Which one: Canon A570, A710, A720 ? Or something else?

[jasonmolinari]

I'm looking at these three cameras. Small size is a big plus (A570 a little smaller).
Image quality, indoors, and especially for the trip we're taking outdoors is critical (as i understand they all take good pics).
Image stabilization is very important.
Speed of the camera, off->on and focus/shot taking is important too.
It has to have a very good auto mode, as that is what i'll use most of the time, and i MAY putz around with manual modes.
Price is almost unimportant.

So in order of importance: Image quality, speed, size, price

I also like the Panasonic TZ3 with wide angle and giant zoom and small camera, but the image quality is poor as i understand. Shame.

Any thoughts? on the 3 Canons or on any other camera i should eb looking at? I think these are the largest i'm interested in, the A6XX series is too big for a pocket.

thanks!

[bascom]

Canon A570 and A720 are newer than A710 so probably better.

[wasabi]

Canon A570 and A720 are newer than A710 so probably better.

i am quite an amateur on the digicam field, but from all the reviews and tests i have read i think i can say that the statement "newer is better" has been proven wrong many times, especially in this market.

@ jasonmolinari: what's the current status of your thoughts? i've also an eye on the units you mentioned, though i'm also interested in some cameras of the A series (A630/640 and upcoming A650). would like to know if you made a decision already.

[jmolinari]

Wasabi, i looked at the A570 images versus the A710. As far as i can tell, other than the zoom, the only other difference is the image processor. Same Mpixel, same everything. So any image differences, i think, can be attributed to the newer image processor in the A570. (the same one, Digic III that the A720 would have).

Having said that, the 570 images seem to be much softer to me, and noisier. That doesn't mean that the A720 will be the same way though. I bought the A710. Gateway seems to have them sort of kind of in stock but not really. I'm unsure of the actual status, but i got an email confirming my order saying i should have it around the 17th...so they may have it (even though the web page says 2-4 weeks to ship).

So...i got the 710...but i'm debating not even opening it, and waiting for some 720 reviews. I wonder if i can resist that long:) Or maybe i'll just use the A710. Even if the 720 is better, i can't immagine it being THAT much better.

jason

[bascom]

i am quite an amateur on the digicam field, but from all the reviews and tests i have read i think i can say that the statement "newer is better" has been proven wrong many times, especially in this market.

Can you give some examples where newer was not better for digicams? The only ones this year I can think of are some Sony W's and maybe H's. The majority of the time newer digicams are better than older ones. I expect the A720 will likely be better than the A710.