[Photo-SIG] Fuji Finepix S5200

[Dave Lundy]

Roger Jensen wrote:
> Yes, the Lumix is a great camera and has repeatedly had good reviews.  
> However it is at about twice the price of the S5200 mentioned here.  
> I've found that the Digital Stablization is very good and the 12x zoom 
> is a decided plus.  The flexability of settings for auto versus manual 
> is also very good.  My only complaint with my older FZ20 is the 
> non-movable and smallish viewing screen and the slow response times.  I 
> know the FZ30 resolves both of these issues.  Perhaps the samller (and 
> cheaper) models also resolve this issue but I don't know that.
> 
> I know Dave Lundy also has the same Lumix that I have and he prefers his 
> Cannon camera.


Yes, I prefer the Canon S2 IS over the Panasonic DMC-FZ20 for several 
reasons.  The Canon is smaller and lighter, uses AA batteries instead of 
expensive and hard to find proprietary Li-Ion, has a better movie mode, 
has an articulated LCD, a more versatile macro mode, and records stereo 
sound.  Overall, it's a much more versatile camera.  On the other hand, 
Li-Ion batteries have a slower self-discharge rate, so if you haven't 
used your batteries for a couple weeks, Li-Ions will have lost less of 
their charge than Ni-MH.  And the FZ20 maintains f2.8 through the full 
zoom range!  The S2 IS stops down to f3.5 at full zoom, so you either 
need to use higher ISO or slower shutter speed.  The image stabilization 
of both cameras is very good.

> 30 Aug 2006 14:00:12 -0700 (PDT)
>  Dellis Hines <dellishines at yahoo.com> wrote:
>> Where the Lumix is concerned, I've had several people,
>> both IRL and online, highly recommend it.  When it
>> comes to the output, I've seen pics taken with it in
>> nature photography settings, and by people who were
>> decidedly not professional photogs, where the results
>> were outstanding.

I've gotten excellent results from both the S2 IS and the FZ20.  Having 
a good camera helps, but practice and experience is a significant 
factor, regardless of what camera you use.  It's easy to take lousy 
pictures with a great camera if you don't know what you're doing.
-- 
Dave Lundy   <http://www.dma.org/~lundyd/>