dimondon Loc: Georgia

I just received my new FZ200 today and have finished unpacking it.\

Photog

I would be interested in hearing your review of the camera. The specs are excellent but user reaction would be helpful after you have tried it out.

dimondon Loc: Georgia

I will do that Potog. Right now I am printing and going over the 200 page operators manual. I ran out of ink and the process is halted until my new ink arrives. The inks cost is about double in a local store so I must order it on the internet. As of right now I love the camera and everything I can make it do. Its pictures are the clearest I have ever seen. After I make a few adjustments I will write a review. But I will say now that I was not disappointed,

R.G. Loc: Scotland

Sounds like the post-purchase blues have gone. Be sure to check out using high zoom in low light conditions - the fact that the lens stays bright at high zoom should help to prevent camera shake spoiling shots.

To make the manual less daunting, you could sort it out into subjects that you are likely to need and subjects that you probably won't (for some time, anyway).

Photog

Thanks dimondon. The expert magazine reviews are so perfection oriented that I actually value the user side more heavily. The one exception I do enjoy is reviews on Steve's Digicams and he is a little too positive sometimes but still more in line with my needs and interests.

R.G. Loc: Scotland

You're right, it can be very misleading. Beware of people who slag off a camera because it doesn't measure up to their top-of-the-range DSLR.

dimondon Loc: Georgia

Thanks for the advice, I think I am plagued with attention deficient, It took me at least a year to learn enough about my Olympus to go on vacation with out continually reading the manual. I find that if I print just selected parts of the instructions; that will be the ones I will need while on vacation. I have purchased a three ring note book to put them in, As soon as my ink arrives I will finish my printing. I only lack a page or two. I have about 4 or 5 cameras and a bag full of lens's and manuals. That is why I decided to keep the FZ200 . I am not disappointed because the photographs are as good as the one's taken with my Olympus DSLR except macro which it apparently does not have. The specifications on the B&H order are---- "Wide: 11.81" (30 cm) - Infinity Telephoto: 78.74" (200 cm) - Infinity Wide: 0.39" (1 cm) - Infinity Telephoto: 39.37" (100 cm)-Infinity."

I understand I can order a close up lens but I had rather use my 50mm 1:2 or my 35mm 1:1 SLR that I have for my Olympus. The reason for purchasing it in the first place was to stop hauling around bags of lens and equipment. It had become so bad that Linda was starting to complain on vacation. She has an Olympus point and shoot 12 m.p. and she does some awesome things with it.

dimondon Loc: Georgia

Of course it is only my opinion but the FZ200 is a fine camera for the purpose of what I will use it far. We are going to St Augustine, Fl next week on vacation. I will study up on it and I plan to take only my macro lens , mono-pod and Olympus camera in the trunk of the car, This is if we decided to go to a flower garden or something. I think the long distance shots, e.g., at the zoo and alligator ponds can be done properly with the FZ200. I am really excited about the whole thing and will give me some respite from the female nagging factor about my superfluous luggage.

Emjem Loc: Perth australia

Don't buy a macro lens the fz200has the same macro function as the fz150. It will focus down to 1cm from the lens. There is a Switch on the side which switches from auto to macro to manual focus.

dimondon Loc: Georgia

Thank you very much for your information.

Hanoverfarms Loc: Littleton , Colorado

Domondon, just got mine couple of days ago. Going thru the same process. Going out for ink this morning. Had Nikon 40 years ago to P/S, now to bridge. It's gonna be a big learning curve for me.:-) it's gonna take quite awhile to become profient.

Hanoverfarms Loc: Littleton , Colorado

Proficient

dimondon Loc: Georgia

I understand what you are saying. I have two Panasonic video camera's and one 5 m.p point and shoot. Linda has a 12mp P&S Olympia that has done a fine job. I found that helpful when trying to understand the manual after reading the other manuals so closely. I also have an Olympus that I loved but the baggage became too much. If I have as much fun with this FZ200 as I did with my Olympus that will be rewarding enough. Although, you can never sell a used camera; you will just wind up giving it away so I had rather keep mine. I will just take it out in butterfly season because I have a couple of 500mm lens and set up my tripod.

ttlthor Loc: Grapevine, Texas

I've had two Lumix bridge cameras and thought they were great. My last bridge was a Nikon, but only used it for a short time before going Canon dslr. Still have my Bridge cams, though, and plan to keep them. The Lumix optics are hard to beat. You're gonna love it. Enjoy.

dimondon Loc: Georgia

I think I will love it and that is what everyone says. I will put it to the test around my birthday 10/10/when we go to St Agustin Fl. for our vacation. I hope they have plenty of gators to photograph I love to do them.