New digital camera

[bg55]

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3 or Canon Powershot SD800 IS

Would like your advise on new purchase. I've narrowed it down to these two.
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3 or Canon Powershot SD800 IS.
Both look to be good performers, but which is better?

[Bodyslide]

Review for the Canon here:
http://www.dpreview.com/news/0609/06091403_canon_sd800is.asp

Panasonic Here:
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/panasonictz3/

I have had a few different Canon's the past year, and I would go with the SD800...

Here is the one I have just bought :
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canons3is/

[BJ_M]

i have a Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ1 and just love it --but not knowing the cannon , cant say if it is better or worse ..... but i can say the build quality and features and picture quality of the panasonic are superb

[SquirrelDip]

Here is the one I have just bought :
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canons3is/

How do you like it?

This is the one I just recommended to a friend and he's thoroughly enjoying it. I have the RebelXTi (400D) - love it once I replaced the kit lens...

[Grimey]

I have both a Panasonic (FZ5 - http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/panasonicfz5/ ), and a Canon (sd1000 http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs/Canon/canon_sd1000.asp )

I gotta say I like the Panasonic better. the Canon has more megapixels, but the Panasonic has a better lens, which produces better pictures in my opinion. If I were you I'd go for the Panasonic.

[SquirrelDip]

Grimey's comment is extremely valid - don't get fooled by the mega-pixel game... Optics are far more important.

You're better off asking in a camera forum - one of my favorites is http://www.photocamel.com/forum/

[Bodyslide]

Here is the one I have just bought :
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canons3is/

How do you like it?

This is the one I just recommended to a friend and he's thoroughly enjoying it. I have the RebelXTi (400D) - love it once I replaced the kit lens...

So far it's a Great Camera. I also got it at a Great price. I have already added an adapter tube and a few lenses to it....Here's another Forum for it Here:

http://www.s3users.com/forum/index.php

[Conquest10]

I have the RebelXTi (400D) - love it once I replaced the kit lens...

That is one sweet camera. About time Canon started putting that sensor cleaning in their bodies.

[SquirrelDip]

I have the RebelXTi (400D) - love it once I replaced the kit lens...

That is one sweet camera. About time Canon started putting that sensor cleaning in their bodies.

It's a wonderful camera - my only complaint is it's a fairly small body for my big mitts. Body feels a little plasticy but the only reason I notice this is because a friend of mine has a 5D.

Went with the kit lens as it was only $70 more... I guess in hind sight I should have saved even the $70 and applied it to some filters or a monopod...

[Heywould3]

I just got the SD800is and i looked and read reviews for weeks before i bought it. my dad is a semi pro photographer and recommended both Panasonic and the canon.. keep in mind the SD1000 is actually a lesser model than the SD800is. i love it.. it has wide angle 28mm (35mm equivalent) great battery life. very solid feel image stabilization lots of manual settings ISO1600 option movie cap to 640X480 /30fps avi. so many other features. they are both great but the SD800is from what i read got better reviews and had more of the features i wanted.

also anything above 7mp is not really needed for the average person. at 10 the cam actually starts to overtake film. (Depending on the iso) for the cost and feature benefit I would go with a full featured 7.1 mp over a 10mp all day long.

http://www.dpreview.com this site has anything and everything you need to know about digital cameras.

[Conquest10]

It's a wonderful camera - my only complaint is it's a fairly small body for my big mitts. Body feels a little plasticy but the only reason I notice this is because a friend of mine has a 5D.

Went with the kit lens as it was only $70 more... I guess in hind sight I should have saved even the $70 and applied it to some filters or a monopod...

That's one of the things I don't like about the Rebels. A 10d with battery grip feels real comfortable in my hands. Rebels are too small.

You could have gotten the Canon 50mm f/1.8. Absolutely beautiful lens and only around $79US.

[SquirrelDip]

That's one of the things I don't like about the Rebels. A 10d with battery grip feels real comfortable in my hands. Rebels are too small.

You could have gotten the Canon 50mm f/1.8. Absolutely beautiful lens and only around $79US.

Size was an issue - I was thinking of possibly going into the 30D but overall another $500 (give or take). Tons of reading and the XTi worked out to be a better option (+ve is the self cleaning sensor and very similar quality pictures, -ve is better body on the 30D and the 30D is rated to go twice the life). Also, wife uses the camera too - and it feels better in her hand (lighter too).

Fathers day is coming - as is a 50mm f/1.8

Based largely what I found at http://www.lensplay.com/lenses/index.html (and other reading) I went with the 28-105 II as a walkaround lens and the 85mm f/1.8 for portrait/sport. Both are great lens, especially when price is a concern.

I've also got an old 75-300mm that I had with my film SLR - as I use long lens so rarely it'll do for a while (just needs a tripod to take good shots). The only thing I'm really lacking on now is wide angle - the 28mm isn't really 28 as on film due to the smaller sensor, I'll be saving up for the Sigma 10-20mm (it's significantly less than the Canon and pretty much as good).

Here's a shot I took of my bike out front of my house - experimenting with HDR and a little PhotoShop work:

(Be gentle - I'm just learning)

[lordsmurf]

Some of you should go join www.convopit.org ... We have an active photo forum there, and most members are current/former videohelp.com members.

[Conquest10]

Some of you should go join www.convopit.org ... We have an active photo forum there, and most members are current/former videohelp.com members.

[BJ_M]

i think im banned there or something

[MJA]

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3 or Canon Powershot SD800 IS

Would like your advise on new purchase. I've narrowed it down to these two.
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3 or Canon Powershot SD800 IS.
Both look to be good performers, but which is better?

I bought my 1st Pana Lumix FZ8 its the same price like the Lumix DMC-TZ3 cam few weeks ago and I love it. this is my 1st time buying a non canon camera

http://www.steves-digicams.com/2007_reviews/fz8.html

[lordsmurf]

Some of you should go join www.convopit.org ... We have an active photo forum there, and most members are current/former videohelp.com members.

What's so funny?

Really, there is some good stuff there, especially these past 6 months. Probably one of the most popular, most used sections of the site these days.

i think im banned there or something

Just avoid the politics forum. It can get you in trouble.

[Conquest10]

What's so funny?

i think im banned there or something

A lot of us in this thread are not welcome there. (Right, Gonorrhea-man?)