ain't so good either!
Very noisy images.

I've researched the Fuji S5000, Kodak DX6490, and Olympus UZ750,
before reaching the FZ10 and this Forum, where I've been lurking
and learning as much as possible for quite a while now. Thanks
everyone!

I intend/intended to buy an FZ10 at the end of the Month, when I
hope my birthday will top up my camera fund. I live not a million
miles from Glasgow, where our cloudy conditions are giving you the
problems, James.

Does this mean I ought to think again?

Regards, Jim H.

Click to expand...

--
10kzOOm -- (FZ10k)
http://www.pbase.com/10kzoomfz

Hi Jim,

As someone living in South Yorkshire, I spend most of my photographic life shooting in gloomy conditions. I have to say that I have had no particular problems (or maybe I am not critical enough of my own pics) as yet. However, I do tend to take fairly static shots, so whether trying to focus on moving images under grey clouds presents problems I can't honestly say.

All I can say is that it is a brilliant camera, and if anyone can get a better one within £££ price range then good luck to them!

Steve

http://gallery52590.fotopic.net/c140331.html

jimh said:

Hi James (or anyone else who's listening),

I read your post, James, about returning your FZ10 for
unsatisfactory focusing in cloudy conditions.

I'm a real novice in digital photography, and have been using my
son's Pentax Optio 550 to get started. I don't like it for the
following reasons:
Tiny size doesn't suit my none too steady hands.
Optical viewfinder - no image info, and 80% view.
Very small LCD screen, difficult to see details in daylight - eyes
ain't so good either!
Very noisy images.

I've researched the Fuji S5000, Kodak DX6490, and Olympus UZ750,
before reaching the FZ10 and this Forum, where I've been lurking
and learning as much as possible for quite a while now. Thanks
everyone!

I intend/intended to buy an FZ10 at the end of the Month, when I
hope my birthday will top up my camera fund. I live not a million
miles from Glasgow, where our cloudy conditions are giving you the
problems, James.

Does this mean I ought to think again?

Regards, Jim H.

Click to expand...

Hi Marko,
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1033&message=8366022

Jim H.

mark1000 said:

jimh said:

Hi James (or anyone else who's listening),

I read your post, James, about returning your FZ10 for
unsatisfactory focusing in cloudy conditions.

I'm a real novice in digital photography, and have been using my
son's Pentax Optio 550 to get started. I don't like it for the
following reasons:
Tiny size doesn't suit my none too steady hands.
Optical viewfinder - no image info, and 80% view.
Very small LCD screen, difficult to see details in daylight - eyes
ain't so good either!
Very noisy images.

I've researched the Fuji S5000, Kodak DX6490, and Olympus UZ750,
before reaching the FZ10 and this Forum, where I've been lurking
and learning as much as possible for quite a while now. Thanks
everyone!

I intend/intended to buy an FZ10 at the end of the Month, when I
hope my birthday will top up my camera fund. I live not a million
miles from Glasgow, where our cloudy conditions are giving you the
problems, James.

Does this mean I ought to think again?

Regards, Jim H.

Click to expand...

Hi Jim,

I must have missed the thread you you mention, do you have a link.

thanks,

marko

Click to expand...

Ramblin said:

FZ10 is not the best point and shoot camera. It takes patience to
learn what will and will not work. I have steered a number of
people away from buying FZ10 if they were looking for a P/S or if
their primary need was indoor snapshots.

Click to expand...

I only have an FZ1 but I still agree with the above statement as it pertains to the FZ1. Focusing is more of a challenge than many other P&S cameras. It tkaes more practice. So, if you buy one from a retailer that has only a two week return policy, you may not have enough to to get the hang of things.

I took some bird pictures over the weekend under very cloudy conditions and the pictures came out good. I can definitely see improvement in my technique since I got the FZ1 back in August. It is far from perfect but still getting better.

I really enjoy this little camera. BTW, I am looking forward to buying the successor to the FZ10. Why wiat? I just want to make my interest still lies with photography, want to get my moneys worth out of what I got, and I want to continue to improve my techniques.

Enjoy,
Steven
--
Just having fun with my cams:
http://www.pbase.com/swhatleys/

Ramblin said:

He's not the only one to give up on the FZ10. I know of 3 or 4
people that have had issues with the FZ10. One that comes to mind
swore up and down that the Minolta Z1 ran circles around the FZ10.
Others went the DSLR route in search of perfect noise free
pictures. Some were Oly 2100 'UZI" users who thought they had found
the genetic copy of their beloved cam. It isn't BTW. Different
strokes for different folks.

FZ10 is not the best point and shoot camera. It takes patience to
learn what will and will not work. I have steered a number of
people away from buying FZ10 if they were looking for a P/S or if
their primary need was indoor snapshots.

If you are concerned, buy from a retailer that allows no question
returns without hassle or restocking fees.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the comments. I'm completely new to digital, apart from trying the Optio 550, and have been away from photography for so long I feel I need to learn again from scratch. However, I do have a Canon EOS 600 with a bag full of lenses, which I used to know how to use.

In the distant past I did all my own darkroom work, so I am keen to learn how to get the best out of my new camera, as well as expecting to actually enjoy post processing on the computer. I've already got PS7 for processing scanned images of some of my old slides.

Jim H.

Ramblin said:

jimh said:

Hi James (or anyone else who's listening),

I read your post, James, about returning your FZ10 for
unsatisfactory focusing in cloudy conditions.

I'm a real novice in digital photography, and have been using my
son's Pentax Optio 550 to get started. I don't like it for the
following reasons:
Tiny size doesn't suit my none too steady hands.
Optical viewfinder - no image info, and 80% view.
Very small LCD screen, difficult to see details in daylight - eyes
ain't so good either!
Very noisy images.

I've researched the Fuji S5000, Kodak DX6490, and Olympus UZ750,
before reaching the FZ10 and this Forum, where I've been lurking
and learning as much as possible for quite a while now. Thanks
everyone!

I intend/intended to buy an FZ10 at the end of the Month, when I
hope my birthday will top up my camera fund. I live not a million
miles from Glasgow, where our cloudy conditions are giving you the
problems, James.

Does this mean I ought to think again?

Regards, Jim H.

Click to expand...

--
Olympus C5050, Panasonic FZ1, FZ10K, Oly Tcon 1.7
http://www.pbase.com/ramblin_mo/galleries

Click to expand...

Thanks for the encouragement, Steven. I believe the FZ1 is closely similar to the FZ10. I wouldn't expect to take the FZ10 out, and become an expert in 5 minutes! .

If the pictures in your gallery were all shot with your FZ1, I'd be delighted to do nearly as well with the 10.

Jim H.

Gospel said:

Ramblin said:

FZ10 is not the best point and shoot camera. It takes patience to
learn what will and will not work. I have steered a number of
people away from buying FZ10 if they were looking for a P/S or if
their primary need was indoor snapshots.

Click to expand...

I only have an FZ1 but I still agree with the above statement as it
pertains to the FZ1. Focusing is more of a challenge than many
other P&S cameras. It tkaes more practice. So, if you buy one
from a retailer that has only a two week return policy, you may not
have enough to to get the hang of things.

I took some bird pictures over the weekend under very cloudy
conditions and the pictures came out good. I can definitely see
improvement in my technique since I got the FZ1 back in August.
It is far from perfect but still getting better.

I really enjoy this little camera. BTW, I am looking forward to
buying the successor to the FZ10. Why wiat? I just want to make
my interest still lies with photography, want to get my moneys
worth out of what I got, and I want to continue to improve my
techniques.

Enjoy,
Steven
--
Just having fun with my cams:
http://www.pbase.com/swhatleys/

Click to expand...

I fervently hope not to have to do any more research. I hope the FZ10 is the one for me, and I might find a home in this forum, the friendliest I've come across, apart from the huge fund of knowledge!

Jim h.

10kzoom said:

jimh said:

Hi James (or anyone else who's listening),

I read your post, James, about returning your FZ10 for
unsatisfactory focusing in cloudy conditions.

I'm a real novice in digital photography, and have been using my
son's Pentax Optio 550 to get started. I don't like it for the
following reasons:
Tiny size doesn't suit my none too steady hands.
Optical viewfinder - no image info, and 80% view.
Very small LCD screen, difficult to see details in daylight - eyes
ain't so good either!
Very noisy images.

I've researched the Fuji S5000, Kodak DX6490, and Olympus UZ750,
before reaching the FZ10 and this Forum, where I've been lurking
and learning as much as possible for quite a while now. Thanks
everyone!

I intend/intended to buy an FZ10 at the end of the Month, when I
hope my birthday will top up my camera fund. I live not a million
miles from Glasgow, where our cloudy conditions are giving you the
problems, James.

Does this mean I ought to think again?

Regards, Jim H.

Click to expand...

--
10kzOOm -- (FZ10k)
http://www.pbase.com/10kzoomfz

Click to expand...

You can go to Dbase and do a search on the FZ10 and look at thousands of photos of all types taken in different circumstances. I think those photos speak to the versitility of the camera. I am totally amazed at what I can do with this camera so I'm not understanding the low light criticism. Go and look at sports or wildlife photos with action on the higher end DSLR. Those pictures aren't thousands of dollars more wonderful in my opinion. Above all you need to get the picture ! The stabilized lens gives you many more options than you would normally have with no flash and being indoors. The LCD is much bigger than my Minolta point and shoot and is a pleasure to use. I can get a focus lock much faster with this camera in poor light than with my Minolta. There is no comparison. I bought my Panasonic "blind" based upon the kinds of photos I saw that people have taken. I looked at photos and read this entire board and others for two months before I bought the camera. It is a wonderful camera and has revived my interest in photography.

Hi Steve,

Now you're talking!

From looking at your gallery, I don't think my interests would be very different from your own. You seem to have captured a wide variety of subjects really well.

I'm really encouraged by the shots of dinghies sailing on a lake in pretty gloomy weather. The one titled, Boats, is sharp enough for me to see that in the far distance, there is a Laser, an Enterprise, and a Topper. Not bad at all!

Regards, jim

Steve.UK said:

As someone living in South Yorkshire, I spend most of my
photographic life shooting in gloomy conditions. I have to say that
I have had no particular problems (or maybe I am not critical
enough of my own pics) as yet. However, I do tend to take fairly
static shots, so whether trying to focus on moving images under
grey clouds presents problems I can't honestly say.

All I can say is that it is a brilliant camera, and if anyone can
get a better one within £££ price range then good luck to them!

Steve

http://gallery52590.fotopic.net/c140331.html

jimh said:

Hi James (or anyone else who's listening),

I read your post, James, about returning your FZ10 for
unsatisfactory focusing in cloudy conditions.

I'm a real novice in digital photography, and have been using my
son's Pentax Optio 550 to get started. I don't like it for the
following reasons:
Tiny size doesn't suit my none too steady hands.
Optical viewfinder - no image info, and 80% view.
Very small LCD screen, difficult to see details in daylight - eyes
ain't so good either!
Very noisy images.

I've researched the Fuji S5000, Kodak DX6490, and Olympus UZ750,
before reaching the FZ10 and this Forum, where I've been lurking
and learning as much as possible for quite a while now. Thanks
everyone!

I intend/intended to buy an FZ10 at the end of the Month, when I
hope my birthday will top up my camera fund. I live not a million
miles from Glasgow, where our cloudy conditions are giving you the
problems, James.

Does this mean I ought to think again?

Regards, Jim H.

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Bravo Heather! I'll look around as you suggest. There are a lot of positive feelings about the FZ10.

Regards, Jim

Heather said:

You can go to Dbase and do a search on the FZ10 and look at
thousands of photos of all types taken in different circumstances.
I think those photos speak to the versitility of the camera. I am
totally amazed at what I can do with this camera so I'm not
understanding the low light criticism. Go and look at sports or
wildlife photos with action on the higher end DSLR. Those pictures
aren't thousands of dollars more wonderful in my opinion. Above all
you need to get the picture ! The stabilized lens gives you many
more options than you would normally have with no flash and being
indoors. The LCD is much bigger than my Minolta point and shoot and
is a pleasure to use. I can get a focus lock much faster with this
camera in poor light than with my Minolta. There is no comparison.
I bought my Panasonic "blind" based upon the kinds of photos I saw
that people have taken. I looked at photos and read this entire
board and others for two months before I bought the camera. It is a
wonderful camera and has revived my interest in photography.

Click to expand...

jimh said:

Bravo Heather! I'll look around as you suggest. There are a lot
of positive feelings about the FZ10.

Regards, Jim

Click to expand...

Jim,

I'm in Nottingham, where the sun only shines whilst I'm at work (at least since I got my FZ10!). I'm a picky so and so, but I am not having focusing problems at all with the FZ10 - I also find it great fun. I'm a dyed-in-the-wool Olympus C750UZ fan too and I am keeping that camera as it is unbeatable for close up work using the internal flash (even though it's a bad technique to use, by the book - but it works for me!) but the FZ10 definitely is a faster focuser - at least in the case of my two examples. Perhaps surprisingly, I tried a Minolta Z1 for a couple of weeks against the C750UZ and its focusing speed didn't impress me as much as the FZ10's has, which rather goes against what I expected. It might help that you're coming from 35mm via the Optio - the former means you know the complications that a 420mm equivalent zoom can bring (and the help that IS can be as a result), whilst the Optio also means you already know that digitals generally focus slower than 35mm.

I say go for it - best idea is to buy from a Jessops because they'll match lower prices, including internet ones (make sure you take the phone number and an advert for a bunch of likely candidates, because if they decide to fully follow their own rules they will want to phone them to check stock), and they also give you 30 days' approval (obviously you need to be careful with the camera if it looks like it will not suit you).

Helen

Hi Jim,

I shot mostly outdoor and here is my not yet updated online site but the images will do for confirming the basic capability of the camera.

http://art4less.smugmug.com

regards,
gil

jimh said:

Hi James (or anyone else who's listening),

I read your post, James, about returning your FZ10 for
unsatisfactory focusing in cloudy conditions.

I'm a real novice in digital photography, and have been using my
son's Pentax Optio 550 to get started. I don't like it for the
following reasons:
Tiny size doesn't suit my none too steady hands.
Optical viewfinder - no image info, and 80% view.
Very small LCD screen, difficult to see details in daylight - eyes
ain't so good either!
Very noisy images.

I've researched the Fuji S5000, Kodak DX6490, and Olympus UZ750,
before reaching the FZ10 and this Forum, where I've been lurking
and learning as much as possible for quite a while now. Thanks
everyone!

I intend/intended to buy an FZ10 at the end of the Month, when I
hope my birthday will top up my camera fund. I live not a million
miles from Glasgow, where our cloudy conditions are giving you the
problems, James.

Does this mean I ought to think again?

Regards, Jim H.

Click to expand...

This thread i found a bit scary i am more of a lurker.Firstly i am easily put off cameras i am not competant to give any advice i just feel the fz10 does not return images as sharp as olympus c750 did if somone would have a look thro some of the web the group [ start ] is mix of olympus and fz2 in the fz10 group you will see a drop in imagery imho.If someone more able can come up with suggestions i dont intend to go to Jessops till thu. i know i am asking a lot but i would greatly appreciate it

--
jasm

http://james7874.fotopic.net/

Blackthorn agrees with you that the C750 returns superior images. Jack Scholl went through 3 different FZ10's before finding on that he felt was "sharp" enough to suit him. He also used a C750 I believe. He did some side to side comparisons, don't know where the link is.

Don't keep a camera that you're not happy with. Maybe you got a bad FZ10. I don't know.

james morgan said:

This thread i found a bit scary i am more of a lurker.Firstly i am
easily put off cameras i am not competant to give any advice i just
feel the fz10 does not return images as sharp as olympus c750 did
if somone would have a look thro some of the web the group [ start
] is mix of olympus and fz2 in the fz10 group you will see a drop
in imagery imho.If someone more able can come up with suggestions i
dont intend to go to Jessops till thu. i know i am asking a lot but
i would greatly appreciate it

--
jasm

http://james7874.fotopic.net/

Click to expand...

--
Olympus C5050, Panasonic FZ1, FZ10K, Oly Tcon 1.7
http://www.pbase.com/ramblin_mo/galleries

james morgan said:

This thread i found a bit scary i am more of a lurker.Firstly i am
easily put off cameras i am not competant to give any advice i just
feel the fz10 does not return images as sharp as olympus c750 did
if somone would have a look thro some of the web the group [ start
] is mix of olympus and fz2 in the fz10 group you will see a drop
in imagery imho.If someone more able can come up with suggestions i
dont intend to go to Jessops till thu. i know i am asking a lot but
i would greatly appreciate it

--
jasm

http://james7874.fotopic.net/

Click to expand...

I have to agree with your comments, I own both the FZ10 and C-750 but the C-750 focuses quicker and sharper in our dull UK skies. Look at my site James and you will see. I feel a bit better about my replacement FZ10 but in low light it struggles.

http://www.kevin-bates.co.uk

art(less?) said:

Hi Jim,
I shot mostly outdoor and here is my not yet updated online site
but the images will do for confirming the basic capability of the
camera.

http://art4less.smugmug.com

regards,
gil

Click to expand...

Gil,

What a great gallery! The parking lot sunset pictures are my favorites...truly jaw dropping. Why doesn't the sky ever look that way around here (Seattle)? Mabye I just don't look hard enough.

Thanks for your response i have been in your site before and i should give up viewing the competant but i will not i need to be kept active, being old demands that.
jasm