Some question to ask on FZ5.

boontiong · 15th October 2005

Hi, i am thinking of buying FZ5. But i read on reviews that is does not have Manual Focus which i read from the glossary in the site that: "it is useful for low light, macro or special effects photography." So how are the photos taken in the night or low light turned out to be like for those using FZ5. Thanks.

airconvent · 16th October 2005

like most compacts, they don't do very well for low light shots but night scenes do come out alright if you have a tripod. and no, the fz5 does not have manual focus. for that you need to get the FZ10. FZ20 or FZ30.

unseen · 16th October 2005

Originally Posted by boontiong

Hi, i am thinking of buying FZ5. But i read on reviews that is does not have Manual Focus which i read from the glossary in the site that: "it is useful for low light, macro or special effects photography." So how are the photos taken in the night or low light turned out to be like for those using FZ5. Thanks.

it's useful for lowlight shots because most digital cameras can't focus in lowlight.
Some don't do it well in lowlight even with AF assist light.

Even most dSLRs lens can't focus very well under very lowlight conditions.

For FZ5, it focuses quite well in lowlight with it's AF assist. it doesn't hunt as much as the FZ20. Seems like a newer improved AF algorithm. Alternatively, there's a sort of a manual over-ride where you can manually lock focus.

As for macro.. FZ5 has a highspeed focus mode.. good dnough. the spot focusing is also v good. the manual over-ride helps lots together with with spot focusing when using on a tripod.

Night shots and lowlight shots turn out just fine. really.

fuse · 17th October 2005

Originally Posted by unseen

it's useful for lowlight shots because most digital cameras can't focus in lowlight.
Some don't do it well in lowlight even with AF assist light.

Even most dSLRs lens can't focus very well under very lowlight conditions.

For FZ5, it focuses quite well in lowlight with it's AF assist. it doesn't hunt as much as the FZ20. Seems like a newer improved AF algorithm. Alternatively, there's a sort of a manual over-ride where you can manually lock focus.

As for macro.. FZ5 has a highspeed focus mode.. good dnough. the spot focusing is also v good. the manual over-ride helps lots together with with spot focusing when using on a tripod.

Night shots and lowlight shots turn out just fine. really.

bro, btw can u elaborate how a macro mode works??? it has been fascinating me (and yah, i lazy to check) haha
thanks

unseen · 17th October 2005

lol.. i am not v sure.. just that macro somehow allows the focusing distance to be shorten to 1m for the FZ5.. can used to shoot normal photos, just that I suppose focusing will take longer coz the lens has got bigger distance to travel.

Point about macro is, your hand move 1mm and the photo might be out of focus.. so best to use tripod.. if don't use tripod, alternative wat for me was to use high speed AF on the FZ5. aim the general area and just press the shutter button fully..
it'll focus and shoot off a frame just like that.. if set to burst mode then i think will shoot of 2 or 3 frames anyway.. very helpful.. heh heh easy way out of things..

boontiong · 17th October 2005

thanks everyone, just bought this camera...

jerry2308 · 17th October 2005

Congrats on ur purchase..I am still considering buying the FZ5..

I am mainly attracted to the FZ5 becos of its zoom capabilities and OIS..

Does the OIS really work?I like to take pictures at night,does the OIS help in hand shake for night shot and low light conditions?

zcf · 17th October 2005

the Mega O.I.S. really work, go and try on a sample camera and zoom to 12x, you can tell immediately with the Mega OIS on and off.

In term of shooting in low light condition, if you are shooting still object, FZ5's Mega OIS certainly help to get less shaky image (to a certain extend).

But if it is moving object, Mega OIS won't help much, as it is object's motion blur, not due to handling motion blur.

You probably need another camera with brighter lens or usable High ISO setting.

fuse · 18th October 2005

Originally Posted by unseen

lol.. i am not v sure.. just that macro somehow allows the focusing distance to be shorten to 1m for the FZ5.. can used to shoot normal photos, just that I suppose focusing will take longer coz the lens has got bigger distance to travel.

Point about macro is, your hand move 1mm and the photo might be out of focus.. so best to use tripod.. if don't use tripod, alternative wat for me was to use high speed AF on the FZ5. aim the general area and just press the shutter button fully..
it'll focus and shoot off a frame just like that.. if set to burst mode then i think will shoot of 2 or 3 frames anyway.. very helpful.. heh heh easy way out of things..

amazing isnt it....technology

love playing with the telemacro, easy to create blurred back ground cos, the macro focusing allow it to go naturally to large apperatures around its focusing length of 2m

a snap shot:

Comments?? am i using the telemacro function too much? the device set to F4.0 at 1/320s would it be better if i follow the settings and then try in manual mode?

Junye · 18th October 2005

hmmm the pics are pretty nicely taken!

The mega OIS is cool but of course when u zoom till the max u need a tripod.

fuse · 18th October 2005

Originally Posted by Junye

hmmm the pics are pretty nicely taken!

The mega OIS is cool but of course when u zoom till the max u need a tripod.

thanks for the kind comment, i relied on the telemacro, i always try the same settings in manual mode, but dun seem to focus as well as the mode....

eunique · 19th October 2005

Originally Posted by fuse

thanks for the kind comment, i relied on the telemacro, i always try the same settings in manual mode, but dun seem to focus as well as the mode....

nice pics!! how much is a telemacro? any brand to recommend?? thanks

dts_spawn · 19th October 2005

Originally Posted by eunique

nice pics!! how much is a telemacro? any brand to recommend?? thanks

telemarco is a mood in FZ5. It is when u're in marco mood and u zoom to 12X.

eunique · 19th October 2005

Originally Posted by dts_spawn

telemarco is a mood in FZ5. It is when u're in marco mood and u zoom to 12X.

ohhhhh.... cos I've yet to try macro mode... so *paiseh*

ycchen · 19th October 2005

Originally Posted by eunique

ohhhhh.... cos I've yet to try macro mode... so *paiseh*

don't have to feel paiseh.. just keep on learning..

Spirax · 19th October 2005

FZ5 with Aperture & Shutter priority are more than enough for compact cam.

Simon_84 · 20th October 2005

it is said that in really low light conditions,the LCD didn't lit up much,can barely review what photo you took.
is it really that bad?

blurrblurr · 20th October 2005

Originally Posted by Simon_84

it is said that in really low light conditions,the LCD didn't lit up much,can barely review what photo you took.
is it really that bad?

I am a new FZ5 user too still learing with exposure with this camera before jumping to SLR. I would say is a powerful compact camera. Now I understand why till now there is no one complaining anything bad about this camera.
The LCD is fine to me. properbly is too small for review but I dun find that it really a problem. Cos I always took several shots for a scene.

fuse · 20th October 2005

Originally Posted by blurrblurr

I am a new FZ5 user too still learing with exposure with this camera before jumping to SLR. I would say is a powerful compact camera. Now I understand why till now there is no one complaining anything bad about this camera.
The LCD is fine to me. properbly is too small for review but I dun find that it really a problem. Cos I always took several shots for a scene.

sometimes jus have to make do loh,

huggable · 20th October 2005

Probably the shot taken was underexposed, hence looked dim in the preview.

Originally Posted by Simon_84

it is said that in really low light conditions,the LCD didn't lit up much,can barely review what photo you took.
is it really that bad?

15th October 2005	#1
boontiong New Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 21	Some question to ask on FZ5. Hi, i am thinking of buying FZ5. But i read on reviews that is does not have Manual Focus which i read from the glossary in the site that: "it is useful for low light, macro or special effects photography." So how are the photos taken in the night or low light turned out to be like for those using FZ5. Thanks.

16th October 2005	#2
airconvent Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,115	Re: Some question to ask on FZ5. like most compacts, they don't do very well for low light shots but night scenes do come out alright if you have a tripod. and no, the fz5 does not have manual focus. for that you need to get the FZ10. FZ20 or FZ30.

17th October 2005	#5
unseen Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NTU and Wdls Posts: 2,608	Re: Some question to ask on FZ5. lol.. i am not v sure.. just that macro somehow allows the focusing distance to be shorten to 1m for the FZ5.. can used to shoot normal photos, just that I suppose focusing will take longer coz the lens has got bigger distance to travel. Point about macro is, your hand move 1mm and the photo might be out of focus.. so best to use tripod.. if don't use tripod, alternative wat for me was to use high speed AF on the FZ5. aim the general area and just press the shutter button fully.. it'll focus and shoot off a frame just like that.. if set to burst mode then i think will shoot of 2 or 3 frames anyway.. very helpful.. heh heh easy way out of things..

17th October 2005	#6
boontiong New Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 21	Re: Some question to ask on FZ5. thanks everyone, just bought this camera... Last edited by boontiong; 17th October 2005 at 04:04 PM.

17th October 2005	#7
jerry2308 Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Kembangan Posts: 484	Re: Some question to ask on FZ5. Congrats on ur purchase..I am still considering buying the FZ5.. I am mainly attracted to the FZ5 becos of its zoom capabilities and OIS.. Does the OIS really work?I like to take pictures at night,does the OIS help in hand shake for night shot and low light conditions?

17th October 2005	#8
zcf Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: 270 degree of Singapore Posts: 6,700	Re: Some question to ask on FZ5. the Mega O.I.S. really work, go and try on a sample camera and zoom to 12x, you can tell immediately with the Mega OIS on and off. In term of shooting in low light condition, if you are shooting still object, FZ5's Mega OIS certainly help to get less shaky image (to a certain extend). But if it is moving object, Mega OIS won't help much, as it is object's motion blur, not due to handling motion blur. You probably need another camera with brighter lens or usable High ISO setting. __________________ Sony Alpha 700 hobbyist

18th October 2005	#10
Junye Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 337	Re: Some question to ask on FZ5. hmmm the pics are pretty nicely taken! The mega OIS is cool but of course when u zoom till the max u need a tripod. __________________ FF User. I want creatively correct exposures.

19th October 2005	#16
Spirax Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 62	Re: Some question to ask on FZ5. FZ5 with Aperture & Shutter priority are more than enough for compact cam.

20th October 2005	#17
Simon_84 Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: bukit batok Posts: 1,333	Re: Some question to ask on FZ5. it is said that in really low light conditions,the LCD didn't lit up much,can barely review what photo you took. is it really that bad?