Someone at Panasonic must read RFF

not sure what good that pretty external viewfinder is if it does not zoom along with the lens in the camera....

I was just wondering the same. There must be some way to zoom it, I guess? Maybe it has various frame lines which you can switch.
 
I notice that the picture taken at f/2 and the one at f/8 have VERY similar depth-of-field feel. I looks like this camera suffers from one of the major problems that all small sensor cameras have.... not being able to blur the background.
 
I notice that the picture taken at f/2 and the one at f/8 have VERY similar depth-of-field feel. I looks like this camera suffers from one of the major problems that all small sensor cameras have.... not being able to blur the background.
If you're referring to the landscape photos, then no 24mm equiv lens is going to blur the background when focused that far away. Focus that camera on a a subject close to the lens and at F/2 you WILL see the background blurred out considerably. I've tried this on the FX35 at F/2.8 and it works great.
 
If you're referring to the landscape photos, then no 24mm equiv lens is going to blur the background when focused that far away. Focus that camera on a a subject close to the lens and at F/2 you WILL see the background blurred out considerably. I've tried this on the FX35 at F/2.8 and it works great.

Agreed - even a full frame 24mm shot at f1.4 at a distance is going to look "similar" to f8 shot at a distance - I shoot that way all the time with the 24L on the 5D - it allows me to use a wide aperture in low light (i.e. reception) while still having the bulk of the subjects (or main subjects) in focus.

Dave
 
Nice try, Panasonic. But count me out. Two things with P&S digitals turn me away...

1. ISO over 200 noisy
2. No selective focus...

Okay - they've made some strides in the ISO area. (Still, what's the solution? Lower resolution + smudgy cartoon-y in-camera noise reduction) Fine.

But they still can't give me selective focus.

Gotsta have my bokeh...

P&S digitals have their place -

Super zooms with image stabilization!!! And Panasonic is arguably the leader here...

If I want high ISO capabilities and selective focus, it's DSLRs...

1. Most are too big...
2. Not as durable as a film camera
3. Don't really buy me anything for the extra $$$ of a film camera...
4. Still blow out highlights
5. Most still lower resolution
6. Still don't do black and white like film...
7. Archival issues with digital files..., prefer a negative

Film cameras by default. Plus they're more fun to shoot.

...Cool lookin' camera though.
 
Hmmm... I just called my local - they expect a shipment sometime this month - and it looks like it's going to be retailing locally @ $550 CDN - not bad considering.

Now I just want to see (for myself, not basing it on anyone's images on flickr) what the noise is like. I'm not about to write off the camera based on what I read/see online - I gotta hold it in my hand and shoot it for myself first :)

Cheers,
Dave
 
Thanks for that Jack - I think, much like the GRD II, in B&W, that "noise" looks quite nice... just like the M8 at high ISO. And a decent Noise Reduction action will take care of some of that anyway :)

I think the cam should be pretty decent for the money!!

Cheers,
Dave
 
Thanks for the link.
It looks pretty decent to me. The noise at high ISO doesnt seem as bad as i thought it would. Quite a bit better than my 3 year old Fuji P&S.
 
Even if the higher ISOs aren't quite as good as the Ricoh (and I just don't know), that's not the end of the world. I don't see it as an only camera, but as a new tool. I don't have a fast wide angle lens, and I like the panoramic aspect. I just made a 9"x6" black and white print from an ISO 450 F2.4 jpeg, which I am happy with. (I've printed larger with slower ISOs.) And, of course, the depth of field is such with these cameras, that often you can use lower ISOs than with other cameras.)
 
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That's an encouraging review.
I'm looking forward to the m3/4rds camera, but if it dissapoints in some way, this might be a good option.
 
Thought I'd bring this back up. People actually own this camera now and have been posting pics, and they're quite encouraging--nothing like the preproduction images we saw before. It seems very useable and printable through ISO800 (though hardly noiseless there).

Of course Leica has just announced the same camera for $350 more. I dunno, as small-sensor compacts go, this one is looking surprisingly nice. I'd love to get my hands on it and give it a try.
 
I actually got one. I'll post a little review soon. In everything but low-ISO IQ, it actually kicks the DP1's ass...and IQ is in fact really good, for a small sensor camera.

Actually, the DP1's prime lens is also better. But the LX3's is no slouch, and it's faster.
 
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