This has to be your 'other' camera

[onward]

My primary camera is the Canon DX but it's pretty hard to haul that thing around every day. I bought the Lumix because I had heard it had a great zoom (tripod needed) but it also took great shots that could be downloaded to a smartphone and it had a respectable 5 to 10 FPS in burst mode. Not to mention a GPS tag which is very cool.

So, I got comfortable with the features and this thing takes some great shots and you can put it in your shirt pocket. It's addictive and it just about warrants being called a professional camera--but not quite.

I would recommend it.

Onward

 

[John Miles]

You have a DX an the ZS30. Can you discuss the operation of the two at all? As in how you select which to take a shot and how adding the ZS has helped you photographically.

 

[Ianperegian]

I had heard it had a great zoom (tripod needed)

I have a ZS30 and I find that it does not need a tripod at max zoom (480mm equivalent) unless the light is very poor. It's possible (depending on how steady your hands are) to achieve sharp hand-held shots at shutter speeds up to 4 stops slower than the reciprocal rule - see http://www.cameralabs.com/reviews/Panasonic_Lumix_DMC_TZ40_ZS30/

it just about warrants being called a professional camera--but not quite.

I am wondering just how a "professional camera" is defined, as I find that is a term that seems to be used rather loosely. Since you say it "just about" warrants being called one, that must mean you don't require it to be a DSLR at least.

I'm also wondering about your "Great" rating for kids/pets and your "Weak" rating for action/sports, as that seems a bit contradictory. Maybe you mean "Weak" for action in low light without flash?
In my case, rather than being my "other" camera, my ZS30 is my most used/primary camera, and my "other" camera is my FZ38. I don't find the need for a DSLR, but OMMV.

Ian

--
Ianperegian
http://www.ianperegian.com/

 

[Erik Ohlson]

I had heard it had a great zoom (tripod needed)

I have a ZS30 and I find that it does not need a tripod at max zoom (480mm equivalent) unless the light is very poor. It's possible (depending on how steady your hands are) to achieve sharp hand-held shots at shutter speeds up to 4 stops slower than the reciprocal rule - see http://www.cameralabs.com/reviews/Panasonic_Lumix_DMC_TZ40_ZS30/

it just about warrants being called a professional camera--but not quite.

I am wondering just how a "professional camera" is defined, as I find that is a term that seems to be used rather loosely. Since you say it "just about" warrants being called one, that must mean you don't require it to be a DSLR at least.

I'm also wondering about your "Great" rating for kids/pets and your "Weak" rating for action/sports, as that seems a bit contradictory. Maybe you mean "Weak" for action in low light without flash?
In my case, rather than being my "other" camera, my ZS30 is my most used/primary camera, and my "other" camera is my FZ38. I don't find the need for a DSLR, but OMMV.

Ian

--
Ianperegian
http://www.ianperegian.com/

PRECISELY what I wanted to say - but so much better stated than my "first draft" which I deleted yesterday, not wanting to sound confrontational.

Having started as a professional, I feel somewhat qualified to judge. (Got out of it for a steadier income & so that photography could be fun, rather than "work")







--
"Measure wealth not by things you have but by things for which you would not take money"
www.flickr.com/ohlsonmh/ [email protected]