panny fz28 -- too much for me?

[flipflopmom]

I was trying to decide between panny z5 and canon 110is, reading ALL the reviews EVERYWHERE. I need to take pics of DD's gymnastics meets, low light, no flash, lots of motion... I've seen the fz28 recommended for gymnastics a bunch, but I wonder if it will be too complicated? I don't really know anything other than point and shoot. I know it's bigger, and I can handle that if I get results. I see some for 309 right now, which is the HIGH end of my budget, but I am willing to go there if I can get the hang of the camera. Don't want to go to slr, too much time involved! THANKS

 

[jann1033]

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0007OV46S?ie=UTF8&tag=dpreviewbuybox-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0007OV46S this one???the auto setting are just like any other point and shoot. the only thing i would question is if you want it for indoors, the low light capabilities are not rated all that well, noise over 400 iso
this one is a little more( 20 or so ) http://www.steves-digicams.com/2008_reviews/panasonic_tz50.htmlbut the noise is better
either one is really just a point and shoot with a little better zoom and a few more bells and whistles.

 

[tyedye]

I would go and try and hold these camera's and see which one you like because that would be the one you'll use. The FZ28 has an 18x zoom so you would be able to zoom in close. I don't know how well it will work for gymnastics. I know it has a setting for sports and then breaks it down to normal, outdoor, indoors or creative. It's a fairly small and light camera for one that has such a large zoom.

 

[alan]

I don't think that either of these cameras is really going to cut it for gymnastics photos.

You are going to need a camera that is really "fast" - that is, the camera is sensitive enough that it can take the picture so quickly it will appear to stop the movement of the girls. And from all I read, gym lighting is generally fairly poor, and the girls (especially their rextremities) are moving very fast.

For various technical reasons, so-called "small sensor" cameras (in practical terms that means any digital camera except a SLR) just aren't up to that job. They may claim to have high sensitivity (in techno-speak, high ISO ratings) but you get a very "noisy" picture - it looks as if the picture was taken in a snowstorm.

Every camera is a compromise, and cameras like the FZ28 gain convenience by sacrificing low-light performance.

Sorry it's not good news...

regards,
/alan

PS There are a couple of non-SLRs that work well in low light, eg the Panasonic G1. But they are in a similar price bracket to SLRs

 

[jann1033]

ok i must be seeing things since i saw z"5" in your title..so ignore my previous post
here are some photos from the one you are really looking athttp://forums.steves-digicams.com/forums/view_topic.php?id=598296&forum_id=23( second post has links to them)

 

[flipflopmom]

Well, I went for it. We'll see how it goes. Should be here tomorrow! I'll be back with lots of questions, I'm sure!