megazoom cameras and normal cameras...

[geestring]

Hi, I've been looking in the sony dsch-1 megazoom digital camera...

its 5.1 mp etc...

other than the zoom capabilities and stabilzation... are they any better in image quality than the normal 5 mp cameras?

[larva]

A superzoom designation refers to an especially wide range of focal length (10X or more). It implies nothing else about the camera, including the presence or absence of image stabilization. Given that a really long focal length in a compact digital camera is useless without image stabilization, you would hope one would imply the other, but it doesn't. Lame brands like Kodak omit the IS to improve their profit margin, and even some good brands like Fuji omit it to allow a lower selling price and lighter camera.

Amongst the 5MP superzooms, I highly recommend the FZ5 Panansonic. There would be no Sony or Canon 5MP superzoom cameras were it not for the smashing success that the FZ5 was, and even with the knowledge of how Panasonic approached the problem and a full year more to work on their designs, the Canon and Sonys 5MP supers don't perform as well. The FZ5 has recently been superceeded by the 6MP FZ7, which offers little improvement in image quality as compared to the FZ5, but is little more expensive as well. The control layout and movie mode is improved on the FZ7, however, eliminating the (minor) advantages the Sony had over the FZ5.

In general the 5MP sensor is a low-cost thing, and most cameras based around it are not image-quality leaders. The FZ5 is one of the exceptions. And it has about the best image quality amongst 5MP cameras in spite of the fact that it is a superzoom, not because of it. The 12X Leica lens used on the FZ20, FZ5, FZ30, and now FZ6 is just dynamite, sharp corner to corner across its full 12X zoom range. That much zoom range makes it really hard to produce leading sharpness, and the Leica/Panasonic lens solves the engineering difficulties much more completely than any competitor's, including Sony's (and to a much greater degree, Canon's).

[geestring]

supposedly those cameras you mention do have better image quality than normal 5mp..

[larva]

supposedly those cameras you mention do have better image quality than normal 5mp..The point was that's a bit like being the best football team in Alaska. Additionally, these cameras are just as 'normal' as anything else, with the exception of the range of their lens's zoom. And this, all-else-equal, works against image quality, not for it.

The point here is that if image quality is really driving the decision, few (if any) cameras with 5MP sensors (now being replaced with equally small 6MP versions) deliver it. The 5MP sensor common is a small and low cost device, and makes truly good image quality somewhat difficult. The Panasonic FZ5 (and now FZ7) has the best image quality of the 5MP (now 6) crowd, but as mentioned above, this is because of everything except the range of its zoom. The Canon S2 IS (being replaced by the 6MP S3) and the Sony H1 are good cameras, delivering better image quality than most 5MP cameras, but not quite as good as the Panasonic they are essentially copies of.

Everything is relative. The Panasonic delivers the best image quality of the 5MP units due to its stunningly-good lens, but in general you buy 5MP cameras for cost/value reasons, not image quality ones. It certainly has good image quality, but this is the exception rather than the rule in the 5MP class. Even its spec-sheet comptetitors like the Canon S2 don't deliver much in the image-quality department. I love my FZ5 and wouldn't trade it for any other 5MP camera, but again, understand that its 12X zoom range and 5MP sensor work against image quality, not for it. The designers that created are just talented, and there is no figure on the spec sheet that will clue you into when that is the case.

[Deanzo]

Ive used and loved my FZ10 for over 2years now and I can tell you a Panasonic with a Leica lens is hard to beat
Just make sure what ever one you go for does the things you need, As I would go for the FZ20 or FZ30 b4 the FZ5 as they have a better flash and a hot shoe something I need but you may not.

[larva]

Ive used and loved my FZ10 for over 2years now and I can tell you a Panasonic with a Leica lens is hard to beat
Just make sure what ever one you go for does the things you need, As I would go for the FZ20 or FZ30 b4 the FZ5 as they have a better flash and a hot shoe something I need but you may not.It all depends on your priorities. The upside to the FZ5 is that it is a vastly smaller camera that gives you all the features of an FZ20 except the hotshoe and manual focus. If those are of huge consequence to you, you have little choice but go to the (enormous) FZ20. A great camera, for sure, but not nearly as portable as the FZ5 with virtually the same lens and sensor and thus inherent image quality. And the FZ5 did introduce the effective high-speed focus mode, a feature not present in the FZ20. The flash's cycle time is fast and complements the fast autofocus performance that with the handy size, IS, and sharp and fast big zoom makes the FZ5 the ultimate low-dollar weapon for stick and ball sports or auto racing. The fact that the flash works fine indoors at reasonable ranges even when shooting fast is a bonus as much as its range is a serious liability.

I find the pop-up flash on the FZ5 very usable, but I do agree that an real external flash would be a great improvement. I'm not toting the enormous FZ20 and a big 'ole flash to get it, though; the FZ5 pop-up just isn't very limiting for most pictures I end up taking and does recharge essentially instantly. The FZ5 alone is as large a camera as I'm likely to have handy often enough to actually have it with me when of use. Any bigger and it's a hassle and gets left at home unless it's an obvious 'photo opportunity'.

The FZ30 has the fast focus modes (and all FZ features) as well as introducing 8MP resolution to the FZ line--a feature not provided in the (6MP) FZ7 successor to the (5MP) FZ5. This feature allows the also-large FZ30 an additional primary advantage as compared to the FZ10/20, which offered only the hotshoe and manual focus as additional features over their FZ4/5 compact contempories. And just to further complicate the issue, the FZ7 adds manual focus to the compact's features, but of course still lacks a hotshoe. As minor condolance its pop-up is rated slightly stronger than the FZ5's.

[Deanzo]

It all depends on your priorities. The upside to the FZ5 is that it is a vastly smaller camera that gives you all the features of an FZ20 except the hotshoe and manual focus. .
.


Im 100% with you.
The FZ5 is a great camera, if I didnt need the hot shoe and was looking to upgrade (which Im not) Id have one, the manual focus on mine I find awkward at best and I had a manual focus Nikon 35 - 70mm for years so its not like I didnt know how to use it

[batboy]

In the 5 MP super zoom category that are reasonably priced with decent image quality, you have about three main choices: Sony DSC-H1, Canon S2-IS, and Panasonic DMC-FZ5. Of these, the Sony is probably a tad cheaper (but cheaper don't mean better). My advice is to do some research to see which one has all the features that are important to you. I will say this, if you shop around you can get a good deal on the Panasonic DMC-FZ7 which gives you 6 megapixels for not much more than some of those 5 MP camera I just mentioned. If I were in the market for a 12X zoom, I'd definitely would seriously consider the FZ7 with that Leica lens.

[larva]

The FZ7 has replaced the FZ5 at essentially the same price point. And just about all the changes except the move to 6MP are worthwhile.

Key changes:

The worthwhile:

Revised controls - new joystick control takes the ISO, WB, and exposure compensation out of the menus. I'd kill for this on my FZ5.

2.5" vs 1.8" LCD - bigger is better, but resolution is no higher. EVF (viewfinder) is relocated to center top to make room.

Much improved video mode - 640x480 vs 320x400 - Great!

Manual Focus - better than not having it


The inconsequential:

Slightly larger battery - battery life is stellar already on the FZ5

6MP sensor instead of 5 - While this seems like an improvement, the reality is different from the integer comparison. The key problem with the FZ5, and nearly all 5MP cameras, is that the sensor is too small with respect to its resolution. The 6MP sensor used in the FZ7 is the same size as the 5MP one in the FZ7, worsening the only real limitation of the FZ5--noise. Yes, it does deliver slightly higher resolution, but you can't print at as high a magnification level due to the increased noise. This results in the max print sizes for the two cameras being the same, even though 6 is clearly larger than 5.

High Sensitivity Mode : Useless spec-manship, claiming ISO 800-1600 cabability. The image quality is so poor in these modes it simply doesn't matter.

The FZ7 brings some really worthwhile changes; the 6MP sensor isn't one of them. The convenience improvements from the new controls, the better movie mode, and the manual focus make it a no-brainer choice over the FZ5 at the same price. I did not dwell on it earlier as the point was that the Panasonics outperform their competitors, with the 5MP Sony and Canon in comparison to the FZ5 being the closest thing to an all-else-equal contest. Canon has introduced an 6MP S3 IS, but it has not yet been tested, and Sony is always much slower to the draw on such things. As far as I am aware their 6MP gen2 superzoom hasn't even been anounced yet. (The FZ7 is the fifth gen Panasonic...)