Hey guys, with my birthday and christmas, been looking into getting a new compact for me. Have about 300$ to spend, but under 200 would be ideal.

Our family has been a die hard canon family, but after our rebel slr's compact flash pins bent and my oldddd s1000's lenses got jammed, ive been willing to try others, namely a panasonic and sony after readings some reviews about them.

The one im most interested in is the Panasonic Lumix DMC TS2
http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-DMC-.../dp/B003960F7K

This one is actually their rugged camera option with that can take 14.1mp, 720p hd video, and is waterproof until 33 feet. After my old canon failing because of dust, this is quite an attractive camera to me.

Pro - looks like a regular camera, 14.1mp and hd video, element proof, only 250$ today (regularly 375)
Cons - am i sacrificing image quality?, AVCHD light ive read can be a pita to import to iPhoto/iMovie

That is my biggest question - If im sacrificing image quality for the durability. I recently saw a Canon D10 (their rugged offering) in person and was not impressed with its picture quality.

Other others that I am seriously looking at are the
Panasonic DMC-ZR1
http://reviews.cnet.com/digital-came...5r#reviewPage1

Sony DSC-HX5V
http://reviews.cnet.com/digital-came....html?tag=also

Canon SX210 IS
http://reviews.cnet.com/digital-came....html?tag=also

Any opinions would help, thanks!

 

I am still partial to Canon's p&s, and I have all Nikon gear.

Take a look at the three you have linked at amazon.com, read what the people who have bought them think.

I was looking at a Canon SX130 to get my son for a gift, but have decided to buy a used Nikon D50 for him. There were a couple of Fuji's, the EXR models I looked at as well. And the Nikon S8100.

 

here are some shots from the Panasonic

 

Thanks - those pictures actually turned out pretty well imo.

But i think ive narrowed it down to the Sony HX5V and the Lumix ZS7.

On amazon, the ZS7 has perhaps the highest user ratings - like a 4.7 ish average while the sony has a 4.2 or something like that.

Both amazing cameras. The panny is only 250 compared to 300 for the sony - image quality will be similar, but the sony has some other features like panoramic, gps, etc.

Still on the fence...

 

My girlfriend's mother has a Panasonic DMC-TZ3, and I bought her a DMC-TZ4. Both are pretty amazing P&S cameras. I've had a couple Lumix compact cameras in the past as well. I recommended the TZ4 to two friends who asked for a recommendations. Both are in love with it and continue to use them today. I also believe the Panasonic have some the best video quality of any P&S cameras I have seen. If you go with a newer model, I am sure you will be getting a great camera. I know people love the Canon P&S's but after having a couple, I was not impressed. The Panasonics produce better images IMHO, and I found them to be easier to use.