Help me camera-based gods

[Beezy]

My mom wants to get a digicam, but I'll be using it most of the time anyway so I want the best possible. Which is the best between these two? $250 is our limit:

http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-DMC-ZS7-Digital-Stabilized-3-0-Inch/dp/B00395WIXA/ref=sr_1_15?s=photo&ie=UTF8&qid=1291047451&sr=1-15

http://www.amazon.com/Canon-PowerShot-SX210IS-Stabilized-Black/dp/B0035FZJM6/ref=sr_1_1?s=photo&ie=UTF8&qid=1291047451&sr=1-1

I'm leaning towards the Panasonic for fanboyish reasons. If you have any other suggestions, let me know.

[Himu]

$349.95 for the panasonic is a rip. For that much you might as well invest in a used dslr. I know that's the scratched off list price, but there is no Amazon price given.

Go with the Canon Powershot. Among digi point n shoot cams it's among the best. The Lumix is good - great even - but depending on how much you're paying for it there would be more value in going with the Canon Powershot.

[Beezy]

Amazon is selling both for $250. You just had to click "see price in cart" for the Panasonic.

[Himu]

Selling both for $250? Hmmm.

For that price and the type of camera they're pretty similar.

A look at tech stats:

Panasonic

Product Features

    * 12.1-megapixel effective recording
    * 12X optical zoom (4X digital/48X total zoom)
    * Built-in GPS function lets you keep track of your photos by location
    * Optical image stabilization
    * Recording Media - Built-in Memory, SD Memory Card, SDHC Memory Card, SDXC Memory Card

# Light Sensitivity: ISO 100, ISO 800, ISO 400, ISO 200, ISO 80, ISO auto, ISO auto (1600-6400), ISO 1600 (this is REALLY good)

# Optical zoom: 12 x

# Optical Sensor Resolution: 12.1 MP

Exposure Control Type: Candle, Beach, Transform, Snow, High sensitivity, Starry sky, Soft skin, Baby1, Baby2, Photo frame, Portrait mode, Aerial photo, Hi-speed burst, Film grain, Flash-burst, Pin hole, High dynamic, Party/indoor, Night portrait, Self-portrait, Pet, Scenery, Food, Fireworks, Panorama assist, Night scene, Underwater, Sports mode, Sunset

Canon

Product Features

    * Powerful 14x optical zoom with Optical Image Stabilizer; improved Dynamic mode for enhanced image stabilization
    * 14.1-megapixel resolution for high-quality prints up to 16.5 x 23.4 inches
    * 28mm wide-angle lens; 3.0-inch wide PureColor System LCD
    * HD shooting capability at 720p with stereo sound plus HDMI output
    * DIGIC 4 Image Processor with evolved Face Detection Technology; new scene modes

# Light Sensitivity: ISO 100, ISO 800, ISO 400, ISO 200, ISO 80, ISO auto, ISO 1600

# Exposure Control Type: Beach, Kids & pets, Night snapshot, Snow, Landscape, Portrait mode, Stitch assist, Fireworks, Low light, Indoor, Foliage

Summary: Canon is better for video, Panasonic is better for photography (more ISO settings, more exposure settings for noobies). Canon Powershot has more Megapixel's, but Megapixel's mean jack shit when you're tinkering with a point n shoot and ideally you don't need to go above 6 mp to begin with.

Go with the Panasonic. For that price, it's the better camera and the better deal. You can argue image quality, but I'm sure their quality is equal.

[Beezy]

Thanks Himu. Why is the Canon better for video though?

[Himu]

    * HD shooting capability at 720p with stereo sound plus HDMI output
    * 28mm wide-angle lens; 3.0-inch wide PureColor System LCD

Panasonic stats don't mention anything close to this unless I missed something. It certainly doesn't say anything about hdmi or being able to shoot in hd.

[Beezy]

This is all that I see for the Panny:

HD Movie in AVCHD Lite
In addition to Motion JPEG images, the DMC-ZS7 can record high-definition motion images in AVCHD Lite. It features almost double the recording time in HD quality compared with the conventional Motion JPEG format. Also, with the DMC-ZS7, it is possible to use the GPS (Global Positioning System) function to record data on the shooting location. You can view images for each geographical location by using the included software PHOTOfunSTUDIO 5.1 HD Edition to manage the images by date and location.

Whatever. I wasn't expecting to take great vids on a camera anyway.

[cloudwalking]

both canon and panasonic make amazing point-and-shoots, i've owned both brands and been really happy with both of the cameras.

however, i'd get the canon in this case because if you're going to be paying the same price for them anyway you might as well get the camera with the slightly better specs -- more MP, higher optical zoom, wider angle lens, and 720p video shooting.

why pay the same and get less, since the brands are comparable in the point-and-shoot realm anyway?

[Beezy]

I dunno, that's why I made the thread. Himu seems to think that the Panny is better at taking pictures though. Where's BlueTsunami when you need him?

[Himu]

Canon has the wider lens, higher optical zoom and more mp, but less iso settings and less exposure settings.

[Beezy]

The Panasonic cam came in today. It also has a wide angle lens and records vids in 720p, they just weren't used as selling points on amazon. Doesn't come with an hdmi cable though, but I can get that later on if I feel that it's necessary.