Re: Panasonic DMZ-FZ8 versus comparable dSLR

On Wed, 6 Feb 2008 09:26:27 -0800 (PST), jpdenk@xxxxxxxxx wrote in
<e61cc236-4d0c-42bb-8981-2393afc9033c@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>:

On Feb 5, 11:09 pm, John Navas <spamfilt...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

In terms of resolution, the Leica super-zoom 36-432 mm (35 mm equiv)
f/2.8-3.1 on the Panasonic DMC-FZ8 actually surpasses the fixed prime
Canon EF 50 mm f/1.4 on the EOS D60, 10D, and 300D, as well as the fixed
prime Nikkor 50 mm f/1.4 on the Nikon D100, and fixed prime Nikkor 50 mm
f/1.8 on the Nikon D50, D70s, and D40:
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/panasonicfz8/page16.asp
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/CanonEOS10D/page22.asp
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/NikonD100/page20.asp
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikond50/page25.asp
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikond40/page24.asp
For the record, these particular cameras were picked as being closest to
the DMC-FZ8 in terms of pixel count.

I have a Nikon D70, resolution is very similar to the D40 or D50. I
also have a Panasonic FZ5, it's my camera for when I don't feel like
carrying the heavier D70 and don't plan on making big prints from the
resulting photos. While it's not quite up to the resolution level of
the FZ8, it's not too inferior.

The DMC-FZ5 is 4.9 MP (effective)
The D70 is 6.1 MP (effective), almost 25% higher

My FZ5, at ISO 80-100, yields slightly sharper JPG's than my D70 at
ISO 200, which is the D70's lowest ISO setting, but the noise on the
D70 at ISO 200 is essentially non-existent while on the FZ5, noise is
visible at ISO 100, but not a problem and too much at ISO 200.

However, I usually shoot at ISO 400 on the D70. I can't do that with
the FZ5, it's way too noisy above ISO 100 for my tastes, and by ISO
400, the image quality is plain bad due to noise reduction doing bad
things to fine detail.

I don't think ISO to ISO comparison alone is terribly meaningful -- you
have to compare the whole system.

I personally almost always shoot with my FZ8 at ISO 100, The very fast
super-zoom Leica lens and very good Panasonic image stabilization give
me at least a 3 stop advantage on a comparable (and affordable) dSLR and
lens. (My slide films of choice were 25 and 64, making ISO 100 feel
fast to me.)

What settings are you using? With my FZ8 I keep Noise Reduction,
Contrast, and Sharpening turned down to Low, which significantly reduces
artifacts from in camera processing.

Noise in my out of camera JPEG images is only visible when pixel peeping
-- not normally in prints or screen images. When I do need noise
reduction, I use Neat Image in post-processing (usually at 50%), which
does an amazing job of reducing noise while preserving image detail.
Have you tried it?

Dynamic range is better in the D70 in-camera
JPG's too.

True, dynamic range is better with a larger sensor, but I rarely see
that as an issue. The dynamic range of my FZ8 compares quite well to
the best color slide film of my film years, and the live histogram on my
FZ8 usually makes it easy for me to check and adjust exposure if needed
to avoid clipping. There have only been a few cases where I wanted more
dynamic range, and I probably could have used HDR in at least some of
them.

Look at the high ISO shots in the reviews that you posted links to and
you'll see that your FZ8 looks horrible at ISO 400, which all of the
DSLR's that you've mentioned can do without breaking a sweat.

My own images look quite a bit better than those. I'm guessing those
were produced at default settings, and earlier firmware might also have
been a factor.

And if I shoot RAW on my D70, the resulting JPG's leave my FZ5 in the
dust, they're needle sharp, have lower noise, better color, detail and
dynamic range.

I can shoot RAW with my FZ8, but normally don't bother with the hassle,
because I'm not concerned with pixel peeping, only with the final
printed or screen image result.

Don't get me wrong, many advanced point-and-shoots are spectacular
cameras, but a decent DSLR in the hands of someone who knows how to
use it will beat the point-and-shoots in image quality and versatility
every time.

My own opinion is that there are many cases where a compact digital
camera (the P&S moniker doesn't really apply to advanced cameras like
the FZ5 and FZ8) is capable of producing final images as good or better
than a comparable dSLR, and I believe I have the images to back that up.

For example, I shot a sailing regatta from the water last fall against
dSLR pros, and the handling and lens advantages of my compact digital
let me get some great images that they missed entirely.

What really matters is the photographer, not the tool.

--
Best regards,
John Navas
Panasonic DMC-FZ8 (and several others)
.

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