FZ15 or Olympus C770?

[Firewings]

I am close to chose a digital camera for me and, once I live in Brazil and I will have to chose this one without future regrets, I need to make the best choise right now.

One of the topics I really concern is Cost-beneficts. I don´t care so much to the pixels (3 or 4 doesn´t matter to me) but what I realy care is the capabilities as nightshots capabilities, photo quality, noises, purple fringling, Easy to use and get shots (for example, the image stabilization that turns the job much easier) and other stuffs.

There are 2 cameras that I really liked the review. The FZ15 and C770 (olympus). I would like to know your specialist and personal tips about how to buy. Does the FZ3 worth in this case (in order to reduce costs because is a 3 megapixels)? Is the FZ15 is much better than a FZ3 or the unique difference is the 3 and 4 megapixels?
Please, help me because the site didn´t publish a FZ15 Review Yet and I don´t know if the performance is closer to the FZ3 or the FZ20.

Thank you very much and sorry if my english is not the best you can see. LOL

All the Best

[Thon]

I've a Oly C-770UZ, love it for being compact and easy to use with excellent photo capabilities. I'd recommend it.

The FZs have many fans in this forum, so many will recommend it too. The FZs has a better lens (the Oly has a great lens too), and Image Stabilisation (anyway, I don't find any problems with camera shake at long zoom with my Oly so far, maybe the lighter weight???).

The main thing in choosing a camera is the way you'd most probably use it. Have a feel of both cameras before choosing.

Do you like the more compact size of the Oly or the chunky size of the Pana? Do you want to go around with a large camera around your neck/shoulder or a more compact one which can be put into a jacket pocket or on your belt (you can still put around your neck/shoulder too). Photo capabilities are almost similar except at long zooms where the Pana has a faster aperture (F/2.8 vs F/3.7) and IS.

Another factor to consider is the cost of additional batteries/memory cards. Currently, xDs are slightly more expensive than SDs (thought the difference I found in my place is less than US$5 for a 128MB card).

Difference in 3MP and 4MP is not that much and only will be a problem if you print large prints. A 4MP photo allows you to crop your photos without losing too much pixels.

Generally there are pros and cons with every camera (no perfect cameras out there yet; I'd like a ultra-compact (jeans pocket compact), ultra zoom with a lens like the Pana FZs). Make sure you can live with any flaws/weakness your camera has and you'll be happy for your purchase.

[John_Reed]

I am close to chose a digital camera for me and, once I live in Brazil and I will have to chose this one without future regrets, I need to make the best choise right now.

One of the topics I really concern is Cost-beneficts. I don´t care so much to the pixels (3 or 4 doesn´t matter to me) but what I realy care is the capabilities as nightshots capabilities, photo quality, noises, purple fringling, Easy to use and get shots (for example, the image stabilization that turns the job much easier) and other stuffs.

There are 2 cameras that I really liked the review. The FZ15 and C770 (olympus). I would like to know your specialist and personal tips about how to buy. Does the FZ3 worth in this case (in order to reduce costs because is a 3 megapixels)? Is the FZ15 is much better than a FZ3 or the unique difference is the 3 and 4 megapixels?
Please, help me because the site didn´t publish a FZ15 Review Yet and I don´t know if the performance is closer to the FZ3 or the FZ20.

Thank you very much and sorry if my english is not the best you can see. LOL

All the BestI think Thon's advice is sound for you to consider. Whether or not you personally are able to hold your camera steady for long telephoto shots is probably a function, among other things, of your age. It turns out that Panasonic's major target with its line of IS cameras is older men whose hands aren't quite steady enough to take long-telephoto pictures without blur. (Myself being a member of that class! :o ) On the average, the old "rule of thumb" for shooting telephoto shots is that your shutter speed should be at least as fast as 1/(focal length); so you should be able to get sharp photos with a C-770 at full zoom at ~1/400 or faster. Shooting photos outside, under Sunny (or even cloudy) skies, there should be no problem. With an FZ15 and its O.I.S. system, you'd expect to be able to shoot at least two f-stops slower, ~1/100, conservatively speaking. I'll close with an example of a handheld shot I took with my FZ10 at about the same maximum zoom as the C-770, at 1/15th of a second, and I invite Thon to show one taken with the C-770 under similar lighting conditions:
http://john-reed.smugmug.com/photos/5798519-L.jpg

[Thon]

John puts a valid point to consider here and great photo, John, I don't think the Oly can do that without flash or tripod, the advantage of IS is shown here. :rolleyes:

I'll also be honest here.

It'd be "almost" impossible to take a 1/15 sec shot handheld on the C-770UZ (that's where IS has an advantage), unless you prop the camera on a tripod or brace yourself very well.

However, for any handheld 1/100 sec or faster shot at max tele, outdoor (sunny or cloudy) or indoor with flash or bright lighting, camera shake is not a problem.

You can see 2 of my handheld shots here (both without flash).

http://www.photographyblog.com/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=2155

Note:

The mango is on a tree (about 3 meters up on the tree) and shot from about 7 meters away at 5:30pm at max tele.
The Orchid was shot on Macro mode at wide angle with one hand (other hand was holding the orchid pot)

Both photos were cropped and reduced in size (about 50%) on Photoshop but otherwise unaltered. The camera settings are all on factory default.

Hope you liked them. :D

[John_Reed]

John puts a valid point to consider here and great photo, John, I don't think the Oly can do that without flash or tripod, the advantage of IS is shown here. :rolleyes:

I'll also be honest here.

It'd be "almost" impossible to take a 1/15 sec shot handheld on the C-770UZ (that's where IS has an advantage), unless you prop the camera on a tripod or brace yourself very well.

However, for any handheld 1/100 sec or faster shot at max tele, outdoor (sunny or cloudy) or indoor with flash or bright lighting, camera shake is not a problem.

You can see 2 of my handheld shots here (both without flash).

http://www.photographyblog.com/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=2155

Note:

The mango is on a tree (about 3 meters up on the tree) and shot from about 7 meters away at 5:30pm at max tele.
The Orchid was shot on Macro mode at wide angle with one hand (other hand was holding the orchid pot)

Both photos were cropped and reduced in size (about 50%) on Photoshop but otherwise unaltered. The camera settings are all on factory default.

Hope you liked them. :DIt was probably the "one-handed" part that softened the Orchid a little. :o Your longer focal length mango shot is quite a bit sharper, though at a faster shutter speed. Thanks for posting the comparisons!