Doug Kerr
Well-known member
As many of you know, when we decided to look into a "B camera" (something smaller and lighter than our Canon EOS 40D with an EF 24-105 or EF-S 18-200 aboard), one candidate that came to our attention was the then freshly released Canon PowerShot G16.
But for various reasons (not the least of which was that it would not actually be available for a month or so and I am bad on delayed gratification), we gravitated toward the Panasonic DMC-FZ200. It had a greater zoom ratio than the G16, and I feared that the zoom-coupled OVF of the G16 might not really cut it for accurate composition (I had never looked through one).
The FZ200 turns out to be a very nice machine. It handles well, and the user interface is very likable. The EVF is quite good (although I would like it to have a larger image). Of course its mere existence dooms any prospect that I could take photographs like Henri Cartier-Bresson or Theodoros Fotometria (of course, I rarely take actual photographs anyway).
The speed of response is pretty good, but not quite what I had hoped for. (You recall my classical complaint of many years' standing in this area: "By the time it fires, the councilman has taken his hand off the mayor's knee".)
A major concern is that the flash metering is very erratic in various ways (we are using a "recommended" Panasonic flash unit.)
And I always have the vague feeling, examining the images from it, that they "lack something". (Maybe that's a bunch of mm² of sensor area!) Carla says it lacks the Canon logo.
So, just to get some closure, we have indeed ordered a G16. It is now reported as being on the local UPS truck, in the middle of the 7-hour journey from the UPS depot just around the corner to World Headquarters.
So, hopefully soon I will have some reports on the next member of our arsenal of cameras of varying size (this one occupying the "fits in a big pocket" position).
Best regards,
Doug
But for various reasons (not the least of which was that it would not actually be available for a month or so and I am bad on delayed gratification), we gravitated toward the Panasonic DMC-FZ200. It had a greater zoom ratio than the G16, and I feared that the zoom-coupled OVF of the G16 might not really cut it for accurate composition (I had never looked through one).
The FZ200 turns out to be a very nice machine. It handles well, and the user interface is very likable. The EVF is quite good (although I would like it to have a larger image). Of course its mere existence dooms any prospect that I could take photographs like Henri Cartier-Bresson or Theodoros Fotometria (of course, I rarely take actual photographs anyway).
The speed of response is pretty good, but not quite what I had hoped for. (You recall my classical complaint of many years' standing in this area: "By the time it fires, the councilman has taken his hand off the mayor's knee".)
A major concern is that the flash metering is very erratic in various ways (we are using a "recommended" Panasonic flash unit.)
And I always have the vague feeling, examining the images from it, that they "lack something". (Maybe that's a bunch of mm² of sensor area!) Carla says it lacks the Canon logo.
So, just to get some closure, we have indeed ordered a G16. It is now reported as being on the local UPS truck, in the middle of the 7-hour journey from the UPS depot just around the corner to World Headquarters.
So, hopefully soon I will have some reports on the next member of our arsenal of cameras of varying size (this one occupying the "fits in a big pocket" position).
Best regards,
Doug