Printing photos from Panasonic DMC-ZS40K

<p>I'm considering whether to buy the DMC-ZS40K. One of the most critical factors for me is that I can get good, crisp, clean prints from photos, able to be enlarged to 8x10 or even larger. I'd like to hear from anyone who's using this camera; please tell me what kind of quality prints you're getting in various modes: iA, manual, 4:3 Fine, RAW Fine, etc. And what's the quality of prints from the 30x zoom? Thanks.</p>

<p>Marcia,<br>

Can't speak to that specific camera, but I have a Lumix FZ200, which has the same size sensor, and have printed up to 13x19 (the largest my printer will do) on a Canon Pixma Pro-100 printer with excellent results. I've printed shots at both full zoom of 24x (600mm) equivalent and full wide-angle. I don't think you'd have any issues with 8x10 shots.</p>

<p>Caveat, I only print for my own enjoyment at this point.</p>

<p>Nice camer, by the way.</p>

<p>Thanks, Bill. I was considering the DMC-FZ200, also. But the specs I saw indicated it does not have the optical image stabilizer and axis correction features. Is that accurate?</p>

<p>Marcia,</p>

<p>It does have image stabilization, though I don't know if 'optical image stabilization' is different. Not sure about axis correction. I'm curious though so I'll check it out. The only advantage I see over yours is the 2.8 constant aperture throughout, but some may not care about that. It was the big selling point for me. Looks to be quite a bit bigger than yours though, so if you wanted something to throw in the purse/pocket, you made the correct choice.</p>

<p>Marcia,</p>

<p>Looks like the axis correction is newer technology not included in the FZ200 (yet). Pretty soon, the blurry shot will be a thing of the past. What will we do with all these 'keepers?'</p>

<p>I don't have experience with this specific camera, but like most similar cameras, it has a tiny "1/2.3-inch" sensor and a long, slow zoom lens (maximum aperture of f/6.4 at the equivalent of 720mm). I strongly suspect that at the wide end of the zoom range, this Panasonic can produce very nice 8x10-inch prints. However, also I strongly suspect that at the long end, the pictures will not be crisp and clean. IMO diffraction is almost unavoidable: with the small maximum aperture (f/6.4) on that small sensor, at least some blurriness is almost guarantied--it's like using f/34 on a 35mm film camera. (Also, almost all zooms are less sharp at the long end of their zoom ranges; at 720mm even with image stabilization, camera shake is often an issue; very distant subjects can have issues with atmospheric haze; etc.)</p>

<p>Would you be happy with the results? Maybe try searching Flickr for pictures with this model, and find ones take at a variety of focal lengths and light levels, and see what you think.</p>

 

<p>Having used FZ cameras since the FZ20 arrived in my market my feeling is that they are quite able to print 10x8 prints when I did my job of taking the photograph properly ... that I have changed to MFT, also Pany, is largely to make life easier for myself. Any stabilisation only works if one takes the photo properly. There are no silver bullets.<br>

Diffraction is a vastely over rated problem and usually other factors come into play before it can be blamed for the result.</p>

<p>Review sites will often provide full size images from their reviews. Dpreview.com in particular is great about this. It would be easy to print one or two of these (perhaps one from low ISO and one from high ISO) at the sizes you want in order to get a feel for the results.</p>

<p>Diffraction will visibly affect an 8x10-inch print made from a 1/2.3-inch sensor and a lens at f/6.4. The question is whether the OP would find the effect enough that the prints are not "crisp" and "clean". That's a matter of personal standards. In my personal experience, there's very little chance that the longer end of a slow 30x zoom lens is going to produce <em>what I'd consider</em> truly crisp and clear 8x10-inch prints. But again, everyone's standards are different--I like to look at sample pictures.</p>

<p>Basically, the Panasonic looks like a pretty nice little camera. But any such camera is a convenience, a major compromise on size (and price) to get what it delivers. The longer the zoom range and the smaller the maximum aperture, the less likely the long end of the zoom range will really deliver.</p>

 

<p>I have the dmc fz20 (5 mp) and have printed 8x10 with ease. The format is 4/3 so cropping is necessary to get the 8x10 ratio. Panasonic has trouble with noise above iso 400. My fz20 has a Leica branded lens with a constant F2.8 so images at full zoom were no problem.</p>

<p>Like some of the others that actually have the camera have said, 8x10 will be easy, although I don't know how big you can safely go. I don't really see it doing poster sized shots unless you're willing to lose some crispness. I've done 8x10 of my LF1 (better sensor, lower megapix) and the detail of the camera was still more than the professional printers could resolve. A3 is probably the biggest I'd feel you can do without much issue.<br>

But how the print will be seen makes a difference too, if it's seen from across the room larger size would still be ok. The picture you hang above a couch isn't going to have casual viewers using a loupe to inspect the quality, people won't be close enough to see the lack of clarity. If you're putting it in the hallway stick to A4 size, above the couch or mantel A3 or A2 isn't too bad.</p>