Panasonic DMC-FZ20 vs Digital Rebel XT

[oskar]

I know the comparison is somewhat moot, but I've been looking into the quality of various digital cameras on DCresource and I must say that I haven't seen many cameras that provide as good resolution as the Panasonic DMC-FZ20. Compare these images:

Pansonic DMC-FZ20
Canon Digital Rebel XT
Canon Digital Rebel

Compared to the Panasonic, these cameras look soft and fuzzy! Or am I totally out of line here?

[jeisner]

Well you have to factor in the DOF differences, the grass is in focus in the FZ20 and not in the XT picture.... The XT does look a little soft, I have no idea why.... although in the forehead of the statue I see noise in the FZ20 photo that I don't see in the XT photo.... all that said I don't trust tests done by others, especially when they were done at different times (when I compare I do on tripod in same position, and back to back, so same lighting etc)...

All said and done I have compared the images from my FZ20 (before I sold it) to my Pentax *ist DS, and the DS was obviously better, in overall picture quality as well as noise and DOF control, which is VERY limited in All-in-one cameras (I like shallow DOF, generally)...

[DiJ]

Yes you are right. Your comparison is somewhat moot.

Heres a comparison of FZ20 with a cheaper canon camera with less megapixels:

panasonic
Canon

[speaklightly]

Oskar-

Yes, it is a dicussion that has been around before. However, consider this:

Pansonic FZ-20
Only 5mp
no wideangle
less photographic flexibility
Max ISO 400

DigRebel XT
8mp
kit lens has wideangle
Max ISO 1600 or 3200 in the enhanced mode
a wide selection of lenses with stabilization
more photographic flexibility

Sarah Joyce

[D70FAN]

Well you have to factor in the DOF differences, the grass is in focus in the FZ20 and not in the XT picture.... The XT does look a little soft, I have no idea why.... although in the forehead of the statue I see noise in the FZ20 photo that I don't see in the XT photo.... all that said I don't trust tests done by others, especially when they were done at different times (when I compare I do on tripod in same position, and back to back, so same lighting etc)...

All said and done I have compared the images from my FZ20 (before I sold it) to my Pentax *ist DS, and the DS was obviously better, in overall picture quality as well as noise and DOF control, which is VERY limited in All-in-one cameras (I like shallow DOF, generally)...

Looking at the XT photos, I originally thought that maybe Jeff had left the aperture wide open, but according to the data it was set at f8. Then I realized that maybe he was using the 18-55 kit lens. But then again the 20D photos using the 18-55 turned out pretty nice as was the case with the DReb.

Or maybe it's my D70 bias clouding my vision.

I agree with you on not taking test photos as gospel, as I'm sure that the XT images are at least as good as the DReb (which was pretty good). I will be getting my hands on an XT in the next couple of weeks, just to give it a run, and see if I like it.

[speaklightly]

George-

Keep in mind that the "kit lens" on the XT is a slightly different "kit lens" than was packaged with the 20D. Perhaps that accounts for the differences that you are observing.

Sarah Joyce

[D70FAN]

George-

Keep in mind that the "kit lens" on the XT is a slightly different "kit lens" than was packaged with the 20D. Perhaps that accounts for the differences that you are observing.

Sarah Joyce

What was the kit lens with the 20D? The 20D I used (borrowed) had the 17-85 EF-S IS lens which I don't think was standard issue (but a nice lens). I think my comment was aimed more at the DReb images compared to the XT than with the 20D.

Anyway, although the first pictures look ok, they are not what I was expecting, and I hope to get my paws on an XT, for a day or two, in the next couple of weeks.

[Jeff Keller]

George-

Keep in mind that the "kit lens" on the XT is a slightly different "kit lens" than was packaged with the 20D. Perhaps that accounts for the differences that you are observing.

Sarah Joyce

Actually I'm using the kit lens (18-55) that came with the 20D that I just bought. I think they're the same lens, though one is USM and one's not.

[Bluedog]

Jeff does the XT come with a USM lense?

[chinmi]

i don't understand why people like to compare the fz20 with a dslr camera... it obvious that the fz20 is a prosumer class camera, far below the proffesional dslr class camera...


why not comparing the FZ20 with the same class camera like the KMZ3. KMZ5, or the Sony new 12x zoom camera... now that's a fair competition...


infact, in one of my country's camera forum, one of forum member is actually comparing the fz20 with a 1DsMk2... sound an overkill for me...