Sony WX-1 or Panasonic TZ7?

[gags9999]

I am looking for a new compact/ultracompact digital camera for shooting travel pics, indoor & party pics and kids photos. I am currently using a Canon S5IS and a Sony Mini DV Camcorder HC40.

Wish-list:

Budget: below $500

Size: Compact/ultracompact, should be pocketable (which my current Canon is not)

Megapixels: anything above 8

Optical Zoom: at least 5x, ultrazoom preferable

Image Quality: 8-9, just want the shots to be clean, crisp, blur free for good home & vacation photographs

Manual Controls: want to use as a simple P & S, additional manual controls are welcome but not a deal breaker for me.

Use: For travels photos, kids photos, indoor and party pics.

Prints: 4X6, 5X7, rarely a bigger print would be required

Indoor & Low Light: Definitely yes, a top priority to get beautiful night portraits and landscapes on vacation.

Action/Sports: Kids photos mostly

Brands: No preferences

Models already in mind: Sony WX-1, Sony TX-1, Panasonic TZ7, Samsung WB550

Special Features: Image Stabilization is a must, wide angle is desirable, HD video is a must.

Reason to upgrade: Don't want to lug around a camera bag with both a camera and a camcorder. I need something pocketable which can shoot decent holiday pics with good quality HD video so that I can dispense of the camcorder. My Canon S5 does well in both stills and video but it is not pocketable, doesn't have very good low light prowess and does not shoot HD video.

I was particularly interested in WX-1 or TZ7. I like the small size, good low light capability in WX1 and ultrazoom & AVCHD Lite encoding in the TZ7. Are they worth the upgrade from Canon S5? Or some other camera may be a better choice? I can still wait till year end if some new camera is upcoming which fits the bill.

[speaklightly]

gags-

If your use of the Panasonic TZ-7, is all out of doors and in good light, you have a real contender. However, the ZS1 and its twin, the more featured ZS3 (also know as the TZ-7 in Europe) have a terrible flash. The built-in flash is small and underpowered. The result in many photo environments is a flash range of no more than 8 feet.

I own and use a ZS1 along with my DSLR. The wide angle is great and the outdoor photos are quite good. Indoor photos are where the pinch comes into play.

As a result, I use a Metz slave flash with the ZS1 (which I already owned) to gain more flash range. It works well, but it is an added expense and something else to carry with you. That kind of defeats your "pocketability" issue.

There are no professional reviews of either the Canon S-90 or the Sony WX-1 cameras yet. From what I have seen of photos published in other Forums, the S-90 seems to have an edge over the WX-1, but it is far to early to make an accurate assessment.

Have a great day.

Sarah Joyce

[gags9999]

Thanks Sarah. But S90 is not having HD video which is must have for me. On second thoughts, if I forego the pocketable feature, the wouldn't it be better to retain my canon S5 and look for a separate HD camcorder? If Sony WX-1 is efficient enough for basic home photography & video, it will definitely be a better choice instead of taking two devices along on vacations.

[speaklightly]

gags-

There is indeed an alternative: get the ZS3/TZ-7 camera and plan to purchase a slave flash to make up for its flash deficiencies. Here is how the ZS3 looks with a slave flash.

Have a great day.

Sarah Joyce

[gags9999]

Thanks again Sarah. But that would take out the pocketable feature I need. As such, I am happy with the image quality from my Canon S5 which also offers manual controls. If I have to carry a camera bag, shouldn't I be better off with a separate HD Camcorder like Panasonic HDC-SD9 which I am getting in only about $150 extra than TZ7? Thanks.

[bascom]

Wow, that's a lot of camera boxes on the shelf to the right of the man in the photo. How many cameras do you own?

[speaklightly]

Hi there, Bascom-

I own more than a few cameras.

Have a good day.

Sarah Joyce

[speaklightly]

gags-

I found a professional review of the Sony WX-1 at www.imaging-resource.com.

Sarah Joyce

[doremon313]

that was my reaction too when I saw your wall, haha

[gags9999]

Thanks Sarah. I had already gone through that review. But I still am not able to decide.

Panasonic TZ7: Pros- 12x Optical Zoom, Wide Angle Lens, Stereo Sound in Movies, Good Daylight photos, Mini HDMI output, AVCHD video format, Dedicated Movie Button. Cons- Larger than WX-1 & TX-1 and hence relatively poor "pocketability", Wind noise in videos, not good for low light photography, weak flash.

Sony WX-1: Pros- Pocketable, Wide Angle Lens, better zoom than TX-1, Sony G Lens, Sweep Panorama, Good Low light Performance, 10 FPS Burst Mode, Party Shot compatible (so that I can put myself into the picture!). Cons- No stereo sound in videos, no dedicated movie button, zoom motor noise in videos, no direct hdmi output, daylight photographs not upto the mark, Proprietary Sony USB wire and MS Pro Duo Stick.

Sony TX-1: Pros-Smallest, Stylish, Good Responsive Touch Screen, Sweep Panorama, Good Low light Performance, 10 FPS Burst Mode, Better Daylight Pics than WX-1, Party Shot compatible (so that I can put myself into the picture!). Cons- No stereo sound in videos, no dedicated movie button, no wide angle lens, only 4X zoom, no direct hdmi output, daylight photographs not as good, Proprietary Sony USB wire and MS Pro Duo Stick.

I am now seriously considering to get either TX-1 or WX-1 as a second camera for taking along on parties, meetings etc because of their "pocketability", good indoor and low light performance, party shot compatability, good HD video. I would still take along my Canon S5 on my vacations for some good daylight photography and use the Sony for day-to-day candid moments. So, please guide me which one would be a sound buy? You may also choose to look at the comparison photos here (http://www.digitalversus.com/duels.php?ty=1&ma1=16&mo1=913&p1=6724&ma2=16&mo2=886&p2=6544&ph=2). I was all for WX-1 before I saw this comparison and TX-1 seems to be better off the two. I really would appreciate an expert opinion. Thanks.

[KCook]

Finally had a brief play with the Fuji F70EXR and Sony WX1 in the store. Just from the touchy-feely aspect the F70EXR was very similar to my F45fd, so I was super happy with that. In contrast the physical button design on the WX1 was not at all up to my expectations for a camera that this price point. A serious, serious disappointment on that score. Enough so to make the TX1 seem like a more attractive choice as Sonys go.

Kelly

[jdl7538]

Finally had a brief play with the Fuji F70EXR and Sony WX1 in the store.
Kelly
Kelly, the specifications for the Fuji F70EXR look terrific, especially for such a low price, but its sample photos in online review galleries don't look very sharp. From your experimenting with it, was that your experience as well?
Thanks,

[KCook]

I didn't take any shots, just played with the menus. There are now lots of samples for the F70EXR on the Web. Please give us a steer toward the ones that concern you.

Kelly

[speaklightly]

When you actually get the Sony WX-1 in hand, your first surprise will be how small the WX-1 actually is. But it is really amazing what the WX-1 can do.

It far exceeds the Fuji F-70EXR, because it is simple to use and do not require that you keep the Fuji F-70EXR handbook in hand constantly as you take each photo. that is what bugged me and caused me to return the F-70EXR camera.

The Sony WX-1 is a much better, and much more usable camera as you can see from the posted photo sample.

Sarah Joyce

[gags9999]

So which one is a better choice- WX1 or TX1? Now getting too confused! Thanks.

[KCook]

... do not require that you keep the Fuji F-70EXR handbook in hand constantly as you take each photo ... Thanks Sarah, lovely prose that :D

My brain is already damaged by several months with the Fuji F45fd, so I felt right at home with the F70EXR. But I certainly know that "handbook in hand constantly" feeling. Exactly what I've been going through with the Sony A200.

Kelly

[speaklightly]

gags-

If you like a touch screen and a slightly larger camera, the TX-1 is a good choice. If a very small size do not bother you, be sure to use the wrist strap, then the space economical WX-1 is your cup of tea.

Sarah Joyce

[gags9999]

Thanks Sarah.

[jdl7538]

I didn't take any shots, just played with the menus. There are now lots of samples for the F70EXR on the Web. Please give us a steer toward the ones that concern you.

Kelly

To compare IQ of two cameras I open my browser twice and call up sample photos of the same subject, that captured by one on one opened browser and that by the other on the other opened browser, and then toggle between them. Here first is the same scene captured by both the Fuji F70EXR and the Canon SX110 -- cameras, as you well know, in the same price range, both with 10x optical zoom, though only the Fuji with the 27mm wide angle.

http://www.digicamreview.com/photos/gallery/fujifilm_finepix_f200exr/DSCF1024?full=1

http://www.digicamreview.com/photos/gallery/canon_powershot_sx110is/IMG_0033?full=1

It strikes me that, examining first the feet of the big yellow piece of statuary in the foreground, and then the window frames in the buildings in the distance, the Canon image is decidedly sharper. Yet, it can be said that the Fuji does do well in this outdoor scene, too.

However, image sharpness for me becomes more important when shooting portraits, and here the sharpness of the Canon really stands out, which dampens my interest in the F70EXR:

http://www.digicamreview.com/photos/gallery/fujifilm_finepix_f200exr/DSCF1359?full=1

http://www.digicamreview.com/photos/gallery/canon_powershot_sx110is/IMG_0026?full=1

John

[KCook]

I can't see much difference in the feet on that yellow critter. I agree on the window detail in the background, but there is a simple explanation. The zoom lens for the Fuji shot was set at a more telephoto focal length than on the Canon shot. It would have been nice if the same zoom setting was used for both shots, but that is not the case. It's typical for these super zoom lenses to give a little softer image as you increase the telephoto effect. But I will give this comparison the benefit of a doubt, the Canon may be slightly sharper, at least when pixelpeeping. As I'm a full frame guy, not my personal practice to make small crops, not enough difference to matter to me.

Been a busy day, I haven't had time to look at your 2nd pair.

Hey, if you just plain don't like the F70EXR, nuttin wrong with that. You should get the camera that puts a grin on your face. Regardless of technical arguments.

Kelly

[jdl7538]

...Hey, if you just plain don't like the F70EXR, nuttin wrong with that. You should get the camera that puts a grin on your face. Regardless of technical arguments.

Kelly

From what I see there is a lot to like about it. But because the posted images looked a little soft, since you had first-hand experience with it, I wondered whether you found them so. So thanks for the response.
John

[jeff5897]

Here are photos taken by WX1 and TZ7 , you can compare the photos's quality by review their original size photos.

I will suggest WX1, it has better exterior and good image quality.

Sony WX1
http://english.sellpower.net/modules/flickrorg/dc_index.php?id=8&dc_model=776&iso1=0&iso2=0&exposure1=0&exposure2=0&shutter1=0&shutter2=0&B1=Query

Panasonic TZ7
http://english.sellpower.net/modules/flickrorg/dc_index.php?id=7&dc_model=457&iso1=0&iso2=0&exposure1=0&exposure2=0&shutter1=0&shutter2=0&B1=Query

[nyer82]

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2684/4097448422_bbb3a4d7a2.jpg