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tsiya · Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2008 7:41 am Post subject: New Technology

Beginning with the FZ30, and now the FZ50 and FZ18, Panasonic cameras have a new feature that increases range even more. They increase the focal length by reducing the amount of the sensor that is used. this gives an actual increase, nothing like digital zoom, which degrades image quality. Panasonic calls it EZ, or extrazoom. I was sceptical until I tried it, but it works well. It is possible to get 669mm equivalent from an FZ30, even more from an FZ18, with good results. It isn't up to pro DSLR standards, but it doesn't cost several thousand dollars, as a DSLR and lenses would.
Panasonic is fairly new to the camera business but they sure are blazing a path.

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tsiya

photobabe · Joined: 23 Dec 2007 Posts: 21 Location: St. Johns County

Do the “MP” values in the bottom right corners of the images refer to megapixels? If so, isn’t image quality degraded in the sense that the image “size” is reduced? Would the 3 pics hold up to scrutiny if they were printed as, say, 8x10s?

I’m interested because I’m looking to replace my, now ancient, dslr with something less expensive. I have a Canon point & shoot, which does surprisingly well, but I’m intrigued by the virtual lens power of this Panasonic.
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Wal Mart is the Devil's playground.

tsiya · Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2008 4:08 pm Post subject:

When digital zoom is used it is like taking a rubber picture and stretching it out over a larger area, it looks bigger, but the "paint" is stetched thinner. EZ gives you a smaller total area, but the "paint" isn't stretched thin. Also, because the subject, if it happens to be a small bird, fills more of the sensing area used by the auto focus and auto exposure, so focus and exposure are likely to be more accurate.

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tsiya