News - Panasonic launches a new 60x optical superzoom camera

[HEXUS]

New Lumix DMC-FZ70 has the "largest zoom lens available in a consumer compact".

Read more.

[KrisWragg]

You'd definitely need a tripod to make use of that zoom, no way you would get stable pictures at 60x zoom otherwise no matter how good image-stabilization it may have.

But still thats pretty awesome

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

The 20MM wide end is more interesting.

Maybe some of the prosumer compacts can have a 20-105MM instead of the less useful 28MM-105MM ranges most seem to have ATM.

[cheesemp]

You'd definitely need a tripod to make use of that zoom, no way you would get stable pictures at 60x zoom otherwise no matter how good image-stabilization it may have.

But still thats pretty awesome

I've got an old FZ18 which is a similar 18x zoom camera. The image stability is exceptional - I've never seeb saw blur no matter how quick the shot was - I use to take a lot of car racing photos and never missed a single shot due to blurring no matter how quickly I took them - even single handed snap shots! I'm sure at 60x its not going to perfect but I'd still love to see it in action as I bet its pretty good. Would love an upgrade....

[Saracen]

That 1200mm (approx) should be interesting if combined with their optional DMW-LA8 teleconverter, which at 1.7x gives 2000mm +.

If it's even half decent, that's a heck of a zoom.

And, according to reports, the IS is progressive (more at longer ranges) and twice as effective at 1200 as the FZ50 was at much shorter focal lengths.

Ultimately though, the proof is in the pudding. I want too see a proper, detailed a competent test done to look at image quality, noise levels, aberration, etc, before deciding if it is half-decent or not.

[zap117]

I'm guessing they had to cut a lot of corners to make it that cheap.

And, kind of off topic, but 60x optical zoom is not necessarily equivalent to a 20-1200mm lens (this statement should be reversed). It could have been 10-600mm for all we know, or any other range with a multiple of 60. I wish they would just stop the use of "somenumber"x since it holds no value other than being a marketing strategy.

[Whiternoise]

Look at the lens, the focal length is 3.58-215mm. The sensor is a 1/2.3" with a 5.62 crop factor. Really, this thing is a piddly job and totally inappropriate for that lens.

http://common.ziffdavisinternet.com/...=328853,00.jpg

This also explains the f/6 rating at the long end, the lens is only around 35mm wide.

[kalniel]

Look at the lens, the focal length is 3.58-215mm. The sensor is a 1/2.3" with a 5.62 crop factor. Really, this thing is a piddly job and totally inappropriate for that lens.

http://common.ziffdavisinternet.com/...=328853,00.jpg

This also explains the f/6 rating at the long end, the lens is only around 35mm wide.

f/5.9 at an equivalent of 1200mm is still pretty amazing really.

And yes, of course, there are going to be many many compromises , but it's all about choice. Stick this on a mini tripod and it'll be better than cropping a rival cheap compact camera.

[Whiternoise]

f/5.9 at an equivalent of 1200mm is still pretty amazing really.

And yes, of course, there are going to be many many compromises , but it's all about choice. Stick this on a mini tripod and it'll be better than cropping a rival cheap compact camera.

It is, but all you have to do is plonk a 2-300mm lens on a small sensor and your aperture vs equiv focal length shoots through the roof. The zoom range is what impresses me, 3mm to 200mm should involve a bit of clever optics.

[shamus21]

I was only just thinking that Panasonic must have had a new superzoom in the pipe and here it is. 60x biggest yet, it won`t long before they hit 100x the way things are going.