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You can produce amazing photographs with this camera
By: Michael
December 10, 2007 @ 10:51 AM
I have read allot of reviews on this camera and am pleased with what I saw. The final straw in me buying the camera was when I came across this website, http://phototronix.blogspot.com/ all the images on this site were taken with the FZ30. Just shows you how good the Lieca lens is. I have the camera now and would recommend it to anyone of my friends.
Rating: 9 :: 0 out of 0 people found this user review helpful. Was this user review helpful? Yes | No
Lack of Compatibility
By: Karen
July 24, 2007 @ 5:53 PM
I was excited to have a digital camera that could capture RAW images. The only software that can even recognize the format is the PhotoFun Studio Viewer. It aquires the images, give you a jpeg image to view and saves the RAW file without an image. Once in Silkypix, the RAW image can be viewed, processed, and developed. Manual only provides basic info to get started. Photoshop Elements and Paint Shop Pro XI do not support this RAW format. VERY DISAPPOINTED
Rating: 9 :: 0 out of 0 people found this user review helpful. Was this user review helpful? Yes | No
"Didn't Ring the Bell;" Very Close!
By: KarlFerron
April 29, 2006 @ 10:21 PM
I’m a pro, working for a large city daily newspaper for 22 years. Nikon F2A, FM2, F3, F4, F5 (film)… Kodak DCS, Nikon D1, D1H, D2H, Lumix FZ20 (digital) are my previous cameras. But I was issued an FZ30 by request, after having an FZ20 so I could finally zoom while shooting video (for web content). You know why I also like the FZ30? You can shoot Tiger Woods’ back swing without him throwing a club at you, which he’d be right to do if you sat on a motor as he started his swing.
I totally shame the digital noise on this unit. But I work for a newspaper…. and there is some decent NR software to control it that doesn’t compromise flirting with over-manipulation ethics questions. I can now shoot some concerts and can shoot golf differently b/c I turned off the shutter and beep noises the camera makes. It’s quiet as a mouse. People don’t even know you’re shooting video, which makes people unaware of you, which is important in honest news-gathering. I love this as a 3rd camera in my arsenal. I take it and my Powerbook with me when I go on vacation; in a pinch, I can travel worldwide and shoot virtually any assignment, including spot news, with the zoom range that the FZ30 has. And I love the true colors it can yield for white balance, one thing that my D2H bodies can sometimes find difficult to achieve.
Rating: 9 :: 0 out of 0 people found this user review helpful. Was this user review helpful? Yes | No
Takes fantastic pictures
By: Daniel
March 28, 2006 @ 9:10 AM
If I wanted the capabilities of a DSLR, I would have paid for one. This camera is the next best thing, and the cost of a similar lens for a DSLR would have been through the roof for my budget. Like another comment states, you have to work with what is given to you. People are too quick to complain about the hardware without knowing how to use it properly. I think this camera is fantastic, and I haven’t yet seen a need to go above ISO 100 anyway. In the rare instance that I do, I just use a very minor noise filter in Neat Image without sacrificing a whole lot in detail. Using a bit of software more than makes up for the $1,000 saved on a IS 35-430 lens in my books, but hey, some people are never satisfied…..In summary, super camera, I love it, but that’s just MHO.
Rating: 10 :: 0 out of 0 people found this user review helpful. Was this user review helpful? Yes | No
Take it from an old time pro.
By: V.R. Rubin
March 10, 2006 @ 8:15 AM
FZ30- I just don’t get it- I am a former commercial photographer with a stable of analogue cameras which reads like a who’s who. Leicas, Canons Nikons- accumulated over years and years of work. So I switched to digital. I have 6 digital cameras, Leica, Canons, Pentax and Lumixes. The 2 Lumixes I have are some of the best cameras I have ever owned. The FZ20 does it beautifully. The FZ30 even better. Noise? This is computer age nonsense. I shot Tri-X and developed it in Accufine when ISO (then ASA) 200/400 were considered superfast. I got to respect and love “grain”- Noise is just a variation. But where is it?? I do not get noise on my prints made from the FZ20/30. I get super resolution- tack sharpness- and fabulous color in blowups up to 20X24 using Photoshop. I never use a “noise” minimizer as it impinges on sharpness. The ISO I shoot at is usually 200 and my results are clean and beautiful. A somewhat faster lens might be desireable, but I carry a f2 lens Digilux 1 ( now there you have significant noise over ISO 100), but still not that objectionable. I believe that this noise problem is what is stated above- you guys don’t really know photography. This is image making in the computer age. You couldn’t probably do a mood print in black and white if you wanted to. I carry a Pentax Optio S4i on my belt always, for “snaps”. There if I don’t watch the ISO I get noise which could be called objectionable. The FZ 20/30 are absolutely tops in my book. The kids (and computer adults) who review these things today are foolish and absolutely misleading. VRR see FZ30 example:
http://www.leica-gallery.net/vroger/image-91432.ht...
Rating: 10 :: 0 out of 0 people found this user review helpful. Was this user review helpful? Yes | No
Fast lense
By: Andrew
December 15, 2005 @ 1:36 AM
This is my 4th digital camera. The lense is a fast as well as auto focus, and shutter speed. Using the camera in auto mode indoors can create noise as it will default to a higher ISO. Using auto mode outdoors is great. Indoor noise can be compensated by using aperature mode or shutter mode with ISO set at 100 or less. An additional flash can help, a downfall is there is no TTL metering for the flash.
Overall I am very pleased with the results compared to my digital rebel. You just have to work the camera’s functions to optain clarity.
Rating: 8 :: 0 out of 0 people found this user review helpful. Was this user review helpful? Yes | No
Very bad image quality
By: Richard
December 9, 2005 @ 4:58 AM
Having bought the FZ30 I found it fitted like a glove and was so simple to use. Buying was influenced by all the hype on the Panasonic site about the quality of image and the Leica lens.
Turns out not so good, shots inside look like snow storms and flat surfaces are totally oatmeal.
Service from the shop I bought it from is lousey, refused to change it or return the money. basically accusing me of damaging it!!
It is five days from purchase now and the service from Harvey Norman NZ is appaling. I recomend you don’t ever buy there.
Rating: 3 :: 0 out of 0 people found this user review helpful. Was this user review helpful? Yes | No
Shocked by pooor image quality
By: Gerald
November 17, 2005 @ 8:26 AM
I have owned the Panasonic FZ2 and FZ20 and looked forward to owning and using the new FZ30. I bought it used it and took it straight back to the shop for a full refund. The problem is unsharp pics even compared to the 2mp FZ2. Please mail me with your comments geraldjones@onetel.com
Rating: 1 :: 0 out of 0 people found this user review helpful. Was this user review helpful? Yes | No
Noise a problem
By: fz30
November 13, 2005 @ 12:13 PM
Upgrading from 5 a year old 3Mp ‘pocket’ cam had to be better, but I’m disappointed with the noise and ‘unsharp’ pictures. Colour accuracy is top class though.
Rating: 8 :: 0 out of 0 people found this user review helpful. Was this user review helpful? Yes | No