Panasonic FZ200

[Pol]

Re: Panasonic FZ200

"I need to get to know the camera properly in a variety of situations and environments."

With your knowledge and flair you should be at home with it in no time. I can just see you and David elbowing each other for the best place to shoot from. Both having the same camera means you can rule out the equipment and it's all down to you to prove who can get the best images. I'd love to be a fly on the wall in your house.

You mention the marshes. Is Gilbert the seagull still there?

David and I fight like dogs over all sorts of things! Not much contest over the images though - he's the 'kit man' and I'm undoubtedly the best togfa and processor, innit.

He uses Picasa and I use CS6 on one lappy and Elements 11 on the other lappy. I also have LR too but hate it with a passion so I gave it to David though he won't bother trying it.

Our youngest son also uses Picasa, the eldest (the ultimate geek) uses CS5 or CS 6 and the middle son just mails me folders with a million pics from weird and wonderful places and asks "would you mind, pleeeeeeeez" because he cba with photography but likes the end results when I send him a pile of 7x5 of his snaps direct from Photobox. Yeah they all like getting a parcel from Photobox but guess who organizes the orders and pays for them though.

As for Gilbert - he's still around the lake with his friends. The owners of the lake and farm have sold up now though so I don't know what's gonna happen to their land and tracks. We can't, or won't, stay in the camper there either. The new owner of the camping field stuck a load of 'sheds' on there, called them 'pods' and I think you can probably guess the rest.

The lake is still there and always will be but it's not so nice in that area since Lydd Airport became ' London airport -Ashford International' and the whole atmosphere changed. It's also had an effect on the Nature Reserve - all the shacks turned into holiday lets with ridiculous prices, tourist coaches everywhere and car parks springing up in what were quiet spots just 5-6 years ago.

We set off to go there last week and had to give up and turn back home - did just 5 miles in 2 hours - roads blocked by accidents and East Sussex installing meters and closing the lanes and setting up diversions that got blocked in less than a heartbeat by prangs. It's a different world down here these days - hopeless

Pol

[Rodbender]

Re: Panasonic FZ200

"I need to get to know the camera properly in a variety of situations and environments."

With your knowledge and flair you should be at home with it in no time. I can just see you and David elbowing each other for the best place to shoot from. Both having the same camera means you can rule out the equipment and it's all down to you to prove who can get the best images. I'd love to be a fly on the wall in your house.

You mention the marshes. Is Gilbert the seagull still there?

[Pol]

Re: Panasonic FZ200

Oooo your initial test shots are a lot more interesting than mine. I'm guessing that salt and ketchup was on the burger van across the car park. I love that sort of shot ... everyday life with the occasional opportunistic candid chucked in.

When I first got the TZ10 we were in a supermarket car park with a filling station attached. David was inside paying for the petrol and I shot off a few snaps of the car wash and people shoving their laden trolleys back to their cars. Some fella, queuing to pay for petrol, complained about me to the cashier. He'd said "there's a women in that camper taking pictures of the place. You never know who she is and what she's up to, can't be too careful these days"

David was right behind him and piped up "that's my wife and she's just taken delivery of a small pocket camera so she just testing it and playing with it. "Ask her to show you her pictures, I'm sure she'd be more than happy to have a chat with you" - but the fella declined.

I must have hundreds of pics from that particular car park and supermarket. Maybe we'll get down there next week - it's en route to the marshes. I need to get to know the camera properly in a variety of situations and environments.

Pol

[Rodbender]

Re: Panasonic FZ200

These were my first test images. No work of art but just getting to know the camera.

Waiting for my wife and her auntie who were shopping. Sat in the car looking around the car park.







Then a ride through the park.



Zoom test



and a snap of dear old auntie

[Pol]

Re: Panasonic FZ200

Can't grumble at that one Pol. I have tweaked mine to Contrast +1 Sharpness +1 Noise -1. Have also set EV -1 as that stops the whites from blowing. Flash is OK for fill in but I mainly use my Mecablitz 36 AF-4 for other work. Glad you like it. Must be better than carting all that heavy gear around. I know Dslr are better for some jobs, but for convenience and versatility I think the FZ200 take a lot of beating.

Yeah I spent ages trying to work out how I could set the EV then I finally had the sense to install the CD manual.

It's certainly ideal for convenient 'happy snapping' and it's also a lot of fun being able to just sit in one place and grab shots from far and near, shots that are of a decent quality and print size. We do a lot of 'snaps' of private family stuff, not the sort of thing I'd share online. The compact TZ10 and Leica C-Lux2 have served me well up to now but I'm ever so chuffed to finally find a bridge camera I'm happy with, one with a decent range and one from which I'm getting very acceptable results as I enjoy playing with and experimenting with the various modes and functions. It's a fun camera!

Pol

[Rodbender]

Re: Panasonic FZ200

Mine arrived today and it's a UK model. I think David's is due to arrive on Saturday so it's up to him to sort out any problems he may or may not have with it. I just know he's not getting mine - that's for sure.

I binned the test shots after I'd looked at them, tweaked a few things etc and made sure the RAW was ok, which it is. Frankly though the jpegs are so good and CS6 can process jpegs in ACR so they're usually near enough one as good as the other and the jpeg uses much less disc space.

I did however keep one or two of the test batch. This is a bad shot, bad framing etc but it shows the sort of result I was getting. I'm very pleased with the camera and quality of the shots - also the extended zoom. The snapshot I'm posting here now was at standard zoom 600mm equivalent and iA mode.

Pol

Can't grumble at that one Pol. I have tweaked mine to Contrast +1 Sharpness +1 Noise -1. Have also set EV -1 as that stops the whites from blowing. Flash is OK for fill in but I mainly use my Mecablitz 36 AF-4 for other work. Glad you like it. Must be better than carting all that heavy gear around. I know Dslr are better for some jobs, but for convenience and versatility I think the FZ200 take a lot of beating.

[Pol]

Re: Panasonic FZ200

You don't hang around do you. Do check you have UK models. Amazon had to change mine due to a cockup at their end and sending me a US model. Now come on lets see your test shots.

Mine arrived today and it's a UK model. I think David's is due to arrive on Saturday so it's up to him to sort out any problems he may or may not have with it. I just know he's not getting mine - that's for sure.

I binned the test shots after I'd looked at them, tweaked a few things etc and made sure the RAW was ok, which it is. Frankly though the jpegs are so good and CS6 can process jpegs in ACR so they're usually near enough one as good as the othe and the jpeg uses much less disc space.

I did however keep one or two of the test batch. This is a bad shot, bad framing etc but it shows the sort of result I was getting. I'm very pleased with the camera and quality of the shots - also the extended zoom. The snashot I'm posting here now was at standard zoom 600mm equivalent and iA mode.




Pol

[Rodbender]

Re: Panasonic FZ200

Update : You were right, he loves it but he's NOT getting mine because I love it too. It's a super little camera with so many fun features to play with. It's the first bridge camera I've ever liked and actually wanted to keep for myself.

I should also add David has just ordered one for himself after looking at my CD instructions, installed them on his own PC, handled the camera and looked at my initial test shots. His should arrive on Saturday.


Pol

You don't hang around do you. Do check you have UK models. Amazon had to change mine due to a cockup at their end and sending me a US model. Now come on lets see your test shots.

[Pol]

Re: Panasonic FZ200

Oh dear, I hope you ordered two. Once David gets his hands on it, you will not get it back. Im sure you will both be very happy with THEM.

Update : You were right, he loves it but he's NOT getting mine because I love it too. It's a super little camera with so many fun features to play with. It's the first bridge camera I've ever liked and actually wanted to keep for myself.

I should also add David has just ordered one for himself after looking at my CD instructions, installed them on his own PC, handled the camera and looked at my initial test shots. His should arrive on Saturday.


Pol

[Pol]

Re: Panasonic FZ200

Oh dear, I hope you ordered two. Once David gets his hands on it, you will not get it back. Im sure you will both be very happy with THEM.

I ordered just ONE and it's for ME.

He already has about 3 bridge cameras and at least two of them were originally mine but I hated them and gave them to David. He mainly uses an HS10 but also has a Casio and a Canon s45 (or whatever it is) - the latter two being rejects I'd tried but hated. There's always a family member ready to accept my cast-offs.

Nothing gets wasted and nothing is sold or chucked away and most of them get an occasional airing, well the digital ones do anyway.

Pol

[Rodbender]

Re: Panasonic FZ200

I've been looking at the reviews and demos etc on Youtube and have also just been to click the 'submit' button and bought the camera.

This clip was the final deciding factor for me. Nowt wrong with any of this lot, great images and superb colours etc. I think I may even be tempted to play around with the video.

Pol

Oh dear, I hope you ordered two. Once David gets his hands on it, you will not get it back. Im sure you will both be very happy with THEM.

[Pol]

Re: Panasonic FZ200

One last thing, this is the only bridge camera I know of that has the DoF control. Could be useful if you are working with limited lighting and large apertures. Shiffting focus could just save the day. Nuff said so I'll leave you to ponder. Do pop in and see me when ever you can. Guest can post on my site.

I've been looking at the reviews and demos etc on Youtube and have also just been to click the 'submit' button and bought the camera.

This clip was the final deciding factor for me. Nowt wrong with any of this lot, great images and superb colours etc. I think I may even be tempted to play around with the video.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0gcwi0WJIE[/ame]

Pol

[Rodbender]

Re: Panasonic FZ200

That horse picci is really quite remarkable and even more so considering you'd used the extended zoom! I'd already glanced through the 'all singing and dancing' features the camera offers and it's undoubtedly an very nice 'toy' to experiment and play with. That defocus slider could also be fan to experiment with - hours of fun to be had playing around for ages!

I rarely use video either - not my thing.

One thing that bothered me was a suspicion it may have a cyan cast similar to the old Fuji s7000 (I think it was that one) - but I note you can tweak and control the colours and also have various options in that respect.

Thanks for the links and yes, I'll browse youtube. I can't promise to post in 'the other place' as DPN is my only remaining regular forum, but I may go to the other place and have a look - tied up in RL so I don't spend as much time online these days. I need to be moving around to help my injuries improve instead of spending too much time sitting at a desk.

Thanks again ... I've already put one in my shopping basket again along with a case and spare battery)

Pol

One last thing, this is the only bridge camera I know of that has the DoF control. Could be useful if you are working with limited lighting and large apertures. Shiffting focus could just save the day. Nuff said so I'll leave you to ponder. Do pop in and see me when ever you can. Guest can post on my site.

[Pol]

Re: Panasonic FZ200

Yes but don't get carried away Pol. Go here for all the details. http://shop.panasonic.com/shop/model/DMC-FZ200K
I have only ever used it for that one shot just to see how good it was should I be pressed to use it. The camera also has video which I have never used. I would have a look at some of the reviews on youtube or pay me a visit (you know where) and have a look see at some of the others results.

That horse picci is really quite remarkable and even more so considering you'd used the extended zoom! I'd already glanced through the 'all singing and dancing' features the camera offers and it's undoubtedly an very nice 'toy' to experiment and play with. That defocus slider could also be fan to experiment with - hours of fun to be had playing around for ages!

I rarely use video either - not my thing.

One thing that bothered me was a suspicion it may have a cyan cast similar to the old Fuji s7000 (I think it was that one) - but I note you can tweak and control the colours and also have various options in that respect.

Thanks for the links and yes, I'll browse youtube. I can't promise to post in 'the other place' as DPN is my only remaining regular forum, but I may go to the other place and have a look - tied up in RL so I don't spend as much time online these days. I need to be moving around to help my injuries improve instead of spending too much time sitting at a desk.

Thanks again ... I've already put one in my shopping basket again along with a case and spare battery)

Pol

[Rodbender]

Re: Panasonic FZ200

Ron,

Is that "intelligent extended zoom mode" obtained by using an additional digital zoom over and above the optical zoom? The FZ200 has a 600mm equivalent so would I be correct in assuming you also used an extended 'digtal' zoom to get that picci of the horse?

It's a very good pic, especially if it was an extended 'digtal' zoom you used.

Pol

Yes but don't get carried away Pol. Go here for all the details. http://shop.panasonic.com/shop/model/DMC-FZ200K
I have only ever used it for that one shot just to see how good it was should I be pressed to use it. The camera also has video which I have never used. I would have a look at some of the reviews on youtube or pay me a visit (you know where) and have a look see at some of the others results.