FZ-3-4 series...old technology?

[mystro544]

The Fz-30 vs Fz-3.. is the difference mostly in resolution and motor speed improvements and not really the base tech,lense etc? I know this is the case with some other manufactorers so savy buyers take advantage of it.

[pxpaulx]

they're actually really apart of a different series of camera; fz3, fz4, fz5 and currently fz7 is a more compact, and slightly more user friendly with less manual options version from panasonic. fz10, fz15, fz20 and currenly fz30 are their more prosumer models. a current comparison would be fz30 to fz7; fz30 has a manual focus ring and mechanical zoom ring, larger body, better on board flash, 6 megapixels vs. 8, flip and rotate LCD display, hotshoe for flash - basically a few more options, overall better (but larger) design and better ease of use for higher camera functions. the fz3 is an older model, only 3 megapixels, and more in line with the fz7, but lacking some features from that model as well - yes, older technology in a nutshell. hope that helps!

[pxpaulx]

as an aside to your previous post, panasonic does not dumb down their products in later generations (i hate sony for that!); they actually improve their previous products, adding convenient features that their users ask for; some examples from fz20 to the fz30 are manual zoom ring, longer exposure times (8 sec. vs. 60), better video capability, including the ability to zoom during the movie (which is in general rare for a digicam), 8 vs. 5 megapixels, non-extending lens, moving the SD card slot to an access position that doesn't require the camera be removed from a tripod - little improvments that add upto a more convenient product - yes, alot is aesthetics, but it was enough for me to choose the fz30 over the 20 as well; and i think if given the choice alot of older fz20 owners would have bought the 30 over it too. Myself, if the fz7 had been available, i probably would have went with that for the price savings, key things that made me get the fz30 over the fz20 or fz5 were better video with zoom capability, higher megapixels for the occasional larger print and longer exposure time for night photography, and also a hotshoe - for if i ever buy a flash!