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Resolved Question

similar to panasonic dmc-fz30?

Jan 20, 2012 5:04AM PST

I had this camera and loved it. Sadly, it's gone now and it looks like i can't buy a new one.

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Lorelei03 has chosen the best answer to their question. View answer

Best Answer

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Panasonic FZ30
Jan 20, 2012 6:32AM PST

I am sure you have heard the expression, "they don't make them like that anymore"

If you want picture quality even close to the FZ30 you are going to have to look for a DSLR camera.

Since they stopped building that camera, they have been doing cost reductions, and todays Point and shoot camera will have lots more features but will not have the low noise and excellent picture quality of the FZ30.

..

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Too bad - thanks
Jan 20, 2012 7:11AM PST

Thanks very much for responding. Well, I may just take a chance and buy one on ebay (from a well reviewed seller who accepts returns, of course!).

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To be fair
Jan 20, 2012 7:36AM PST

When new, the Point and Shoot FZ30 was quite expensive.
It cost about the same as todays entry level DSLR cameras.
The DSLR cameras can provide the low noise and excellent quality of the FZ30. (and then some).

That is why the camera makers decided to stop building cameras like the FZ30.
Their price was overlapping the DSLR price.
That is when the cost reduction engineering raised its head.
The biggest impact was the reductions to the size of the Sensor assembly.
That let them use smaller diameter lenses.
Then due to pressure from the Marketing Departments, they kept increasing the quantity of pixels.
They now know that 16 megapixels is above the limit that should be used on the smaller sensor assembly, it causes too much noise.
I believe 10 megapixels should be the limit for that small sensor.

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txs again - similar quality in specific entry level dslr?
Jan 20, 2012 7:50AM PST

Ah, okay. Well I imagine it is better to buy a new dslr for support, integration, etc. I don't want to impose on you more, but....what would your top picks in this category be? I am thinking perhaps one of the many canon rebels.

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DSLR
Jan 20, 2012 10:37AM PST