My Panasonic compact TZ2 is broken, it was an untimely event too. Had all the kids and grandkids over for Xmas and powered it up to take some photos....no go! Everything keeps coming out bright pink and badly distorted.
Anyway, been hunting around the net for the past week trying to select a replacement and am totally confused. None of the review sites have a good word to say about any of them, regardless of price!! Plus many reviews are so technically orientated, I wouldn't have a clue what they are on about. Sheesh guys, the average amateur shutter bug just wants to know if a camera will take decent pics or not!!
To confuse the issue even more I can't make up my mind between a compact with decent zoom or one of the super zooms. I don't need the latter but they seem to be the only ones these days which come with a proper viewfinder. I find it very difficult to see the display on the LCD screens, even the big ones, and especially outdoors in the bright Aussie sunshine.
These are the models I have been looking at and am torn between, price is not a huge consideration. I just want something easy to use with wide angle lens and decent zoom (min 10x) that will take nice clear pics in daylight [i:2krhnnfh]and[/i:2krhnnfh] low light:
Canon:- PowerShot SX120 IS and SX130 IS. PowerShot SX20 IS and SX30 IS.
Panasonic:- Lumix DMC-TZ8/ZS5. Lumix DMC-FZ38/FZ35. Lumix DMC-FZ40.
I have been happy with my Panasonic TZ2 but not too happy that is is broken after just 3 years. I've also been very happy with the couple of Canons I have owned previously (and neither of them broke either).
Any advice would be most welcome,
TIA.....Jim
A few years ago we bought a Canon Powershot SD1100 ([url=http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/support/consumer/digital_cameras/powershot_sd_series/powershot_sd1100_is:1ul313dy]Linky[/url:1ul313dy]) We were upgrading from a Fujifilm something or other that took proprietary XD cards.
Anyway - we picked the powershot for a few reasons:
[list:1ul313dy]
Speed - of course anything was faster than the Fujifilm camera
Features - it had everything we needed - 5+MP, limited video support, sd card support (a standard! ack!)
Ashton Kutcher approved.
Price
[/list:u:1ul313dy]
We've liked it. It doesn't have much optical zoom (3x I think), but for our purposes it suited us fine.
I asked a photographer friend of mine, and he recommends Nikon or Canon. ~shrug~
--Zig
Thanks Zig. I've always liked the Canon cameras myself but their newer models do not get very good reviews.
Your mate's advice is duly noted.
Appreciate your input,
Cheers....Jim
Better late than never....
I have a Panasonic FZ35/38 and love it. 18X zoom, very sharp photos, use the viewfinder or the LCD screen.
720 HD video with sound. You can use the zoom while recording video.
I like it.
My other camera is a Canon 20D
Hey CT - Well the choice was made and the new camera purchased some time ago now.
In a classic case of 'great minds think alike', which one do you reckon I bought?.................the Panny F35/38!! LOL
You are quite right my friend, it is a great camera and I am extremely happy with it.
Thanks CT,
Cheers....Jim
You should maybe also have a look at:
http://www.photographyblog.com/
and
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/
The first blog posts pictures taken by the camera they test.
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