Greetings I have been shopping for a camera for some time as a pocket type backup for my digital SLR. I have more than enough control via the SLR but want a quick grab camera to replace my 5 year old Olympus C-750 Ultra Zoom. I am stuck between the Canon SX200 IS and the Panasonic DMCZS3. I like the $50 less on the Canon and the specs are seemingly better on the Canon. Are they similar enough to call it a wash? I stood in the store playing with both of them repeatedly. What I am looking for is good picture quality for quick shots and easy to carry, compatible with SD cards.

Any details that might help me decide would be helpful. Thanks..

I am in the same boat as Rodney. I simply cannot decide between the Canon sx200 and the Panasonic dmc zs3. I, too, am looking for good picture quality. While most professional reviews tend to lean toward the zs3, I have read very mixed reviews from users. Some people, who have used both, say the Canon has the best picture quality, and about the same number say the Panasonic does. I am just going round and round, and don't know who to believe! Help!.

Hi - for a few years I have used a Pentax Optio 555 and 750z but had been looking for something with both a wider and longer zoom, plus inmage stabilisation whilst retaining PASM control and which could fit in jacket pocket. The Canon SX200IS is the only one on the market that meets that spec. I have had one since June 2009 and am not diappointed. You soon get used to the pop-up flash. It is reliable and gives high quality pictures. Only gripes are the lack of ability to shoot TIFF and in low light the noise supression trims some detail.

I have no regrets!.

Can this camera be used with the Windows Vista operating system??.

I just got the Canon PowerShot SX200 IS. I am finding that some of the pictures are blurry. Any ideas on why?.

Yikes! The article states incorrectly, "So the big question for any super zoom is what kind of light does it need? As you rack out the barrel, you are making the light travel further through the glass so you need more of it to get to the sensor." Really?! The air-filled space between the lenses must be something special. OK, enough good-humored sarcasm. The reason, of course, is that the portion of the scene captured when zoomed in is smaller and therefore reflects less absolute quantity of light than the the larger scene captured when zoomed out (obviously, assuming a generally evenly illuminated scene)..

Yikes! The article states incorrectly, "So the big question for any super zoom is what kind of light does it need? As you rack out the barrel, you are making the light travel further through the glass so you need more of it to get to the sensor." Really?! The air-filled space between the lenses must be something special. OK, enough good-humored sarcasm. The reason, of course, is that the portion of the scene captured when zoomed in is smaller and therefore reflects less absolute quantity of light than the the larger scene captured when zoomed out (obviously, assuming a generally evenly illuminated scene). Dave writes: __ Hi Greg - Thanks for the catch on that. Yeah, that's an incorrect description that we didn't catch as the article went from writer through the editing process. Thanks for pointing it out, we'll change it, and watch more closely for things like it going forward.

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