Anyone own a Panasonic FZ7 or similar bridge cameras?

[DarkShadow]

Recently, I've started getting into photography, I have a Canon A510 whilst it's a great little cam, I feel it's a time for an upgrade. I've been looking at the following:

Panasonic FZ7 - £165

Fuji S6500 - £205

Fuji 9600 - £262

The Panny is definitely favoured as it's price has come down a fair bit. The saving will also allow me to get some accessories.

I was venturing into DSLR terrirtory but then decided it isn't for me as of yet.

I wanted to know what you guys think. The FZ7's leica lens seems to produce some great photo's and it's my most favoured one at this moment in time.

I'd appreciate any advice, thanks

 

[philhoole]

I have the older FZ5 and have been very happy with it. The Leica x12 zoom and image stabilisation are particularly nice features.

Reviews will mention the noise at the higher ISO settings though.

I wouldn't swap it for any of the other compact super zooms bu that's just my preference.

There is also a FZ8 model out very soon - There's a review just up at www.dpreview.com although it will no doubt be a fair amount more than £165 at first.

 

[El Gringo]

Buy the S6500 so you can try it out and tell me what you think!
You have a pretty wild price range though The S6500 seems to be a S5600 with a face recognition feature and higher pixellage. I remember looking at the FZ7 but got turned off for some reason... If I remember I'll tell you

 

[Talon]

I just bought an FZ50 an so far it seems very good, I would imagin the FZ7 would be equally as capable. I'm a complete novice and have ony really scratched the surface of the camera features so far but have still got some nice photo's out of it.

 

[MobyDick]

I have an FZ7,here's some pics i took with it.

Full Sized Moon Pic

Iron Maidin in Dublin

Full size penguin in zoo

Some times i wish the pic quality good be a bit better in low light,other then that it's a great camera

 

[DarkShadow]

I have the older FZ5 and have been very happy with it. The Leica x12 zoom and image stabilisation are particularly nice features.

Reviews will mention the noise at the higher ISO settings though.

I wouldn't swap it for any of the other compact super zooms bu that's just my preference.

There is also a FZ8 model out very soon - There's a review just up at www.dpreview.com although it will no doubt be a fair amount more than £165 at first.

Argh decisions, decisions! Last one left at this price

 

[El Gringo]

The great advantage of Fujis is the fact that they seem to have excellent low-light capabilities, best of their class, which is what would push me towards the S6500, though I like the 12x zoom feature a lot, goes up to 432mm whereas the s6500 only (!) goes up to 300, but they are still considerable zooms.
The thing which turns me off is the relatively low max ISO setting, since I do immediately prefer night shots (though would realistically take more during the day) I'd like these to work well. If it had ahigher setting then I would jump.

 

[Rojin]

I've got an FZ30, just about right for me. I was going to go DSLR, but bought this instead to "test the water" first. I haven't got into photography as much as I want to due to work etc. but the FZ has done me proud so far. The zoom is impressive, even better with a TCON tele on it It is a bit noisy, but nothing that can't be sorted out with neatimage etc. Couple of example shots:

Some birds...

...and a plane

 

[BruceLee]

I just bought the s9600, happy with it although the amount of settings compared to a Point'n'Shoot are overwhelming, just trying to get my head round aperture/shutter speed etc and whats best to use at a particular time.

Also it chews through batteries, but I am going to get some high capacity rechargeable ones soon so that should be a bit better.

Its a nice size, fits comfortably in the hands, the screen and viewfinder is very good.

There is a bit of "grain" and a bit of noise at times on shots, but I am putting that down to my selection of settings at the moment (although I use a low ISO) and its nothing that a bit of post processing cant help.

Otherwise Im happy with it, I know that its going to help improve my photography skills, I love all the different settings you can use, something my old Ixus 410 didnt allow.

I think you will be happy with most of the bridge cameras out there at the moment, I also was eyeing up the Canon S3 IS, you should take a look at that also, its a bit cheaper than the s9600.