Talk me into or out of this Camera

[TheGreatSatan]

I have a good camera, the Lumix LZ7K (http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-DMC-LZ7K-Digital-Camera-Stabilized/dp/B000MW7B0I) with great reviews. I really love this new Lumix ZS7K (http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-DMC-ZS7-Digital-Stabilized-3-0-Inch/dp/B00395WIXA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=photo&qid=1273330683&sr=1-1), but do I really need it?

I hate Lithum batteries and the new one uses them. I love the convenience of AA's, which I have now, but you can't find high Zoom cameras that use them. What to do?

[Zephik]

You should buy it. No I'm just kidding, don't buy it. But seriously though, you should. Don't listen to him, he know nothing! Don't buy it! The hell I do! Buy it! You know you want it. But you don't need it. So? So it's awesome and he should get it. But the one he already has is awesome as well. Good point. I know it is. Pff, tool. Momma's boy.

I think the consensus is that yes it'd be nice, but so is what you have now. So, do you really need it? Can you benefit from it in a way that would justify the price? If not or if only a little bit, i'd say you don't need it.

[d_stilgar]

I have a Canon G10 that uses rechargeable batteries. I love it and the thing holds a charge for months. I don't think you should worry about it too much. Read some reviews and see what others are saying about battery life. That said, you have a nice camera and rarely do people need more MP. If the image quality is good on your current camera, then don't spend the money on a new one. High MP are for large prints and rarely increase image quality on small aperture, small sensor cameras. Very often it looks about the same as taking a low MP shot and blowing it up in photoshop. No joke!

So my vote is to save your money for something else!

[Oneslowz28]

If its not a Canon then its not worth buying.

[crenn]

It's a pretty small camera, I'm not sure I could talk you into it.

[diluzio91]

If its not a Canon then its not worth buying.

:up:

[TheGreatSatan]

Canon's are OK, but I prefer Panasonic

[Zephik]

OK? They're bloody fantastic. :p

Panasonics are actually pretty nice too, though. Like Canon, the poor reviews are rather scarce.

[mtekk]

Zoom is not the only thing to be concerned about, hell with a higher zoom lens you are going to get barrel distortion. If I was going to get a Panasonic I'd get the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3K (awesome P&S camera). But seeing as I just ordered a Canon s90 this morning (and even more awesome P&S), you know where I put my money.

For me I don't need a high zoom (the 3.8x of the s90 is just slightly less than my SD850IS's 4x), I want a larger sensor (and I'm not ready to step up to a DSLR) and good low light response. The LX7 offers a tiny sensor compared to the s90, and the lens on the s90 is more than a full stop faster. But enough with that, they are not even competitors (the SD line is Canon's competitor to the LX7, the LX3 is Panasonic's competitor to the s90).

As for Li-ion/Li-po vs AA batteries, I haven't used AAs for years now. In the end you put less into a landfill if you go with a rechargeable battery. On a typical trip, I'll need to recharge my SD850IS about every other day, which is fine for me.

[TheGreatSatan]

I use rechargable AA's, but if I ever want to upgrade I going to have to bite the ion bullet

[crenn]

I use rechargable AA's, but if I ever want to upgrade I going to have to bite the ion bullet
The Li-ion batteries specifically say not to puncture or crush the battery ;P

[Airbozo]

My FujiFilm 2000hd uses aa batteries and has a 12x zoom. It takes really good pictures at a distance too. Check these out;
http://img685.imageshack.us/img685/3226/hockeydetvssj5110083.jpg

That was taken at full zoom in doors with low light.

EDIT: I sit in the second to last row of the Tank and got that picture...