[fant]

Hi everyone,

I 'm considering FZ10 and would like to ask some questions before buying it. Any reply would be appreciated, thanks in advance.

1. This is my 1st dc ... will it be to difficult to learn ? Can I use it to take good photos with auto mode ?
(though I will try to learn ... but I don't know if I have the talent ^^ ... and I want to use it immediately ...)

2. Will FZ10's image be too soft ? I find many sameples are very soft. For eg:
http://www.steves-digicams.com/2003_reviews/fz10/samples/P1010362.JPG

http://www.steves-digicams.com/2003_reviews/fz10/samples/P1010056.JPG

3. How do you think about the noise level ? Many comment it to be very noisy ... but from dcresources' sample, i feel it's ok ? But I'm new hands and would like some professionals help me to judge ...
iso 50
http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/panasonic/dmc_fz10-review/nightshot.jpg
iso100
http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/panasonic/dmc_fz10-review/nightshot100.jpg

4. How do you think about the night shot ability ? IS should be help in this area ? And will a small red laser pen help it focus ?

Thanks a lot for you replies !!

[stupid_idiot]

I am new hand too and I am a owner of FZ10

I just take half day and then I can basically control this machine. The picture quality is acceptable. Please have a look on the following link.

http://202.134.80.194/~photo/20040617/
http://202.134.80.194/~photo/20040606/

I think the photos are not perfrect, but at least you can have an idea on its output (All the photo are original, never perform post processing EXCEPT resize).

Noise level is a bit high, but if keep the ISO on 50, 100, it is acceptable. All the photos above use ISO 50, most of them use P mode. The night scene use Manual mode and some use Av.

The camera did not come with a foucs assistant system when in low light, so u need to find a way to work around.

Continous partice will make you control your DC in a more efficient way.

記住，要人玩機，不是俾機玩你！！！

Basically I am happy with my FZ10 up to this moment.

Hope the information can help.

[tam_dominic]

1. This is my 1st dc ... will it be to difficult to learn ? Can I use it to take good photos with auto mode ?
===============
In auto mod FZ10 is just a point and shoot camera.
If you encounter any problem, post it here.
===============

2. Will FZ10's image be too soft ? I find many sameples are very soft.
===============
Your link is 1:1 original
It looks soft because it is not sharpened.
If you want the image look sharp right out of the camera, in FZ10 set the Sharpen to high which is not prefer if software enhancement is required.
================

3. How do you think about the noise level ? Many comment it to be very noisy ... but from dcresources' sample, i feel it's ok ?
================
In ISO 50 the noise level is low. I use ISO 50 as much as possible. The large aperture F2.8 at 420mm helps to us ISO 50.
================

4. How do you think about the night shot ability ? IS should be help in this area ? And will a small red laser pen help it focus ?
================
Quite good. It can focus in dim light. Just point FZ10 to contrasty area to focus. I never need light pen. Your milage may vary.

The FZ10 is a fun powerful DC for beginner and keen amateur like me.

Happy shooting !

[cyw413]

1. This is my 1st dc ... will it be to difficult to learn? Can I use it to take good photos with auto mode? (though I will try to learn ... but I don't know if I have the talent ^^ ... and I want to use it immediately ...)

If you set everything at auto that would be easy and you don't need to learn anything except for getting familiar with the location of buttons, menu setup, etc. I think the performance of FZ10's auto mode is reasonable, even my wife can take fairly good pictures with it (she doesn't know anything about photography but just simply presses the shutter release).

At the end of the day, auto doesn't equal "not good" and manual doesn't equal "good".

2. Will FZ10's image be too soft? I find many sameples are very soft.

In general I find the pictures coming out from my FZ10 quite sharp, and I actually set mine's sharpness level at low.

3. How do you think about the noise level? Many comment it to be very noisy ... but from dcresources' sample, i feel it's ok?But I'm new hands and would like some professionals help me to judge …

Try using 50 or 100 at all time as anything above 100 noise level is not acceptable (at least to me).

4. How do you think about the night shot ability? IS should be help in this area? And will a small red laser pen help it focus?

Agree that it is difficult to see whether the camera focuses correctly under dim light, as the screen will go completely dark. But amazingly it comes out fine everytime. To a certain extent picture quality deteriorates when using indoor. I recommend investment of an external flash (as the internal one is not powerful enough). Both Panasonic's PE36S and PE28S are quite good, depending on what features you are after. I understand that flashes manufactured by other brands like Metz, Sunpak and Nissan can also be used, and they are cheaper too. I personally use the PE36S and I find it worths the money.

Further, if you are really into night shots (i.e. night scene of Victoria Harbour) you may as well get yourself a tripod with the FZ10. It is not a heavy camera as compared to DSLR so those compact size ones like Slik Sprint Pro or Velbon 343 will do.

Hope it helps!

[fant]

Thank very much gentlemen, your replies are really helpful.
I'm going to buy it this week, thanks again !!

[fant]

Sorry one more question if I may ...

How do you think it's short zoom image quality ?
(In long range, IS is important to me.)
I've checked old posts and samples and compare them with other long zoom (unavoidably, the major competitor, oly 770) but have not conclusion.

Seems it's outdoor photo is v good? And how would you comment it's indoor photos?

Really don't want to start a "war" or sth ... I've hesitated for a long time before asking this and now still feel quilty ... Please ignore this post if you think it's not appropriate. Thanks.

[stupid_idiot]

What do you meant by SHORT ZOOM??

The outdoor and indoor photo of FZ10 are good. But you need to have a good external flash for indoor photo as the built in internal flash is really too WEAK.

I will suggest you to get a External Flash with guide number 32 or above for the indoor photos.

[tam_dominic]

At 35mm F2.8 the image is good.
Macro set at 35mm is very sharp.

Except DSLR, any consumer grade DC need adequate light to be good.

To get good image even DSLR need softboxES.

FZ10 needs light.
A good flash would help a lot in dim light environment.
Flash is the stronger the better because you can use it as bounced light source.

Happy shooting !

[fant]

Thanks again gentlemen. I asked my friends who've played dc for a long time and they all said your replies are much more helpful than those "pro" reviews.

I'm going to buy it this weekend. May I bother you for some considerations about FZ10?

1. I heard people say it's not good for portrait taking, some said it's auto white balance tends to be yellow, making the characters look strange, but I really want to take good portrait with it ...

2. Under sun light IS is less useful coz we can use a fast shutter speed to avoid blur images

So to what extend ... we can use a fast shutter speed and a higher ISO to avoid blur under low light (ie, substitute IS)? Seems the iso 200 noise level of some other dc should be comparable to iso 100 noise level of FZ10 ...

IS allows us to use a slower shutter ... Does the difference in shutter speed with and without IS large enough ?

3. I often hear people in forums complaining the high noise level of FZ10 under low light. This is because they use a high ISO ? Will the image still be noisy under low light and low ISO ?
I've looked into the samples of the gentleman on 2nd floor (^^), seems noise is reasonable.

4. What is the price of a cheap and useful flash ? I'm interested in photographing, but I'm a beginner. I may not have the talent as you and may eventually failed. Also I worry some selling points of FZ10 is not that useful for beginners ... (IS should always be useful ... F2.8 is moderate ? and focus ring can't really help me until I reach another level.)

Sorry for my messy and stupid questions ... I would appreciate any replies. Thanks a lot in advance.

[tam_dominic]

""
1. I heard people say it's not good for portrait taking, some said it's auto white balance tends to be yellow, making the characters look strange, but I really want to take good portrait with it ...
===============
I feel AW to be correct.
Although I never shot portrait I've seen some good portrait from FZ10.
===============

2. Under sun light IS is less useful coz we can use a fast shutter speed to avoid blur images
===============
Never take picture under direct strong sunlight even scenery
ie noon time lighting is the worst.
It is useful if you want better quality shooting with F4 to F5.6 and ISO 50
===============

So to what extend ... we can use a fast shutter speed and a higher ISO to avoid blur under low light (ie, substitute IS)? Seems the iso 200 noise level of some other dc should be comparable to iso 100 noise level of FZ10 ...
===============
Faster shutter speed need more light / larger aperture.
The best image quality cannot get from F2.8.
Higher ISO induce noise except DSLR.
If there is no extreme bright object, try over exposed 2/3 F stop. This can reduce noise in dark area.
===============

IS allows us to use a slower shutter ... Does the difference in shutter speed with and without IS large enough ?
==============
About 2.5 stops. No scientific figure to support my claim.
==============

3. I often hear people in forums complaining the high noise level of FZ10 under low light. This is because they use a high ISO ? Will the image still be noisy under low light and low ISO ?
I've looked into the samples of the gentleman on 2nd floor (^^), seems noise is reasonable.
==============
Noise comes from :
a. Under exposed area
Solution : avoid under exposed area as much as possible
Over expose 2/3 stops to turn under expose to proper expose.
Note : proper exposure can be made under both bright and low light.
b. Long exposure time eg over several seconds when shooting night scene.
I do not have much experience several seconds exposure shot.
c. ISO 100 and above.
Use ISO 50 as much as possible.
===============

4. What is the price of a cheap and useful flash ? I'm interested in photographing, but I'm a beginner. I may not have the talent as you and may eventually failed. Also I worry some selling points of FZ10 is not that useful for beginners ... (IS should always be useful ... F2.8 is moderate ? and focus ring can't really help me until I reach another level.)
================
I don't have a flash thus no contribution here.

My advice to beginner :
Try to understand "Taking photo is a reduction process."

Point camera to the subject and exclude anything that distract from the subject by using zoom or lying on the floor or step left/right several feet or stand up on a bench.. Do move up / down / left /right to view the same subject before taking a shot.

Half pressing to focus on the subject :
>>> Re-frame following the golden rule (1/3 crossing point) of composition.
At last press all the way down gently.

Don't mess with Manual focus, manual exposure.
=================
""

Sorry it is too boring. I shutup here.

Go out and
Happy shooting !

[stupid_idiot]

Fant,

About your question, below is my personnal opinion and experience with my FZ10 for your reference.

1. Take a look at this link.
http://www.dcfever.com/photosharing/viewphoto.php?photoID=152448

2. IS is not so useful when you take photos on sunny days, but when u use low shutter speed, it will help a lot. Take a look on this picture, the shutter speed is 1/4s.
http://202.134.80.194/~photo/20040622/slides/P1020454.html

3. As I said : 要人玩機，不是俾機玩你. Because the FZ10's aperture is always fix and will not change for its whole zoom range, so I seldom need to use ISO greater than 50.

4. I am also looking for a flash too, Meanwhile I dont have so much need on that but I will need that in the future, I am looking for a Metz or the original Panasonic with guide number 32 or above. Personnally I will not suggest a CHEAP flash because it will waste your money as you will quickly find that the flash is NOT strong enough.

About the Manual Focus of this camera, in case you cannot use the auto focus feature (the object dont have a sufficient contrast on color) the Manual foucs will help you. I had a few times face the problem focus failure when using the marco feature for flowers, the Manual focus help me to continue to take the photo.

Another useful way for the manual foucs is to LOCK the focus, you can point the camera to the object, half press the shutter to perform auto focus, after it finish the auto focus procedure, you switch it the manual focus, then you can move your camera without letting it to re-foucs again. This is useful when you take portrait and dont want the main object appear at the center of the photo.

Hope the above can help.

I am a beginner too, if you find something wrong with my opinion, please share yours with me.

Happy Shooting!!!

[stupid_idiot]

Fant,

Here is some night scene from FZ10 for your reference.

http://202.134.80.194/~photo/20040617/

Your can click the "i" icon for detail exposure information.

[fant]

Thank you very much gentlemen, your replies are very clear and helpful. Thanks.