Which LUMIX model would you recommend?

[raid]

The only addition to what Nick has said: The file size may be important to some people. 2MP are cheap accordingly. The question is whether you need greater file sizes or not.

 

[GaryLH]

Raid

Not sure if you have seen the group test stuff from dpreview. Below are links to
Group test for high end and travel p&s. For other group test, just use their search tool and key word "group test".

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/q42010highendcompactgroup/
http://www.dpreview.com/news/1006/10061603travelzoomgrouptest.asp

I think a lot depends on what u intend to use the digital p&s for,,,*

Examples:
1. travel camera - backup or primary
2. Camera u can give to fellow tourist to take a picture of u and your family
3. Digital note taker - use it to scout a location
4. A everyday camera with the level of controls and zoom range u need
5. Does it need to be water proof

On top of that is sensor size versus compactness. Fwiw, pansonic lx3 and lx5 have a slight bigger sensor than the normal one used on most p&s, but still much smaller than what is on the mft cameras.

Personally, I think what u have already is good enough to cover the first three examples, The only reason I can think of for going different would be:
1. Do u need wider than 35 at expense of long end?
2. Do u want better control
3. Faster lens
4. Higher iso capability before noise issues become an issue.
5. Something that is waterproof like the panasonic ts2

Good luck
Gary

 

[Pablito]

Raid, if you don't have to have zoom, I'd go with Ricoh GRD instead.

Just a thought.

Much more expensive. Great camera though. But not if you need a long-ish focal length for portraits.
LX3/ LX5 are great. I have GRD3 and the LX3 - they are for different things.

 

[raid]

Thanks for the tips, Gary.
I want a camera that can handle low light scenes very well.
I stopped ordering prints several years ago, so the goal is to post images online and to send relatives some snapshots which they can print out.

 

[raid]

Much more expensive. Great camera though. But not if you need a long-ish focal length for portraits.
LX3/ LX5 are great. I have GRD3 and the LX3 - they are for different things.

Hi Pablito,
The super zoom feature is really awesome, as Nick has mentioned.

 

[DNG]

I never considered Panasonic for a camera until I tried the G1. The GF1 came out and I sold the G1 and bought a GF1 and bought into the mFT system. That said, I also purchased a Panasonic ZS7 ( Leica V-lux 20 ). Great image quality, and excellent HD video. You can zoom and the AF keeps up with the action being taped. I've used this camera so much that the serial number and other stuff on the bottom is wearing off! I used it alot for our vacation in Montana and my kids playing softball/baseball, and many other moments that requires a quick snapshot. Small enough to fit in a pocket too. Finally a P&S I will keep for a while and not sell.

TO OP:
If you don't need the Higher IQ stereo Video, the ZS-5 is a slightly less featured ZS-7, No Stereo, or 1280x Video, but 720x video. same great Leica licensed lens (25mm-300mm). And around $220.00 I got my wife a ZS-5 for her Birthday.

 

[raid]

The ZS5 has a 3.3-4.9 lens which works well for daylight scenes but is too slow for dark scenes. It is a 12MP camera though.

 

[Frontman]

As I've said about the LX5, it handles low-light scenes quite well, and is capable of taking pics in complete darkness (though the results are somewhat noisy). For typical night scenery it works very well.

The price for the LX5 is already coming down. The cost here in Japan was more than 50k yen when it was introduced a few months ago, I got mine recently for 37k yen. Prices should continue to go down.

Once again, my favorite feature of the LX5 is it's ability to power up and take a pic nearly instantly, it is nearly as fast as my full-size Nikon DSLR cameras, and far faster than any other P&S camera I tried.

It's lens is adequately fast throughout it's range, and I love how closely it can focus.

 

[raid]

That's not bad at all.