FZ20 operation questions before purchasing

[controltheweb]

1. I've been reading on forums and looking through the manual for the FZ20 before purchasing, and some things about noise in low light over ISO 200 and slight oversharpness led me to this section of the manual:
On the camera, [REC MODE] -- > [PICT.ADJ.] allows choices such as:
CONTRAST
· Increases the difference between the brightness and the darkness in the picture.
· Decreases the difference between the brightness and the darkness in the picture.
SHARPNESS
· The picture is sharply defined.
· The picture is softly focused.

What if I want NO increase or decrease in contrast or sharpness? What are the defaults? Is "off" a choice here, or are you always one or the other of these choices? Can NOISE REDUCTION also be "off?"

2. I've heard the LCD display makes the image look very dim in low light -- even the manual mentions it. But the manual also says: Increase display light: Press the [MENU] button / Select the [SETUP] Menu / Select [Monitor] for 7 steps of brightness adjustment.

Does setting the LCD display to a higher brightness make the image sufficiently bright for composing? Is the viewfinder (EVF) sufficient if not?

(I realize a great advantage of this camera is maintaining f/2.8 aperture for entire zoom, with terrific image stabilization .. meaning you shoot at a much lower ISO than with just about anything else. Lower ISO = lower noise.)

All comments welcome!

[genece]

1. I've been reading on forums and looking through the manual for the FZ20 before purchasing, and some things about noise in low light over ISO 200 and slight oversharpness led me to this section of the manual:
On the camera, [REC MODE] -- > [PICT.ADJ.] allows choices such as:
CONTRAST
· Increases the difference between the brightness and the darkness in the picture.
· Decreases the difference between the brightness and the darkness in the picture.
SHARPNESS
· The picture is sharply defined.
· The picture is softly focused.

What if I want NO increase or decrease in contrast or sharpness? What are the defaults? Is "off" a choice here, or are you always one or the other of these choices? Can NOISE REDUCTION also be "off?"

The settings do not turn off...if they did you would have no photo..
You can set all the settings to low if you wish...but after lots of experimenting I like the standard setting for contrast, sharpness and saturation with NR set to low.

2. I've heard the LCD display makes the image look very dim in low light -- even the manual mentions it. But the manual also says: Increase display light: Press the [MENU] button / Select the [SETUP] Menu / Select [Monitor] for 7 steps of brightness adjustment.

One thing has very little to do with the other the EVF or LCD does not gain up
it does not get too dark to use unless you are using manual mode with the flash. But it is the worse part of a great camera.

Does setting the LCD display to a higher brightness make the image sufficiently bright for composing? Is the viewfinder (EVF) sufficient if not?

(I realize a great advantage of this camera is maintaining f/2.8 aperture for entire zoom, with terrific image stabilization .. meaning you shoot at a much lower ISO than with just about anything else. Lower ISO = lower noise.)

All comments welcome!

If you want an ultrazoom camera the FZ20 is one of the very best....ultrazooms have a problem in low light, you can get satisfactory results in low light but that is not where they shine.
If you just want to take photos for a family album or for use on the web, the noise is not an issue.
Understand that in low light you would be better off using a flash than to try and fight the lighting.

IMHO.. your first statement about noise at High ISO's is not completely accurate if you were using a high ISO to get a faster shutter speed in not perfect light the noise will not be very visible however if you use a high ISO instead of a flash then you will see the noise.
Use a flash when its called for and you will not be bothered by noise.

[tim11]

What if I want NO increase or decrease in contrast or sharpness? What are the defaults? Is "off" a choice here, or are you always one or the other of these choices? Can NOISE REDUCTION also be "off?"

Unless I'm dreadfully wrong, the default setting is OFF.
LCD and viewfinder don't gain up only in M mode. I mostly use viewfinder and my eyesight is not perfect.
Re. the noise. . Unless you are really fussy or aiming for professional quality you shouldn' worry about it. I frame up my children pictures in 14x11" and hang them in the living room.

[tim11]

Unless I'm dreadfully wrong, the default setting is OFF.

In fact, the default setting is STD. Other options are High and Low.

[controltheweb]

Thanks! Very helpful and much appreciated!