FZ7 Owners

[mommycal]

Ok, wahts' all this talk w/the noise?!?! is this a bad camera...thoughts? I found this review. MOST of it is wayyyyyy over my head

Conclusion - Pros
Excellent resolution & sharp results
Good, natural color and excellent exposure
Superb 12x optical zoom
Effective image stabilization
Small and light, but well built
Comprehensive range of controls
Very fast operation
Very fast (and accurate) focus using 'High Speed' option
Well designed menu system
Nice handling and improved controls
Easy to use
Bright, clear, large LCD screen
Usable EVF
Good burst mode and fast card writing
Autofocus illuminator and generally excellent low light focus
Powerful flash
Excellent battery life
Huge improvement in video performance
Superb value for money
Conclusion - Cons
Higher than average Noise at ISO 80
Strong color noise at ISO 200+
Mild Chromatic aberration and corner softness in macro mode
Mild vignetting at widest zoom setting / widest aperture
New LCD is bright, but resolution is lower
Occasional focus hunting at long end of zoom in low light
Macro mode pointless - why not a macro button?
High sensitivity mode results next to useless
Overall conclusion
Over the last few years we've been spoilt - cameras have seen huge leaps in capabilities from one generation to the next, whilst at the same time prices have steadily been falling. I think it's safe to say that for the time being we've got to accept that these 'great leaps forward' are fewer and farther between, and the best we can expect from new models is tweaks and minor face lifts. In this context the FZ7 is a welcome upgrade to an already excellent camera - it offers everything that made the FZ5 so great, and adds a few features, better manual control (via the new joystick) and a refined design. And of course you still get a very reliable image stabilization system and a superb, fast 12x Leica-designed lens.

That said I can't help being slightly disappointed by the lack of significant (let's be honest - any) improvements in image quality (though highlight clipping is less of a problem than it was with the FZ5). Noise is - if anything - worse (though the extra megapixel means that the difference is pretty much indistinguishable in prints), and though there is more resolution it doesn't show in real world shots, where the noise reduction system smears very fine low-contrast detail (such as foliage and hair) at all but the lowest ISO setting. The new High Sensitivity mode is useful for getting a shot where all else has failed, but to be honest, from a photographic point of view it's pretty much unusable.

But let's put this into perspective; the FZ7 is better - and cheaper - than the camera it replaces. Sure, there's no measurable improvement in image quality, but there wasn't a huge amount to complain about before. Compared to many competing 'super zoom' models the FZ7 is fast, well-designed, reliable and very enjoyable to use, and of the 1000 or so shots I took in the course of this review only a tiny minority (maybe 10 shots or so) suffered from any serious issues (missed focus, camera shake, bad exposure and so on) - a remarkably consistent performance, and an unusually high hit rate.

The FZ5 was a camera that stood out in a very crowded market by virtue of an excellent lens, comprehensive set of photographic controls and fast, reliable operation. And most of the issues we did have - poor movie mode, fiddly manual exposure control, lack of external ISO control and poor low-light screen visibility have been addressed pretty convincingly in the FZ7.

Unfortunately, no matter how good the camera we can't let the noise issue pass; like the LX1 reviewed late last year the FZ7 exhibits an unacceptable level of noise at all ISO settings, most especially at ISO 200+. For this reason - and this reason alone - the FZ7 misses out on a Highly Recommended; let's hope Panasonic has a better sensor up its sleeve for the next generation of this otherwise superb camera. As for you - have a look at the samples gallery and decide for yourself if the noise in real-world shots is acceptable; I'd happily buy the FZ7 myself, but I wouldn't use it at over ISO 100.

[adamsfamily]

so tell me why you love this camera. Or convince me NOT to get it? Have you been happy w/it overall? anything additional I should purchase for it or know ahead of time? TIA for all your help!

I don't own it, so couldn't convince you either way... I've just been considering either upgrading the TZ1 or getting it as an additional.

I miss my manual modes, I miss the Viewfinder (although it's not optical which would be ideal) as on bright days I struggle to use the LCD even in Bright Mode.

[adamsfamily]

Ok, wahts' all this talk w/the noise?!?! is this a bad camera...thoughts? I found this review. MOST of it is wayyyyyy over my head.

Far better to attach the URL than copy/paste the whole review!!!

The best you can do, is to read a review, judge for yourself the results of the pictures pertaining to your use!!

Save the picture to your PC, then print them out to the same size you would normally print photo's, 6x4, 7x5, A4, what evr rocks your boat!!

Then judge the noise for yourself.

All Digital cameras will have noise, it's just how much you can put up with!!

Give it a go.

[overseas]

I'm slowly resigning myself that until i get a dSLR, the shots I want will have to be done in Movie and extracted.
I guess out of all my pictures, only 10% or less will be like this. I just wanted to catch a few of my son's TKD!!

Hi Steve!

So what about a Fuji F-series cam (F10 or so)? Every once in a while I read that these are the most suited for indoor shots... What d'ya know about them?

Stephan

by the way: I lost my lens hood today

[adamsfamily]

Hi Steve!

So what about a Fuji F-series cam (F10 or so)? Every once in a while I read that these are the most suited for indoor shots... What d'ya know about them?

Stephan

by the way: I lost my lens hood today

I'm tempted Stephan, haven't done a lot of research, but heard good things like you!! Maybe I should look a little more. Just a shame I'll be right back to the 3x zoom though.... but I guess somethings gotta give!!

Sorry to hear about your hood?? How did you manage that?

[Donato777]

Here is a link where you will find a summary of just about every available FZ7 review. They are overwhelmingly positive and they helped me to choose the FZ7 over the rest of the pack when I was racking my brain about which UZ to buy.

http://www.digitalcameratracker.com/...w-roundup.html