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Great shots, got a few here.
http://www.grand-performance.com/gallery/Cruisers

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Then I zoomed a little over to the next crater on the moon...and lookie!

I think W. gave her a free ride there courtesy of NASA.. :D :D

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Quit it, still laughing from the last one,,, :drink:

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It's fun to play too...

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Was able to ge this one, still laughing :D

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Always use Mobil-1!!

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Detroit 2004

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....imagine when the Chinese go to the moon and find her there...

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..that's a great shot of Bud...hopefully she will race in '05.

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thanks, hope to see her run again. Get off that damn moon deal I'm still laughing.... :drink:

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My friend who has a Canon Rebel took back his Sigma lenses and Sunpak flash. He bought a couple Zoom Canon lenses and the best Canon flash. Now his pictures are perfect.

The New Minolta/Konika also is not accepting of 3rd party lenses I am hearing. Only the Nikon Digitals are error free with 3rd party dedicated flashes and lenses. The Minolta/Konica has a ccd stabilizer..Nikon uses stabilization in the lens of it's larger more expensive telephotos.

The Minolta will be challenged by a new Nikon model late next year. The battles continue but anything beyond 6 million megapixels is a waste of space on a card. Who needs more than a 20 x 14? Unless you do a lot of cropping it's not Worth the money.

Anyway..if I would have known about the Canon situation I might have gotten one. You just have to keep everything from soup to nuts ..CANON.. :D

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I was asked what the "big deal" with a LEICA lens is on the FZ-20...

The DC Vario-Elmarit Lens on the DMC-FZ20, DMC-FZ15 and DMC-FZ3 provides:

Auto-focusing and zooming with minimal vibration.
Effortless close ups from an optical 12x zoom lens (equivalent to a 35mm to 432mm).
Mega Optical Image Stabilizer helps prevent blurry images.
Outstanding F2.8 brightness across the entire zoom range.
13 lens elements in 8 groups.
Multi-coating lens process for glare reduction that helps to eliminate image fogging and ghosting when shooting in extremely bright light.
Edge-to-edge image and color clarity thanks to extra-low dispersion (ED) glass (DMC-FZ20 & DMC-FZ15 only).

It's an ED glass len that is multi-coated and made and assembled in West Germany. I just really enjoy not having to change lenses when at a sporting event. With 36-432mm with the flick of a button it's addicting.
I saw a News program on CNN where a photo-journalist had an FZ-20. That speaks volumes.

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What is the best Digital SLR par none???

Just put aside about $10-15,000.00 for the entire system and lenses.

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I would still stay with the Canon syste. Mark II is great

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Nothing beats a Zeiss lens. :D

http://shop.store.yahoo.com/appleele...21040lenf.html

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The Leica is a Close second to Zeiss they say.

http://www.hotbuyelectronics.com/ite...hp?item_id=732

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Nikon and Leica are very close. This is a lens I would like to get.

http://www.ritzcamera.com/webapp/wcs...01&cat1=915144

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If I went Canon I would get this lens. Canon has entry level lenses and then this baby!

http://www.ritzcamera.com/webapp/wcs...uctId=13093151

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Thanx for posting all the info and sample pics. HYDRO.I just ordered the DMC-FZ20 from buydigs for $505.00 no shipping chg..One tip someone told was "Make sure it comes with a USA Warranty.The WWW.DPREVIEW.COM site was great for comparisons also. 1GB card will have to wait till after x-mas though.
Thanx again Ken.

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This is an awesome card and works great with the FZ-20

Newegg has the KINGMAX 1GB Platinum 60X Secure Digital Card, Model SDC-001G3 on sale for $77. Shipping is an extra $1.99

If you want great indoor pics get the Sunpak 383 Flash

Set the camera to manual flash mode. ISO 200
The the flash to iso 200 which gives f2.8 on the green auto mode. Put the flash on full power. White balance on auto. Use the "A" mode (aperture for flash pics is best) then it's 100% auto from there.

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Anyone ever own a Contax? Any feedback?

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[QUOTE=Hydrocruiser]This is an awesome card and works great with the FZ-20

Newegg has the KINGMAX 1GB Platinum 60X Secure Digital Card, Model SDC-001G3 /QUOTE]
Thanx for some more great info again ! Just ordered the card. Camera arrived today as ordered from WWW.BUYDIG.COM.
Wish list now has the Sunpak 383,PD-55, &TL-55.Hopefully i"ll have some good shots to share this summer. :D
Ken

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Not familiar with that lens, love my 100/400 Canon

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I am a broke college kid...
I would like a new digital camera and will probably have around $500.00 to spend on it. It need to use SD memory because I already have a ton of SD cards....
I was interested in a low end SLR... but this thread has really interested me in the panasonics... I want shots like the one of the blue angel with the props stopped. The question is.... FZ3, FZ15,FZ20... the FZ3 is a different body... and doesn't offer as much manual features... The FZ15, and FZ20 appear to be the same camera with different megapixel resolution.... I'm no camera professional... I want good boat pictures with no streaking... I want helicopter pictures... and when I go offshore I want to take pictures of the platforms... I need a decent zoom and all three seem to be good cameras.... Is the difference between 4 and 5 megapixel enough to warrant the price? I just want crisp clean pictures... mostly to put on websites... I don't have many pictures printed... but if I were to print... would 4 megapixel print 8x10 decently...

by the way this weeks Fry's add has 1G SD cards for $39.00 but it is an instore price so you have to live by one of their locations.... www.outpost.com

Thanks in advance....

Ernie

I think I need more than the FZ3.... I have a really old Kodak now that was my first digitals 5 years old now... it is 2megapixel.... it is begining to eat batteries really fast like 5 pictures and the battery is dead.... and the digital video camera takes great wideo, but doesn't cut it for still pictures..

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You may have to increase you photo budget a little.

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the budget may have to increase... but I have found the FZ camera's in my price range.... just which one should I buy..... FZ15 or FZ20?

Ernie

and jeaston..... do you use the FZ20 on any of those awesome photo's you have on your site?

What camera are you using..... I'm thinking I don't want an SLR just because of hauling lenses around...

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:D I am not familiar with the camera you are talking about this site will give you comparisons on a bunch of different cameras http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/sidebyside.asp. Good shooting. I carry three cameras, Cano 10D, 1Ds and a Mark II. All the race shots were taken from the shoreline with the Mark II and the 100/400 IS lens. Yes they are heavy but they can get the shots.

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The FZ-20 because Leica went to ED Glass and the CCD and "engine" is improved.

The FZ-20 is large but lightweight. It's not a matter of do I get a "Nikon D-70" or an FZ-20. If you have the budget you would want both. The FZ-20 truly performs nearly as good as the Nikon in the right photographer's hands. The Nikon is a move up but hey then you give up instant Leica 36-432 mm zoom without lens changes.

I really like my Panasinic/Leica. I would not give it up and use it more than my Nikon. It's that good.

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Remember you want a 40-60x speed SD card or it will go too slow storing data and you may miss photo opportunities as a result.

Here is a picture taken with the FZ20 and the PD-55 adapter with the Canon TL-55 1.4x on it. The picture was taken from about 30 ft away of a wall clock that measured 3ft long by 1 1/2' wide; using the Sunpak 383 (same as Quantary 383 by the way). Camera set to iso 200/f 2.8 and auto white balance. Full optical zoom 588mm. Did not use the digital zoom which would bring it up to around 1000mm but digital zoom can distort they say. I rarely use it for that reason.

Now at almost 600mm you know the camera has to be on a tripod for a shot this good. Think you can beat this camera for the $$$? Trust me you can't.

The Canon Telephoto lens is only a hundred bucks but great quality glass!

Cost:
$ 500.00 camera
$ 75.00 60x SD card
$ 383 Flash $ 75.00
$ Canon TL-55 $ 100.00
$ PD 55 adapter $40.00
Total $790

Zooms out to almost 600mm. To duplicate this with a Nikon D-70 and equivalent lenses.. cost: $ 5,200.00 You can left click to make the pics a bit bigger. Now this had to be downsized to 1024 x 765 to download so the resolution is not nearly as good.

This camera blows me away. It has no right taking pictures like this for it's price. When I get $2,500.00 for a used 600mm lens for the Nikon I will let you know how they compare.

What do you think?

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Took pics of kids at Santa's House in the 'hood today and will e-mail them out. :D

The top house is with the FZ-20 and the bottom engine with the D-70 Nikon. The Nikon pic is a smaller pic but where is the detail?

The FZ20 was on "P" or program mode. In this mode it is a point and shoot autofocus camera. In other words if you know nothing about cameras and can read the letter "P" you can take this picture. The camera sets white balance; exposure; aperature; focus and anti-vibration lens stabilization is on. Ya can't miss.

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FZ-20 & Canon TL-55 20' away...used Sunpak 383

Know how some lens "magnifiers" distort? Does this combo?

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FZ-20 & Canon TL-55 and full digital zoom...

so that's 432mm optical zoom on the camera x 1.4x with the telephoto = 604mm and then multiply by 4x with the digital zoom added for a grand total of 2419mm. :eek:

Candle measures about 4" high and 3 1/2" wide.

Shot from about 30 ft away with the flash unit on manual full power dump.

On tripod. I think you need a tripod for these indoor shots as the shutter speed with the flash is only 1/60 of a second. Outdoors at the races on a sunny day and a shutter speed of 1/2000 is a piece of cake. Any camera; even with lens stabilizers will give a better pic on a tripod or monopod.

Left click on the picture and tell me what do you think?

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One last important thing....since the FZ-20 gives perfect white balance the pictures have vivid color. Perfect saturation and contrast!

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2419mm with the FZ-20 and TL55 1.4x with 4x digital Zoom...

A Canon 1200mm ES $ 2,500.00 and about 4 feet long and a minimum aperature of f 5.6.
the Leica on the FZ-20 can zoom to 436mm and remain at f2.8. Adding the Canon TL-55 slows it down a bit to f 3.8 maybe if that.

If you can find a 2400mm lens it would cost $ 5,000.00 and would be about 6 feet long...

get my drift? :p

Anyone now question that I can take a shot of the moon? I did have the full digital cranked up but did not have the TL-55 on.

This is what a Canon 1200mm lens looks like. It was fun trying it out :D

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I'm talkin with my wife about camera budget :D she says wait till after christmas. She seems to think the price of the camera will go down then and I don't really need it right now... but I would like to have it next year... gotta make the wife happy, but what do you think about it getting cheaper after christmas.... when is the nextversion coming out the FZ30 :D

Ernie

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Cool. Now people can understand why some one might mistake that for a grenade launcher.

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Read the specs on the FZ20 camera, very impressive. Not sure I understand The Canon TL-55 & PD 55 adapter, is that the lens adapter to accommadate the canon lens?

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The camera has an Aluminum ring that can unscrew to allow the adapter that came with the camera to screw into and it gives a 72mm opening lens shade with attachment. The PD-55 replaces that original equipment adapter and allows for a 55mm opening onto which the Canon TL-55 can be screwed onto.

The TL-55 is one of many Telephoto adapters that magnify digital camera and video-corder lenses. The TL-55 was originally designed for a video-corder but works great on digital cameras with 55mm adapters and only costs $ 100.00.

SO if you max out the FZ-20's zoom to 432mm and want more OPTICAL zoom you can buy the Panasonic Telescopic adapter but it costs $ 600.00. Actually as much as the camera does. But the next best thing is the PD-55 adapter for $ 45.00 plus the TL-55 for $ 100.00 for a total of $ 150.00. It sure beats spending $ 600.00 to bring the optical zoom up to 610mm for the fun of it. YOu don't have to but why not?

Now if you add the 610mm and add in the 4x digital zoom ( adding digital zoom is not as sharp however as optical zoom) it extends the total "focal length" to 2441mm.

The candle picture I took had the TL-55 on the FZ-20 plus full zoom so it was at 2441mm.
I just showed a picture of what a 1200mm Canon lens looks like. Imagining having the same ability with this camera at a much reduced size. it was there just to make a point.
The TL-55 is about 4" long and the adapter is about 3" long so the lens sticks out an additional 7".

The picture looks pretty darned good. Just use a tripod when appropriate.

Get the picture? :D

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They release an updated version like most camera manufacturers every or every other fall. The lony concern is that the Panasonic "Venus Engine" CCD electronics was radically redesigned with the FZ-20 and the lens was too. The lens now is made of ED glass so you don't get barrel distortion. The FZ-10 and 15 have more distortion and ccd noise. I expect the price of the FZ-20 to drop about a hundred bucks next fall is my guess.

It sells ant many locations for $ 600.00 but I see back on this thread where you can get it for around $ 450.00.

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May have to get one to play around with. Thanks