[MacTime]

So, I'm looking at selling up all my SLR gear (it's just to bulky to carry around) and getting either a Canon S5 IS (due out in July) or a Panasonic FZ50. Anyone had experience with the FZ50 or the older S3? What'd people here recommend?

Canon S5 IS

http://www.canon.com.au/products/cam...rshotS5IS.aspx

Panasonic FZ50

http://panasonic.com.au/products/det...?objectID=3304

[jerrah]

Have you checked out dpreview.com?

I haven't had experience with either camera.

In a general brand response, Panasonic is making some great cameras these days but I think that Canon beats them in low light sensor performance. From the Panasonics I've used they start get grainy at anything higher than 100 ISO.

[benmcgruer]

I've never really looked at the FZ50 before, but after checking it out and some reviews I'd be seriously considering it over the S3 or S5.

It's got a bigger sensor, which goes some way to address the high ISO noise differences. Mechanical zoom. Raw format. Rechargeable battery (which may or may not be an advantage over AA's). Wide-screen movie mode (with higher resolution).

That said, the S5 does look like a very nice camera, which is smaller and lighter if that's a concern. It really depends on what you want to use it for, and what compromises you're willing to accept.

[melbmac]

I'll wait until I've had a play with the S5 to comment on this one, but I'm not a huge fan of the FZ-50

[jerrah]

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/panasonicfz50/
http://www.dpreview.com/news/0705/07050703canons5is.asp