Minolta's new Z1 Mega-zoom!

[foffodc]

You see what I mean?
You read Jeff's test but You don't agree "with most of his negatives on the camera".
Jeff is a professional photographer so I suppose, as with You, that you got a defect ex of camera!!!

[foffodc]

Sorry, I mean Jeff got a defect ex of FZ1 and You of Z1.
But I agree with Jeff about his test of Minolta Z1.

[EffZeeOne]

Originally Posted by foffodc

You see what I mean?
You read Jeff's test but You don't agree "with most of his negatives on the camera".
Jeff is a professional photographer so I suppose, as with You, that you got a defect ex of camera!!!

I understand the point you're trying to make. However, to agree with you would mean that either (1) the Z1 that I received was defective (which I doubt) or (2) I wasn't using it right. I don't think it could be option (2) because I was using the Z1 in full-auto mode, so it would be insulting to think that I can't point the camera and press a button. I also don't think it would be option (1) because there is rarely a problem with a digital camera where only a few features/functions fail or are diminished on just a few cameras. If there's a manufacturing problem, it shows up in a lot more (if not all) of the cameras, and in most cases when something is wrong with an individual digicam, it renders the camera useless or obviously malfunctioning. In other words, I doubt that just MY Minolta Z1 produces more noisy pictures than the Panasonic FZ1 in direct comparison.

The Minolta Z1 I had didn't have anything wrong with it -- it just didn't perform up to my requirements in a side-by-side tests with the Panasonic FZ1. One of the main reasons why I don't agree with Jeff Keller's negatives on the Panasonic FZ1 is because I believe he used the camera wrong in some of his tests/samples. There's no way he was using the camera in full-auto mode if he was complaining about the EVF in low light. I've taken pictures in literally one birthday candle worth of light at my son's first birthday, and was able to frame the picture on my FZ1 just fine. You can't get much lower light than one birthday candle. The autofocus worked just fine in that low of light, too. The reason I was able to see the subject in the EVF was because I didn't have the ISO manually set to a lower setting -- it was on Auto. There's also something wrong with his red-eye test shot on Jeff's site -- I couldn't get a picture that bad on my FZ1 if I tried. I don't know what he did there, but he needs a re-do of that shot, just like he needed a re-do of the "purple fringing" shots in his Minolta Z1 review (which he did on mass demand).

I personally just don't care much for Jeff Keller's reviews. I find the reviews here at Steve's to be much more accurate, less opinionated, more fact based. Steve has been dead-on with all the cameras I've owned.

[Rizal]

thank you both for your discussion it was very informative. I've had the Z1 for about three weeks and I've had a lot of fun with it. It turned out to be perfectly suited to my needs, wants and goals for photography.

I learned of the FZ10 shortly before deciding to get the Z1 but that didn't change my mind for a couple of reasons. Keep in mind though that I think the FZ1 is a great ultrazoom camera with its IS and fast lens.

Anyway, the reason the FZ10 wasn't as desirable was because of price (+$200 MSRP), proprietary battery and size (bigger and heavier by 200g). EffZeeOne we differ in our desire for manual controls but where we can agree is our desire for a camera that can take spontaneous and candid shots wherever and whenever they might occur. To that end having a large heavy camera makes it less likely I will take it with me. Your point about manual controls is well taken but I can always shoot in auto mode to capture a fleeting moment.

Nevertheless the FZ10 sounds like a great camera and I think I read somewhere that the ring on its lens is a manual focus ring. That in addition to IS would be welcome by me on the Z1 but we can't have everything.