Panasonic Z30 release date?

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Cordovero - 07 Aug 2005 22:36 GMT

Anybody know? Amazon has "September" listed, but the Amazon release dates
are often just very general estimates.

C

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Capella - 08 Aug 2005 00:36 GMT

> Anybody know? Amazon has "September" listed, but the Amazon release dates
> are often just very general estimates.

I talked with a customer service rep. who said they would probably be
available by the first of September, but they weren't taking pre-orders yet.
I'm suppose to be on a list to be contacted when they do start pre-orders,
however they also didn't have pricing yet. (I want to compare with Amazon).
I just keep checking the web site. The camera is now on the site, but no
pricing.

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beeswing@aol.com - 17 Aug 2005 15:01 GMT

I just ordered an FZ5 (over an FZ20), largely because of its lighter
weight and size. Does anyone know how thie new Z30 will compare size
and weightwise with either of these two other cameras? (I'm trying to
figure out if I "should have" waited for the Z30!)

Thanks.

beeswing

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Daniel Silevitch - 17 Aug 2005 15:24 GMT

> I just ordered an FZ5 (over an FZ20), largely because of its lighter
> weight and size. Does anyone know how thie new Z30 will compare size
> and weightwise with either of these two other cameras? (I'm trying to
> figure out if I "should have" waited for the Z30!)

According to http://www.dpreview.com/articles/panasonicfz30/ , the FZ30
is 1.6 pounds, vs 1.2 pounds for the FZ20. If weight is a key issue for
you, the FZ5 was clearly the right choice over either of the bigger
cameras.

Weight and size was the key factor that lead to my choice of the FZ5 vs
the FZ20 (and the Canon S2IS).

-dms

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beeswing - 17 Aug 2005 15:33 GMT

> > I just ordered an FZ5 (over an FZ20), largely because of its lighter
> > weight and size. Does anyone know how thie new Z30 will compare size
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
>
> -dms

Thank you for responsding. I feel better now! :)

After a certain list of "must-haves," weight and size were key to me. I
chose an FZ5 over a digital SLR primarily based on that issue (though,
not surprisingly, the cost differential figured into it pretty heavily,
too). I'm glad that there isn't an up-and-coming Panasonic that I
should have waited for. (I wanted to have it for my vacation in a
week-and-a-half, so my research was reasonably extensive, but still a
bit rushed.)

beeswing

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Cordovero - 17 Aug 2005 17:30 GMT

The Z30 looks HUGE.

C

>> > I just ordered an FZ5 (over an FZ20), largely because of its lighter
>> > weight and size. Does anyone know how thie new Z30 will compare size
[quoted text clipped - 22 lines]
>
> beeswing

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NewsDroid - 18 Aug 2005 11:38 GMT

> The Z30 looks HUGE.

It's a little wider than the FZ20 and its lens is permanently extended,
with focussing and zooming entirely internal. Horses for courses I
guess. It's not a pocket camera, but show me a point n shoot with 5MP
and a 15x zoom lens*

Signature

....NewsDroid

* OK, so it is sold as an 8MP with 12x zoom, but you can regard the
digital zoom as a serious feature rather than a joke when you have 8
million dots to play with. If you are only planning on postcard sized
prints you can go out to 19x at 3MP. I haven't had a play with this
feature "Extended Optical Zoom" but it could be useful. ;^)

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Cordovero - 18 Aug 2005 15:41 GMT

I actually like that it's big. Psychologically it encourages me to use more
of its features rather thanjust point and shoot.

Unfortunately, tomorrow is the ballroom dance competition I have to take
pictures at, so I couldn't wait any longer, and bought a Canon S2IS at
BestBuy minutes before closing time last night.

I'm pretty bummed. I really wanted the Z30, but reality intruded. From
sample pics I've looked at (seemingly more informative than the detailed
review sites we always cite here), I think the Panasonic Z5/20/30 and even
the Sony DSCH1 are noticeably better, but I had to rule out the Sony for its
limitations in FPS.

The Canon doesn't even come with rechargeable batteries nor a recharger.

I'm hoping it all works out.

C

>> The Z30 looks HUGE.
>
> It's a little wider than the FZ20 and its lens is permanently extended,
> with focussing and zooming entirely internal. Horses for courses I
> guess. It's not a pocket camera, but show me a point n shoot with 5MP
> and a 15x zoom lens*

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per - 18 Aug 2005 16:23 GMT

Dont forget to use the movie button, S2-IS can in fact handle low light
better in movies than when taking pics.
/per

>I actually like that it's big. Psychologically it encourages me to use
>more of its features rather thanjust point and shoot.
[quoted text clipped - 21 lines]
>> guess. It's not a pocket camera, but show me a point n shoot with 5MP
>> and a 15x zoom lens*

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Ed Lowe - 10 Aug 2005 22:43 GMT

> Anybody know? Amazon has "September" listed, but the Amazon release dates
> are often just very general estimates.
>
> C

Per Amazon, the FZ30 will be available Sept. 20. I've found their release
dates to be accurate.

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