Best Digicam of the lot !?

[thetoxicmind]

^^ If you are going to print on a 4x6 photo, both will have practically the same result. IQ wise, both will be very similar. If just their strengths which set them apart.

No mater what you do you can't use manual controls with the Panny. And no matter what you do, you can't get a wider angle on the Canon. So you need to chose which is more important to you.

Oh and the Canon's macro performance is much better than the Panny. But again, how many macro shots do you think you will take. For most of your pictures, the wide angle will be far more useful.

three more points for the canon...

AA batteries..available anywhere

Pics look very realistic wit NATURAL colours..

Much better illumination in night shots..

Then there's the usual rant bout canon's superior image quality..

do check this out..

Face to Face : cameras, printers, ... - DigitalVersus

Both of them outshine each other in one aspects or the other..

 

[47Shailesh]

AA batteries..available anywhere

those baterries die in just one shot, they can't even keep the camera online for more the 10 mins.

Once I lost my charger and bought 8pencil cells to take snaps for a family occasion I could take only 9-10 snaps from My Canon A710IS.

IMO go for Canon S110IS, on -ve it has is while clicking inside room(low light), but you can always overcome this by using diff. apertures in manual mode.

get good battery pack/charger like:

Amazon.com: Sony BCG-34HRMF4 Battery Charger with LCD Display and 4 AA Ni-MH Rechargeable Batteries: Electronics

 

[krisdkiller]

well I have to say that my cam. too. I tried clicking pics with my A 590 IS, and after 7-8 odd shots batt's died. Though I got a Rechargeable batt set with charge along with my cam.

 

[thetoxicmind]

Frankly,it was a Canon i was intending to buy in the first place..

But then i came to know about the Panasonic's lumix series & Sony's H series..

Overall,the canon has got a better IMAGE QUALITY score than the tz5 in most sites...

yeah,the AA battery can be an advantage or a disadvantage !

Nowadays, people use 2300-2700mAh Ni-Mh rechargeable batteries which easily give them bout 350-400shots accordingly !!! 300 if u fiddle around and use the flash!

So,the Canon SX110 IS is on the top of my list again ,after a lot of thinking and re-thinking!

 

[47Shailesh]

generally the rechargeable batteries have no charge initially you have to charge them before using.

well I have to say that my cam. too. I tried clicking pics with my A 590 IS, and after 7-8 odd shots batt's died. Though I got a Rechargeable batt set with charge along with my cam.

 

[techie_007]

generally the rechargeable batteries have no charge initially you have to charge them before using.

They are talking about normal AA cells used in market, in case you need to use them in an emergency.

If you can, get duracells in a pinch. Those will give you MUCH MORE battery power in such scenarios. Around 100 shots min I would guess (its a guess )

 

[47Shailesh]

ohk, my bad,
but Duracell are not that easy to get when you need them very urgently and that had happened to me, and those EverReady AA pair ends with 2 shots only.
Even I doubt if Duracell can take 25+

They are talking about normal AA cells used in market, in case you need to use them in an emergency.

If you can, get Duracell in a pinch. Those will give you MUCH MORE battery power in such scenarios. Around 100 shots min I would guess (its a guess )

 

[krisdkiller]

generally the rechargeable batteries have no charge initially you have to charge them before using.

i was talking about stock batts havent used my cam on rechargeable batts yet.

 

[-D.Payne-]

(First post in a long while, and for those who know me...you know what I'd recommend)

@thetoxicmind:

1. AA vs Li-ion. Unless you live in Nigeria or like trooping in rainforests, a Li-ion battery will *always* serve you better than AA batteries in the normal urban world we live in. Why? Your cellphone uses Li-ion and you charge it everyday right? Have you missed calls because your batt's run out because you forgot to charge it overnight - is that your fault or the phone's?

With nearly 300 shots on charge, trust me...you'll never run out of juice at the wrong moments with the TZ5. All SLRs except Pentax come with Li-Ion - fyi.

The benefits of Li-ion over AA are known only to those who use Li-ion equipped cams on a daily basis, the flash recycle speeds are light years ahead.

2. TZ5 vs SX110. Pros for the TZ5 >>

- 460,000 pixels, 3.0" screen. This is the better screen of the two with the highest res currently and also the best outdoor visibility.
- HD movie recording with zoom and IS. A generation ahead of VGA movies.
- Much more useable 28mm-280mm range. The wide-angle really really matters and you'll hardly use the extra 80mm on the SX110's telephoto.
- Smaller, slimmer, sleeker and lighter.
- Small but important point, much faster burst mode than the SX110 (2.5 fps vs 0.7 fps (how is tht a burst mode!?!)).

Cons:
- Yes, slightly higher noise. But dude, unless you read reviews only the whole day or like to micro-examine your photos at 100%...you'll not notice the difference in prints at up to 5x7 or even 8x10. I've made ISO 400 prints with my Sony H2 at 8x10 with beautiful results. With my A300 DSLR now, I can see its nowhere as good as the Canon 450D/1000D at ISO800 or ISO1600...but unless am pixel-peeing, its more than enough at resolutions of upto 8x10.
- Slower lens than the SX110. Just a third of a stop slower...but again, it'll be very tough for you to notice differences.

- Finally, no manual mode. Again, for me the 28mm wide-angle makes a world of difference over lack of a manual mode. You can use the P-mode (Program) and really learn exposures and tweak the camera to your heart's content. I used to use P-mode 90% of the time on my fully manual Sony H2 and before that had only P&S camera with nothing more than a P-mode.

To be frank, the lack of a manual mode lets you learn composition and be creative with your photographs with the least of variables - exposure compensation and ISO. Having said that, once you master all that...you'll be craving for full manual controls..but how long will u take time to do that is the question. In the time it takes to get there, u would have missed a LOT more wide-angle shots than shots which need aperture or shutter-priority modes.

 

[-D.Payne-]

i was talking about stock batts havent used my cam on rechargeable batts yet.

You've got to be kidding me. :| You're living in the stone-age w.r.t batteries, man! Get NiMH already!

 

[manu1991]

[OT]
Out of Ni-Mh and Mi-CD batteries , which are better ?
[/OT]

 

[thetoxicmind]

@ -D.Payne-

The benefits of Li-ion over AA are known only to those who use Li-ion equipped cams on a daily basis, the flash recycle speeds are light years ahead.

Agree on that..

You can use the P-mode (Program) and really learn exposures and tweak the camera to your heart's content. I used to use P-mode 90% of the time on my fully manual Sony H2 and before that had only P&S camera with nothing more than a P-mode.

So does the TZ5 have the P-mode program for tweaking?

Why I slightly prefer the Canon over the TZ5:

1.Night shots exposure

Please visit the link below and choose "Poor Lighting" and notice the difference

Face to Face : cameras, printers, ... - DigitalVersus



2.Slight Redish tint to everthing,colours not as natural as canon..

Visit the same link & choose "Overall Scene"

Face to Face : cameras, printers, ... - DigitalVersus

3.Macro Shots

The TZ5 has macro capability of only 5cm as opposed to canon's 1cm..

The same link,choose "macro 2"...

Face to Face : cameras, printers, ... - DigitalVersus

i've read that teh tz5 struggles a bit on macro shots..

4.The image quality...

I'm not complaining about the tz5's quality but most of the review sites have given the canon a higher score than the Panasonic..why is that?

400 ISO performance:

Choose "Barbie,detail without flash"...could you please explain the difference?

Face to Face : cameras, printers, ... - DigitalVersus

Thnx..

 

[thetoxicmind]

[OT]

Out of Ni-Mh and Mi-CD batteries , which are better ?

[/OT]

You mean Ni-Mh & Ni-Cd????

A nickel-metal hydride battery, abbreviated NiMH, is a type of rechargeable battery similar to a nickel-cadmium (NiCd) battery but using a hydrogen-absorbing alloy for the negative electrode instead of cadmium. As in NiCd batteries, the positive electrode is nickel oxyhydroxide (NiOOH). A NiMH battery can have two to three times the capacity of an equivalent size NiCd. However, compared to the lithium-ion battery, the volumetric energy density is lower and self-discharge is higher.

NiMH batteries are commonly considered to have lower environmental impact than NiCd batteries, due to absence of toxic cadmium.

NiMH batteries and chargers are readily available in retail stores in the common sizes AAA and AA

NiMH batteries are not expensive, and the voltage and performance is similar to standard alkaline batteries in those sizes; they can be substituted for most purposes. The ability to recharge hundreds of times can save a lot of money and resources.

They are often used in digital cameras and work well in this application. Applications that require frequent replacement of the battery, such as toys or video game controllers, also benefit from use of rechargeable batteries. With the development of low self-discharge NiMHs (see section above), many occasional-use and very low power applications are now candidates for NiMH rechargeables.[17]

NiMH batteries are particularly advantageous for high current drain applications, due in large part to their low internal resistance. Alkaline batteries, which might have approximately 3000 mA·h capacity at low current demand (200 mA), will have about 700 mA·h capacity with a 1000 mA load.[18] Digital cameras with LCDs and flashlights can draw over 1000 mA, quickly depleting alkaline batteries after not many shots. NiMH can handle these current levels and maintain their full capacity.

So,I definitely recommend Ni-Mh !!!

Btw,Here's the Power-Weight ratio of most batteries:

Battery type Power to weight ratio

Nickel hydrogen battery 75 Wh/kg

Nickel-cadmium battery 150 W/kg

Lead acid battery 180 W/kg

Nickel metal hydride 250(market) –980 W/kg (lab)

Lithium ion battery 1700 W/kg

 

[-D.Payne-]

- Yes, slightly higher noise. But dude, unless you read reviews only the whole day or like to micro-examine your photos at 100%...you'll not notice the difference in prints at up to 5x7 or even 8x10. I've made ISO 400 prints with my Sony H2 at 8x10 with beautiful results. With my A300 DSLR now, I can see its nowhere as good as the Canon 450D/1000D at ISO800 or ISO1600...but unless am pixel-peeing, its more than enough at resolutions of upto 8x10.

Read what I wrote entirely. Am not promising you that the TZ5 will be equal to or blow off the socks of the SX110 in lowlight/High-ISO, but you must also understand that what you're seeing is 100% pixel detail. I agree the Tizzy blurs out details at higher ISO as compared to the SX110...but will you notice this at your desktop resolution or even in prints up to 8x10 unless you're looking for it is the concern.

As for colorcasts, you have WB tuning in the TZ5 with presets as well as a +/- 10 step custom WB options.

Finally, any camera is a compromise. You just have to choose which compromise is more suitable to you. My guess and my suggestion is that the wide-angle/slimbody/Li-ion/screen are better than opting to go for slightly-better-ISO-performance/better-WB.

Both of these cameras will deliver outstanding results in daylight and both will struggle in lowlight - the Canon will just struggle lesser. But you can't *create* wide-angle shots, you cant shrink the Canon nor can you can increase the flash recycle speeds...you get my drift?

Payne

PS: From a reviewer's standpoint, the Canon wins on IQ but lack of wide-angle is a huge thing. Heck, the TZ5 is also a Highly Reco by DPR.

 

[fahd123]

(First post in a long while, and for those who know me...you know what I'd recommend)

@thetoxicmind:

1. AA vs Li-ion. Unless you live in Nigeria or like trooping in rainforests, a Li-ion battery will *always* serve you better than AA batteries in the normal urban world we live in. Why? Your cellphone uses Li-ion and you charge it everyday right? Have you missed calls because your batt's run out because you forgot to charge it overnight - is that your fault or the phone's?

With nearly 300 shots on charge, trust me...you'll never run out of juice at the wrong moments with the TZ5. All SLRs except Pentax come with Li-Ion - fyi.

The benefits of Li-ion over AA are known only to those who use Li-ion equipped cams on a daily basis, the flash recycle speeds are light years ahead.

I suppose you are talking about AA and not Nimh AA's
Because, Nimh batteries are capable of giving 300-400 shots with ease, They cost much less than Li-ion. A pair of NiMh cost Rs 250/-.
Where as Li-ion costs 1000/- to 1500/-.Keeping an extra pair of Nimh is more suitable than keeping an extra Li-ion. So even if the person is at Times Square, New york.. AA-Nimh will be of much use that Li-ion

2. TZ5 vs SX110. Pros for the TZ5 >>

- 460,000 pixels, 3.0" screen. This is the better screen of the two with the highest res currently and also the best outdoor visibility.
- HD movie recording with zoom and IS. A generation ahead of VGA movies.
- Much more useable 28mm-280mm range. The wide-angle really really matters and you'll hardly use the extra 80mm on the SX110's telephoto.
- Smaller, slimmer, sleeker and lighter.
- Small but important point, much faster burst mode than the SX110 (2.5 fps vs 0.7 fps (how is tht a burst mode!?!)).

1) 430K is rich, but I dont think one should really choose a camera in terms of LCD richness, where one has 230K and the other 430K. If outdoor visibility is a matter of concern, better go for a camera with Viewfinder.

2) Whats the use of that HD video? 5mb/sec. No more than 12min recording on a 4GB card. And the max amount of video that can be made in TZ5 is 15 min at one go. So in real time use, HD video will be useless unless the user use a high capacity 16GB card.

And plz do compare the 640x480@30fps of SX110 with 640x480@30fps of TZ5, and then decide.


3) In my opinion This is the only real PRO of TZ5 over SX110! 28mm wide lens is what SX110 should have had. In indoor photography(museum, galleries, family) we can get better captures with a Wider lens, as a wall always stops us to step back.

4) Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. A photographer should show off the shots taken with a camera, its image quality, and not the looks of the camera. Camera is a tool, not an Ipod/mobile.

5) regarding burst mode, TZ5 has a 2.5 fps. But even Burst mode speed is not the criteria of choosing a camera.

At the end I would say:
Go for TZ5 only if u want wider lens. That is the only thing that it has over SX110.

 

[thetoxicmind]

Read what I wrote entirely. Am not promising you that the TZ5 will be equal to or blow off the socks of the SX110 in lowlight/High-ISO, but you must also understand that what you're seeing is 100% pixel detail. I agree the Tizzy blurs out details at higher ISO as compared to the SX110...but will you notice this at your desktop resolution or even in prints up to 8x10 unless you're looking for it is the concern.

As for colorcasts, you have WB tuning in the TZ5 with presets as well as a +/- 10 step custom WB options.

Finally, any camera is a compromise. You just have to choose which compromise is more suitable to you. My guess and my suggestion is that the wide-angle/slimbody/Li-ion/screen are better than opting to go for slightly-better-ISO-performance/better-WB.

Both of these cameras will deliver outstanding results in daylight and both will struggle in lowlight - the Canon will just struggle lesser. But you can't *create* wide-angle shots, you cant shrink the Canon nor can you can increase the flash recycle speeds...you get my drift?

Payne

PS: From a reviewer's standpoint, the Canon wins on IQ but lack of wide-angle is a huge thing. Heck, the TZ5 is also a Highly Reco by DPR.

one more thing about the TZ5 is the position of the Flash module..some say because it is positioned towards the right end,the flash coverage is quite uneven!? and due to its location next to the grip it is quite easy to accidentally cover the flash with one of your fingers..

- HD movie recording with zoom and IS. A generation ahead of VGA movies.

The movies are recorded in QuickTime MJPEG (.mov) format and at the highest quality settings work out at a whopping 5.1 MB/sec. The maximum length of a movie recording is 15min if you don't run out of space on your memory card before that. You'll fit around 10 minutes of footage onto a 4GB card.

^^^ Now HD rec. is definitely not economical for me!!! I'll be sticking to the Non-HD rec...

Macro:

The minimum focus distance in the TZ5's macro mode is 5cm at wide angle and 100cm at the tele end of the zoom lens. This is far less impressive than some of the competition's models in the super zoom bracket which allow you to focus as close as 1cm in some cases. Using macro at the wide end of the lens you can capture an area of 63x47mm, at the tele end this area increases to an even less impressive 127x95mm

Shooting in anything less than perfect light brings out some of the nastier characteristics of the tiny sensors used in compact cameras and the TZ5 is no exception. There is visible shadow noise even at base ISO. The noise reduction tries to battle this by blurring the noise. Unfortunately this also blurs a large amount of fine detail (such as foliage or hair). This is common to most small sensor cameras but the TZ5 is certainly a comparatively bad offender in this respect.

n our tests the Burst mode averaged 2.5 frames per second. Unfortunately you can only capture three frames in one burst, irrespective of the file size. There is a two second or so delay after each burst as the files are written from the buffer onto the card.

Which of these CONS are likely to affect the snaps???

* Heavy noise reduction at all ISO settings (although less than predecessor)
* Smearing of fine detail (caused by NR) even at base ISO
* Macro mode less effective than competitors'
* Unreliable Auto WB performance under artificial light
* Inconvenient location of the flash right next to hand grip
* Occasional highlight clipping in high contrast scenes
* Continuous shooting slower than predecessor
* Focus slow down and occasional hunting in low light
* Battery life not brilliant
* Sound quality in movie mode not great

 

[-D.Payne-]

@thetoxicmind: Dude, if you're so sure of the SX110. Buy it! You'd asked for an opinion, and I gave you mine. Having worked with a 2xAA batteried Sony H2 before I know exactly how irritating flash recycling can be when your battery's less than 60%. I was always using 2700mAH cells.

As I said, you choose your compromise. It looks like you've made up your mind, there's no need to justify your decision. Buy it, and start taking some snaps already! At the end of the day, it's your money and you should feel happy about your purchase...not doubtful.

@fahd123: The slimmer comment was not for looks, it was for convenience. If I'd wanted looks in a camera I wouldn't be lugging around a 1kilo SLR. In fact, none of the pros are criteria to choose the camera. The only criteria is : what do I want from my camera? If you don't know that, then almost any camera is good for you.

All the best with the purchase toxic! Either of them are great cameras, just use them to take some photographs...not compare noise.

Payne

 

[Grease Monk]

@D.Payne : did you say you have the sony a300? i was just reading the breif review of the a200 on anandtech, and they mentioned the a300 quite a bit, and was very very interested in it because it had a lot i wanted in a dslr. about a year ago i was closely following the olympus e530 or 520 (not sure which). But from what they said about the sony a300, it seemed to do everything the olympus did, but better. Namely: body integral is, a MUCH better live view system, more AF points, a better starter kit lens, etc (cant really recollect all the points right now).

I wanted to get some first hand feedback on the a300 in relation to its competition. Hows the low-light performance? And how do the sony and old minolta lenses stack up next to, say, canon and nikon? Over all, is there any camera on the market right now in that bracket that you would recommend i look at instead?

My main reason for the interest in the a300 is its live view. my interest in dslrs is half-assed, to say the least. im not interested in what i see through the viewfinder being exactly what the sensor sees, but the low-light performance, and capture speed over point and shoots. Hence, the questionable distortion of the viewfinder in the a300 is a non-issue for me. I also hate using camera flashes. I feel it completely destroys most photos and hence the interest in low light performance. Am i looking in the right place in the a300?

PS. Sorry for the OT and thread crap.

 

[thetoxicmind]

@thetoxicmind: Dude, if you're so sure of the SX110. Buy it! You'd asked for an opinion, and I gave you mine. Having worked with a 2xAA batteried Sony H2 before I know exactly how irritating flash recycling can be when your battery's less than 60%. I was always using 2700mAH cells.

As I said, you choose your compromise. It looks like you've made up your mind, there's no need to justify your decision. Buy it, and start taking some snaps already! At the end of the day, it's your money and you should feel happy about your purchase...not doubtful.

@fahd123: The slimmer comment was not for looks, it was for convenience. If I'd wanted looks in a camera I wouldn't be lugging around a 1kilo SLR. In fact, none of the pros are criteria to choose the camera. The only criteria is : what do I want from my camera? If you don't know that, then almost any camera is good for you.

All the best with the purchase toxic! Either of them are great cameras, just use them to take some photographs...not compare noise.

Payne

Well,I haven't..slight differences among the both are giving me a hard time as I'm not able to place my priorities straight..I prefer both of them equally but when the focus is on what the tz5 & the sx110 misses,it makes it all the more difficult..

Compare Noise? Not really...coming from a camera phone to taking night(hell! even indoor) shots I do expect it to produce the best possible output in poor light conditions..

Flash recycling on the sx110 is about 4.5 seconds, right?is that really that bad?

Guess the macro mode( 5cm vs 1cm) is not all that important..

Size/Portability: I don't mind carrying my camera around in a pouch,if the camera is worth its weight(bulk)!

Fact is,I don't want to regret later about the fact that it misses on something vital for the best photography experience i can get outta such cams..

Definitely needs to be SNAPPY performer !

I WILL BE USING THIS FOR QUITE SOME TIME..

need inputs from tz5 & sx110 users..

 

[thetoxicmind]

Woah,what a coincidence?!

Panasonic LUMIX TZ-Series Ranked Highest in Study’s Premium Point-and-Shoot Segment in a Tie

Secaucus, NJ (October 24, 2008) – Panasonic’s LUMIX TZ-Series of digital cameras has been honored by J.D. Power and Associates as a top-ranking model in a tie as the highest ranked camera in the J.D. Power and Associates 2008 Digital Camera Usage and Satisfaction Study, “Premium Point and Shoot Segment.” The Panasonic LUMIX TZ-Series received a total of 773 points, based on a 1,000-point scale. The LUMIX TZ-Series also received five JDPower.com Power Circle RatingsÔ for overall satisfaction, which are derived from J.D. Power and Associate studies and signify that the product is “Among the best” in its category.

“We are honored to have been recognized in this study, as the Panasonic LUMIX TZ-Series has always been a strong-selling model and it is rewarding to see it ranked highest among its peers in Customer Satisfaction,” said Zoe Susice, Group Manager, Imaging, Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company. “Panasonic has always aimed for excellence and we are thrilled that our customers are benefiting from our efforts to offer high-quality digital cameras that are user-friendly and packed with innovative technologies.”

The Panasonic LUMIX TZ-Series is known for its ability to pack powerful features into a compact and sleek design that is ideal for those who travel and want a digital camera that is easy-to-use and carry yet provides high-quality photos. Panasonic’s 2008 family of LUMIX TZ models include the LUMIX TZ5, TZ4 and TZ50. All three models feature a 10x optical zoom for long-distance photography; a 28mm wide-angle Leica lens; Panasonic’s Intelligent Auto mode technologies, which feature Face Detection, Intelligent Scene Selector, image stabilization and more.

The TZ5 and TZ50 also feature a High-Resolution 3.0-inch LCD screen and the ability to record High Definition video. The LUMIX TZ50 is completely unique in the family, as it adds Wi-Fi capabilities, standard 802.11b/g wireless LAN connectivity and access to T-Mobile® HotSpot service so users can upload digital photos directly to Picasa Web Albums, a free online photo-sharing service from Google.

To read the official press release for the J.D. Power and Associates 2008 Digital Camera Usage and Satisfaction Study, please click here. To learn more about the Panasonic LUMIX TZ-Series and other LUMIX digital cameras, please visit