Recommendations (wrestling/football camera)

[barristan]

I need a camera for taking movies and photos of my son wrestling and playing football. Wrestling is in a gym with not necessarily the best lighting. I used my old Canon A60 last year and have since sold it.
I was looking into the Fuji S6000fd, but now may be leaning towards the Panasonic FZ50. Any thoughts or other suggestions?
Thanks

[Mike63]

You will find that the Panasonic camera's do not do well in poorly lit situations. I have a FZ-20 and when I shot pics of a friends basketball game in the gym the subject was very blurry. A flash would help but they frown on that practice.

[genece]

Were you satisfied with the photos from the A60? If so the FZ50 --FZ18 or the TZ3 should be a step up for you......The FZ18 especially, is much better at ISO800 than the A60 was at 400.

[whubble]

I just bought the Pansonic Lumix DMC LZ18. The telephoto lens prooved superior for distance shots (like those you might shoot from the bleachers under those white lamps at a football game!) and in the ISO tests, although noise exists in higher ISO settings, to my eyes it wasn't as awful as some of the other superzoom cameras. And you can shoot in RAW mode which is not available on some of the other superzooms. It also has ideal stabilization even on those zoomed in shots.

The only think I don't like about the Fujifilm S6000fd is it doens't have image stabilization and no RAW. It does have a super CCD sensor though.

The FZ50 has manual focus which for me was not prudent since I have always had electronic focus.

I have three kids that play soccer and one basketball, so I feel your pain. :)

[barristan]

I liked the A60, it just didn't have enough zoom and it didn't take the best photos inside.

By the way the S6000fd does shoot RAW.

I may just have to find someplace that has both and try them out.

Thanks

[genece]

The photo inside was the Idea......the FZ50 or 18 will do a stop or so better but not much more than that........The Fuji will do a little better with noise but less detail and the camera is slow.......with no IS... regardless of what Fuji says. Its a play on words like their super sensor......it is a little larger but nothing super about it.
But your on the right track try them both and buy the one that comes closest to meeting your needs.