Ugly Hedgehog Newsletter

Hi,

I am newly retired and I traded my Canon film system cameras for a Panasonic Lumix FZ50 with a tele-adapter. At the time I based my choice on the "Leica" branded lens with absolutely NO idea of what sensor size meant to image quality. I now plan to produce "prints for sale" of panoramic scenic photos, scenic photos, and nature photos as I may find on my outings. How do I maximize my image quality while on a tight budget? Is there any direction that will gain more image quality .. DSLR vs 4/3 or maybe some other hardware format?

William

marcomarks Loc: Ft. Myers, FL

Your first problem is that you have invested in a fixed lens super-zoom advanced point and shoot camera. It's a nice camera (I have a FZ30 myself) but you have no flexibility to improve quality beyond what is there now - except improving your own talent and understanding of the features.

You must use a dSLR with removable lenses to buy different levels of single-focal-length lenses (typically better clarity than a zoom although that's not always the case) and to swap bodies to those with higher resolution and more features as that manufacturer brings out new models (while keeping your lens system that you already own). By the way, don't concern yourself with sensor size because you said you have a limited budget so you wouldn't want to afford a new full-frame sensor camera anyway.

So answers that are available to improve picture quality for you actually only pertain to a dSLR camera that you don't currently have. There are no hardware improvements possible for your Lumix except creative filters or possibly operating your camera in manual mode without image stabilization (some feel image stabilization creates a little bit of fuzziness). I guess you could say you checkmated yourself with one move from film to Lumix. The questions you have now should have been asked and answered before you traded.

Unfortunately, if you still had your Canon film cameras, some of your lenses may very well have worked on a Canon dSLR body. But you've lost that advantage. The same is true of anyone who has a Nikon or Minolta film camera with a selection of lenses. It's best to hang onto the lenses and buy a dSLR by that same camera manufacturer.

But stay in here and learn techniques, lighting concepts, editing software, etc. It all pertains to all shooters, no matter what camera you have. Post processing with software, such as Adobe Elements, is an excellent way to improve the quality of your shots in amazing ways. But that's software - not hardware.

The Lumix is a nice advanced amateur camera that can work quite well. Some people say the Leica lenses on them aren't really Leica but I say Leica would be insane to put their name and reputation on lenses that aren't theirs. I have verified that when I compare Lumix point and shoots, with and without a Leica lens, the one with a Leica is clearly crisper every time. So I'm confident that Leica actually makes those lenses, even if they're made in a Chinese Leica plant. I have a Lumix 5MP point and shoot with a Leica lens for my wife and it takes much better shots than the Lumix 7MP with a standard Lumix lens that I bought her as a Christmas gift to replace the older 5MP.

Hope that helps!

Randyb1969 Loc: Armpit of California

Also something to consider is photo stitching. It won't increase the quality of one individual shot, but if you stitch two rows of 4 pics, you can get a pretty nice large panorama. Check out this example of this technique taken to the extreme.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/patrick-smith-photography/5874640947/in/photostream/

View the image. Read the story. And I dare you to tell me you aren't impressed.