tvordlj: (Daffy Weird)
tvordlj ([personal profile] tvordlj) wrote2007-04-11 05:35 pm

(no subject)

I've been comparing user reviews and getting more and more confused, re digital cameras. Each one i like that i look up reviews for, has good and bad and my own opinion of the cameras have plusses and minuses too. One is a Panasonic 5 mp with a 10x zoom which i really do like. The drawbacks are that there is no optical viewfinder and it's a lithium ion battery pack. The other one is a Canon A710 IS. It's 7 MP, a 6x zoom and it uses regular AA batteries (rechargeables) which i like. But on the minus side, it has a lot more features than i need, and no on screen battery monitor, also has no "last photo review" unless you change the mode to replay and i do like that feature. The user reviews on dpreview.com have an equal amount of "i love this camera" and "the low light photos have too much noise". I looked at the user manual for both and the one for the Canon seems a lot more complicated than it needs to be. I"m leaning to the Panasonic for the Zoom especially. The battery pack does put me off a bit and a spare one ain't cheap. The Panasonic is on a clearance price for $299.99 at The Source (though i'm reluctant to buy from them) or $329.99 from Future Shop though they'll meet the other price. The Canon is a bit more expensive but .... it's a Canon. Both have Image stabilizer.

Confused.
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[identity profile] acey.livejournal.com 2007-04-11 09:42 pm (UTC)(link)
FWIW, Tim and I have both been very happy with our Panasonics. Granted, they're different models, and I am not sure which one you are looking at. Is it one of the FZ models?

[identity profile] tvor.livejournal.com 2007-04-11 10:11 pm (UTC)(link)
yes it's the TZ1 i think. it's discontinued now which is why the price is good. The thing that's the biggest drawback is the battery pack vs. the AA availability. Another drawback is the panasonic doens't have a fixed lens covering. They give you something to thread it to the wrist strap thingy, but still has more potential to get lost. I'm kind of leaning to the Canon if only i wasn't seduced by the 10x zoom lol
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[identity profile] acey.livejournal.com 2007-04-11 11:55 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm not sure what sort of battery pack that one has, but I usually get 50 - 100 shots off one of my batteries (depending on how much I'm using the flash). Also, I have some non-Panasonic batteries which are less expensive.

[identity profile] tvor.livejournal.com 2007-04-12 01:08 am (UTC)(link)
It's a lithium-ion pack, not AA rechargeables which my current one has and which the Canon has. It's a plus that you can buy regular alkaline batteries in a pinch and they don't have to be panasonic brand like the battery pack does.
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[identity profile] acey.livejournal.com 2007-04-12 03:07 am (UTC)(link)
From what I can tell, the battery looks the same as those I use. I rotated two since I bought the camera 3 years ago, and have just replaced them, as the old ones started running out of juice fast. They've had a lot of use. I use the generic type which are very reasonable, and they charge quickly.

If you're interested, here's the site I use a lot to compare cameras.

[identity profile] tvor.livejournal.com 2007-04-12 09:39 am (UTC)(link)
Hmm... that's good to know, and good to have someone with personal experience with that battery pack. I expect i can probably get a generic pack if not locally, then online. Thanks very much for the input

[identity profile] diggerjohn.myopenid.com (from livejournal.com) 2007-04-12 06:17 am (UTC)(link)
Sounds like you may already have made your mind up, but here's my 2c: I was a Canon man for 30+ years, but I've had a Panasonic FZ20 for over two years and I LOVE IT! It's by far the best camera I've ever owned. The image stabilisation is amazing (they both might have it, but are they both as good?), the zoom gives an effective focal length of 35-1600mm (I never used more than 400mm on my old SLR, so I definitely don't need more lenses!) and the lens quality is superb.

The battery pack seems to be giving you pause for thought. Don't let it. Two years in and I'm still on the original battery pack, and when I charge it up it will get through an entire evening taking photos at dress rehearsal, when I've been known to take in excess of 500 shots WITH FLASH. On holiday, although I took the charger, the pack lasted *almost* all of the two weeks on one charge.

I'd say go for it.

[identity profile] tvor.livejournal.com 2007-04-12 09:38 am (UTC)(link)
I was always partial to Canon's, too and my slr is an EOS. Yes you're right, the battery pack is holding me back. The lens on this one is a leica which are good lenses. thanks for your input, having two people now that have had experience with the Panasonic helps a lot!
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[identity profile] acey.livejournal.com 2007-04-12 06:54 pm (UTC)(link)
I have the FZ10 and Tim has the FZ20. I totally agree with what DiggerJohn says. I haven't taken as many pics per battery charge as he has. I always take the largest size available, with the highest quality. I suppose I could get a lot more per battery charge if I reduced one or both parameters.

[identity profile] tvor.livejournal.com 2007-04-12 07:41 pm (UTC)(link)
I don't think the size and quality matters as far as how long the battery lasts, that just affects how many pics can reside on the memory card. I think. Possibly it may take a smidge more battery to write a bigger file i suppose. All this is great info!
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[identity profile] acey.livejournal.com 2007-04-12 10:41 pm (UTC)(link)
I forget if I mentioned this but it usually takes less than an hour to charge the battery, too.

[identity profile] trixiedelarue.livejournal.com 2007-04-12 10:28 am (UTC)(link)
I'd love a decent camera but I dont know anything about them, I am never happy with the ones I buy.

How do I know what I want? LOL

[identity profile] tvor.livejournal.com 2007-04-12 10:55 am (UTC)(link)
You should ask people that have ones that they really like! personal recommendations are worth their weight in gold, thus why i am posting here to find out from people lol

[identity profile] trixiedelarue.livejournal.com 2007-04-12 11:14 am (UTC)(link)
yes good idea

I always like the look of angs' but that could be the photographer ! lol