Sony DSC-H1 vs Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ20

[camera rookie]

Hello...

I'm looking to make my first digital camera purchase and have been reading a lot on this site and a few others. I've narrowed my choices based on what I have read to the Sony DSC-H1 and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ20. I have actually seen the Panasonic in person and like the feel of the camera. Obviously I haven't seen the Sony in person because it hasn't shipped yet accoring to Sony's website. Has anyone heard anything about this new Sony camera? I'm in a little bit of a delima because I need to make my camera purchase before I go on vacation (6-10). Accoring to the Sony website, the DSC-H1 will be shipping on 6-03. This might be cutting it too close for me to have before my trip. :( Should I just go ahead and purchase the Panasonic or wait for the Sony?

Such a delima. :confused:

[speaklightly]

Rookie-

The best thing would probably to wait a bit. Jeff Keller has already published sample photos for the Sony H-1, so the full blown review can not be much further behind those sample photos.

Now understandably, the Panasonic FZ-20 is the king of the hill. It is a proven camera, that has already established its place in the market. However, please understand this: The Fz-20 has been out there, with three years and has created many improvements and much fine tuning. So it will take awhile.

If you cornered me right now and said that I had to make a firm decision, right now, I would be forced to go with the Panasonic FZ-20. However, let wait a bit, and watch for Jeff Keller's revikew of the Sony H-1 and THEN make our decision.

Sarah Joyce

[PhilR.]

From what I've read of the new Sony, it seems like they could have done better. The flash range is rather short (a bit over 12'), and it's manual focus is not a true manual focus, but rather a method of choosing preset values. Also, the lens is Sony, when it could have been Zeiss. They also missed the boat with an ISO of 400 -- when others such as Fuji have one to two stops more.

All in all, I'm not impressed by what I've read so far about the Sony, so I would recommend the FZ20. Actually, I would go for the FZ5....

PhilR.

[PLeMay]

I'm very curious why you recommend the FZ5. I'm torn right now between the FZ5 and FZ20. I need to make up my mind this week.

I like the FZ5 because it's lighter, smaller so there is a greater likelihood I'll actually carry it around.

The FZ20 has a hot shoe so I can use a bigger flash. Manual focus doesn't do much for me.

I am just a novice, have had a Canon S100 for a few years, like taking family photos. I have been thinking of an FZ5 with perhaps a digital slave flash, but the FZ20 just has such a well established reputation.

[speaklightly]

The Panasonic FZ-5 does have a few limitations when compared to the FZ-20. However, when compared to the much better smaller size, peronally I think that the FZ-5 is worth a few "give backs." So I agree with Phil.

SAarah Joyce

[dbryanc]

i am in the same boat. i was torn between the two. i then discovered the canon S2 IS and it complicated everything. it will be coming in june. you might want to include this camera into your list of prospects. i am going to wait unitl i can play with both the sony and the canon before i buy.

[PhilR.]

I'm very curious why you recommend the FZ5.

I like the FZ5 over the 15 or 20 because it is a much smaller camera, but is still capable of doing just about everything it's larger cousins can do. The lack of a hotshoe is not a huge deal, as you can easily use a slave flash, and mount it on an "L" bracket if needed. The lack of manual focus to me is not a big deal either. My little FZ3 focuses just fine, and so far have not ever needed to do it manually. I would love to put up a pic of mine that illustrates this, but I can't find a way to compress it enough to meet the posting requirements. Time to spring for some software, I guess...

Overall - for the average person - I just can't see buying a camera as big as the 20, when you can get the 5 (or the 4. Or the 3..). If you need manual focus in a big camera, then you might as well just buy a dslr....

PhilR.

[speaklightly]

Phil-

Well said! I agree with you completely. Size does indeed make a big difference! If you find yourself leaving your camera at home because it is "too big." You ought to re-think your camera choices.

Nice post, Phil!

Sarah Joyce

[PLeMay]

Thanks for all the advice. I went to my local Fry's electronics to get a feel for the size of both. I really liked the solid feel of the FZ20 but concluded many times I just wouldn't carry it around, so I decided for the FZ5. Ordered online, it should arrive on Friday.

I didn't feel too bad about my local retailer, their display never works anyway, the cameras are out to see but no battery so you can't even test them, and there is no one to help. Bought from Butterfly for $382.

[PhilR.]

so I decided for the FZ5. Ordered online, it should arrive on Friday.


Hope you got it in black! The silver color is the only thing I don't like about my FZ3.

Once you've had it for a few days, come back here and let us know what you think of it....

PhilR.

[PhilR.]

Size does indeed make a big difference! If you find yourself leaving your camera at home because it is "too big." You ought to re-think your camera choices.


I think so as well. That is why I didn't replace my 35mm slr when my wife accidentally broke it when we were living in Europe. I just got tired of lugging it around. I spent the rest of our time there taking pics with an unbelievably good titanium Fuji APS camera that can hide under a credit card (digital revolution was still in it's infancy).

PhilR.

[van_city]

Today I ordered the DSC-H1 regardless of a few of the cons mentioned in articles online...There are definitely pros and cons of every camera, and I had the luxury of testing all the big zoom competitors - KM Z5, Panasonic Lumix, Canon S2....out of the bunch I was able to physically test, the Panasonic was the winner for sure, the S2 was next, but there were a lot of things that through me off....That left me down with the choice of the Sony vs the Panasonic, on paper the Panasonic may have the edge, in terms of feel and looks, I am betting on the Sony...I gambled by going with the Sony based on owning Sony's in the past, so hopefully it pays off, I pickup my camera on the 7th of June...

[TheObiJuan]

the sony lens is crap. Sorry.
I hope you get good use out of your camera though.

[van_city]

the sony lens is crap. Sorry.
I hope you get good use out of your camera though.

What makes the Sony lens crappy? There have been a few test pictures released and they look just as crisp as any of the other competitors...I guess we will have to wait for the reviews to come out, but either way, Sony isn't going to release a crappy lense on their only 12x camera, if they are aware of the competition...A lens plays a pivotal factor when one decides to buy a camera, and Sony has been in the game for a while now...It's funny how people are freaking out because the Zeiss lens isn't a part of the camera, but do most people know that all Sony Zeiss lenses are not manufactured by Zeiss but by SONY! That is why I don't understand why people can come to the conclusion that the lense 'sucks' just because there isn't a logo or name attached to it yet it's coming from the same place that makes ALL of the Sony Zeiss branded lenses...