Disappointed in lumix zs50: Instead of taking my 80d to an out of state reunion, I relied on my zs50. Big mistake. While some photos were fine, others were a disappointment. Maybe my...

genocolo Loc: Vail and Gasparilla Island

Instead of taking my 80d to an out of state reunion, I relied on my zs50. Big mistake. While some photos were fine, others were a disappointment. Maybe my lack of skill, but not all can be attributed to that. Learned my lesson--if it is an important event not to be repeated, take your best camera and lenses.

insman1132 Loc: Southwest Florida

Would help us to know specifically what the disappointing photo's were?? Maybe you can share some with us?

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

genocolo wrote:

Instead of taking my 80d to an out of state reunion, I relied on my zs50. Big mistake. While some photos were fine, others were a disappointment. Maybe my lack of skill, but not all can be attributed to that. Learned my lesson--if it is an important event not to be repeated, take your best camera and lenses.

Perhaps next time you should use your smartphone camera. Panasonic makes quality camera products. And you should have tried it out before going to that event. Panasonic now has updated to the zs70.

BebuLamar

genocolo wrote:

Instead of taking my 80d to an out of state reunion, I relied on my zs50. Big mistake. While some photos were fine, others were a disappointment. Maybe my lack of skill, but not all can be attributed to that. Learned my lesson--if it is an important event not to be repeated, take your best camera and lenses.

It's your lack of skill but that because the ZS50 is a lot more difficult to use than the 80D. And if you listen to the previous poster you will find out the cell phone is much more difficult to use and you simply can't master it. You're better off using easy camera like your 80D or 5D etc...

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

genocolo wrote:

Instead of taking my 80d to an out of state reunion, I relied on my zs50. Big mistake. While some photos were fine, others were a disappointment. Maybe my lack of skill, but not all can be attributed to that. Learned my lesson--if it is an important event not to be repeated, take your best camera and lenses.

This message is not useful as posted. Which images were not up to your standards {example - dark scene which required high ISO setting}? What caused them to not meet your standards? How much had you used this camera before your trip? Personally, I'm surprised that you were surprised by this; I would have expected you to have previously seen the problems which came up on this trip.

Apparently your standards are much higher than mine. Last November I took a train to Calif, then acted as our older daughter's relief driver as she drove back to Indiana for a new job. Taking space with my regular kit would have been counter-productive, so I took just my 4.65-crop Pentax Q-7. Because of my past experience, I expected to be satisfied with the images from that small kit .... and I was.

http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-424295-1.html

Most likely, the real lesson is to have experience with the equipment before capturing something important.

Patw28 Loc: PORT JERVIS, NY

I truly cannot imagine what your complaint could be.
I regularly travel with my zs40, leaving all my Nikon gear at home, along with the FZ1000. I am absolutely awed by the build, features and image quality.
Not to be snide, but with the zs series you do have to familiarize yourself with the camera before leaving home.
I wish you well!

Patw28 Loc: PORT JERVIS, NY

Added note.
If you are unable to familiarize yourself with the camera before you have to use it again, try the iA mode. I challenge you to get a bad picture in that mode. Not an exhibit photo necessarily, but at the minimum a great family album result.

genocolo Loc: Vail and Gasparilla Island

Why do you all assume that I had no experience with the camera? Actually I had used the camera for several months before my trip. I knew it had some limitations and would not perform like a dslr. It was a trade-off.

Because I was looking for candid shots, I used the auto setting. I am not a novice and publish multiple photos in an all color monthly magazine.

The point I was trying to make was that next time I will take and use the best camera and lenses that I have, thereby increasing the likelihood (but not guaranteeing) that I will be satisfied with my results.

If you believe that the zs50 is able to capture the same range of subjects under varying conditions as an 80d, you are entitled to your opinion, but I doubt many would agree with you.

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

genocolo wrote:

Why do you all assume that I had no experience with the camera? Actually I had used the camera for several months before my trip. I knew it had some limitations and would not perform like a dslr. It was a trade-off.

I was just wondering why you had this revelation after-the-fact. Unless I have a brand-new-to-me camera, or am using film I've never used before, I'm familiar with the tradeoffs before-the-fact, so I'm not likely to "discover" something like this worthy of a thread here. That is why I thought you were inexperienced, either in general or with this particular camera

Wingpilot Loc: Wasilla. Ak

genocolo wrote:

Instead of taking my 80d to an out of state reunion, I relied on my zs50. Big mistake. While some photos were fine, others were a disappointment. Maybe my lack of skill, but not all can be attributed to that. Learned my lesson--if it is an important event not to be repeated, take your best camera and lenses.

Just curious as what you found to be disappointing. Could you post a couple shots with an explanation?

rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA

genocolo wrote:

Why do you all assume that I had no experience wit... (show quote)

Your post would have been far more insightful and informative if you had given some specific reasons why the ZS50 was so disappointing. Not satisfied with results doesn't really say much, and leaves the reader to guess what may have caused the disappointment.

wteffey Loc: Ocala, FL USA

I have a ZS50 and found that it is difficult to get precise focus unless I used the center point method. Ia is fine for landscapes but nothing with a specific point of interest was easy without spot focus. The camera is also difficult to hold steady, even with IS in use. PP cropping is limited because of the small sensor, so I have to crop "in-camera". When I do use full auto the camera will suggest advanced solutions to photographic issues, and use exposure stacking automatically, for example. Hand-held night shots are beautiful. RAW helps with very aggressive noise control. A small sensor camera will never compete with a DSLR for image quiality. Forget it. Never happen. But for it's intended purpose I really like my ZS50. It goes with me everywhere, even when I carry my DSLR. There have been times when I had the DSLR over my shoulder, but went for the ZS50 for convenience.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

genocolo wrote:

Why do you all assume that I had no experience wit... (show quote)

They have a hard time admitting the 80D is a great camera.
But they are right in one aspect the 80D and 5D... are generally much easier and more intuitive to use than a camera like the one described or a cell phone. This is by design to make these cameras a dream to use compared to going to dozens of setting menus to try to figure out how to change something where with the 80D you just turn a dial and take 40 photos while others are fooling around with menu trees. Yes the zs50 has some settings but the slower focus very small sensor and less sharp lens (compared to the Canon optics) also are drawbacks. Canon got the intuitive and ease of use right on these cameras.

Mark W Loc: Camden, Maine

Yes...lets start by blaming the equipment. Sounds good.

elliott937 Loc: St. Louis

I just purchased the TZ80, and I'm experimenting with it now before a major vacation. It does seem to have a bit of a learning curve, but I'm optimistic that I will be able to capture many good RAW images. I usually use my Canon 5DII, but on our European vacation, I want to keep it very simple this time. I'm thinking that with practice and developed skills before our vacation, I should be able to capture many great images which will eventually be enlarged to sizable wall images. Am I being too optimistic?