Why focus on panasonic? Have you ever used a DSLR?.

I would suggerst Nikon D40 or Canon 350D or Canon 400D. Go to a shop, try them you will see. The price is a bit higher, but the 350D is rougly cheaper.DSLR= no comparison, by far the best. (D40, 350D, 400D)Panasonic FZ50=Noise at high ISO, quality a bit smushy, plastic.If you need images to compare from any camera go here:http://www.imaging-resource.com/IMCOMP/COMPS01.HTM.

(When you open click on the upper side of the page, where says ALL and not curent for older models). Then see if you like them, compared to each other..

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Dejan Malikovski wrote:.

Why focus on panasonic?.

I don't focus on any camera for the moment, it's just I came to see some photos taken with the Pro1 which looked nice to me..

Have you ever used a DSLR?.

Nope. I love my FM2 ..

I would suggerst Nikon D40 or Canon 350D or Canon 400D. Go to a shop,try them you will see. The price is a bit higher, but the 350D isrougly cheaper..

A Canon 350D is way to expensive for me (around $600), that's why I was looking for a $300 camera, easy to carry everywhere and usable indoors (with or without flash) to take pictures of boardgames..

If you need images to compare from any camera go here:http://www.imaging-resource.com/IMCOMP/COMPS01.HTM.

Thanks a lot for the link...

Dejan, if somebody were trying to decide between a couple of 50-dollar cameras, your posting history suggests you'd be in there pitching some sort of entry-level DSLR, even if the original poster's budget or requirements indicate otherwise..

Christophe, if you like the Pro1 pictures and you can get the Canon from a *reputable* source, buy it if nothing else turns your crank..

If you're interested in one of the Panasonics, invest a little of your time to look at the real-life pictures posted here at dpreview's Panasonic forum. The FZ8 should also be in your price range..

Hope you find another camera that fits your needs..

Mike marshall/FZ50.

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Hi Christophe,.

I came to seesome photos taken with the Pro1 which looked nice to me..

The images of the Pro1 look pleasing to me too. The quality of the lens is an important consideration in a camera, and the Pro1 is supposed to have a fast and good Canon L quality 28-200 lens on it. The wide angle is very nice to have, in my opinion. Do also look at Fuji S6000fd samples at pbase- the camera might not have a lens as good as the Pro1, but it will have better noise characteristics ( more usable iso ) because of the Fuji SuperCCD. And you get a new camera for ~325 usd. In case you go for the Pro1, do check Canon's timeframe on warranty, etc, for fixing potential problems and repairs..

I would suggerst Nikon D40 or Canon 350D or Canon 400D. Go to a shop,try them you will see. The price is a bit higher, but the 350D isrougly cheaper..

A Canon 350D is way to expensive for me (around $600), that's why Iwas looking for a $300 camera, easy to carry everywhere and usableindoors (with or without flash) to take pictures of boardgames..

Also, most DSLR kit lenses won't be very good, and won't have reasonable zoom- the Canon's kit lens is especially considered weaker..

-AP..

AnuragP wrote:.

The images of the Pro1 look pleasing to me too. The quality of thelens is an important consideration in a camera, and the Pro1 issupposed to have a fast and good Canon L quality 28-200 lens on it.The wide angle is very nice to have, in my opinion. Do also look atFuji S6000fd samples at pbase- the camera might not have a lens asgood as the Pro1, but it will have better noise characteristics (more usable iso ) because of the Fuji SuperCCD. And you get a newcamera for ~325 usd. In case you go for the Pro1, do check Canon'stimeframe on warranty, etc, for fixing potential problems and repairs..

Hi AP,.

I just looked at the Fuji S6000fd (S6500fd in Europe) specs and reviews, this camera seems to be a good choice, meeting my criterias, even if it lacks some optical image stabilization. I'm more kean on a wide-angle lens, so this is not really in issue for me. And the price seems really reasonable to.Thanks a lot!..

Mikemarshall wrote:.

Christophe, if you like the Pro1 pictures and you can get the Canonfrom a *reputable* source, buy it if nothing else turns your crank..

If you're interested in one of the Panasonics, invest a little ofyour time to look at the real-life pictures posted here at dpreview'sPanasonic forum. The FZ8 should also be in your price range..

Hi Mike,.

The Lumix FZ8 seems another good choice for me, so I have 3 cameras to inquire on in my price range (around $300):- Panasonic Lumix FZ8 (new)- FujiFilm S6000fd/S6500fd (new)- Canon PowerShot Pro1 (used).

PBase is a helpful website for my search, I'll also check there..

Thanks a lot to all of you..

Chris..

Even if it lacks some optical image stabilization. I'm more kean on awide-angle lens, so this is not really in issue for me. And the priceseems really reasonable to.Thanks a lot!.

You're very welcome, and good luck with your researching and purchase..

Some ( more ) points to make your decision harder-.

Pro1>s6000fd>2/3" sensor is better>1/1.7" smaller sensorarticulating LCD>fixed LCD28mm wide angle>dittobutton step zoom>mechanical zoom ringraw support>raw supportnot as good iso>more usable iso.

The viewfinder and 2" LCD on Pro1 have 100% coverage, so will help more in composition. The fuji has a larger fixed 2.5" LCD, also with 100% coverage, though the EVF is of a lower resolution than Pro1. The Pro1 lens is also a little faster at the wide angle (at least)- 2.4 vs 2.8 on s6000fd on the 28mm focal length..

Whichever way you go, they both look like good tools. Your third option of the Panny also looks promising. If I were you, I'd go by the average, and the best quality of photos on pbase for each camera..

-AP..

Chris, it just occurred to me that there are still new FZ7s around, although a bit harder to find than the FZ8. That would give you a bit of a price break compared to the FZ8, at no loss in image quality...

AnuragP wrote:.

Some ( more ) points to make your decision harder-.

Pro1>s6000fd>2/3" sensor is better>1/1.7" smaller sensorarticulating LCD>fixed LCD28mm wide angle>dittobutton step zoom>mechanical zoom ringraw support>raw supportnot as good iso>more usable iso.

Decision difficult to make....

Another way to find the answer to my question is this one: which camera is the easiest to use in manual mode (focus, zoom, aperture, speed...)? I mean, which camera (FZ7/8/50, Pro1, S6000fd) doesn't need to press three buttons with 2 hands because there aren't any rings on the lens!.

Last question: is the Lumix LX2 a good alternative to the other bridge cameras? And is it possible to use it as a manual camera?.

Thanks in advance...