Panasonic DMC-FZ20 drivers - DPChallenge Forums

09/02/2005 08:40:12 AM · #1

I've only joined a couple of weeks ago during voting for "Dairy" and wanted to say hi and set up a place we could share tips and tricks with the FZ20. It's the kind of camera I have a feeling people get passionate about.

I finally obtained an FZ20 after reviewing all of the choices for a couple of months and deciding that with that lens, this was by far the best value for money anywhere.

I struck gold in our local version of ebay //www.trademe.co.nz/ and picked up a 4mth old camera, the tele lens (650mm), two batteries, 4 x 256mb cards and bits worth NZ$2,650 for $35 less than just the camera new ($1,085). Now I want to get the very best out of it.

I find it brilliant to use, having f2.8 all the way from 36-432mm is incredible and the 650mm only seems to loose a stop. I think the only thing I did get a surprise about was that the widest is only f8.0. This is my first digital and I was naiively expecting to be able to go to f22 like my film Pentax. I don't know if that's going to be an issue or not, hasn't been so far :)

A couple of questions if anyone can help
- Does the camera keep a frame count internally. The No Reset explained in the book doesn't make sense.

- Does anyone have the technical specs of the hot shoe and know what it might be compatable with for auto use with external flash (I got a Sunpak 555 for $30 :)

For those wanting to compare, the NZ$ is worth US$0.69

Cheers
Brett

Message edited by author 2005-09-02 08:48:51.

09/02/2005 08:47:06 AM · #2

Yep the camera does keep framcount; all images you take are numbered sequentially until you reset.
The hotshoe on all cameras including the fz20 are standard I think...the sunpak you got should work fine.

09/02/2005 08:53:36 AM · #3

Hi Peter, you're quick, I was still editing the post :)

When I download the pics using the built-in Windows XP wizard that pops up as soon as I plug the camera in, the numbers reset for every download. The Wizard asks for a name pto prefix the number which always begins back at 001.

Yup the sunpake fires off perfectly, I've just not managed to get it to work with auto exposure yet. I may have the camera set up incorrectly

Brett

09/02/2005 09:10:32 AM · #4

wow that wizard you mentioned is friggin weird. A thing pops up on my XP also but there's nothing that wants to reset. Do some right clicking, find out how to turn off the auto-reset.

09/02/2005 09:31:31 AM · #5

Ok will do, nothing obvious so far, but it must be there.

Two other questions while we're here,
- I record in TIFF, I presume it is "normal" for the camera to create both a tiff and jpeg file? The way its working for me is that it is only the jpeg which has all the shot data in it, the tiff's properties don't tell you much.

- The properties show the file is 72dpi when i really want 300dpi. Is there anything I can do about that?

Brett

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

09/02/2005 09:46:02 AM · #6

Yeah I dont know why but the camera does create 2 files. I've done a lot of comparison and I can't see any difference between jpg and tiff, so I never use tiff.
I'm really not sure about the dpi thing, I think it's determined by the camera. Is there a way you can tell the camera what dpi to shoot at?

BobsterLobster

Fujifilm FinePix S3 Pro

09/02/2005 09:56:16 AM · #7

Your flash may work, but make sure it's within the recommended voltage otherwise you may fry your electronics at some point in the future. Because it works now doesn't mean your camera is safe.
BTW, the widest aperture is F2.8, not F8.0! The diameter of the aperture is MUCH smaller than a 35mm camera, so F22 would be very difficult to manufacture. Besides, your depth of field at F8.0 is much deeper than F22 on a 35mm.

09/02/2005 10:01:47 AM · #8

Originally posted by BobsterLobster:

Besides, your depth of field at F8.0 is much deeper than F22 on a 35mm.

are you serious? I never knew that; how?

09/02/2005 07:58:23 PM · #9

Peter, I've always heard that there is a significant difference between the jpg and tif when you get into editing. Everything you read tells you to maintain the biggest file possible so that you have the maximum depth of information for advanced editing or large format printing.

I haven't found a dpi setting in the camera, I was hoping you or someone else had :) You'll notice that DPC Prints minimum requirement is for 150dpi.

Hey Bob, that DOF comparison is interesting! Tell us more. For example does that mean that f2.8 is not really f2.8 as we used to know it?

(Yep I've embarrassed myself mixing up the aperture terms before. Sometime way back when I once called the smaller number the smaller hole and then mentally got stuck with it. You only have to look into the lens or use the camera for 10 mins to see how wrong that is:)

Message edited by author 2005-09-02 20:05:28.

09/02/2005 08:12:52 PM · #10

Bob, thatnks for the warning on the flash voltage. I did some checking before about the Sunpak 555 and it is only 6.9v and the camera is to ISO spec of <24v.

I found a website that had all the flashes and their voltages //www.botzilla.com/photo/strobeVolts.html Ths site is a saviour to anyone looking at a flash ... there are some very dangerous beasts out there!

Is there a forum somewhere here that I should post that URL to so others can use it for reference?

Message edited by author 2005-09-02 20:13:51.