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Which FZ has the best IQ?

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Joseph Rzeczycki

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So far I've owned the FZ1v2, FZ3, FZ5, FZ10, and now the FZ20 (which to me has the best IQ so far).

Does the FZ30 or FZ50 have better overall IQ than an FZ20?

I know of a man that had 3 or 4 FZs, including I think an FZ1, FZ5, FZ20 and FZ30, and his wife made him sell one of them. So he kept the FZ20 and sold the FZ30.

Joseph

--
FZ20
Digital Rebel 300D; Tamron 28-75 f2.8 XR; Sigma 18-50 f3.5 DC
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The truth is always exciting. Speak it, then. Life is dull without it.
Pearl S. Buck
 
What do you mean by IQ? Image quality? If so, I doubt that you can have a definitive answer because various cameras will excel in certain areas and be lacking in others. Then....forgive me for bringing it up...the noise issue with the various models AND how it can be taken care of in post processing.

From what I've exprerienced with my wife's FZ 1, and my FZ 20 along with what I've seen posted by owners of the FZ20, 30 and 50......all of them are capable of great images. Each has it's own quirks.

Most of us (amature photographers with a serious interest) would be better off if we just worked harder at mastering the camera of our choice, and only "moving" up when we're sure that a newer model has features or capabilities that we really need or benefit from.....but that is just my humble opinion.

Another strong feeling that is developing is that one camera is not likely to be enough for serious amatures. Before buying an FZ30 or FZ50, I'm tempted to consider a DSLR for use when I need that low light ability or don't need the stabilized zoom. I say that because I doubt if I would want to invest in thousands of dollars in lenses for an SLR....but in time, a SLR with two or three decent lenses would provide a lot of options for various shooting situations.

Best IQ.......that will be continued to be debated until long after my time!
 
Best to OK in that order.

Unfortunately FZ20 has dreadful ergonomics compared to the 30 & 50, which are a true joy to use.

FZ20's ISO 80 images are just beautiful. With the 30 - visible noise starts creeping in, with the 50 it's there and don't have to pixel peep to see it.

The result of Megapixel Mania Marketing Madness.

Unless you print 8 x 10 and larger and/or don't mind additional post processing steps (i.e. noise reduction) they all can produce great pictures, but for pure IQ up to 11 x 14 prints 5MP is more than enough and the FZ20's IQ is the winner IMO.
 
same vintage and basic features as FZ20; 4MP sensor instead of 5MP.

see reviews at imaging-resource.com. little difference in resolution vs FZ20. better noise performance.
 
BillZM said:
same vintage and basic features as FZ20; 4MP sensor instead of 5MP.
Click to expand...
With that logic I would guess the FZ4 is best. Also 4 MP but has likely the
same improvement in NR (less colour blotches, more film like grain) as
the FZ5 has over the FZ20.

That's per pixel IQ.

But if you shoot the FZ50 (preferbly raw) and downsize to 4 MP it will
of course be better. :-)

Just my two öre
Erik from Sweden
Using the F Z 5

"What we have here aren't lasting memories. What we have here are blackmail photos." Constructive criticism of wedding photos offered at Pro Digital Talk.

 
I know what you mean about FZ20 ergos. THe images I'm getting with the FZ20 make it seem hard to imagine that another FZ model could be better in IQ. True - they are lovely images. Even at 200 ISO I seem to get less noise than I did with other FZs at lower ISO. This one I plan to keep. :-)

--
FZ20
Digital Rebel 300D; Tamron 28-75 f2.8 XR; Sigma 18-50 f3.5 DC
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The truth is always exciting. Speak it, then. Life is dull without it.
Pearl S. Buck
 
The shutter button is in kind of a poor spot on the FZ20 but I'm getting used to that. :-)

--
FZ20
Digital Rebel 300D; Tamron 28-75 f2.8 XR; Sigma 18-50 f3.5 DC
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The truth is always exciting. Speak it, then. Life is dull without it.
Pearl S. Buck
 
Hi Bill,

I saved a reply on this topic by you about 6 months ago. I had it on my PC for quite a while. It may still be on my PC. If not it's probably in the archives here.

Got me an FZ20 now. I think it's a keeper. I'm fine with 5 MP. I found a deal on it that I could not pass up. :-)

Whatever the best FZ is, I'm keeping this one. The noise performance seems very good with the FZ20 - as a matter of fact better than any other FZ I've used so far.

The FZ5 and FZ10 had IMHO poor noise performance.

Joe

--
FZ20
Digital Rebel 300D; Tamron 28-75 f2.8 XR; Sigma 18-50 f3.5 DC
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The truth is always exciting. Speak it, then. Life is dull without it.
Pearl S. Buck
 
If image quality is considered alone, I'd say the FZ50 wins narrowly, but the FZ20 (and indeed 30) can pack a good punch too. Sure, the 50 has more noise, but its images are much larger than the FZ20's to work with and for noise reduction in PP (such as NeatImage).

Also, the FZ20's ergonomics, as someone has already said, are truely awful when compared to the FZ30 and FZ50, which in my opinion have the best handling of any non-SLR camera.
 
All of the FZs are good, but I seem to like this one best. After using a dSLR for a while I kind of hate to go back to the small body of a FZ1, FZ5, etc., so the FZ20 is closer to the size of a dSLR.

I liked my FZ5 and FZ10. I often sell cameras I like unless I'm in love with them. I do a lot of buying and selling.
--
FZ20
Digital Rebel 300D; Tamron 28-75 f2.8 XR; Sigma 18-50 f3.5 DC
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The truth is always exciting. Speak it, then. Life is dull without it.
Pearl S. Buck
 
I really can not speak about the FZ50.....but I have the FZ10 , 20 and 30.

And I was just looking thru and adjusting some photos from all 3 cameras and a Kodak DC4800......and my preference is the FZ30.....much easier to get a good photo and much better to work with when editing.

Keep in mind thats only my opinion and I know of at least one that disagrees with that but the difference IMHO is quite a bit.

It is not that the FZ20 is not as capable in good hands, but with the FZ30 it is much easier to get great photos.
--
------------------------------------------------------------
Gene
From Western PA.

Panasonic FZ 20 and FZ30
D50 and lenses.

http://imageevent.com/grc6



Just trying to learn and it's slow going!
 
Perhaps it reflects a favorable period of time for me but my FZ5 pictures were superb. I had a brief encounter with a FZ7 but I did not love the pictures nor the FZ30 I kept.
 
I like the larger body cameras too.

Frankly I don't mind the ergonomics on the FZ15 either except for the cursed exposure button required to adjust exposure (which is sometimes hard to find).
 
I think peopple often upgrade because they have extra $$$ to spend but sometimes they don't get the improved IQ they had hoped for, either that or they don't like to admit that their $$ spent did not bring improved IQ.

I don't know but I like what I've been seeing come out of my FZ20.

I had a Sony H1 once too, and sold it. There's something about the FZ20 that I like better. :)
KenR said:
The result of Megapixel Mania Marketing Madness.
Click to expand...
--
FZ20
Digital Rebel 300D; Tamron 28-75 f2.8 XR; Sigma 18-50 f3.5 DC
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The truth is always exciting. Speak it, then. Life is dull without it.
Pearl S. Buck
 
BillZM said:
same vintage and basic features as FZ20; 4MP sensor instead of 5MP.
see reviews at imaging-resource.com. little difference in
resolution vs FZ20. better noise performance.
Click to expand...
I have a FZ15, happy with it, but missing the external flash I'll get a FZ20.

I would really love to get the FZ20 sensor and lens on a FZ50, for the ergometrics of it. Manual zoom, external flash and maybe a manual focus that works, since the '15 has a violent MF. Touch it and you're way out. Return and you'll fly to the other side of oof.

--
Jacques in Brazil
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jbgros/
http://photobucket.com/albums/b28/jbgros/
 
Lest we forget the "red blur?" Here's an FZ15 image of some roses:



Look at the red & white roses in this photo. You'll see that the red ones are blurry, the white ones are sharp. KateRK showed that even for the FZ20, reds were still soft, never well defined.

I have never seen this phenomenon repeat with the FZ30. It's MUCH sharper on all colors, witness this bunch of red flowers:



When my FZ30 wears out (it's got 37K snaps now), I'll confidently upgrade to the FZ50, or whatever is the current model by then.
--
Just cruisin' ...



EffZeeOneVeeTwo, EffZeeThirty, Tizzy (who captured the Eagle)
 
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