Panasonic FZ150 or Canon G12?

[Phildo]

Bought my current Panasonic FZ30 in early 2006 - quite some time ago. Had a Canon G5 before that.

Currently considering buying either a Panasonic FZ150 or a Canon G12.

- both cameras are on the recommended list at http://www.dcresource.com/buyersguide/index.shtml and are highly regarded.

- almost everything I do is just point-and-shoot (ie auto setting). Whatever I buy will be used for just taking normal photos. The ultra zoom and HD video on the FZ150 are nice, but not necessary.

- does either one take better point-and-shoot photos?

- the FZ30 has been vastly better than the G5 that it replaced. Image stabilization was a factor (ie wasn't on the G5), but does the physically larger lense of the FZ150 mean that it will capture more light and therefore take better photos than the G12?

- the G12 is physically smaller and less bulky than the FZ150.

- there's a considerable degree of inclination towards the FZ150 because of my good experience with the FZ30, but realise that each of these cameras is a couple of generations later.

Thoughts?

Any links to web pages with a direct comparison of these two cameras?

[DiamondSCattleCo]

This is strictly a comparison of their feature set, which you probably know by heart, but its about all I could find:

http://snapsort.com/compare/Canon_Po...anasonic-FZ150

[David Metsky]

You're comparing cameras with vastly different zoom ranges; there's no way to pick one over the other without knowing what you intend to use them for. If you want an updated FZ30 then the FZ150 is a much better replacement than the G12, regardless of the better image quality of the G12.

[rp2s]

I have to agree with Dave, two very different cameras. I would be biased towards the Canon G12, having just purchased one this week.
All I can say is, it is the finest compact camera I've ever used, and when the lighting is right, the photo quality rivals my Nikon D5000. For its current going rate of $385, it's an awesome little, chunky camera.

[Phildo]

Bought a secondhand G12 this afternoon.

Was very inclined toward a Panasonic FZ150 after the excellent use that I have had with my FZ30 over the last six years.

Then Panasonic announced the replacement for the FZ150, the FZ200, this week. It will be available in August or September. New models sometimes go back a step over the previous one, so I would have to wait until at least this site does a proper review. There goes another couple of months.

And then there's the fact that the G12 is a couple of years old now. Blimey. That's a very, very long time for any tech gadget, which would indicate that a G13 would be on its way this year.

So, got lucky and found a good deal on a secondhand G12. If the FZ200 turns out to be worth getting or a G13 is released then I should be able to resell the G12 for what I paid for it.

[Honest Gaza]

Then Panasonic announced the replacement for the FZ150, the FZ200, this week.

Just had a look at the review of the FZ200 and if I'm not mistaken, it's the first time Panasonic have released a constant f/2.8 since the FZ20 was released many years ago. I used to have the FZ20 before taking a leap into the world of DSLR (at the time I was looking at an FZ50 but went with a Canon DSLR 400D).