Panasonic fz38 (1 Viewer)

[biodav32]

I would like to ask if anybody is using a panasonic fz-38 for bird watching ?
If this is the case, how does he set up the settings in most of the pictures ?? Any hint about how to take the maximum advantages to this non-professional camera ?
Thanks a lot in advance.

 

[Amarillo]

I used to use one. I didn't really play with the settings much just used aperture priority and kept it wide open (lowest f number) and also changed the setting so you get a single focus point and the smallest one possible.

 

[gergrd]

There were several threads related to the FZ38/FZ35 posted in the 2010/2009 timeframe in the Panasonic area. You can find some useful information there. I have that camera stuck away somewhere and it performed pretty well - it did not quite have the focal length for birds and a smallish viewfinder. I think you can get nice results if you get close enough. I use Aperture Priority for almost all nature shots and agree with Amarillo's comments.

 

[BirderMJ]

It's a perfectly good camera though they have improved significantly since that model. No amount of information anyone can provide here will substitute one thing that even an hour of would make a huge difference - PRACTICE.

Phase 1: Use sports mode outdoors - that will be easiest for focusing, and not worrying about settings. Practice, shoot now and ask questions later. Get Picasa or another photo management tool and note what worked and what didn't. Set stabilization to the default mode (I think auto or mode 2? Can't recall which is default). Set it to the "middle" multi-shot mode (the little button on the back which looks like 3 pages layered together).

Phase 2: Start using aperture priority - that's arguably one of the good modes to do action photography. Biggest aperture possible at the fastest possible framerate is the goal. You can set it to intelligent ISO or ISO 800 (I think there is an 800/auto mode if I'm not mistaken but can't recall). Practice on easy subjects.

Phase 3: Get a teleconverter. The prize pig for the Panasonic cameras is the Nikon TC-E17ED. The TC-E15ED is also good. You get 1.7 or 1.5 magnification to increase reach.

Oh and did I say practice? If you set the white balance it will shoot a tiny bit faster. But if you focus manually (which is feasible for longer distance), it will shoot very fast.

 

[biodav32]

Thanks for all your answers,
I want to ask you a few questions more.
Have you have ever used the digital zoom for taking pictures of birds? Did you get good results with it ?
Thanks, in advance.
I checked the teleconverter TC-E17ED but it s almost as expensive as a new camera.

You can take a look to my blog:
www.worldbirdwatching.wordpress.com

 

[BirderMJ]

Good stuff - what a great environment for photography! Serious photographers almost never use digital zoom. With the Lumix, it really just pre-crops the image rather than actually digitally zooming and interpolating/resizing image so this is a lesser evil.

I did use the digital zoom for a while as I found it convenient. But in my overall experience, I found it easier to find my subjects and take the shot using the optical zoom of the camera. Bear in mind I had a 15ED or 17ED on there 90% of the time so that was my extra zoom. So yes good results are very possible because it isn't resizing the image. Crop later in Lightroom, Picasa or whatever.

The 17 is great but they do show up for reasonable prices periodically. They were highly sought after for a while when a few people started pumping them up on forums similar to BF. But ultimately, the 15ED is pretty darn good and a bit more convenient (smaller/lighter). I have both. I definitely prize my 17 but would not hesitate to use or feel limited by the 15 at all. I suspect that the demand for the 17 will diminish as cameras like the current superzooms pack enough punch without needing extra reach. But there are probably already guys figuring out how to add the 15 and 17 to those as well!

 

[Amarillo]

As the previous poster says, digital zoom is just cropping so theres not much point.

I used to use an Olympus TCON-17 (x1.7) converter on my FZ38 which worked really well. I don't really need it any more so if you're interested make me an offer...

 

[biodav32]

Amarillo ... How much would you like to sell it ?

 

[Jim M.]

Have you have ever used the digital zoom for taking pictures of birds? Did you get good results with it ?

There are multiple types of zoom settings on the FZ38 you need to distinguish. There is a digital zoom that degrades image quality and that you should avoid. There is also a setting that may be referred to as something like "extended optical zoom" or "teleconverter" in your manual that requires using the small picture size but that does NOT degrade image quality. I highly recommend this--not sure how it works on the FZ-38 but on other panasonics it will give you up to 2X magnification increase. Have used this for years on multiple panasonic cameras with excellent results, and it is definitely not the same as cropping and enlarging. I believe it may be equivalent to increasing what is known as the "crop factor" of the camera.

Would also recommend the Olympus TC others have mentioned.

Jim

 

[Amarillo]

Amarillo ... How much would you like to sell it ?

say £30 plus postage?