Panasonic Lumix FZ5= 12x UZ + Wide Angle + Macro?????

[Donato777]

I read the following about the Panasonic FZ5:

[I] "This 12x optical zoom lens is super-bright too, at F2.8 to 3.3 with a focal length of 6 to 72 mm (equivalent to 36 mm to 432 mm in a 35 mm film camera). You've got all the power and flexibility you need to take beautiful shots from telephoto to wide angle and macro. The FZ5 also has a 4x digital zoom. Use it together with the 12x optical zoom and you've got ultra-powerful 48x zooming - roughly equivalent to a huge 1680 mm lens on a 35 mm camera."
My question for any FZ5 users is this: Is the above description about taking "beautiful shot from telephoto to wide angle and macro," accurate?

I just bought the Olympus C-7070 for the wide angle lens and features, but if I could get 12x + wide angle + macro in the FZ5, I may either purchase that too or send the 7070 back. What is the range exactly for wide angle on this camera and are the shots really "beautiful?" Or do I need to buy TWO cameras?? Thanks.

[PhilR.]

There are no set standards that determine exactly what is and isn't "wide-angle". However, I can tell you that in 35mm photography, most serious photographers would not consider 36mm to be wide-angle. Personally, I would consider 28mm at minimum (max. focal length) to be wide-angle, and many consider 24mm to be the very beginning of the wide-angle category.

You can add conversion lenses to the Panny to get true WA, or to the Oly to get more telephoto.

As for "beautiful" - have you not heard "beauty is in the eye of the beholder"?

PhilR.

[Donato777]

Thanks Phil,
In your experience - or anyone else's - is image quality adversely affected more by the addition of a macro lens on a UZ or a telephoto lens on a wide lens camera? I guess I am trying to decide whether to purchase the Panny and add a macro lens or keep the 7070 and add the telephoto. Any advice about this would be very helpful.

[PhilR.]

As I do not use conversion lenses, I am unfortanately unable to answer your last Q. Hopefully someone else can chime in here, or you can start a new thread that specifically asks about the usage of conversion lenses.

PhilR.