Did I make a mistake?!

[lmsals]

Hi. I did a lot of research when deciding to buy a digital camera, deciding I wanted one with a long zoom and image stabilization and had it narrowed down to Dimage Z3, Canon S1 and Lumix FZ-15/20. I decided that the FZ-20 was too expensive and it was HUGE. I wanted more megapixels than the S1, and the FZ-15 didn't record audio with movies (I figure if I have a camera that also records movies I should at least get one that records sound).

So, I decided on the Dimage z3. I liked the feeling of it and it seemed to have good reviews, so I got what I thought was a good price on one ($360) and ordered it. It should arrive tomorrow.

Now I am somehow realizing that I apparently missed the FZ-10 in my research or for some reason eliminated it, but I can't for the life of me remember why. Should I have gotten that one instead? It seems to review better than the Dimage but maybe there was something I didn't like... I can't remember. I looked at SO MANY reviews.

If I made a bad choice, I can always return it and get the FZ-10 instead. Opinions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

[D70FAN]

Hi. I did a lot of research when deciding to buy a digital camera, deciding I wanted one with a long zoom and image stabilization and had it narrowed down to Dimage Z3, Canon S1 and Lumix FZ-15/20. I decided that the FZ-20 was too expensive and it was HUGE. I wanted more megapixels than the S1, and the FZ-15 didn't record audio with movies (I figure if I have a camera that also records movies I should at least get one that records sound).

So, I decided on the Dimage z3. I liked the feeling of it and it seemed to have good reviews, so I got what I thought was a good price on one ($360) and ordered it. It should arrive tomorrow.

Now I am somehow realizing that I apparently missed the FZ-10 in my research or for some reason eliminated it, but I can't for the life of me remember why. Should I have gotten that one instead? It seems to review better than the Dimage but maybe there was something I didn't like... I can't remember. I looked at SO MANY reviews.

If I made a bad choice, I can always return it and get the FZ-10 instead. Opinions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

Don't beat yourself up. The Z3 will do a great job for you and compared to the FZ10 (which is no longer in production) the pluses and minuses equal out. The FZ20 may have been an improvement, but would have cost you an additional $100.

$360 seems like a decent price as well. Just go out and enjoy it. :)

[lmsals]

I knew there was a reason why I eliminated it... it's out of production. I feel better now. I think the Z3 will be okay for what I do. (I'm a mom who wants to take pictures of my kids' sports/music recitals, etc. and nature stuff when we go camping). The FZ-20 really appealed to me but it was quite a bit bigger and I couldn't see myself lugging it around everywhere, so if I wasn't going to lug it, I wouldn't use it and what would be the sense in buying it?

Once I get it and have used it for a while, I will post my comments about it since reading everyone else's comments on their cameras has been so helpful.

[propwash]

If you think the FZ20 is too big, then you will think the same about the FZ10. They are about the same size.

[John_Reed]

Hi. I did a lot of research when deciding to buy a digital camera, deciding I wanted one with a long zoom and image stabilization and had it narrowed down to Dimage Z3, Canon S1 and Lumix FZ-15/20. I decided that the FZ-20 was too expensive and it was HUGE. I wanted more megapixels than the S1, and the FZ-15 didn't record audio with movies (I figure if I have a camera that also records movies I should at least get one that records sound).

So, I decided on the Dimage z3. I liked the feeling of it and it seemed to have good reviews, so I got what I thought was a good price on one ($360) and ordered it. It should arrive tomorrow.

Now I am somehow realizing that I apparently missed the FZ-10 in my research or for some reason eliminated it, but I can't for the life of me remember why. Should I have gotten that one instead? It seems to review better than the Dimage but maybe there was something I didn't like... I can't remember. I looked at SO MANY reviews.

If I made a bad choice, I can always return it and get the FZ-10 instead. Opinions would be greatly appreciated. ThanksI've heard mixed reports about the Z3. One on-line friend bought an FZ20 and a Z3 at the same time, intending to run both of them through their paces for a two-week trial period, then return the lesser of the two cameras. But her Z3 results were so much worse than the FZ20, she gave up on it after only a weekend, and returned it much sooner than planned. On the other hand, others seem to be satisfied, so she may have received a lemon. She e-mailed me her comparison photos, and I had to agree, her Z3 was failing the test.

I have an FZ10 (same size as the FZ20), and although I keep hearing how big people think the camera is, it really isn't, IMO. Compared to my old 35mm cameras, it's small (even compared to my old OM-1, a "small" SLR), and when you factor in the 12X f2.8 lens, it's unbelievably small by comparison to older camera technology. I know several people for whom even the FZ20 seems too small. Your mileage may vary, but I trust your judgment was made based on a "hands-on" trial of the camera?

One area of concern for me vis-a-vis the Z3 is how easy/difficult it is to add extra lenses. I regularly use a telephoto extender and a closeup lens for my FZ10, and it's very easy to procure 3rd-party adapters to make this possible. As for the Z3, I know that K-M offers a wide-angle adapter and lens for the camera, but looking at the camera, I'm not sure how you'd attach a telephoto extender? I could see no threaded ring at all around the lens barrel, which is what I'd think you'd need to make this work. But I'll cop out to sheer ignorance, if there's an easy way to do it. At this point you may not think extra telephoto is important, but the FZ10 and FZ20 have more telephoto "reach" built-in than the Z3 (432mm vs. 420mm), and at the distance I get from little birdies up in the trees, I need more "reach" than the native lens will provide to get anywhere near well-framed photos of the birds.

But go for it with your new Z3, and good luck to you! :)