s2 vs panasonic fz5

[bruben6]

New to the forum, been looking at the panasonic FZ20 for a while it is being discontinued. how does the new panasonic FZ5 stack up to the new Canon S2 Is.

[jamdr]

I am actually considering the same two models for my next ultrazoom camera. Basically it comes down to is video mode important to you. The Panasonic seems to take better photos but horrible video, while I've been pretty unimpressed with the quality of the S2 photos (too much CA, like the Sony H2), but takes good video, for a camera at least, at VGA resolution.

I'm waiting for the review of the S2 on this site before I make a decision (I'm sure Jeff is working hard on it), but right now I'm leaning toward the Z5 because even the S2 has bad video in the age of HD-video, so if I want good video I should get a video camera anyway. Let me know what you end up deciding.

P.S. Jeff seems to think that the Z5 is the second best ultrazoom camera right now, coming after only the FZ20. It'll be interesting to see what he thinks of the S2.

[Chem]

I'm looking for an ultrazoom camera too. I think I have compared all the pictures there are of the KM, Panasonics, S2 and H1 by now and I wonder if everybody (including myself) isn't focussing too much on that slight difference in picture quality you only see when you view the pictures at full 5MP size on the computer monitor. Sure the Panasonics produce the sharpest pictures but they are a bit noisy and the pictures of the KM are on the soft side but there's no purple fringing that the S2 and H1 do have. I can't imagine that when you print the same picture of all these cameras on standard photo size or even A4 size, you can see much difference in quality. And also on the monitor the pictures have to be downsized if you want them to fit on your screen completely and then the noise and purple fringing are not noticeable anymore. Cropping details will reveal the true quality of course but with 12x zoom you won't have to crop so much, you just zoom in on the details. The only thing that stays visible is the difference in colors, but all these cameras have custom white balance settings and adjustable contrast and saturation, so colors can be changed to your own liking.
So I think I'm just gonna go for the most complete camera and that, without a doubt, is the S2.

[jamdr]

I'm looking for an ultrazoom camera too. I think I have compared all the pictures there are of the KM, Panasonics, S2 and H1 by now and I wonder if everybody (including myself) isn't focussing too much on that slight difference in picture quality you only see when you view the pictures at full 5MP size on the computer monitor. Sure the Panasonics produce the sharpest pictures but they are a bit noisy and the pictures of the KM are on the soft side but there's no purple fringing that the S2 and H1 do have. I can't imagine that when you print the same picture of all these cameras on standard photo size or even A4 size, you can see much difference in quality. And also on the monitor the pictures have to be downsized if you want them to fit on your screen completely and then the noise and purple fringing are not noticeable anymore. Cropping details will reveal the true quality of course but with 12x zoom you won't have to crop so much, you just zoom in on the details. The only thing that stays visible is the difference in colors, but all these cameras have custom white balance settings and adjustable contrast and saturation, so colors can be changed to your own liking.
So I think I'm just gonna go for the most complete camera and that, without a doubt, is the S2.
I more or less agree. However, for $500 I was just expecting a little more from the latest Sony and Canon ultrazoom offerings. Why is the CA so bad with these cameras, especially the H1? And the S2 photos just look horrible in many ways. In the end I'm sure it won't be very noticeable if you print at smaller sizes, but I imagine some of the bad purple fringing will be easy to see no matter what.

I still think the Panasonic is the way to go if you don't care about the movie mode. The images a little noisy, but this shouldn't cause too many problems at 8x10 or smaller. At least there's no CA

[Akysten]

S2 Photos..


They don't look bad.. I've already taken several hundred, and while I AM going to return the camera(not enough for me to keep over the s1)..
By the time I buy new memory and sell my old camera, I could buy a better camera.. Unfortunately, there is no higher end camera at this time that has the utrazoom, IS and movie mode.. three things I look for.

I would take the S2 over the Sony, and for size/movie reasons.. over the pannasonic. As much as I like the FZ20, it's too big. If I'm going to carry around something like that.. and not have a decent movie mode, I'm going DSLR. I feel for the price, performance, and size, I'd spend the extra $$$ and get something more serious.

[JTL]

I have been shooting A LOT with the S2 for 5 days now, and I have to say, I have not had any significant purple fringing at all. This PF thing is so way overblown as an issue that it's gotten silly.

Check out my test shots. I'm adding more every day...on the tree shot, some minor purple fringing can be seen, but if I weren't looking for it, I'd never notice...and neither did anyone else I asked. It's only after I enlarged it and said "see, look at this" that they noticed.

http://jtl.smugmug.com/gallery/574095/1/23990992

My advice...don't go only by the bits and bytes...look at real pictures taken by real people and try all the cameras yourself. Search pbase and check out images there as well. I did and wound up buying the S2...

[van_city]

I have been shooting A LOT with the S2 for 5 days now, and I have to say, I have not had any significant purple fringing at all. This PF thing is so way overblown as an issue that it's gotten silly.

Check out my test shots. I'm adding more every day...on the tree shot, some minor purple fringing can be seen, but if I weren't looking for it, I'd never notice...and neither did anyone else I asked. It's only after I enlarged it and said "see, look at this" that they noticed.

http://jtl.smugmug.com/gallery/574095/1/23990992

My advice...don't go only by the bits and bytes...look at real pictures taken by real people and try all the cameras yourself. Search pbase and check out images there as well. I did and wound up buying the S2...

I agree, the PF issues are overblown on the S2 as well as the H1. Honestly, both cameras provide great images IMO, and people are easy to jump all over these cameras for minute details...I've seen a vast gallery of photos and movies from the H1, and I am in awe in terms of the quality of both movies and pictures...now if only the H1 could zoom during video mode! The S2 galleries I've seen have also been impressive and you can't go wrong with either camera. Personally, I feel the H1's results are crisper but I wish you could zoom when doing video...

[Montana]

haha Van you are caught where I am, as usual. Where did you see more of the H1 movies? I too enjoyed the quality I saw from them. The only one I saw was the Yosemite waterfall movies.


Another contender has entered the ring for me. I am now seriously considering waiting a few more months for the superzoom battle to wind down, and instead may pick up the Fuji F10. Why? Incredibly noise free pictures (smooth and clean) portability, and high quality movie mode. This camera would be a great compliment further on down the line for the "perfect" superzoom. ;) And for 300$ you can't go wrong with the smooth, noise free pictures and the portability.



Just another angle.

[Montana]

S2 Photos..


They don't look bad.. I've already taken several hundred, and while I AM going to return the camera(not enough for me to keep over the s1)..
By the time I buy new memory and sell my old camera, I could buy a better camera.. Unfortunately, there is no higher end camera at this time that has the utrazoom, IS and movie mode.. three things I look for.

I would take the S2 over the Sony, and for size/movie reasons.. over the pannasonic. As much as I like the FZ20, it's too big. If I'm going to carry around something like that.. and not have a decent movie mode, I'm going DSLR. I feel for the price, performance, and size, I'd spend the extra $$$ and get something more serious.



"They don't look bad.. I've already taken several hundred, and while I AM going to return the camera(not enough for me to keep over the s1)..
By the time I buy new memory and sell my old camera, I could buy a better camera.. Unfortunately, there is no higher end camera at this time that has the utrazoom, IS and movie mode.. three things I look for."


This poses an interesting scenario. If I was you, and already had the S1, no way do I "upgrade" to the S2 or H1 right now. But seeing as I dont have an S1, buying the S2 or H1 or FZ20 is a good option. However, these cameras are all cramming alot of pixel information into a small sensor, giving noise problems, etc. It might be wise to wait and see what shakes out down the road in terms of "higher end".

Im looking for something that will have clean low noise images, 10x to 12x , IS or not ( I dont really care either way), and zooming in video mode.

This is something that optically could last a very long time.

[vancouverislander]

"Im looking for something that will have clean low noise images, 10x to 12x , IS or not ( I dont really care either way), and zooming in video mode."

The IS is the main reason I purchased the S2 - what good would the zoom do me wihtout it?

[van_city]

"They don't look bad.. I've already taken several hundred, and while I AM going to return the camera(not enough for me to keep over the s1)..
By the time I buy new memory and sell my old camera, I could buy a better camera.. Unfortunately, there is no higher end camera at this time that has the utrazoom, IS and movie mode.. three things I look for."


This poses an interesting scenario. If I was you, and already had the S1, no way do I "upgrade" to the S2 or H1 right now. But seeing as I dont have an S1, buying the S2 or H1 or FZ20 is a good option. However, these cameras are all cramming alot of pixel information into a small sensor, giving noise problems, etc. It might be wise to wait and see what shakes out down the road in terms of "higher end".

Im looking for something that will have clean low noise images, 10x to 12x , IS or not ( I dont really care either way), and zooming in video mode.

This is something that optically could last a very long time.


Good points, however, one can wait forever if you really want to...regardless of which camera you buy today, 6 months down the road there will be new technology and a camera released that will be better...I don't think the waiting game is that effective...Sony has played the 'game' like they do with a lot of their products...they allow another company/competitor to release an innovative product and then watch the market as well as the technology, when the time is right they release a competitive product, hence the H1 and if you look at the DVD camcorder trends, Sony started late as well...With the DVD camcorders, IMO, Sony still can't touch Hitachi who are the founders of DVD camcorder technology, even though Sony has been aggressive in this segment...I hope the same trend doesn't occur with the release of the H1, but I think Sony has put an awesome package together for someone that had a KM Dimage G400, and is looking to upgrade to the H1...

[Montana]

"Im looking for something that will have clean low noise images, 10x to 12x , IS or not ( I dont really care either way), and zooming in video mode."

The IS is the main reason I purchased the S2 - what good would the zoom do me wihtout it?



tripod. I would gladly trade IS for clean, smooth noise free images. That's just me though.

[JTL]

I am now seriously considering waiting a few more months for the superzoom battle to wind down, and instead may pick up the Fuji F10.Well, if Fuji would put the Super CCD in a competively featured and priced ultrzoom camera, I think a lot of us might consider going Fuji...

[MudFud]

New to the forum, been looking at the panasonic FZ20 for a while it is being discontinued. how does the new panasonic FZ5 stack up to the new Canon S2 Is.


I returned a Panasonic FZ5 because of the lack of manual focus. In certain situations (eg close ups, shooting from behind a screen, at the zoo, etc.) this proved to be too limiting, and I actually got better pictures with my old Canon A70 (which has manual focus). Now I'm looking at the Sony H1 and Canon S2. However, the H2's "manual" focus seem to consist of only five present distances (am I correct?), and this would be too inconvenient. So now I'm waiting for the S1 review.......

[vancouverislander]

tripod. I would gladly trade IS for clean, smooth noise free images. That's just me though.


I understand. My purchase was based on the fact it would be easy to take this camera with me no matter where I was going without having to take along a bunch of extras - for me it's hassle free.

[rhinosaur75]

I have to agree that I too will probably settle on the S2 over Panasonic's offerings. The FZ20 is fairly large, and the FZ5, when compared feature for feature against the Canon comes up just shy, despite its better picture quality.

One note, this will be the family camera, ie., my wife will want to use it as well. The S2 is a bit more compact and feels a bit heavier. When she held the two camera's at Circuit City her obvious choice was the S2. Of course I look at more than just the feel and weight, but it set her mind at ease that something that tiny had some bulk. Besides, she has the checkbook. :cool:

I also plan on taking this little camera everywhere, all the time, to snap anything that catches my eye. It will also be used to shoot my daughter's soccer games. So the IS is key for me as well as the manual focus and lack of proprietary battery. I don't remember, does the Panasonic have an AF lamp as well? The movie mode is a big perk for the misses as well, despite the fact you'll only capture a few minutes of decent video, it will be good to send "hello's" from the kids to the grandparents.

I think at this point I have to agree with most of the others on photo quality - while I may use a few pics large, the majority of them may not even get printed so I think the differences regarding quality between the FZ5, the S2 and the H1 should not be the sole decision maker. Each camera has a host of features geared towards a particular users needs. Try them all out, touch them, hold them, take a few pictures - play with the zoom and the focus and you'll be able to tell which one you want. :D

[ajay67]

they are all good cams. all comes down to personal preference. the difference in photo quality is not so significant to sway me to a certain cam, but the feature does. i look for SD card, AA battery & VGA/30fps movies which only S2 can offer.

[van_city]

they are all good cams. all comes down to personal preference. the difference in photo quality is not so significant to sway me to a certain cam, but the feature does. i look for SD card, AA battery & VGA/30fps movies which only S2 can offer.

People always knock Sony for their Sony sticks, but if you shop around one can find Sony sticks for the same price as SD memory...

[Akysten]

Just for my 2 cents for the title...
I would have to try the camera out, but from what I understand.. if I didn't care about the video mode, I would go with the FZ5... I don't think it can be beat for the price/size/zoom/Performance for PHOTOS..

However, if movie modes are important.. I'm willing to sacrifice a little in photo and lens and go with the S2. It's all about what you consider most important.

[Akysten]

I can tell you this... the FZ5 is a FINE camera.

FZ5, Vs the S2 I'm convincded these are the two best options.

what I like better on the FZ5:

FAST Autofocus(NICE!)
Like Histogram(NICE!)
TIFF Mode(NICE!)
Feel/Small and Light(for an ultrazoom)(NICE!)
Fast Lens(stays at 2.8 though most of telephoto)(NICE!)
Included Lens Hood
Multiple Shooting Modes appear better
Photo Quality slightly better.

What I like better on the S2
Manual Focus(not on FZ5)(but useless on LCD in sunlight.
AA batteries
640x480 with zoom and stereo sound(NICE! blows away 320x200 no zoom)
Flip Out LCD(note, I like the 1.5" s1 LCD much better for brightness and clarity)
More intuitive, better placement of buttons.. menus more easily navigates.

Both LCD's are about the same.. but the s2 has a flip out. The S1 LCD is bright with a good resolution.. and can be used in bright light or low light. The S2 adjusts to a "slow frame rate" mode for indoor shots.
I really like the flip out LCD.. I use it all the time.. and would miss it if it wasn't there.

It's my opinion, as a pure camera, the FZ5 is the winner(Lens, TIFF mode, Histogram, picture quality,size/feel).. lack of manual focus is the only drawback, but this is difficult if not impossible on the supplied LCD anyway.

However... the S2 still takes good shots too, it's larger, and noticably heavier... but if you want the video... it's the only option.

I don't like the Sony... The FZ blows it away in photo, and the S2 in video... maybe the H2 might be better, but I've never been a fan of Sony Digicams or Camcorders.

[rhinosaur75]

More intuitive, better placement of buttons.. menus more easily navigates.


I think this might be one of the main factors since I'll be sharing this camera with novice family members. And I have previous experience with the Canon interface which, to me, is very easy to navigate and use.

[Akysten]

I could be partial to canon's placement... while to do sacrifice a bit, their navigation is just cleaner. An example.. While both cameras account shot orientation in playback.. the Canon allows you to zoom and maintain the orientation, the Pannasonic revert back to the original shot..not a deal killer, but annoying by comparison.

[ajay67]

People always knock Sony for their Sony sticks, but if you shop around one can find Sony sticks for the same price as SD memory...

i'm not against sony product. in fact i currently own a sony P5 & miniDV handycam. you know what's the problem? the P5 only accept the old MS & the handycam only accept the Duo version. so i end up buying several incompatible sticks. for the handycam, i bought Sandisk MSProDuo which is cheaper than sony's but there are plenty of SD card brands to choose from which make 'em even cheaper. when you talk about GB memory size the price difference become significant. can i use MSProDuo for H1? yes, with an adaptor. but when I ask about the highest movie settings, the sony ppl replied that ONLY MSPro is accepted for that. i'm not going to buy another MSPro for H1, or maybe MSpro2 later for HX?

oh btw, I already own a high-speed SD card for my PDA, which I can confidently use on the S2. watching those photos on my PDA should be a breeze. hope you understand why i prefer SD...

[Akysten]

I don't like Sony Sticks because they only work with Sony. SD and CF work with a range of cameras.. I don't want to keep buying memory.. I want to "share" it between my cameras.

It's just one reason I don't like Sony Digicams and Camcorders.. I love Sony TV's, don't care much for their Audio stuff(Amps/speakers).. and their Digicams. Decent cameras.. I just don't like the feel and functionality... it's a personal preference. Some people love them... I would probably list them above Kodak(I feel they are geared to less serious users, their simple system is unappealing) but in the same group as Fuji and Minolta... I haven't looked seriously at Casio, but I keep thinking of my cheap Casio KB from the 80's and my old Calculator watch that inadvertantly scared away many prospective dates. :)

[Akysten]

I know... too many posts on this.. but I have been playing with the FZ5.

I really want to like this camera, the size, feel, and focus times are outstanding. Here is a list of categories and who wins...

Start Up Time to first shot : S2
Auto Focus Time: FZ5(but s2 isn't bad)
Shot to Shot time: FZ5, s2 focuses fast, FZ5 is much faster
Compression: FZ5 supports TIFF
Size and Feel FZ5 is smaller, lighter, feels better in hand
Outdoor Photo's FZ5(slight, advantavge to do no purple fringing
Manual Focus S2, the FZ has not manual focus
Indoor Flash Photo's S2 by quite a bit...
Image Noise Hard to Say, from what I've seen, I lean s2
Lens Speed FZ5 slight (2.8-3.3 vs 2.7-5.5)
Zoom Speed S2 has a faster zoom motor...
400 ISO FZ5 looks more usable
Playback Functionality S2 is much cleaner and quicker/intuitive
Movie Mode S2 Not even close
Audio Recording See Movie Mode... S2 is outstanding
Gadget Modes S2.. movie modes, my colors, etc...
LCD S2 for low light gain/flip out, FZ5 for resolution
Red Eye FZ5 is more effective.

In my opinion, overall, the S2 gets the nod for photo quality.. it's close, but the indoor performance tilts in favor of the S2. While the FZ5 is great for fast action do to it's picture to picture and autofocus performance, the S2 has a superior startup time, a faster zoom.. but lags a bit when taking mulitple photos. Auto Focus is NOT bad for the Canon.. it's pretty quick, but it's not ready take that second shot like the FZ5.

The FZ5 LCD has a better resolution, but is terrible in low light, neither are good in bright sunlight. I think the S2 wins overall because of the fold out LCD and usability in low light.

The FZ5 is smaller, lighter, and is more portable.

The S2 navigates much more smoothly... especially in playback mode. Not only does it maintain the orientation of the photo when "zooming", but zooming is much faster and smoother. Navigation is much better.

The FZ5 is very noisy in indoor photography, I was very disapointed. Plus the flash is overpowering, even when pulled back, it still washes things out. The s2 produced much better photos whem using the flash... however the FZ5 has a better red eye system. The pre-flash is the best solution for direct flash photography. Those little orange lights on the Canon doesn't do the trick. Still, the red eye has not been a problem on the s2...

The movie mode? Well, terrible is all I can use to describe the FZ5. Indoors, it's useless.. very dark, the sound is fuffled. Night and day is a great analogy here. Outdoors, the FZ5 does better, but it can get choppy, and can't come close to the S2.

So basically the FZ would be better for quick shot to shot outoor sports shooting... or just outdoor shooting in general. HOWEVER, given the quality of the phots taken... the performance of the LCD, the lack of a manual focus, and overal superior Canon menu/review navigation puts it behind the s2 as an overall/all purpose camera... and this isn't considering the movie mode.

I really like the FZ5... it's fun to use, but I can't keep them both.

[Akysten]

I took both the FZ5 and the Canon S2 to my nieces graduation party.

Everyone I showed the camera around to preferred the Canon. They liked the feel, they said that their impression was that the Canon was a better camera. This may have been based on camera weight, they hadn't seen photos. I defended the FZ5 for it's focusing and shot to shot ability. As I said elsewhere, the fast frame rate and focus, coupled with the light weight of the camera just makes it fun.

However, after taking the photos and reviewing them, it's obvious that the S2 was the clear winner. I know something about cameras, I tried every trick, but the Canon consistantly outperformred the fZ5.. especially with color reproductions and skin tones. The FZ5 looks washed out in comparison. In flash photography, it's even worse. I think there must be something wrong, as the reviews for the FZ5 are outstanding.

I showed the photos on the computer to several people.. My wife, who is into 35mm photography, noted right off that she didn't like the color. She is used to the s1 and a70... her quote "Is this a different camera? the colors don't look right".

Still, I'm not going to exchange it... I'm going to stick with the s2.

[Montana]

""Still, I'm not going to exchange it... I'm going to stick with the s2.""

Im not clear on this - so you are exchanging the S2 or the FZ5?

thanks.

[Akysten]

I presently have an S1, and S2, and a FZ5. Keep in mind that I've been playing with these cameras for days.

I'm going to STICK WITH THE S2.. in other words, I'm selling the S1, and returning the FZ5.. and keeping the S2.

If you like, I can give you side by side shots between the two cameras. The S2 Clearly delivers a better photo.

Look for photos at barlow.santoonie.com/s2vsfz5

if the link fails, it's not up yet.

[Montana]

Akysten -

I ordered the S2 yesterday from Dell for 354$, free shipping.

It shipped today and the tracking number says it will be here June 15th.

Nice to know you think the S2 takes better photos.

[AyreHead]

Akysten -

I ordered the S2 yesterday from Dell for 354$, free shipping.

It shipped today and the tracking number says it will be here June 15th.

Nice to know you think the S2 takes better photos.

I've been really seriously considering the S2 to replace my Minolta F100. $354 is a smoking deal! I just searched all over Dell's web site, but I cannot find the S2. I can only find the S1. Montana, can you provide a link? Thanks.

[TRAmbler]

The deal is over now. It was a combination coupon/reduction that expired a couple of days ago. Don't fret though. Many of us who ordered via the deal are going to have to wait until JULY 25th for it to ship to us. If the order takes as long as it says on the website.

I am not sure I can wait that long.... If another good deal pops up I am almost sure that I will jump on it and either cancel or resell the S2 from Dell. (Ebay anyone?)

[Montana]

The deal is over now. It was a combination coupon/reduction that expired a couple of days ago. Don't fret though. Many of us who ordered via the deal are going to have to wait until JULY 25th for it to ship to us. If the order takes as long as it says on the website.

I am not sure I can wait that long.... If another good deal pops up I am almost sure that I will jump on it and either cancel or resell the S2 from Dell. (Ebay anyone?)



I ordered from the same deal. My original shipping date was July 11th. However, my camera shipped yesterday , I now have the tracking number and it's "en route" to my home according to the DH Lwebsite. Should be here on the 15th according to DHL.

I would guess your camera will be shipping very soon.

[Montana]

I've been really seriously considering the S2 to replace my Minolta F100. $354 is a smoking deal! I just searched all over Dell's web site, but I cannot find the S2. I can only find the S1. Montana, can you provide a link? Thanks.



Ayre, the deal is over. Keep looking at fatwallet.com everyday though because Dell always has deals.

[AyreHead]

Ayre, the deal is over. Keep looking at fatwallet.com everyday though because Dell always has deals.

Thanks. I guess Dell must have sold out and pulled the camera completely off of their website. I'll keep looking out for another deal. Thanks for the tip on fatwallet.

[Graham]

Thanks for all your comparisons and opinions thus far; they've all been incredibly helpful to me. Alas my head is spinning even more so now trying to decide between the FZ5 & S2!

It really is so difficult. It's primarily the lack of manual focus on the FZ5 that's throwing the cat amongst the pigeons for me. I intend to take stills of buildings and streetscapes so hopefully it won't be too much of an issue - though I'm used to using manual focus all the time for video & on 35mm...
Also reports of the low-light performance of the FZ5 vary wildly...

Otherwise I don't care for the video on the S2 (though it's nice) or the quiet zoom given the ridiculous levels of traffic in Dublin :). Also the weight, size and general SLR appearance of the FZ5 appeal to me greatly.

Anyone care to advise on which to go for?! (sorry for turning this into a 'what camera?' post)
The $370 cost of the FZ5 also swings it in one's favour compared with the pricey $450 of the S2...

[JTL]

Thanks for all your comparisons and opinions thus far; they've all been incredibly helpful to me. Alas my head is spinning even more so now trying to decide between the FZ5 & S2!

It really is so difficult. It's primarily the lack of manual focus on the FZ5 that's throwing the cat amongst the pigeons for me. I intend to take stills of buildings and streetscapes so hopefully it won't be too much of an issue - though I'm used to using manual focus all the time for video & on 35mm...
Also reports of the low-light performance of the FZ5 vary wildly...

Otherwise I don't care for the video on the S2 (though it's nice) or the quiet zoom given the ridiculous levels of traffic in Dublin :). Also the weight, size and general SLR appearance of the FZ5 appeal to me greatly.

Anyone care to advise on which to go for?! (sorry for turning this into a 'what camera?' post)
The $370 cost of the FZ5 also swings it in one's favour compared with the pricey $450 of the S2...I suggest that you compare pictures taken with both...or better yet, use both yourself. The choice will become obvious...

[Graham]

Yes this is the only way really once you finally get down to this 'make your mind up' stage.
Only thing - I haven't been able to find direct picture comparisons between the two, other that the images exclusive to each camera's reviews.

Looking at the S2 & Sony H1 comparison, I find every single one of Sony's to be superior, if that says anything about the S2...

[Ltvscout]

I took both the FZ5 and the Canon S2 to my nieces graduation party.

Everyone I showed the camera around to preferred the Canon. They liked the feel, they said that their impression was that the Canon was a better camera. This may have been based on camera weight, they hadn't seen photos. I defended the FZ5 for it's focusing and shot to shot ability. As I said elsewhere, the fast frame rate and focus, coupled with the light weight of the camera just makes it fun.
I too am now looking at the FZ5 and S2. Up till today, my impressions were all based on reviews I've read and forums like this.

I went in to Circuit City today so I could physically hold both cameras and check them out. As it turned out, the first camera I came to was the S2. After checking it out I then went to the FZ5. The first thing I thought was that I was holding the wrong camera. Compared to the S2, the FZ5 looked and felt extremely plasticy. I was reminded of a cheap chinese toy camera, not a $500 digital camera. I'm going to wait till dpreviews.com comes out with their review of the S2, but due to the cheapness of construction I felt with the FZ5, I may now go with the S2. I have to admit, till I went into the store I was pretty solidly sold on the FZ5 based on my research.

Scott

[wall]

I have used both cameras and have taken over 500 pics with each. I first bought the FZ5 a month ago and I loved it. Then the S2 came out. I decided to try both before I commit myself to either one, so I returned the FZ5 and bought the S2 two days ago. At first I didn't like the S2's weight and operation, but I must admit its beginning to grow on me. Here's my opinion of the two cameras. I'll try focus on my likes and gripes that aren't obvious from the reviews/camera specs:

Panasonic FZ5:

Its small, lightweight, and looks great (at least the black model does). I was suprised by how tiny it actually is in person. Yet its grip was comfortable and I was able to handle it easily with one hand. The picture quality is amazing - images are sharp and crisp, and the colors were accurately reproduced. The LCD and EVF are both sharp and fluid and works well in the daytime. In bright sunlight, the EVF is a real reliable alternative to the LCD. Since I like to often switch between normal shooting and macro, I loved the fact that you didn't need to press a button to access the macro focus range. Focus speeds on this camera are simply out of this world. In playback mode, I liked the option of being able to resize my photos and of erasing multiple photos at once.

Now, some things I didn't like about the FZ5. I found the auto white balance to be sub-par in my experience. It had lots of trouble with incandescent lighting and the present options didn't include fluorescent lighting or tungsten (it only had sunlight, cloudy, halogen and flash). This means having to spend a lot of time fiddling with manual WB when shooting indoors. Another thing I didn't like on the FZ5 was the positioning of the exposure button. In order to set the manual exposure, this awkwardly positioned button had to be pressed every time you make a change. The FZ5 lacks a manual focus, but its not really a big deal considering how well its AF performs. Finally, I must bash this camera's LCD and EVF in low light. Its impossible to see anything at all in them. This is a real disappointment because I found the low-light focusing to be spot-on, even in pitch dark conditions.

Canon S2:

At over half a kilo fully loaded, the S2 is significantly larger and heftier than the FZ5. I found it uncomfortable to use with one hand for extended periods of time. I liked the FZ5's grip better, but I must admit the grip on the S2 is more ergonomical than its predecessor (the S1). One of the biggest features that made me decide to try out the S2 rather than keep the FZ5 is the flip-out rotating LCD. I really works wonders when shooting macro and it opens up a whole new world of creative composition. Its silent zoom is a great feature, as is its blazing fast startup (~1 sec). I found the white balance on the S2 to be more reliable than the FZ5's and it includes presets the FZ5 doesn't have. Another plus on the S2 is the Supermacro mode, which lets you focus down to 0cm. This is an awesome feature, and I don't know of any other P&S that can do this. The movie mode is supposedly very good, but I didn't really try it much yet; I don't intend to shoot movies on digicams anyways. Full manual focus is awkward to use, but at least it is available if the need arises. The S2 performs well in low light; the LCD and EVF gains up and can actually see what you shoot (unlike the FZ5). The S2's playback mode is a bit better than the FZ5's in my opinion. It seemed a little faster and zooming was smoother (though it only goes up to 10X as opposed to the FZ5's 16X). The S2 supports USB 2.0 so transfers to the hard drive are faster than the FZ5.

Now, some things I don't like about the S2. In normal lighting conditions, the LCD and EVF sucks! The LCD is only 115,000 pixels and the image appears grainy in even good lighting conditions. The EVF is even worse. I don't know if I got a lemon or what, but the EVF image always seems to be hazy or cloudy. Its resolution is not given, but it must be really low. Also, the EVF requires that you put your eye right up against it in order to see the whole projection (poor eye relief). I found the FZ5's EVF to be better in this regard. The FZ5 wins hands down when it comes to focus speed and accuracy; I've had the S2's AF miss multiple times in a couple situations. As good as Canon's macro and supermacro modes are, I'd prefer it if I didn't have to press a button to go from normal to macro, and then again from normal/macro to supermacro modes. It would have been better if there were only two modes. The transition from the two macro focus ranges are also a bother, since macro is from 10-50 cm and supermacro is from 0-10 cm. If I do a lot of shooting in the 5-15 cm range, it means I have to constantly switch between the two modes. Finally, the S2 has no live histogram, but does have one during playback.

When it comes to comparing image quality (that's what really matters in the end, right?), I found myself prefering the FZ5's over the S2's by a very tiny margin so far. I've only had the S2 for less than 2 days, and plan to do much more extensive testing before I come to my final conclusion. As I mentioned before, the FZ5's pics were outstanding, with very beautiful colors and just the right amount of sharpening. I found virtually no trace of purple fringing on the FZ5, though I did encounter a little bit of yellow and magenta bleeding. Auto exposure produced well balanced pictures in the FZ5. The quality of the S2 pics are also very good and stand up well to the FZ5's. I found the S2 pics to be slightly oversharpened (as Jeff noticed) and I don't like the color as much as the FZ5's. I found no trace of CA in the S2 as of yet, but this being Canon, I'm sure it will crop up sooner or later. Finally, one last stab at the S2: it has a tendency to overexpose. I'd advise setting the exposure to -1/3 EV to get better pics.

---------------

Whew, I got carried away. Sorry for the gigantic post :)
Like others in this thread, I am debating whether to get the S2 or FZ5. I found that trying out both cameras at home for a couple of weeks is far better than reading review after review. This hands on experience has helped me learn the quirks and personalities of both cameras, and I think I will be better able to make that final decision as to which to keep. I'll let you guys know of that in a week or so ;)

Cheers!
~wall

[St. Chris]

The movie mode is supposedly very good, but I didn't really try it much yet; I don't intend to shoot movies on digicams anyways.Try the S2's movie mode, especially with the LCD flipped out. Use the zoom. Play it back on a TV with good stereo speakers. Believe me, you may change your mind about shooting movies on a digicam.

[samrh]

Wall, thanks for the informative comparisons.

Comparing in terms of price, the S2 which cost more, does not come with charger, rechargeable batteries, no lens adapter and hood.

It seems to me that if only the FZ5 has a flip out LCD, I will definetely go for the Pany. But alas, I am still stucked deciding on which, as the flip out LCD is something that I woul like too.

[wall]

Yeah, if I keep the S2, the accessories I need to purchase in addition to it would cost me a bundle. The way I figure, I'll need:

-a larger, faster mem. card (I'm still using my old MMC's :p )
-a battery charger
-a couple sets of NiMH's
-a carrying case
-some sort of portable hard disk to store my photos when on vacation.
-AC adapter for indoor/backyard shooting.

All together, it may end up costing as much as the camera! And I've not yet included the lens hood or adapters of any sort.

[mellowfruit]

I presently have an S1, and S2, and a FZ5. Keep in mind that I've been playing with these cameras for days.

I'm going to STICK WITH THE S2.. in other words, I'm selling the S1, and returning the FZ5.. and keeping the S2.

If you like, I can give you side by side shots between the two cameras. The S2 Clearly delivers a better photo.

Look for photos at barlow.santoonie.com/s2vsfz5

if the link fails, it's not up yet.

i just want to find out if the cameras had the same setting, for example in white balancing. i notice the fz5 colours seem to b 'bluish'. if it's on auto mode, is it possible to hav it done manually for both camera and test them out again? would certainly appreciate all other the specs listed as well, for example ISO, shuttle speed, etc...thanks

[IlBianconero]

Can anybody please post some pics of indoor shots using the FZ5?
This made me change my mind about the camera...for the worse ! I do not have the option to try the cameras in my country,you are so lucky!!
I was sure I was going to get the S2,but the company just let me know they will be 15 days late...but it may be all for the better!!
After all,if it wasn't for this poor WB in incandescent light I hear everyone talking about,I would consider FZ5 the winner,in terms of picture quality.
But indoor performance is a big issue,so any pics?Thanxs A LOT.

[Stepank]

This is my personal opinion, based on my research on net.
There is no clear, overall winner

----------------Pan FZ5-------Minolta Z5-----Canon S2 IS----------Sony H1

PF---------------good--------good------worse then average-----average
noise IS0400------average--------very high-----high------------average
sharpness--------good-----------soft----------average---------good
WB--------(incandescent L. problem)----average-----average---(incandescent L. problem)
size-------------small----------average---------average--------------big
weight------very light----------light---------average--------------heavy
shape------------classic--------modern--------classic cannon-------classic
IS---------------good(+)----------good----------good(+)---------average
speed------------fast --------very fast-----average--------------average
Focusing---------average--------good----------bad------------------average
display at night--bad------------good----------good
display at sun---good-----------good----------so so----------------good
display resolution-good---------average-------average--------------good
flash------------exelent--------average-------good-----------------exel
price------------370------------380-----------500------------------500
pic quality ISO50 --good (+)------good ------average-------------good(+)
future set-------average-------good----------exelent----------average
memory-----------SD-------------SD------------SD--------------Sony memory stick
menu logic-------average---------good-------good----------------average
battery----------custom---------AA------------AA------------------AA

[JTL]

Have you personally tested all four cameras? Do you have some shots or testing metrics to share? Or are these anecdotal opinions? I think people would be interested...

[IlBianconero]

Good point.
Feature set : S2 IS = excelent; FZ5 = poor; come on!
I think it's more like a personal oppinion,from data gathered across the net.
But...if he can prove all this,wow! I would be the first to admit I was wrong.

[Stepank]

I have KM Z3 and I am looking for upgrade. I am researching different sites and forums in order to get any information. So present summary is information I collected cross web and interpreted. I have experience with Pan FZ20, Canon S1 IS, KM Z3, Sony F818, and Kodak DX6490. Some of them are previous generation of cameras we discuss here. New cameras are improved version of old one, but they continue to inherit major flow design from previous one. So I wouldn’t consider my summary as anecdotic info. :)

[Stepank]

IlBianconero you are right.
This is my personal opinion, based on my research.

[IlBianconero]

:D While it's always great to have a chart that points out exactly the differences between cameras,and the areas in which they perform great/poor,
I guess it would be amazing to have data based on real analysis.
If you want,you can PM me your experience with FZ20,based on the same categories used in your previous analysis.Thanxs!

[Stepank]

First I would like to apologize for mistake, I had experience with FZ10. It was so long time ago and Panasonic introduce so many FZ cameras since, that I lost count of them.

My experience with FZ10 was pretty brief. I played with camera for an hour and decided not to buy it. I was impressed by FZ10.Great stability, picture. But price, weight, size and especially low light performance stop me from buying this camera. Camera had few serious flows, which I couldn’t accept. Display didn’t gain up in low light condition, so you couldn’t see what you shot. It was real trouble to focus in low light. Screen comes dark in burst mode. After I discover these features I lost interest in this camera. It doesn’t mean that camera bad, it just mean that camera doesn’t meet all MY requirements.

When I am comparing cameras, I read reviews on dpreview.com first. They provide very professional tech specs and tests result. (imagining-resource.com is not bad, but I like dpreview.com more).

For instance photos from FZ20 (especially FZ10), S2 IS, S1 IS clearly showed very high CA and PF. By the way FZ5 has significant improvements in this area. They use slow lenses now (2.8-3.2) which allow achieving two goals: reduce size and reduce CA and PF. Controlled shots of color table quickly separate KM Z5 in department of noise as worse one camera (My own experience show the same, even S1 IS wasn’t noise free, but it was much better that my Z3). Comparison of timing specs shows that FZ5 and FZ20 is not speed demon. The Z5 (and Z3 too) is shining here. In my own experience I would say that FZ10 and S1 IS pretty fast camera, but Z3 (feeling and in specs) is much faster. The slowest one I tested was Kodak DX6490 (I still have it).

I setup my chart not as a final verdict, but as a prototype for comparison table. I open for any opinions. I can edit chart to make corrections. I just would like that people would have some place to compare all cameras at once by performance in specific areas.

[St. Chris]

----------------Pan FZ5-------Minolta Z5-----Canon S2 IS----------Sony H1
menu logic-------good-----------exelent-------so so----------------so soWhat? Are you saying the S2 has "so-so" menus?

Can someone else with multi-camera experience back this up (or refute it)?

[JTL]

What? Are you saying the S2 has "so-so" menus?

Can someone else with multi-camera experience back this up (or refute it)?Here's a quote from Jeff Keller's review of the S2. I think most, if not all, S2 owners would agree: "The PowerShot S2 uses the same refined menu system as the cameras in Canon's SD series. Everything is really snappy and easy-to-use." - Jeff Keller, DCRP. Full review here: http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/canon/powershot_s2-review/

[Stepank]

So, what do you suggest to put for menu? Good? Average?

[CyberStorm]

Jeff needs to do a shootout of S2 vs H1 vs Z5,
he needs to line up shots side by side of the exact same scene taken at the exact same time (shots in the gallery are taken when the camera is available to him, so the lighting could be a tad different for each day).
....

btw this thread is great, lots of info pouring from all over the place, now we just need to include the DSC-H1 in this thread.

[JTL]

So, what do you suggest to put for menu? Good? Average?Excellent?

[canondcams]

So, what do you suggest to put for menu? Good? Average?

Personal opinion : The menu for the S2 is more intuitive than the FZ5. Then again, that's because I'm more familar with Canon than Panasonic cameras. So this is subjective.

[Belrick]

I was tempted to buy the FZ5, what killed that idea purely for me was the fact its LCD doesnt gain up in low light.
I thought that to be a mandatory feature. (along with the IS and AF assist lamp)

S2 is clearly a superior camera.
:)

[JTL]

So, what do you suggest to put for menu? Good? Average?A picture's worth a thousand words...or in this case, one...

[John_Reed]

I was tempted to buy the FZ5, what killed that idea purely for me was the fact its LCD doesnt gain up in low light.
I thought that to be a mandatory feature. (along with the IS and AF assist lamp)

S2 is clearly a superior camera.
:)But dpreview's comparative testing (http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canons2is/page9.asp) of the S2 vs. the FZ5 would demonstrate that at least at ISO 400, your chest-thumping is a little misplaced.

[JTL]

But dpreview's comparative testing (http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canons2is/page9.asp) of the S2 vs. the FZ5 would demonstrate that at least at ISO 400, your chest-thumping is a little misplaced.Here we go again...all I have say is:

[Montana]

a troll calling someone else a troll. Classic.

[JTL]

a troll calling someone else a troll. Classic.Didn't your parents put you to bed yet? :D

[JTL]

And, what's actually classic is this entire thread. It was statrted by a "one post wonder" over three weeks ago in classic troll fashion. The oldest trick in the troll book...

[John_Reed]

I've been contributing to this forum for a long time, and I really try to keep my posts on the constructive, contributive side. I answer "dumb" questions, I help "newbies," and now I'm being called a Troll. Wow. I guess there's no accounting for taste?

[JTL]

I've been contributing to this forum for a long time, and I really try to keep my posts on the constructive, contributive side. I answer "dumb" questions, I help "newbies," and now I'm being called a Troll. Wow. I guess there's no accounting for taste?When you throw gas on a fire in a troll-started thread, what do you expect? I mean, really? :rolleyes: Yes, you've been contributing excellent information for a long time and your knowledge is well regarded and respected...all the more reason you should know better...

[John_Reed]

Mature as I am, I'll never "know better" enough to appreciate an un-deserved insult. When someone draws a conclusion that I don't think jibes with the facts, it is NOT "Trolling" to point that out. You folks drove Sarah Joyce out of here, is it time to go for me too?

[JTL]

When someone draws a conclusion that I don't think jibes with the facts, it is NOT "Trolling" to point that out.I would concide the point if there were indeed "facts" as you call them. You insulted the poster with your "chest thumping" remark for stating his opinion...in the Canon forum I might add. Did I see him or me or anyone else trolling the Panasonic forum to "point out" things as you put it. Don't play the saint. It doesn't wash...

Oh yeah...and it still doesn't change the fact that this is a troll-started thread...what were you thinking? Come on!

[meillana]

cool it guys.
and i hope i don't get berated as i honestly think both of you highly.
thanks.

going back to topic, i own an fz20 (tho not an fz5 as the topic states) and my officemate owns an s2.
what kind of controlled environment pics would you guys want?
you'd have to be specific though as i'm a novice.

[Phill D]

Well said meillana I hope your words bring back some calmness to this thred. Guys you have contributed so much in the past don't give up on the forum. It is so easy to write words in an e-mail that take on a different perspective & meaning when read by someone else. John I hope your comments about Sarah are not true as she has also contributed a lot of information in the past & also posted some excellent pictures, I hope she has not really given up on this forum. In terms of making a choice from the superzooms I agree it can be mindblowing I went for the FZ20 a few months back before the S2 or the FZ5 came out & I have to say if I had to make the choice now it would probably take a lot longer. I have been happy with the camera but it does seem to me that with the excellent capabilities of all these cameras they will push the user to try ever more ambitious shots & probably hasten the day that a DSLR will be required. I haven't quite got there yet but I can see it coming although it will probably be an additional camera rather than a replacement as the FZ has become a real friend. Finally in my choice the key deciding factor ended up being the operation & feel of the cameras & I'm sure that would be the case if I was chosing now, so I suggest anyone trying to make this decision tries to get as much hands on use as possible before purchase. Keep :) everyone the choosing should be fun but the photography will be even more fun whatever the decision.

[NicholeMarie77]

Gosh, I must be slow, I posted S2 vs. FZ5 on what camera should I buy...then came across this and have been reading all these posts...nice to know others are thinking about it too. I have the FZ5 sitting next to me in the box but am unsure if I should exchange it for the S2...been thinking about it all day and night..Im only gonna have the one camera so it better be the right one. :confused:
PS: Did you all look at Herbert Schneiders pics on PBase F5 vs. S2
(I love his gallery hes Awesome)
"What do you think?"

[bluevolume]

Gosh, I must be slow, I posted S2 vs. FZ5 on what camera should I buy...then came across this and have been reading all these posts...nice to know others are thinking about it too. I have the FZ5 sitting next to me in the box but am unsure if I should exchange it for the S2...been thinking about it all day and night..Im only gonna have the one camera so it better be the right one. :confused:
PS: Did you all look at Herbert Schneiders pics on PBase F5 vs. S2
(I love his gallery hes Awesome)
"What do you think?"

I looked at Herbert's page -- how do you know which pictures are from each camera?

[NicholeMarie77]

its noted underneath

[Belrick]

Montana you seem to have a major issue with the S2, i dont understand why you just dont return yours if it makes you this unhappy. But regardless you need to accept there a many people, me included, that are really happy with theres.

I spend months researching for the best camera online and the real deal has not let me down one bit.

[meillana]

I looked at Herbert's page -- how do you know which pictures are from each camera?

those which start with P are by the FZ5
those with IMG are from the S2 :cool: