The following is a comparison between my current digital camera, and other camera's that I plan to buy.
All the specs will be made as a direct comparison, with exception to the specs of my current camera due to it's age, and other such things.
Please Note that these specs are by no means all inclusive, some items will be left out for various reasons. In short, the specs displayed, are the ones which I will mainly be basing my decision on.
| Camera | Vivitar 3765 *1 | Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ30 | Nikon D50 |
| Best Known Price | - | £349.99 | £429.00 |
| Supplier | - | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.co.uk |
| (Known) Specifications | |||
| Sensor Size | Unknown | 7.18x5.32mm Area: 38.2mm2 |
23.7x15.6mm Area: 369.7mm2 |
| Sensor Resolution | 3.0 Million Pixels | 8.0 Million Pixels (Effective) | 6.1 Million Pixels (Effective) |
| Maximum Image Size(s) | 2048x1472 | 3264x2448 (4:3) 3248x2160 (3:2) 3072x1728 (16:9) |
3008x2000 |
| Image Formats | JPEG | RAW TIFF JPEG |
NEF (12bit Uncompressed RAW) JPEG (EXIF 2.21) NEF+JPEG (Basic) |
| Included Lens(es) | '3x Optical Zoom' (Fixed) | 35 - 420mm Equivalent (Fixed) | 27 - 82.5 mm Equivalent (Changeable) |
| Sensitivity | ISO 100, 200 | ISO 80, 100, 200, 400 | ISO 200 - 1600 |
| Shutter Speed | Unknown | 60 - 1/2000 sec (Manual Mode) | 30 - 1/4000 sec |
| Standard Zoom Control | Motor Approx 9 Steps |
Mechanical Linked Zoom Ring | (Based on Images) Zoom Ring on Lens *2 |
| Standard Focus Control | None - Auto Focus | Focus-by-wire focus ring or Auto Focus |
Manual Focus or Single Servo AF, Continuous Servo AF, Auto Selection AF |
| Aperture | Unknown | Wide: F2.8 - F11 Tele: F3.7 - F11 |
Dependant on Lens used |
| LCD | Unknown Resolution, Approx 1.5" across | 2.0", 230,000 pixels Flip Down and Twist |
2.0", 130,000 Pixels |
| Viewfinder | Separate Lens *3 | EVF 0.44", 230,000 pixels | Optical Fixed Eye-Level |
| Storage | SD 14Mb on-board |
SD/MMC 32Mb SD Supplied |
SD No Card Supplied |
| Batteries and Battery Life | 2xAA, Approx 50 shot using 'Duracell Ultra M3' Batteries | Li-Ion Rechargeable Charger Supplied Up to 280 Shots (CIPA Standard) using LCD |
Li-Ion Rechargeable Quick Charger Supplied Up to 2000 Shots |
| Dpreview Rating | None | Recommended | Highly Recommended |
| Links | None | dpreview review Amazon |
dpreview review Amazon |
*1. My current camera, just to state the obvious.
The FZ30, has a number of advantages, on paper, over the D50, for me, for example, it offers larger images, and a massive zoom range in the lens.
However, the D50 is a true dSLR camera, and, with it, comes better performance at higher sensitivities, mostly due to the fact that the sensor is more than three times larger than that of the FZ30, meaning that, even though the FZ30 delivers more pixels, the pixels offered by the D50 simply 'look better', due to the lower amount of noise as a result of using a larger chip (and a lower resolution).
The battery life is very important to me, while both the FZ30 and the D50 are light years better than my current camera, the 2000 shot potential is something that I find very appealing in the D50.
Both camera's are a decided leap in control over my current camera, and both would allow me to learn a lot more in the realm of Manual Photography. One thing I was worried about, when initially thinking of a new camera to get, would be the potential that I could get a camera that is simply too advanced for me to learn how to use, which is the primary reason why the FZ30 is still in the running, since, essentially, it is a beefed up point and shoot camera, however, the D50 is not that far ahead in comparison to the FZ30, with the exception that the lens can be removed, and the sensor is much, well, better really.
In terms of image size, the FZ30 clearly wins, despite the fact that it squeezes in 8MP into a chip that has approximately 9.5 times less area compared to the D50. The reason why it wins is because it allows for 'forwards compatibility' in the sense that digital cameras will only gain more and more megapixels, and, ultimately, starting from 8MP gives a decided advantage in that I would not need to update as soon to be able to 'keep up'.
That being said, as already mentioned, those pixels are being squeezed onto a sensor that is, frankly, tiny in comparison to the D50 sensor, and, as such, it is highly likely that (especially with a good quality lens) the D50 would be able to actually pull more detail from the scene compared to the FZ30.
The lenses are also, obviously, very important, 'out of the box', the Panasonic offers a lens with 12x optical zoom from Leica, and based on the images produced from the FZ30, the lens is very impressive. Of course, the lens sort of has to be good by default, since it can't be changed.
The D50 is almost an entirely different kettle of fish, in that, based on images produced by the D50 using the default 'kit' lens, the image very obviously could be better, especially in the corners. However, the lens itself doesn't have to be top of the range, because it can be changed. This also gives the D50 a lot more flexibility compared to the FZ30, not only because the D50 could have a larger zoom range compared to that of the FZ30, but also because more filters could be used. The downside to this flexibility is that it would cost a lot of money to match the range of the lens on the FZ30.
Both camera's offer a RAW option, and both camera's also offer JPEG option (I think all camera's offer the latter really). The D50 offers the 'better' RAW option, in that the files are 12bit per channel(?), this gives more data to work with when editing, when, of course, I make the switch to a RAW work flow if I get this camera.
The downside to the D50 'NEF' format, is that the luminescence is encrypted, making it difficult to work with the files in anything but Nikon software. Granted, the file format does work in Adobe Camera RAW, it's just that you need to use the eye dropper to be able to get white balance, which can be a pain if you spent time actually setting up the white balance when you actually take the picture.
The FZ30 RAW format has none of this encryption, and, so, it should work in any RAW enabled software, with a secondary advantage that the files will be as you originally wanted them when you pressed the shutter release.
The FZ30 also offers a TIFF option, which, if I am assuming correctly, is almost like a cross between a RAW image, while having the image processing applied, like the JPEG would have done, kind of 'half RAW'.
This might be useful as a intermediary option while making the transition to RAW.
Both camera's have an SD card slot, which is something that I want, since I already own an SD card. Basically, both camera's are neck and neck in this department, since I know of no limit to the maximum SD card size (though, a conservative estimate says that, for both camera's, the limit is 1Gb).
Both camera's are fast (if memory serves). I do know that the D50 can be turned on and taking photographs in less than one second, and there is a tenth of a second 'shutter lag', which compared to my current camera is about ten times faster. In fact the D50 is fast in general, being able to save its maximum sized JPEG's in less than two seconds. And, even while doing this, I could still take two, even three more shots before the camera slows down, which is a testament to the buffer that the D50 has.
The FZ30 is, understandably slower than the D50 (which makes sense, since it isn't a dSLR), however, even with that in consideration, it is still faster, on paper compared to my current camera.
The LCD of the FZ30 shows a clear advantage over the D50, in that it has fitted 100K pixels more into a screen with the same diagonal width, allowing for more detail in the previews (and reviews) of images, as well as being able to fit more information in general without 'running out of space'.
Granted, it sort of needs the detail, since a great deal of people using the camera would most likely be using the LCD to preview the image before taking the picture.
The D50 display is needed less, in general, compared to the FZ30, meaning that it can get away with the lower resolution, since it won't (or even, can't) be used to preview an image before a picture is taken.
That job falls to the viewfinder. Since the image is coming direct through the Camera's optics, you get the true picture (almost, anyway, I believe you actually get 94% of the image), another advantage to the fact that the image through the viewfinder is directly from the camera's optics, means that there is no actual resolution 'issues', the maximum resolution that the viewfinder can offer is whatever your own eye can resolve.
Of course, this does come at the expensive of 'reduced interactivity', for example, you can't overlay extra information onto what you see, until you have actually taken the picture. Also, any image alterations (such as a change in the ISO, or F-Stop) also can't be seen either. This minor problem will most likely cause me to produce a number of images to throw away for a certain length of time.
All in all it is hard not to consider the D50 to be the 'winner', and to just ignore the FZ30 altogether.
However, this conclusion is based entirely on the sensor size, the D50 simply has a bigger, and lower density sensor compared to the FZ30, and, understandably, it would have a cleaner picture as a result.
The FZ30 still has a lot to offer right out of the box. For example, I can't fault the Lens (at least I can't fault it compared to the one in my current camera), it would cost more than the D50 itself to be able to get a collection of lenses with the same range as the lens in the FZ30.
The FZ30 is also less 'intimidating' compared to the D50. As mentioned before, the FZ30 is basically a beefed up point and shoot camera, while the D50 is a full blown dSLR, which is more of a leap given that I only have a low end fully automatic (with exception to zoom) point and shoot camera.
Despite that, the D50 does offer more future proofing (despite what I have mentioned above). The main reason is because it is a dSLR camera. Put simply, I will reach the limits of the FZ30 long before I reach the limits of the D50.
Of course, cost has to be considered. The FZ30 is about £80 cheaper, while still offering comparative capabilities to the D50, however, that £80 is worth the better image quality, and the extra flexibility afforded to the ability to change the lens.
Ultimately, in all honesty, I would be perfectly happy with either camera, however, I have to say, that my preference falls to the D50.