Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX7 vs Canon SD300 or how good is the image stabilization system?

[greekly]

Hello everybody,

I am choosing between Canon SD300 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX7. The later one has more pixels (5 MPx vs 4 MPx in Canon) but that's not that big an issue for me. I seem to like everything about SD300. But the fact that Panasonic has image stabilization and SD300 doesn't keeps me from making the final pick.

Is that image stabilization system really a big thing? Is it worth buying the DMC-FX7 just for that fact? Have anybody had personal experience with it? If so, please share you thoughts.

Thanks in advance.

[LarryB]

Hello everybody,

I am choosing between Canon SD300 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX7. The later one has more pixels (5 MPx vs 4 MPx in Canon) but that's not that big an issue for me. I seem to like everything about SD300. But the fact that Panasonic has image stabilization and SD300 doesn't keeps me from making the final pick.

Is that image stabilization system really a big thing? Is it worth buying the DMC-FX7 just for that fact? Have anybody had personal experience with it? If so, please share you thoughts.

Thanks in advance.

Greekly

Image Stabilization is a big deal, but not on a 3X Zoom. If you are talking 7 or 8X and up, then yes it's a real big deal.

Both are mighty fine camera's .... Good luck.

LarryB

[John_Reed]

Hello everybody,

I am choosing between Canon SD300 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX7. The later one has more pixels (5 MPx vs 4 MPx in Canon) but that's not that big an issue for me. I seem to like everything about SD300. But the fact that Panasonic has image stabilization and SD300 doesn't keeps me from making the final pick.

Is that image stabilization system really a big thing? Is it worth buying the DMC-FX7 just for that fact? Have anybody had personal experience with it? If so, please share you thoughts.

Thanks in advance.At first, you wouldn't think that IS would be a big deal in 3X zoom cameras, but when the cameras start getting as small as these two babies are, I think IS helps a lot in just being able to stabilize your shots, offsetting the light weight of the cameras. That said, I think the SD300 has something going for it to help: It has an optical viewfinder, which should let you hold the camera against your face for additional natural stabilization. The Canon's VF has no diopter adjustment, and you'd better make sure you can see clearly through its small window, especially if you wear glasses. With the FX7 you're stuck with holding the camera out in front of your face at a comfortable screen viewing distance. But I've seen a lot of sharp indoor shots using the FX7 without flash that the SD300 would've loved to have taken.

[genece]

IS is a big deal to me even at 1 X.
IS did more for almost making me a picture taker than any other thing.
(notice I did not say Photographer). But since getting a FZ camera I get satisfactory results.

[tudacee]

I've been looking at the Lumix too...and from everything I've read the stabilization system is quite helpful for any picture using 5x and above, and I've just about made up my mind to get it since I like do lots of close ups...

Guess it depends on what kind of pictures you are looking to take??
good luck.
dee

[John_Reed]

I've been looking at the Lumix too...and from everything I've read the stabilization system is quite helpful for any picture using 5x and above, and I've just about made up my mind to get it since I like do lots of close ups...

Guess it depends on what kind of pictures you are looking to take??
good luck.
deeWell, you probably won't see much written about <5X IS, since only Panasonic offers the feature. But like Gene says, IS is useful at any zoom level, even down to 1X. We who use the larger zoomers like the FZ10/20 already appreciate this help, and I think my point about IS helping with the smaller camera size is still a reasonable one. As for lens quality, dpreview has a comparison (http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/panasonicfx7/page8.asp) of lens/sensor resolutions for various 5MP cameras, showing how good the FX7 fares in that pack, which is to say, it's excellent.