I Bit The Bullet & Ordered the FZ-30K

[Paladin24]

I've only had the FZ-20 for a little while but I must say it was most definitely "Love At First Sight"
when I first laid eyes on the FZ-30! :D

I don't care ifin it does have noise issues......I very seldom print out anything anyway! :)

I got the same feeling about it that I did when I first saw The HUMMER II....if ya know what I mean. ;)

Fortunately, I can afford the FZ-30! :)

Come to think of it, I can probably afford the HUMMER II...........now ! :rolleyes:

PALADIN

[genece]

You will really like the FZ30 and noise is not an issue especially when printed.
If you see noise when you print at 9 X12 or smaller you are going about it wrong.

[Paladin24]

Thanks Gene!

I'm really looking forward to it. ;)

If I should have problems with noise, at least I now know where to ask for help. :)

Unless I didn't do my homework right, the FZ-30 should be the last camera I'll be buying for quite a while.
Of course my wife will never believe that one! :rolleyes:

PALADIN

[genece]

I keep saying that also, but the better it goes the more your hooked.
The FZ30 is quite a camera ..if its the type of camera your looking for , it should last a while.
I do not think there is a better ultra zoom and I do not see it getting outdated for a while.
Good luck

[gary_hendricks]

I really like the built-in modes on the FZ30, Starry Sky Mode, Candle Mode, Portrait Mode, Night Portrait Mode, Night Scenery Mode, etc. :)

[Anex]

The features of the FZ30 still have a strong pull to me, almost purchased it today (Saturday) until I saw an advert for the new Sony. A P&S with a CMOS sensor...if it's quality is anywhere near as good as its features, it would definitely move me away from the FZ30.

Anyways, I was playing with the floor model this weekend in NY...the sales guy (who I bought my FZ20 and many supplies from) let me take it up to Central Park for a couple hours. I must say, I was VERY impressed with the performance, snapped some great shots of my son playing. Without a doubt, with plenty of light this camera rocks. I took some in store shots too, going to print some this weekend. If the shots print as I think they will (Genece, your pics helped lure me back to the camera), it will definitely be #1 on my list. Right now, only the Sony can knock it off...don't know who to root for :confused: :p

[John_Reed]

The features of the FZ30 still have a strong pull to me, almost purchased it today (Saturday) until I saw an advert for the new Sony. A P&S with a CMOS sensor...if it's quality is anywhere near as good as its features, it would definitely move me away from the FZ30.

Anyways, I was playing with the floor model this weekend in NY...the sales guy (who I bought my FZ20 and many supplies from) let me take it up to Central Park for a couple hours. I must say, I was VERY impressed with the performance, snapped some great shots of my son playing. Without a doubt, with plenty of light this camera rocks. I took some in store shots too, going to print some this weekend. If the shots print as I think they will (Genece, your pics helped lure me back to the camera), it will definitely be #1 on my list. Right now, only the Sony can knock it off...don't know who to root for :confused: :p5X zoom, which is great for 24mm, but at 120mm max sort of takes it out of the FZ30's much longer zoom range. AND, the camera weighs almost twice as much as the FZ30. It's not a small camera! My wife says the FZ30 feels light to her (and she's used to an FZ1); I doubt if she'd say the same of the Sony.

[StanStan]

You will really like the FZ30 and noise is not an issue especially when printed.
If you see noise when you print at 9 X12 or smaller you are going about it wrong.

Gene

I do not do much printing. The prints I make are on an Epson C80 which produces OK prints but not nice ones. Bought it some time ago for longevity of inks.

How do you print and what would you suggest for a setup.

Thanks

Stan

[genece]

Stan I have a rather outdated Canon i850, and would like to move to a newer printer but this one produces very nice prints and the Ink is rather cheap.
I am sure if it quits I will get another Canon.
I had a couple Epsons and a HP ..I had lots of problem with the heads clogging.

I really think the Paper has a lot to do with the fading of photos, I have photos from several years ago some faded and some not... and the paper seems to be the only difference.

And I get much better results if I do any editting in photoshop includeing the sizing and the use the Canon easyprint software to do the printing.

But Canon seems to be making a longer lasting ink which I have not used.
I would most likely get the ip3000 or 4000.

Gene

I do not do much printing. The prints I make are on an Epson C80 which produces OK prints but not nice ones. Bought it some time ago for longevity of inks.

How do you print and what would you suggest for a setup.

Thanks

Stan

[genece]

This is something I do not understand the new Sony (which may be a great camera) is at the far end 120mm which brings an object little more than twice as close as you see it with you eyes.
And The FZ cameras are 420 mm which bring that same object 8 1/2 times closer thanyou see with your eyes.
If you have no need for the ultra zoom then there are plenty of cameras that can fill your needs for way less than a $1000.00.
If you do not want the zoom I would look in a different direction as that is what the FZ cameras are all about.
I think people see the 5X mentioned for the Sony and figure that the zoom is about 1/2 as powerful as the FZ's and thats not so. The eye sees at about 50mm so take the mm of the camera and divide it by 50 and you have how powerfull the lens is.
420mm / 50 or about 8.5
120mm / 50 or about 2.5

If you want a wide angle camera the Sony or the Fuji F10 may be number 1 but if you want a ultrazoom the FZ30 is number 1.

Also you could buy a entry level DSLR and a 28 to 135mm lens for way less the the sony and if your needs change just get another lens.

I am only tring to point out that those 2 cameras do not compete with the FZ30 only with each other.


The features of the FZ30 still have a strong pull to me, almost purchased it today (Saturday) until I saw an advert for the new Sony. A P&S with a CMOS sensor...if it's quality is anywhere near as good as its features, it would definitely move me away from the FZ30.

Anyways, I was playing with the floor model this weekend in NY...the sales guy (who I bought my FZ20 and many supplies from) let me take it up to Central Park for a couple hours. I must say, I was VERY impressed with the performance, snapped some great shots of my son playing. Without a doubt, with plenty of light this camera rocks. I took some in store shots too, going to print some this weekend. If the shots print as I think they will (Genece, your pics helped lure me back to the camera), it will definitely be #1 on my list. Right now, only the Sony can knock it off...don't know who to root for :confused: :p

[JMK]

I would most likely get the ip3000 or 4000.

I have a ip4000 and I love it. It prints great photos and it was relatively cheap. It also duplexes (prints on both sides of the paper) not really a feature for photos BUT it saves paper when printing out doc's and web pages,
and it feeds from 2 paper sources a lower(covered) tray and a sheet feeder.

[bklassen]

I can't wait to pick up my FZ30... I'm probably going to go to the local electronics store that carries the camera this afternoon and test it out for the first time. I probably won't purchase the camera until later this fall, however, as I'm sure the price will drop somewhat over the next few months...