Topic: Small no auto focus SLR's?

[Chuck]

So, I've been taking lots of pictures lately with cheap LCD screen cameras the Olympus SP-620UZ and Panasonic DMC-L27. But, they are both auto focus and I have to view the image on the LCD screen instead of a viewfinder. I'm not happy with the focus on the photos I take with those cameras.

I'd appreciate any advice or help finding any cameras that I can take to shows that have really good auto focus or manual focus that have also have real viewfinders instead of the LCD screen.

[Chuck]

So, my research is pointing to this camera:

http://www.panasonic.net/avc/lumix/compact/fz200/

25mm - 600mm constant f2.8 Leica lens
RAW files supported, ISO 100-6400, viewfinder and good reviews.

I wonder if any of you have used it?
It's in a do-able price range for me too...

[sacchini]

I have SLR but I know people very satisfied about their Lumix with Leica lens...

[flipp]

I haven't used that model but still have a predecessor and use it as my daily camera - a FZ20. I generally like it but do have a few gripes. Max tele is 12x - 400mm equivalent and max ISO is 100 so shooting in low light can be challenging; looks like the FZ200 addresses both those issues as well as writing RAW data (the FZ20 only does jpg and tiff). Other than the max ISO rating/low light capability of the FZ20, I generally like it. The FZ20 also has a viewfinder which comes in handy especially when outdoors in very bright sunlight as well as both manual and auto focus.

When I get around to upgrading Panasonic is going to be one of the first brands I look at. Nice to know I could upgrade today to the FZ200 and probably be a very happy camper.

[Chuck]

So far, it looks like I'm on the right track then.

[beatkilla]

Im sure it is a great camera but would like to point out that the real lens range is 4.5mm to 108mm(they use these 35mm equivalent ratings to fool consumers i guess)basically if you had a lens starting at 35mm and could 20x then you'd have what? 700mm so staring at 4.5  x 20 gives you the 108mm not 600mm.You need a 35mm to 600mm lens for that.

[Chuck]

I bought a Lumix DMC-FZ200K today by taking advantage of a Cyber Monday sale. I'm really looking forward to trying it out. With the f 2.8 aperature through the entire (35mm equivelent) 25mm-600mm zoom range. I've read all the reviews and this seems like the best "bridge" camera there is right now. I didn't want the size of a full SLR or a removable lens, as that makes it harder to get the camera into shows. I'll try it out on moe at the Ogden Theater this weekend. 

[phil_er_up]

I bought a Lumix DMC-FZ200K today by taking advantage of a Cyber Monday sale. I'm really looking forward to trying it out. With the f 2.8 aperature through the entire (35mm equivelent) 25mm-600mm zoom range. I've read all the reviews and this seems like the best "bridge" camera there is right now. I didn't want the size of a full SLR or a removable lens, as that makes it harder to get the camera into shows. I'll try it out on moe at the Ogden Theater this weekend. 

Nice chuck. Hope you post some pics so we can see how it did.

[Chuck]

Oh yes, I will post pictures.

[Chuck]

I like this one of Al from moe. 2013-12-06

[2manyrocks]

How far away did you make this photo? 

[Chuck]

How far away did you make this photo?

I'm just horrible at guessing distances. It was taken from the front drink rail at the Ogden Theatre in Denver. Settings f 2.8 / 400th sec,, 3200 ASA.

[2manyrocks]

Between low light, ever changing stage lighting, musicians moving on stage, distance, me shaking the camera, and people just getting in the way, I'm finding it pretty tough to get good, adequately lit, nonblurry, photos at concerts.

Got any tips for getting good concert photos?

[Chuck]

I agree. I took over 300 shots that night and only got one I thought was really good. It was my first time out shooting with this camera. The camera has a burst mode that can take 5.5 - 12 pictures in one second. That's how I managed to get this one shot of Al from moe. I saw the good lighting and pressed the shutter button for a burst of 5 frames. In two of the five frames his eyes were partly opened. But I thought this one with eyes closed had the best feeling to it.

I was a newspaper photographer (mainly Tri-X B&W film) when I was in my twenties and early thirties. I got out of news photography around the time digital photography was becoming main stream. I sold my Nikon F3's and a bunch of fixed focal length lenses etc... on eBay and haven't had a good camera until I bought this one recently. One auto focus lens with f 2.8 from 25mm to 600mm is something any photographer could only dream of back in the old film camera days. This one is a bridge camera, not a pro Nikon or Canon, but I'm not making money at this, so I'll be happy with this one for a while.

[2manyrocks]

Interesting that you mention over 300 shots because I shot 297 at one event in November and got one photo I liked on a Panasonic G5 with a 50mm f1.2 minolta lens via micro 4/3 adapter.   Probably shot 200 each at the next couple of events and didn't like any of them because my camera settings weren't right.  I had better success over the past weekend, but I still need to improve.   

At least we're not paying for film development to practice.