Comments on: What camera should I buy? (I got the FZ28) http://jameslarkin.ie/2010/02/13/what-camera-should-i-buy-i-got-the-fz28/ Web Designer / Cat Obsessed / Irishman in Madrid Mon, 16 Jan 2012 14:44:17 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Lisa Case http://jameslarkin.ie/2010/02/13/what-camera-should-i-buy-i-got-the-fz28/comment-page-1/#comment-2623 Lisa Case Fri, 28 Jan 2011 15:16:05 +0000 http://www.jameslarkin.ie/?p=145#comment-2623 I have a Canon Powershot x20 SI. Nice to find other people who are also working out how to use cameras and their quality, talking about it in an easy way to understand. I have a Canon Powershot x20 SI. Nice to find other people who are also working out how to use cameras and their quality, talking about it in an easy way to understand.

]]> By: wildwolf http://jameslarkin.ie/2010/02/13/what-camera-should-i-buy-i-got-the-fz28/comment-page-1/#comment-1520 wildwolf Sat, 16 Oct 2010 23:35:41 +0000 http://www.jameslarkin.ie/?p=145#comment-1520 Hi - Love your photos, especially the one of the cat and the piano! I just bought the FZ38 a few months ago and i love it! Hi – Love your photos, especially the one of the cat and the piano! I just bought the FZ38 a few months ago and i love it!

]]> By: James http://jameslarkin.ie/2010/02/13/what-camera-should-i-buy-i-got-the-fz28/comment-page-1/#comment-115 James Mon, 15 Feb 2010 16:51:49 +0000 http://www.jameslarkin.ie/?p=145#comment-115 I actually have one in Ireland but I won't be back for a few weeks. Might pick something up before I go though I'd feel a bit silly with a bridge camera and a tripod :D That said I'm imaging some nice night shots ... and long exposure shots ( had been taking a lot before at the flickr group on best way to go about it) I actually have one in Ireland but I won’t be back for a few weeks. Might pick something up before I go though I’d feel a bit silly with a bridge camera and a tripod :D

That said I’m imaging some nice night shots … and long exposure shots ( had been taking a lot before at the flickr group on best way to go about it)

]]> By: Jim Larkin http://jameslarkin.ie/2010/02/13/what-camera-should-i-buy-i-got-the-fz28/comment-page-1/#comment-114 Jim Larkin Mon, 15 Feb 2010 16:08:41 +0000 http://www.jameslarkin.ie/?p=145#comment-114 Hey Jim. Do yourself a favor and get a tripod. Even a cheap tripod is steadier than your hands. As a rule of thumb, your shutter speed can't be slower than your focal length or you will get blur. So if you are shooting at 85mm then your shutter speed should be faster than 1/85 of a second. If you are shooting at 200mm then 1/200 of a second. Personally, I overcompensate by about 20% or so. 85mm and I am never slower than 1/100. Hey Jim. Do yourself a favor and get a tripod. Even a cheap tripod is steadier than your hands. As a rule of thumb, your shutter speed can’t be slower than your focal length or you will get blur. So if you are shooting at 85mm then your shutter speed should be faster than 1/85 of a second. If you are shooting at 200mm then 1/200 of a second. Personally, I overcompensate by about 20% or so. 85mm and I am never slower than 1/100.

]]> By: Dónal O'Flynn http://jameslarkin.ie/2010/02/13/what-camera-should-i-buy-i-got-the-fz28/comment-page-1/#comment-101 Dónal O'Flynn Mon, 15 Feb 2010 00:26:07 +0000 http://www.jameslarkin.ie/?p=145#comment-101 I read about the GF1 a while back. Apparently many professional photographers use it for some things instead of lugging an SLR everywhere. From what I've seen the difference in zoom between the SX20 and the FZ38 is negligible. These reviews explain it all: http://www.cameralabs.com/reviews/Panasonic_Lumix_DMC_FZ35_FZ38/index.shtml http://www.cameralabs.com/reviews/Canon_PowerShot_SX20_IS/index.shtml I'm not gone on the idea of AA batteries either. The swivel LCD is super though! I read about the GF1 a while back. Apparently many professional photographers use it for some things instead of lugging an SLR everywhere.

From what I’ve seen the difference in zoom between the SX20 and the FZ38 is negligible.

These reviews explain it all:
http://www.cameralabs.com/reviews/Panasonic_Lumix_DMC_FZ35_FZ38/index.shtml
http://www.cameralabs.com/reviews/Canon_PowerShot_SX20_IS/index.shtml

I’m not gone on the idea of AA batteries either. The swivel LCD is super though!

]]> By: James http://jameslarkin.ie/2010/02/13/what-camera-should-i-buy-i-got-the-fz28/comment-page-1/#comment-100 James Mon, 15 Feb 2010 00:18:48 +0000 http://www.jameslarkin.ie/?p=145#comment-100 That <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B002LSI1IM?ie=UTF8&tag=get-book-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=B002LSI1IM" rel="nofollow">Canon PowerShot SX20</a> gets some pretty nice reviews there I do like the idea of the swivel LCD display as well though its using AA batteries ? not too sure if I'm that keen on that. The 20x zoom sounds pretty good as well though with the FZ38 its 18x .. (and that is expandable to 32x I do believe though I've not done it with mine ) That Canon PowerShot SX20 gets some pretty nice reviews there I do like the idea of the swivel LCD display as well though its using AA batteries ? not too sure if I’m that keen on that. The 20x zoom sounds pretty good as well though with the FZ38 its 18x .. (and that is expandable to 32x I do believe though I’ve not done it with mine )

]]> By: James http://jameslarkin.ie/2010/02/13/what-camera-should-i-buy-i-got-the-fz28/comment-page-1/#comment-99 James Mon, 15 Feb 2010 00:07:18 +0000 http://www.jameslarkin.ie/?p=145#comment-99 Thanks Dónal its most definitely a bit dated now at this stage but if you transfer over my thoughts to the FZ38 I think they probably get better. I've not played with it yet but I will hopefully in about a month. I'm hearing really good things about this little puppy <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B002OB494G?ie=UTF8&tag=get-book-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=B002OB494G" rel="nofollow">Panasonic Lumix GF1</a> via davymac on http://twitter.com/davymac He linked me to this Great review http://craigmod.com/journal/gf1-fieldtest/ Unfortunately I think I'd need to get another lens with it and its kinda a bit out of my price range for the moment (basically it + another lens and I'm easily over the €1k mark I think) I love my little lumix though (getting ze missus to get a point and shoot lumix as well this week for our trip) Thanks Dónal its most definitely a bit dated now at this stage but if you transfer over my thoughts to the FZ38 I think they probably get better. I’ve not played with it yet but I will hopefully in about a month.

I’m hearing really good things about this little puppy Panasonic Lumix GF1 via davymac on http://twitter.com/davymac

He linked me to this Great review http://craigmod.com/journal/gf1-fieldtest/

Unfortunately I think I’d need to get another lens with it and its kinda a bit out of my price range for the moment (basically it + another lens and I’m easily over the €1k mark I think)

I love my little lumix though (getting ze missus to get a point and shoot lumix as well this week for our trip)

]]> By: Dónal O'Flynn http://jameslarkin.ie/2010/02/13/what-camera-should-i-buy-i-got-the-fz28/comment-page-1/#comment-98 Dónal O'Flynn Sun, 14 Feb 2010 23:53:46 +0000 http://www.jameslarkin.ie/?p=145#comment-98 That should be the Canon PowerShot SX20. That should be the Canon PowerShot SX20.

]]> By: Dónal O'Flynn http://jameslarkin.ie/2010/02/13/what-camera-should-i-buy-i-got-the-fz28/comment-page-1/#comment-97 Dónal O'Flynn Sun, 14 Feb 2010 23:51:24 +0000 http://www.jameslarkin.ie/?p=145#comment-97 @James Hi James, thanks for the super post! You've inspired me to look into getting a new camera (something I've been meaning to do for a long time now). For anyone else looking for a new "bridge" camera I (following a lot of research tonight) recommend either the Panasonic Lumix FZ38 (your recommendation) or the slightly larger Canon PowerShot SX10. I still can't decide between them, I think I'll see if I can try them out at a camera shop first. Once I've got my new camera I'll put a full review on my site for anyone who's interested. @Jim Thanks for that explanation, I've never really understood it before, but it makes a lot more sense now. @James
Hi James, thanks for the super post!
You’ve inspired me to look into getting a new camera (something I’ve been meaning to do for a long time now).

For anyone else looking for a new “bridge” camera I (following a lot of research tonight) recommend either the Panasonic Lumix FZ38 (your recommendation) or the slightly larger Canon PowerShot SX10. I still can’t decide between them, I think I’ll see if I can try them out at a camera shop first.

Once I’ve got my new camera I’ll put a full review on my site for anyone who’s interested.

@Jim
Thanks for that explanation, I’ve never really understood it before, but it makes a lot more sense now.

]]> By: James http://jameslarkin.ie/2010/02/13/what-camera-should-i-buy-i-got-the-fz28/comment-page-1/#comment-92 James Sun, 14 Feb 2010 19:23:45 +0000 http://www.jameslarkin.ie/?p=145#comment-92 Thanks Jim :) out of focus backgrounds sound very interesting :D Quite like the bokeh effect on photos I must admit though I've not tried it that often. Big problem I'll guess is I'm shakey don't have the steadiest hands in the world (caffeine doesn't help either) so it could lead to a fair bit of jitter on the images. Going to be in Morocco on Friday so I'll have to have a plan with things then. Really looking forward to it as from a friends photos before the colours can be completely breath taking :) Thanks Jim :) out of focus backgrounds sound very interesting :D Quite like the bokeh effect on photos I must admit though I’ve not tried it that often.

Big problem I’ll guess is I’m shakey don’t have the steadiest hands in the world (caffeine doesn’t help either) so it could lead to a fair bit of jitter on the images.

Going to be in Morocco on Friday so I’ll have to have a plan with things then. Really looking forward to it as from a friends photos before the colours can be completely breath taking :)

]]>