Yeah, me again :D Why do I get the feeling this is going to be a similar situation as to when I was looking at getting an impreza, lots of threads, lots of questions, some of them really stupid :D

So, I've got the FZ8 and it's rather nice. I was at the Toronto Airshow yesterday and took a fair few pictures, but they aren't all that great. I may post some up later for you lot to laugh at, or, hopefully, give advice as to where I went wrong and what I could/should do to correct things.

Part of the problem could have been due to me taking the pictures from our boat, rather than on shore, so the movement there and of course obstruction from my mast and the masts of other boats won't have helped, along with me being a newbie to photography (think neanderthal holding a camera and going "Ug take picture of fast moving airycraft!")

I think the other part of the problem could well be due to the lens, or more specifically lack of more telephoto abilty. I had the zoom at x12 and things still did not seem close enough. I know on my other thread someone mentioned getting my hands on the biggest telephoto lense I could, which is the real reason for this thread.

I have seen Panasonic has a conversion lens adaptor (DMW-LA2) and alo a 1.7x telephoto lens (DMW-LT55), what I am wondering is if any other lenses can be used with the FZ8? Will the DMW-LA2 allow other, non-panasonic lenses to be used with the FZ8? If not, is there another lense adaptor/convertor that could be used?

Would I need another telephoto lense apart from the DMW-LT55?

Thanks for any advice

I am glad that you have asked this question Markus. As I have an FZ7 and was wondering the same question.
Although it is a nice piece of kit for a beginner, I am curious whether I can expand on my current camera. Or do I go and upgrade?
Thinking Canon :norty:

It was partly your comments about your FZ7 and the rather excellent pictures you posted on someone's (Fantom?) thread about a new cam that made me look at the FZ8.

I would have thought that the weight of an additional lense would be the main factor, as the depth of the threading where the lense would attach isn't that large on our cameras, and I'd be worried about undue stress on the camera.

Looking at the DMW-LA2 it seems to have marked on it 52.8mm - 55mm, which is the diameter of something. I'm going to presume this means it'll convert from 52.8mm, which is the size of the lens/opening on the camera, to 55mm, which would be the size of the lense you can attach at the other end. Now, if other lenses are available with a dia of 55mm and obviously the correct thread pitch, then I'd guess you could then add a different make of lense to the camera.

I'd have thought this type of question has been asked before my many others, for other types of cameras, so there must be a definitive answer somewhere out there, and hopefully it's one that says: "Get the DMW-LA2 and then you can chuck on any lens you want, within reason"

Not sure on the quality of these kind of things

3X PRO DG PRECISION TELE LENS FOR PANASONIC DMC-FZ7 FZ8 on eBay, For Digital SLR, Camera Lenses, Photography (item 330160141991 end time 03-Sep-07 21:29:54 BST) (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/3X-PRO-DG-PRECISION-TELE-LENS-FOR-PANASONIC-DMC-FZ7-FZ8_W0QQitemZ330160141991QQihZ014QQcategoryZ30070Q QssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)

It is about to end too that auction, but no doubt they have plenty more in stock :D

Did a quick search, came up with this (http://www.stevesforums.com/forums/view_topic.php?id=50603&forum_id=50) thread, which has links to here (http://www.raynox.co.jp/english/egindex.htm) and here (http://www.2filter.com/prices/products/adapterrings.html#52mm_Rings_to_100mm_Rings_).

The first link is very interesting as it has a panny section and the FZ7 is listed (but not FZ8, however I *think* it should work as I'd guess the DMW-LA2 would fit both cameras) and it does show some lenses there. The other site is also interesting, and the stepping ring is essentially what we'd be looking at.

Steve,
Thanks for the link. Looking at the shop, it seems that the lens would work on the FZ7 and FZ8, so I'd say that the FZ7 section on the raynox site I linked to should work with the FZ8 as well, which is excellent to know :)

I've looked at this (http://www.raynox.co.jp/english/dcr/dcr2020pro/index.htm), page and the Holders and Adapters page lists the following for the FZ7 & FZ8:

DMC-FZ7, DMC-FZ8 RA6252 + RT52528

The RT52528 will convert from 52.8mm (threads on cam) to 52mm (threads on lens), then the RA6252 (comes with the lens) will step things up from 52mm to the 62mm of the actual lens.

So it does look as though it is possible to do what we want, and it might not cost that much to get an adaptor lens :)

Had a search ong dpreview and found this (http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1033&message=23364271). Seems the Rayox lenses will clip onto the existing extension tube we have with our cams. I'd like to know what the "clip" is like, as in, how deep it is, as I'd hope it's as strong as a thread type attachement. Regardless, yet more info suggesting that all we really need is an adaptor ring and/or tube to use other lenses.

As long as none of the kit gets too expensive for the extra Lenses, otherwise it may have been better to get a 2nd hand SLR, some bargains out there at the moment especially with the new Canon models that have just come out

Steve,
You are completely correct, if it's going to cost something silly like $100 for an adaptor tube/ring then it's not worth it.

I take it you mean CDN $ :)

I know the link I sent you was around 45 quid which I guess *is* around $100 CDN

For that kind of money it may not be too bad, but if you are going to spend more and more, then maybe look at SLR's

Lenses for those can be very expensive, but OTOH there are some fantastic Lenses out there for not that much money

A little update. I posted this (http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1033&message=24670040) on dpreview and have had some good replies. One of the chaps states that he uses the hood adaptor with a 52-55 step ring on the end, and attaches 55mm lenses to the end of it (Olympus TCON-17)

So it seems like we can use other lenses with our FZ7/FX8's, lovely. I did email the site I linked to that dealt in step rings to ask if they had one for our cams, hopefully should hear back soon and will update the thread when I do.

Hi Markus,

I'm about to order the FZ8 for my birthday and just wondered where you got yours from and how much? The best I've found so far is on purelygadgets and its £189 I think.

Thanks
Steve

Make that £175 with 18 months warrenty ->

PurelyGadgets.co.uk - Panasonic Digital Cameras - Panasonic DMC FZ8 (Silver) (http://www.purelygadgets.co.uk/prodinfo.php?prodid=6052&start=0&thislist=5~27~85)

Make it 149.00

NEW!~ PANASONIC DMC-FZ8(K) 7.2MP DIGITAL CAMERA 48XZOOM on eBay, Digital Cameras, Photography (item 180154503818 end time 04-Sep-07 20:45:00 BST) (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-PANASONIC-DMC-FZ8-K-7-2MP-DIGITAL-CAMERA-48XZOOM_W0QQitemZ180154503818QQihZ008QQcategoryZ31 388QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)

Hi Steve (Fantom - so as not to confuse Sonic :p :D)
I purchased mine at the FutureShop at Fairview Mall in Saint Catherines... Ontario, Canada. So that, unfortunately, won't be much use to you unless you happen to be over here before your birthday.

Even if you are, the price of the unit was $449 ex tax, which is about £211. Including tax (14%) it's $511.86, which is roughly £241, way above what you have seen it for. Online prices over here seem to be about the same, though I didn't check eBay.

I did get a bit of a deal though, as it was the display model, but as it shipped without the battery charged it had never been turned on, plus it didn't have the box, so I got a 20% discount. With a twin-pack of Kingston 2GB cards and 4-year warranty it came to $550 including tax, which is around £259.

The interesting part for me was that they said they weren't getting any more stock in, a possible indication of a model upgrade or replacement? I've seen talk on dpreview of the FZ18 (think that was the model) coming out soon, so perhaps that's a replacment/upgrade for the FZ8? Seems a bit too soon for a replacement though.

Hi Markus, sorry I wasn't aware you were in Canada!
The ebay seller has some serious feedback, but I'm not sure I'd buy from them as coming purelygadgets I would get an 18 month warranty.

One more thread hi-jack if I may: What is the average file size of the pictures? What size memory card do you suggest?

Thanks
Steve

I just had to do a double take on their feedback

over a quarter of a million !!!!!! that is some serious selling :D

Hijack away :)

I've found the average size of a RAW file is about 11.2MB and for full quality JPEG it seems to be anywhere from 1.6MB - 3.6MB. Really depends on what's being shot, as in complexity of the image.

As for cards, I got a twin-pack of 2 x 2GB SD Kingston cards, and in full quality mode that equates to roughly 500 pictures. In RAW it's about 112 pictures.

:)

I always shoot in RAW now, as it makes it easier I have found in the long term, I know the pictures take up more space, but memory cards are so cheap these days it would be rude not too

Downside is my hard drive keeps filling up :D

My only concern with RAW was that when in Scene mode, and set to Panning/sport option I could not use the burst feature. Guess I just need to get better at panning :D

Oh, one other tip about the FZ8, which has been mentioned in most places I've read about it, go into the settings and change the Noise reduction to low.

RAW mode means nothing to me! I just wanna take pictures lol
I will learn all that once I'd had it for a while.

Cheers for the help
Steve

I just had to do a double take on their feedback

over a quarter of a million !!!!!! that is some serious selling :D

Some cheap stuff on there as well
NEW~NIKON 55-200mm~VR~AFS DX ZOOM NIKKOR LENS 55-200 mm on eBay, For Digital SLR, Camera Lenses, Photography (item 180156262767 end time 05-Sep-07 19:07:17 BST) (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-NIKON-55-200mm-VR-AFS-DX-ZOOM-NIKKOR-LENS-55-200-mm_W0QQitemZ180156262767QQihZ008QQcategoryZ30070QQ tcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem)

Nornmally retails at £230 +, not that I want this particular lens but how do they do it that cheap and they state UK stock, shame they dont sell any other Nikon lenses :(

Afternoon chaps,
Well, I've taken the first step and purchased a Pemaraal FZ755 from here (http://www.pemaraal.com/index.php?page=fz7ac) for US$51 including expedited shipping, so that's roughly £26, which doesn't seem too bad. Ok, I *know* I should not be converting things to pounds as I'm in Canada, but ppffffttt :D

So, this should give me a 55mm thread to fit *something* into, the question now is what? Some have suggested the Olympus TCON-17, which sounds interesting. Anyone have any suggestions for another 55mm telephoto lens that would fit?

Back again :D I really should restrain myself from buying things :D To go with the aforementioned FZ755 I've ordered an Oly TCON-17. All I have to do now is to wait for it to turn up. I was tempted by the Raynox DCR-2020PRO a 2.2x telephoto lens, which is aprox US$189, not bad value really.

Ok, back onto additional lenses. What do people recommend for a close-up and wide angle lens in 55mm (well, could be 52mm or larger than 55mm as I can get a step up ring if needed). One again the Panasonic ones look good, but are a mite expensive, so any alternatives welcome.

Another bump. The TCON-17 turned up this morning. It's a bit bigger than I thought it would be :D Fits onto the FZ755 quite happily. Does add a bit of weight to the camera, but it's not too bad.

The improvement does seem worthwhile in the very quick test I've just performed. Will probably get more shots at the weekend to see how it really stacks up.