Excellent product - weaknesses of DMC FZ-30 largely eradicated

I recently had the DMC-FZ 30 ausgeguckt me commercially and returned after a week. During my service quite well-liked despite improvements, I was extremely disappointed by the image quality of 30. There are numerous rave reviews about 30 on the Internet - and some who think that in a camera with such a high quality lens and such a rounded concept could not possibly seriously implement such a weak image quality. These critics can I join in every aspect. The 30 yielded a visible color noise even at ISO 100 in the shade and on skin. Not bad enough when that one at eight megapixels no usable pictures in miniature would receive - but for me very disappointing. Subjectively, I found the pictures of both my 2-megapixel Casio and my small format SLR significantly better.

After a week with the DMC-FZ 50 I can say that now finally available on 50 in three major areas has significant improvements over the 30. After the first detailed tests the DMC-LX2 (with the Venus Engine 3, which is also in the DMC-FZ 50) in comparison with its predecessor DMC-LX1 (with the Venus Engine 2, which is also in the DMC-FZ 30) I was looking forward especially to the improved image quality of 50.

And I can say that I am satisfied. The 50 allowed at ISO 400 and ISO 800 for example, for my purposes more than usable interior shots without flash. Yes, with color noise, but the color noise is disproportionate to 30. During the 30 already at ISO 200 in black areas had significant color outliers in JPEGs, ISO 800 shots with 50 are not true noise-free, but without too significant outliers ,

A look at the images in raw format shows that the noise at ISO 800 is by no means insignificant, but is apparently quite well concealed. The raw data at ISO 100 have a very good quality - here was the 30 clearly inferior.

In other words, my (apparently not undemanding, but not absolutely determinable) attitude towards the image quality is achieved by the 50 in practical use, and even slightly exceeded.

The second major improvement of 50 concerns the availability of a TTL flash. However, I have not gained any experience with it.

The third improvement concerns the operability. The display is further pivoted, there appear to have been added additional settings in the programs and foremost: A new key can be the most important parameters of the currently selected mode quickly and without menu call readjust (light sensitivity, exposure and distance measurement, white balance, resolution, storage format) - this was the hakeligste point on the operation of 30 for me.

A few minor improvements, such as increasing from 8 to 10 megapixels, are in practice not really so important to me.

Inherited from the 30, the 50, the likeable long battery life (according to the manufacturer even improved), the nearly instantaneous start-up time in shooting modes, the light perfectly and zooming fast lens, the almost silent focusing, the good image stabilization, which pretty well guessed video functionality and the grip.

At 30 my knowledge, has been criticized for occasionally she was when focusing too slow and unreliable in the white balance. Nothing substantial has been at the focus at the 50 felt changed - but it's a compact camera. SLR cameras focus, as far as I see it on the market, more quickly, and point. Who needs my view, must at present do without the nice features of a compact camera and access to an SLR faster focusing. With the white balance of 50 I am satisfied so far and should turn out that he sometimes does not work well, I hope that gives me the motive, the opportunity for manual correction. ;-) For objective assessment of white balance of 50 I do not see myself in the situation.

My main criticisms of the 50 are the beeps that are either inaudible or too loud for me - an additional volume level, or a quieter lowest setting I found extremely helpful. Nevertheless, you get all the information visually; maybe I need to get used even to the appropriate signaling on the display.

My conclusion: For me there are no more appropriate camera on the market - or it has escaped me in my extensive research. Good usability, great fun, great lens, great flexibility, good results.