super zoomer panasonic

[dasgupta_arup]

anyone here lucky enough to have a panasonic fz18?
(with 18x optical zoom :cool2: )
or even some one who has used it after borrowing?
any idea if its available in india??
ps:-
a side question, how come we get 40x optical zoom in camcorders
costing barely 20K but not in our digicams ?????

 

[4dh1r]

I have used a Kodak Z650 (10X Optical Zoom) with a 2X Telephoto Lens making my Cam's zoom as 20X. You can also put another lens on top of it to increase the zoom further or replace the 2X Lens with 3X Lens and enjoy the 30X combined Zoom!!! :hap2:

 

[techie_007]

anyone here lucky enough to have a panasonic fz18?

(with 18x optical zoom :cool2: )

or even some one who has used it after borrowing?

any idea if its available in india??

ps:-

a side question, how come we get 40x optical zoom in camcorders

costing barely 20K but not in our digicams ?????

Not used the panasonic but have tried the Olympus UZ550. It has 18x zoom too n optical IS of course. Cam was pretty decent for the brief period i tried it but reviews on the net are not very good compared to teh canon S3 etc. Friend has it so took a look

U can prob get the panasonic in the grey market if you look around.

+ camcorders have way more zoom compared to Digicams cos of the formfactor. The lens in the Camcorder has way more depth and hence they can put in a bigger lens. Just saw another freinds brand new Sony handycam yday (just arrived fro US) 40x optical n 30Gb HDD for 500$. Its basically a handheld cylinder with most of the body the lens

Amazon.com: Sony DCR-SR42 30GB Hard Disk Drive Handycam Camcorder with 40x Optical Zoom: Electronics

drool.... :rofl: