Panasonic announces FZ50/LX2/FX50/FX07/FX3 (replacements for FZ30 & FX01)

[ryanbrancel]

Press releases posted at www.DPReview.com (http://www.dpreview.com)

- 10 MP CCDs for FZ50 & LX2
- Features IIC (Intelligent ISO control) which monitors the amount of movement in the frame and adjusts the ISO sensitivity automatically at the time of exposure (higher for more movement).
- 7.2 MP FX50 (3" LCD) & FX07 (2.5" LCD) replace the FX01
- Support for SDHC cards
- Venus Engine III (except for budget FX3 model)
- 16:9 movie record mode (848 x 480 pixels)

[rawpaw18]

Twenty one shooting modes:eek: , under scenes there is a FOOD mode and 2 baby modes.

What if you want a panning, night portrait of your baby while eating food, at a party, under a starry sky, with fireworks in the background, still be able to keep the soft skin look and your primary source of light is candlelight, oh no, it is starting to snow too!?:D

[K1W1]

I love this comment on the DPReview story (I'm sure that it will disappear soon).

"Phil: I'm honestly not surprised to see Panasonic 'pixel stuffing' but I'm quite sure that many existing FZ30 owners (and even FZ20 owners) would say that their camera has more than enough resolution and that they would liked to have seen bigger strides in usable high ISO (lower noise) and other innovations."

[cincyimages]

I am looking at replacing my FZ-20 and seeing the announcement of the FZ-50 got me excited for a split second. Did they not reduce the noise problem with the FZ series?

[Viktorrr]

Well by what i can see it looks nice...but we'll just have to wait for the reviews.
I own an FZ30 too, and its a great camera! BUT sometimes the noise really gets on my nerves. If the new camera really does have less noise, i think its going to be a real seller!

[Rex914]

Pricing details were not provided at DPReview, so here they are. They're about on mark except for the FZ50 which should have debuted at $600 IMO.

FZ50 - $650
LX2 - $500
FX50 - $400
FX07 - $350
FX3 - $280

[ssiu]

The LX2 can take video clips at 1280x720 (but 15fps only).

Before it, only the Canon S80 can take "hi-def" video clips (at 1024x768, 15fps).

[photosmarty]

Well by what i can see it looks nice...but we'll just have to wait for the reviews.
I own an FZ30 too, and its a great camera! BUT sometimes the noise really gets on my nerves. If the new camera really does have less noise, i think its going to be a real seller!

I was maybe going to be tempted to upgrade from my fz20, but looking at these sample images (http://panasonic.co.jp/pavc/global/lumix/gallery/models/fz50.html), unless something improves its a definite NO from me.

Come on Panasonic YOU knew what Panny users wanted and it didn't include more megapixels you make me :mad: :D

[tim11]

What the hell should I do with 10MP? I'd rather have useable images on higher ISO. The sensor size is the same 1/1.8" as FZ30's, so don't expect the image to improve much.

[tim11]

I was maybe going to be tempted to upgrade from my fz20, but looking at these sample images (http://panasonic.co.jp/pavc/global/lumix/gallery/models/fz50.html), unless something improves its a definite NO from me.

Come on Panasonic YOU knew what Panny users wanted and it didn't include more megapixels you make me :mad: :D
Thanks for sharing the link. Is that the best Panasonic come up with for sample photos? All background look like water paint with the worst being the background behind the lioness. I want to see more samples on higher ISO.
Nice looking camera but is the image quality better than FZ30 or FZ20?
Is FZ50 the replacement to my FZ20? I don't think so...

[Jim Zim]

I think you're all missing the biggest news of all in Panasonic's announcement. They finally added TTL external flash capability. This was sorely lacking on the FZ20, and I'm fairly sure the external flash on the FZ30 didn't have TTL capability, either.

I used to have a FZ20 and a Sunpak flash, and then later upgraded to a Canon digital SLR camera with a TTL external flash. Big difference... I get way better flash pictures the first time wtihout having to do any experimentation with my digital SLR camera. So, I think with the FZ50 getting TTL external flash capabilities... it's a big step forward.

However, I think they are truly heading in the wrong direction with the pricing! At $649, you are darn near in the price range of the Canon Digital Rebel XT... which offers SO much more than the FZ50. Of course, there's a big difference in the lenses... but still, I think a LOT of people are going to be put off by the price. When the FZ20 hit $299 at Amazon.com recently, they really started flying out the door. (I know because SEVEN of my friends bought them on my recommendation in the last month!) I think Panasonic should have worried less about increasing the resolution and way more about decreasing the price.

[Ajajong]

Well, if the FZ50 can't shoot better pictures at high ISO tthan this, than it is waisted money to replace my FZ10... This centence I could have written also when the FZ30 came out, even the FZ20 is a bit noisier than the FZ10....

[dev]

All background look like water paint with the worst being the background behind the lioness.

Apparently Panasonic agrees. The lioness pic is now gone.

[CptOfGondor]

Seriously, when I saw the 10.1MP ont he same 1/1.8" size CCD, my heart sank. LoL. I hope with all my heart the Venus III will finally do the camera justice.

[tim11]

Apparently Panasonic agrees. The lioness pic is now gone.
:D :D :D :rolleyes: :rolleyes: ;)

I don't care for any more dandy features and give that 10MP+ a thumbdown. TTL flash? That's great to have.
This is the only improvement I'd like to see over the almost-perfect FZ30: CLEANER IMAGES FROM HIGHER ISO SETTINGS.

[CptOfGondor]

:D :D :D :rolleyes: :rolleyes: ;)
CLEANER IMAGES FROM HIGHER ISO SETTINGS.

YES! I really hope the Venus III can pull it off!

[jcon]

As a former FZ20 owner(great camera BTW), looking at the FZ50, my comments and thoughts are as follows....


WHAT A JOKE!!!!!

OK Panasonic, you fooled all of us, now wheres the real camera? Come on, the FZ50 isnt what you really expect people to buy...... Is it????

[cvicisso]

Seriously, when I saw the 10.1MP ont he same 1/1.8" size CCD, my heart sank. LoL. I hope with all my heart the Venus III will finally do the camera justice.I couldn't agree with you guys more. It seems that Fuji is the only manufacturer who is wisely disregarding the 'megapixel' war and concentrating on what the target audience for this breed of camera (in other words, not 'point-and-shoot') really want. The new F30 is simply incredible (uber-high ISO)... too bad it uses xD cards (just say NO!) and doesn't have a nice zoom like the TZ1.

Anyway, I ran across a website (link here (http://dpnow.com/2836.html)) that actually got their hands on a FZ50 and put it through the ISO ringer. Make sure you check out the sample images, but here's what they had to say:

"So there you have it, Panasonic are fully justified in their enthusiasm for the new ten megapixel plus Venus Engine III combination. In many ways, an FZ50 ISO 800 image is as good now as the former generation was at ISO 400 and the like-for-like comparison at ISO 400 is a no-competition win for the FZ50. Panasonic modestly suggests some work is still needed to match the remarkable low noise performance of Fujifilm's FinePix F10, F11 and F30, but those models only sport six megapixels, so Panasonic has made a remarkable achievement with its ten megapixel sensors."

Looks promising. The site also concurs with the general sentiment here WRT the non-requirement for 10-freakin'-megapixels:

"On the other hand, and I think this is echoed by a lot of people, you have to ask whether or not Panasonic needed to go to ten megapixels at all. With the small sensor sizes used by Panasonic, it gets increasingly difficult to translate the native sensor resolution into useful image resolution. But, alas, the marketing lure of megapixels is an immensely strong one."

True. True. :cool:

[cvicisso]

This is the only improvement I'd like to see over the almost-perfect FZ30: CLEANER IMAGES FROM HIGHER ISO SETTINGS.

Sounds like the FZ50 may be just what you're looking for then! See post above. :D

[tim11]

cvicisso, I hope that is right but I don't like what I saw on Panasonic samples (link above).
On FZ20 the images are sharp overall - with noise that can be cleaned with software. On FZ50, the samples I saw had all dirty plasticky backgrounds.
Let wait and see.