What Camera

[RobinJI]

Right, been looking for cameras around £200-250.

I think I've narrowed it down to these two. Has anyone got any sample pics or opinions of either?

Panasonic DMC-FZ7

Fuji S6500

The Fuji seems to have better specs, but as far as I can tell you cant manually set things as easily, and its a lot bigger and heavier. Really I want something as adjustable and reliable as possible. But obviously the overruling factor is the picture quality. I'm mostly gunna be shooting moving things like bikes, so that's pretty important to me.

If there's anything else you think is competitive for the money. Please say.

Cheers, Robin.

[nafan]

Fuji purely because I think they are a better manufacturer and once you learn how to use them the modes are excellent

Nathan

[Rob_P]

FUJI!! all the way, why?

for starters companies like sony, panasonic etc make cameras, but they also make TVs, Hi-fis, dvd players etc etc. So they don't specialise in cameras, fuji do, so I'd say they know what their doing a lot more!

Hence why Sony's first DSLR is rubbish, they rushed it out to try and stop previous minolta owners from swapping brands, they also change their models alot, along with other bits and bobs, also why their dvd camcorders are rubbish, but thats a different matter.

I'm not sure on panasonic but i'd say they were a company more like sony, not specialising in cameras so much.

The fuji is very nice to handle, it also has face detection which works REALLY well!! Ideal for taking portraits, no matter where their face is in the frame, it detects where it is and focuses on it, so unlike a normal camera where it just focuses in the middle, meaning you'd have to move the focus point to the face to insure it's sharp.

To make that more clear, watch this video. (it's a bit fake but you get the idea)

CLICK

The Fuji's grip is really great, it's quite deep and cut to fit your hand. The screen is big and easy to put into manual controls. The main modes are Auto, A, S, M, movie plus a load of others like night, landscape etc. Then you just use the D pad to adjust the shutter speed, aperture or whatever.

Fuji is actually really cheap now as well for what you get.

You won't be disapointed at all!!

[Broomer]

fuji, because i have one, sorry i know nothing about cameras.

[Tomm]

My Girlfriend has the Panasonic and it's nice. Like the Fuji, all the manual controls are electronically set and not as satisfying as "real" controls on an SLR.

As for the picture quality, the lens is really sharp (much sharper than mine...) and it's pretty decent all round. I have used the Fuji 5600 and the Panasonic is better, but I don't know how it compares to the 6500 - Although I'm sure there are several websites that will help your decision. I know everyone on here bums Fujis, but I'll just say that the Panasonic is worth considering

[RobinJI]

That's what I was thinking. I know Fuji specialise in cameras and have a great reputation. But I'm yet to be disappointed by anything Panasonic have made.

I was just thinking that as its smaller, lighter, and cheaper. The Panasonic really might be worth considering. I mean most of the stats it looses on don't really matter, like the shutter speed on both are easily enough for anything I'm gunna use it for. And as far as controls go, I just worked out how to use half the features on my dads Fuji S7000 from the description of haw to use the Panasonic features on there website. haha. So I'm guessing there gunna be similar to use.

[chrishayton]

the panasonic has a leica lens. so if theres input from leica they wont be crap.leica make some of the finest lenses in the world.

[Tomm]

The lens is great - very sharp. It does have IS too (I don't think the Fuji does?), but the downside is the high ISOs are very noisy. Not sure how this compares to the Fuji, but it's completely whipped by my dSLR as you would expect - small sensors with lots of megapixels = noise.

[F-Stop Junkie]

Sorry Rob, but this has got me a bit rilled up...

FUJI!! all the way, why?

for starters companies like sony, panasonic etc make cameras, but they also make TVs, Hi-fis, dvd players etc etc. So they don't specialise in cameras, fuji do, so I'd say they know what their doing a lot more!

Hence why Sony's first DSLR is rubbish, they rushed it out to try and stop previous minolta owners from swapping brands, they also change their models alot, along with other bits and bobs, also why their dvd camcorders are rubbish, but thats a different matter.

Rob, someone has gotten to you about Sony, maybe the boss of the shop that you work in (Who doesn't sell Sony cameras...) but Sony make damn good cameras (With Carl Zeiss lenses don't forget) as I own one and have used several others, all with great results and no problems. The first Sony dSLR wasn't 'rubbish' either, based on an existing product line which was already getting good reviews. Yes, Sony did little more than an rebranding on it, but it was a good camera to begin with. Minolta users had no reason to move at that time.

Here's a summary of a review of the Alpha 100

Same with Panasonic. Yes, they're not exclusively a photography company, but if you read the reviews of the Lumix cameras, they do get very good reviews, and with good reason. They produce damn good images, and they handle well.

You need to leave your sales banter at work, and try and be more balanced. I'm all for having a preference, I know I have mine, but some of the stuff you've come out with here is just misinformed.

[Rob_P]

haha ok so maybe I was a bit unfair.

To be honest, I haven't had much experience with sony/panasonic cameras myself, just what i've read/heard/been told. Not just from the boss or others either, mostly customers and the likes.

I can't be bothered to go into 'we sell blah blah because blah blah' I'd rather leave more shop talk out of it.

Ok calling it 'rubbish' was a bit strong, but there are better ones out there for the similar sort of market IMO( don't kill me). It looks good on paper and all that but I dunno, it just doesn't seem to have taken off much?

Like you said, each to their own but I don't think you can really go wrong with a fuji, then again if your liking the look of the panasonic with the leica lens then go for that. Cameras are a very personal choice as to handling and the layout etc so best to go try them both out.

As for IS, I think the fuji has some sort of anti shake mode, so same sorta principle I guess.

I think noise is definatley an issue on the smaller bridge cameras, I know at iso 400 my fuji was very noisey and a friends S9500 is as well.

Have you looked at the Olympus SP510UZ? Thats a nice handling camera with 10x optical zoom and all the rest, could be worth considering.

Sorry I upset you Chris *hug*