Panasonic Lumix FZ38

[Susie]

I want to buy a new camera and obviously want to pick it up at the best possible price. Can anyone recommend a good, reliable, site, please?

Thanks.

[Rogerdodge]

Susie
This is quite a coincidence.
Just yesterday I was in a Jessops (spit - pahhh) showing an FZ38 to my good lady.
The reason is that, in the last few years we have had some fantastic trips to Tanzania, Kenya, Mexico, India and have just planned a trip to Spitzbergen inside the Arctic Circle to photograph Polar Bear, Walrus and loads of fabulous birds.
However, after all thses trips we have just photos of the animals and birds - and no context shots - landscapes, people etc.
It all came to a head when I returned from Switzerland and had no landscapes to show her - she was really quite cross!.
So, we are looking for a good quality camera for her to use when we are away together, and something light enough to slip into my camera bag to get those context shots when I have the specialist lenses (macro, super telephoto etc.) on my DSLR.
Seeing the amazing pictures that Neil (Sussex Kipper) and Paul Kipling get with their Lumix, we have settled on the FZ38.
Jessops (ughhhh) want £250 as a special on-line price.
We are going through e-bay and a dealer I have used with great success before - DigitalRev.
They do all sorts of deals including spare batteries, memory cards etc, all for about £20 less than Jessops want for the basic package.
If you aren't happy with buying via e-bay (and I do understand), try http://www.warehouseexpress.co.uk for £240.
HTH

[Jack Harrison]

Ah Roger. Crap photographers also use the FZ38.

Jack

[Rogerdodge]

You use one as well?

[Susie]

Jack has taken some superb and really beautiful photographs using his FZ38!

Thanks for the info, Roger, I shall definitely follow up your link. I don't have a problem using Ebay as long as it is a dealer who is recommended. I've used Warehouse express before and found them to be very good too.

[Michaeljf]

I'm constantly searching the web for best prices on camera equipment and Warehouse express usually has very good price deals!!

(no, I am definitely not sponsored by Warehouse express)

I also will look at Park Cameras http://www.parkcameras.com and surprisingly, Amazon often do have good deals.

Always worth doing a quick 'UK' search on google for camera prices...just type in the name of the item you want and put speech marks around it i.e. "Panasonic Lumix FZ38" etc.

[Gruditch]

Amazon £212.00

Regards Gruditch

[Jack Harrison]

Cripes Gary, you’ve actually looked up the price of a Box Brownie I had always thought you didn’t want anything to do with them

Just joking of course. FZ38s are damn good cameras.
(If anyone wants to look up reviews, for some inexplicable reason in the USA the camera is known as FZ35)

Jack

[Gruditch]

I can get away with this one Jack, If you think about it, its an DSLR without a viewfinder.

BTW I've blown some images from a FZ38 up to A3, and they were flawless, excellent IQ.


Regards Gruditch

[Jack Harrison]

But it does have a viewfinder. There is the choice of looking at a screen or looking through a viewfinder.

Jack

[Gruditch]

I was putting it in the same category as that new Sony, which is a mini, I mean real mini, camera body, that takes interchangeable lenses. Its got the sensor from their DSLRs inside too, amazing little thing. It does feel pretty unbalanced when you stick any larger lens on it though.

I have had a go with the FZ38, but I was struggling with the screen, I didn't notice the viewfinder, doh

Regards Gruditch, I nearly put Gary then.

[Michaeljf]

You guys, you think you're so clever, carrying around a really small camera that does everything and has really good results...


...actually, that is pretty clever. Wish I'd thought of it before I spent all my money on expensive SLR's and lenses. And a backpack that's the weight of a small elephant. Ho hum

[NickB]

Yep - I seem to remember I had an FZ50 a while ago - great camera, I seem to remember saying....
My sister is now using it.....
And now, I too have a ruck-sack of full of glass to lump everywhere I go with a heavy monopod to hold my beast of a Nikon and lens stable on the top....life used to be simple...
N

[Jack Harrison]

I had posted:

Ah Roger. Crap photographers also use the FZ38. To which he replied: “You use one as well?”

I cannot quite see the connection there. If you look at my pictures and website Roger, you will see that I have never taken photos of that unappealing spectacle of Purple Emperors feasting on dog turds. But I have seen FZ38 users doing just that.

There’s some good software that you might be interested in Roger. Noseclean.com™ is available as a plug-in for most word processors and is:
“Indispensible for the person who opens his mouth and puts his foot in it”.

Noseclean.com™ avoids misrepresentations of the facts, a trait that you have so amply demonstrated Roger.

I am also sending advice about Noseclean.com™ to Michael Gove.

Jack

[NickB]

Come on boys - toys back in pram
Leave it, Jack! Back-off Roger!
(Else Gary will have to start selling tickets again.... )

(And knowing you both, I also know that you would both get on really well )

We are all too capable of producing crap pictures, whatever the camera.....

[Rogerdodge]

(And knowing you both, I also know that you would both get on really well )

Nick
We do!

[NickB]

taken in again

[Jack Harrison]

Bit slow there Nick:

taken in again

Jack

[NickB]

I'm tired; it's been a long week; working too hard; etc etc

[Susie]

Jack doesn't produce crap pictures, he can't stoop so low!