Kalinda

We purchased a Singtel sim and it worked well the entire time we were there. 

We stayed at the Embassy Suites prior to our cruise a few years back. Loved the hotel. It was very close to a supermarket so we could get our last minute bits and pieces. Had a great breakfast there as well.

From our room we could see our ship. Please forgive the terrible photo. I'm not a photographer. Just thought Id share so you could see.

I live in Tasmania. It's a very short easy walk. I'd rather walk than bus it, as there are plenty of lovely buildings etc to see on the way. Plus you can stop and look around the waterfront.

If you haven't already booked we are another vote for Jim Archer. We have toured with him twice, and you really couldn't ask for a nicer guy to spend the day with. Very professional, loves his country (this shows), and seemed very well respected by the locals everywhere we went :)

Well I can honestly say I'm very pleased to hear you say that, lol. I'm still learning and I thought there was no way I'd be able to get shots like that. I'll be sure to make full use of IA and that burst button and maybe I'll be lucky enough to get a few goods shots as well. Thanks for the reply :)

I was still in the iA mode with burst turned on. ;) It eats up a lot of your memory card, but it's easy to pick the really good ones and then delete the rest!

How did you get that shot of the fireworks? We are heading to Disney world soon from Australia and I would love to be able to get shots like that of the fireworks.

Sorry this has taken so very long for me to get back on here. Work has been crazy!

 

I love my camera! I've had so much fun with it - and got some great pics - both on the cruise and after I got back.

 

The cruise album is at http://s1278.photobucket.com/user/happytexan/slideshow/Alaskan%20Cruise%202014 but here are a few of my favorites:

 

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I have been using IA but the zoom is available on the scene modes as well although I haven't used them. If you want to see some of the pictures e-mail me at alfred.jane@shaw.ca. I also have some sunset ones & night ones. Alfred

Hi Alfred,

Thank you for your lovely offer. I have just sent you an email.

Karen :)

Kalinda: I have the FZ70 & I am impressed with it. I had the older 18x Panasonic. I looked at both but went with the longer zoom. I don't know if you know where the Embassy Suites on 17th st is in Ft Lauderdale or not. We were there in January before a cruise & the Liberty of the Seas was leaving port & I zoomed out to the ship & got pictures of people on the ship & then zoomed to the rear of the ship & was able to pull in the sign for the Flow rider & it is very clear. I am looking forward to taking it on our Alaskan cruise in May. Alfred

Hi Alfred,

I am from Australia, so don't know exactly where the Embassy Suites are, but will soon as we are staying there in September prior to boarding Allure of the Seas for our back to back cruises :)

Trying to decide now what camera to get so that I can get to practice with it well before we go. You sound happy with your choice of the FZ70. Do you change settings to get good pics or just go with Auto modes?

Karen

Now at the age of 71 have changed from DLSR to fix lens camera's.

Also most all pictures I take are aperture priority or auto.

 

Use the following cameras. Except for the last one, all are called bridge cameras, about the size of a DLSR but fixed lens. Just some ideas to look at. It's like shopping for a car, alot of options. lol

 

Sony RX10 24-200mm 2.8 use for low light general carry around.

 

Panasonic fZ200 24-600mm 2.8 outdoor and when I need the zoom range.

 

Canon SX50 24-1200 long range use for outdoor and widlife, love the range.

 

Sony HX50V 24-720mm Taken great pictues use for my pocket camera.

 

Tom :cool:

Hi Tom,

Thanks for that. I guess there may be hope for me yet to get a good picture using some of the Auto modes. Think I still have a lot of reading to do before I decide.

Think the Sony Nex are the best, but you need to buy a lens or two.

 

I have had great luck with the Panasonic FZ200, check it out here on cruise critic photo & camera discussions.

I have the Sony RX10, which is my camera for indoor pics on a cruise.

You can also check review and get some good camera info at

DPREVIEW.Com

 

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1694983

 

 

Tom :cool:

Wow Tom, you have some amazing pictures that you have taken with the FZ200. I'm guessing though that these shots have not been taken using iA or any of the normal Scene modes. I really don't know how to do very much with all the other buttons on the cameras, so I do tend to rely on iA quite a bit.

I noticed in the other thread that you also have the compact ZS30 which is the model up from the camera that I have. I guess the FZ200 is a huge step up?? Still drawn towards the large zoom of the FZ70, but after seeing your pics with the FZ200 now I'm not sure :)

The FZ200 has a 2.8 lens constant throughout its zoom range but the FZ70 has a bigger zoom - both wide angle and at the top but the zoom does not have a consistent lens opening. Both would take great shots in either iA and Scene mode.

 

I would opt for the FZ200 for its lens.

 

I have to confess that while I have both a FZ200 and a LX7 and been a Panasonic user for years, I usually lug my Sony NEX on cruises!

Thanks for the reply. Does the 2.8 lens make alot of difference? I guess I'm drawn by the huge zoom on the FZ70

I currently have a Panasonic TZ30 (think this may be called the DMC-ZS20 in some places). I have been quite happy with the pictures that I have taken on holiday with it, but inside in low light, and also for night shots I feel it could be a little better. Probably a bit of user error on my part as well as I tend to use it in iA or Scene mode most of the time as I'm not sure of how to use all the stuff on it.

I was thinking maybe of upgrading to maybe either the Panasonic FZ70 or FZ200? I like the idea of the large zoom on the FZ70. Would these be too much of a learning curve? Do they take a better picture than my current TZ30 (DMC-ZS20) if I was to leave them in iA or Scene mode?

Any help or advice would be appreciated. I like taking lots of pictures of Scenery when we go on holidays and also take quite a few indoor shots of family/friends as well.

We did this cruise last year and took the ferry to Russell. We took the shuttle to save time, although we did see quite a few people walking. It is a fairly flat walk. The ferry ride to Russell is quite quick. Bay of Islands is a lovely spot to stop. We walked up to the top of the look out when we got to Russell. A little bit steep in parts but very a nice view from the top, and down hill all the way back down, lol.