Why no FX5 talk?

[John_Reed]

"The 105mm telephoto range enables you to capture details on most distant subjects, and the MEGA O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilization) helps reduce the occurrence of camera shake at longer focal lengths and slower shutter speeds." Steve leaves it for the reader to "connect the dots."
--
John Reed

Panasonic DMC-FZ1 (w/FZ2 upgrade), Dusty Nikon CoolPix 4500

 

[Hariette]

The LC70 shows too much pores and redness on the faces.

Also the FX5 is quite fast !!! 2.5 between shots with flash? I said it is excellent! The FX5 is one camera I don't really need but I would like to have someday..... Oh well.

Steves Digicam if you read this --> Thank you and the young lady is really pretty and looks very nice. Thank her too ;-)

"The 105mm telephoto range enables you to capture details on most
distant subjects, and the MEGA O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilization)
helps reduce the occurrence of camera shake at longer focal lengths
and slower shutter speeds." Steve leaves it for the reader to
"connect the dots."
--
John Reed

Panasonic DMC-FZ1 (w/FZ2 upgrade), Dusty Nikon CoolPix 4500

--
'Don't believe anything you read on the net. Except this. Well,
including this, I suppose.' Douglas Adams

 

[jack scholl]

John,

I'm a big fan of Steve's reviews as he seems to take a "practical point of view", although seldom a critical one. But to send buyers to the LC70 unless a metal body is desired is really missing a key part of the FX5 package. I agree he knows and identifies the IS feature. It just seems odd to summarize without mentioning it.
Jack
http://www.pbase.com/jrs40

"The 105mm telephoto range enables you to capture details on most
distant subjects, and the MEGA O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilization)
helps reduce the occurrence of camera shake at longer focal lengths
and slower shutter speeds." Steve leaves it for the reader to
"connect the dots."
--
John Reed

Panasonic DMC-FZ1 (w/FZ2 upgrade), Dusty Nikon CoolPix 4500

 

[Kurt Horsley]

"The 105mm telephoto range enables you to capture details on most
distant subjects, and the MEGA O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilization)
helps reduce the occurrence of camera shake at longer focal lengths
and slower shutter speeds." Steve leaves it for the reader to
"connect the dots."
--
John Reed

Panasonic DMC-FZ1 (w/FZ2 upgrade), Dusty Nikon CoolPix 4500

--

--That was the most pitiful review I've ever read from Steve. He completely missed the boat on image stabilization. Stabilization is the only reason that a little 4MP pocket camera can (and will) command $400 in todays marketplace. Image stabilization is "THE SINGLE GREATEST ADVANCEMENT" in digital imaging...period! Nothing else comes close. If you've never tried a camera with stabilization, you don't know what you're missing. And... by the way... almost five frames per second ain't too shabby either. Regards,
-Kurt Horsley
Olympus C2100 (2)
Olympus E10
Canon D30
Panasonic DMC-FZ10

 

[keith157651]

Hi Jack and all

Thanks for pointing out the review from Steve. He didnt talk about IS which I hope he would but from those who response to this thread, I believe that the IS is a good one, that would enable sharp shots even with shaky hands. I wonder how good is this camera in night mode with IS on.

I hope to see more pictures from FX 5 from anyone here.

I have decided to get the camera. It is selling here at S$620, with 2 x 64 SD card, a blue hard case which would go well with the blue colour FX5 that I will be buying, a mini tripod and a cleaning kit. I think it is a good deal.

I wonder the IS system is the same as the canon SI IS 3 mp camera.

Keith

"The 105mm telephoto range enables you to capture details on most
distant subjects, and the MEGA O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilization)
helps reduce the occurrence of camera shake at longer focal lengths
and slower shutter speeds." Steve leaves it for the reader to
"connect the dots."
--
John Reed

Panasonic DMC-FZ1 (w/FZ2 upgrade), Dusty Nikon CoolPix 4500

--

 

[haujobb]

Thanks for adding more FX5 picture, Jack!

What's your verdict on FX5 low light AF?

 

[haujobb]

I wrote Pan support, asking whether they'd make the FX5 manual available. At the time, some weeks ago, this one wasn't to be found anywhere online. The reply I received said thanks for pointing this out, we were not aware it was missing, and it should be up within 4-6 weeks from now.

[...]

[tick-tock]

So, here it is now, one of the lost boys of digitals
http://service.us.panasonic.com/OPERMANPDF/DMCFX5PP.PDF

 

[jack scholl]

haujobb,
Thanks very much for the post.
Jack
http://www.pbase.com/jrs40

I wrote Pan support, asking whether they'd make the FX5 manual
available. At the time, some weeks ago, this one wasn't to be found
anywhere online. The reply I received said thanks for pointing this
out, we were not aware it was missing, and it should be up within
4-6 weeks from now.

[...]

[tick-tock]

So, here it is now, one of the lost boys of digitals
http://service.us.panasonic.com/OPERMANPDF/DMCFX5PP.PDF

 

[haujobb]

Jack,

My pleasure -- and thank you for posting more pictures and pointing to Steve's review. I haven't been on the lookout for FX5 reports lately, but I'll study it some more soon.

I'm hoping maybe you can help out with a few questions as well...

Steve reports that the startup time is close to 5 seconds, and the shutter lag with autofocus is 8/10 second. In your estimation, is it actually that slow? I was surprised to read this because of the close to 5/sec burst mode; I thought this was a fast little bugger.

Note that Steve was using a SanDisk Ultra II, but I don't know to what extent the card will affect those particular values...

Is AF in low light a serious issue? Does it work at all in low light?

Thanks again,
haujobb

haujobb,
Thanks very much for the post.
Jack
http://www.pbase.com/jrs40

 

[jack scholl]

haujobb,

I just measured times with my wristwatch. . not very scientific, but here they are.
1. Power on to ready to shoot (simple mode)=2 seconds
2. Same with IS=6 sec
3. Sleep to shoot numbers are the same as from power on.

Shutter lag has never been an issue on any shot we have taken. Can't measure a comparison to the 8/10 of a sec quoted. We have a Panasonic 256mb SD card that is supposedly the fastest with the Lumix line. Perhaps that would explain the difference between Steve's "average speed" comment and our experience.

AF has never been an issue. We have never had a situation where the FX5 didn't focus (in low light or not). Refer to my pbase site for some low light examples. Shot #183 was taken by my wife in a point and shoot mode at 1/10 sec/f2.8/ISO 200. Focus was not an issue. IS makes this a low light wonder. We have never used the flash as yet!

Good luck,
Jack
http://www.pbase.com/jrs40

Jack,
My pleasure -- and thank you for posting more pictures and pointing
to Steve's review. I haven't been on the lookout for FX5 reports
lately, but I'll study it some more soon.

I'm hoping maybe you can help out with a few questions as well...

Steve reports that the startup time is close to 5 seconds, and the
shutter lag with autofocus is 8/10 second. In your estimation, is
it actually that slow? I was surprised to read this because of the
close to 5/sec burst mode; I thought this was a fast little bugger.
Note that Steve was using a SanDisk Ultra II, but I don't know to
what extent the card will affect those particular values...

Is AF in low light a serious issue? Does it work at all in low light?

Thanks again,
haujobb

 

[haujobb]

Jack,

Thanks for the info.

The shortlist for my first digital is FX5/1 and FZ2. I can't afford two cameras right away, so it's quite a choice to make, obviously.

FZ10 is probably not a contender at this time; price is an issue but not as much as size and weight. The FZ2 looks like somewhere between fantastic and too good to be true as a highly affordable knock around with awesome features. FX5/1, has some of this appeal plus it's certainly even more pocketable. What I'm bitching about with the FX5/1 is the lack of aperture and shutter priority.

I'll likely get an FZ2 now and the FX5/1 later.

Later
haujobb

 

[jack scholl]

haujobb,

2mp vrs 4mp
3x vrs 12x
pocketable or not

Put a value on those three issues related to how you use the camera and you'll know which one to buy.

Good luck in your purchase.

Jack
http://www.pbase.com/jrs40

Jack,

Thanks for the info.

The shortlist for my first digital is FX5/1 and FZ2. I can't afford
two cameras right away, so it's quite a choice to make, obviously.
FZ10 is probably not a contender at this time; price is an issue
but not as much as size and weight. The FZ2 looks like somewhere
between fantastic and too good to be true as a highly affordable
knock around with awesome features. FX5/1, has some of this appeal
plus it's certainly even more pocketable. What I'm bitching about
with the FX5/1 is the lack of aperture and shutter priority.

I'll likely get an FZ2 now and the FX5/1 later.

Later
haujobb

 

[haujobb]

Jack,

No kidding there. I would get them both if I could; I probably end up doing so eventually.

Cheers,
haujobb