Which bridge to buy?
 

I can't decide between Fujifilm HS10 and Lumix FZ100.

Specification wise, both are OK for me.

Mainly it comes down to image quality. I have looked at some reviews and the Fuji lens seems a bit softer than the Lumix. However I had an earlier Fuji bridge and it had excellent image quality. I guess my expectations of the Lumix are swayed a bit by the prestigious name on the lens.

In the end the Fuji is cheaper and has a wider zoom (at both ends) so unless the Lumix has better lens performance I should go for the Fuji .... any advice?

Thanks

I've used both and, personally, I'd have the Fuji.
One of the best things about it is the manual zooming and focusing rings (rather than using rocker switches or buttons).

Oh, and ignore the "Leica" name on the lens. It's not made by Leica. Or in Germany. Or by anyone who has ever worked for Leica. It's just the Panasonic own the name. They're good lenses (for compact cameras that is) but it's not like buying a Leica - not by a million miles...

I have to agree that the manual zoom ring is a huge plus point for the Fuji. But it really depends on how important is that feature to you? The[URL="http://pixelmantis.com/panasonic_lumix_dmc-fz100"] FZ100[/URL] hands down has a whole bunch more features in terms of images recording, not to mentioned video features which beat the Fuji hands down.

It's a tough call, because I'd say the FZ100 produces slightly better image quality, but the HS10 does have the manual zoom ring. It's swings and roundabouts, so my advice would be to try them both and see which one you prefer to use. It might be the only way to properly seperate them.

[QUOTE=mikeavison;21369]I can't decide between Fujifilm HS10 and Lumix FZ100.

Specification wise, both are OK for me.

.................. any advice?

Thanks[/QUOTE]
Unfortunately this appears to be Mikeavisions one and only post so perhaps we'll never know if he took any of the advice given.
Reading this thread reminded me that last week whilst browsing thro' the back pages of one of the approx 28 camera mags on the shelves at Smiffy's I happened across the comparison pages for cameras including Bridge, or Superzooms I think they called them. Now I have a Lumix FZ28 and I'm very pleased with it but looked to see what the latest updated model had to offer. I saw that there are at least two newer models , an FZ38 and an FZ45, and that the '45 has a couple more Megapixels and a slightly longer telephoto facility and that the wide angle end of its lens range is a couple more mm's. What staggered me though was the minimum distance you can focus down to. According to the data published this had gone from 1cm (which I can do with my '28 and was the same on the '38) up to 30 cm on the '45. I appreciate that it is possible there might have been a typo but it brought home to me how important the checking of all aspects of the camera's specification is.
Size might matter but if the ability to get in close to your subject has vanished then a couple of extra Mp's and a greater focal length may be insignificant. I guess the more experienced photographers out there may think this obvious, but to people like myself and Mikeavision knowing what you want to do with the camera may narrow the choice of model down and make the purchase of a slightly older model (or a different make) a better option.
Dagwood

Fijifilm HS10
 

If you are looking to decide between above both camera option, than i would suggest this Fujifilm FinePix HS10. The Fujifilm FinePix HS10 is a solidly built camera with great quality, very good image quality. This camera has a powerful 30x optical zoom and an ultra-fast CMOS sensor.Fujifilm FinePix HS10 shooting: 10 frames / sec. full resolution in a series of up to 7 frames / Super High Speed Video with up to 1000 frames / sec.And also Save images in JPEG and RAW file.

[B]Post edited by chris-p; spam link removed[/B]

Isn't the HS20 due out sometime very soon?

The HS20 is due out on the 16th of March and it's available to pre-order now.

The one thing I like about the S100, S200, HS10, HS20 line of cameras is the zoom ring. Just about every other compact and bridge camera I can think of uses either push buttons, a slide switch or a rocker switch to electronically zoom the lens but the Fujis use a more traditional turning ring on the lens barrel. Makes a real difference to the ergonomics.

I feel if you can spend enough money for a bridge than why dont you consider a dslr camera, you will get a better image quality and a better performance.