Is my setup enough for my Florida holiday

[MrMister]

Hi

I'm off to Florida for Disney parks for 1st time ever with the family in the summer. I like to take pictures and video, but am just a point and click auto setting guy.

I have a iMac and use iPhoto 11 and iMovie 11 put them in there for Faces, Places etc and organising.

So I have a Panasonic TZ7 Digi Cam which records in AVCHD lite for movies, and a Kodak Playsport that I bought last year for underwater (to 3M).

I bought the TZ7 about 18months ago on reviews etc and the fact it recorded in HD video with optical zoom to 12x, ie I wanted an all-in-one camera, which is good enough for what I use. This was my 1st HD camera anyway.

I only really record family stuff, holidays, parties etc anyway. Most I record video is when away in the summer for the 2 weeks. I am a total P&S guy, set it on iA and let it do the business. Apart from scene mode for panaroma that's about it.

So will my TZ7 and Kodak (thinking of the waterparks for this, as waterproof), be good enough to record my one in a lifetime trip? I have already got 1 spare battery for my TZ7 ( as using it with zoom it doesn't last a day trip really), and think I may get another spare. I also have quite a few 8Gb SD cards, but again might buy another one in case.

Any help tips etc on what to do gratefully accepted, I know the TZ20 is out now, with in built GPS, better zoom, Full HD, and wonder if this might be better to get, and sell my TZ7 maybe sell TZ7 for £130, £30 cashback from Panasonic on TZ20, and TZ20 is £266 about £100-130 cost to upgrade. Or even the Sony Hx9V, although how I would get this past the wife I dont know, as "we have a camera that works"

cheers

[kgosden]

The TZ7 is a decent camera. The newer versions will not get you much benefit. I believe that Panasonic might have changed the video a bit on the new models, but I do not follow video so I cannot tell you the pluses or minuses there. On any of these your main challenge will be auto-focus and shutter response particularly if you are hoping to catch the expressions on children in the park (you don't mention if you have any along with you). The only way to resolve those are to move up a notch to a DSLR or mirrorless equivalent.

[MrMister]

Should have mentioned yes we have our kids coming with us, 2A & 2C.

I don't want a SLR etc I'm not a expert and literally just use my camera as a P&S. I got the TZ7 as it's an alll-in-one, stills an HD video.

I don't mess about with any manual settings just use it as is.

I've heard the video is better but the stills are worse. It has GPS which I may like as I use iPhoto for tagging my pics.

[Dread Pirate Roberts]

My advice is that it's about the holiday snapshots and vid and capturing the moments of a precious holiday and not about the camera and the gear. I'd enjoy the time with family and use what you've got without worrying about the latest thing. A year ago when you got that camera it was the latest and greatest so what would have changed to make it essential to have a newer one. Just my 2c.

[MrMister]

I agree with your points. I'm not one to buy the next great thing as it's new, I would want it to be worth it. Reason I didnt go with TZ10 when it came out. I have to say with having kids a digital camera is the single greatest device I've ever owned and they keep getting better.

But the TZ20 has things that maybe mine hasn't and I would use, eg GPS. Is it necessary-no, nice to have-yes. I use iPhoto and tend to when importing use the faces and places functions anyway.

The longer zoom maybe nice unsure if need that large as I say is a P&S for kids, holidays,party's,days out. Not for nature shots etc

Full HD (or 1080i at least) better than my 720P, unsure

What I'm also not sure of is the steady shot/active mode or whatever called for stopping camera shake especially on video

[David Metsky]

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