Which camera should I get?

[Canuck]

My 2003 camera is getting a little long in the tooth.  I basically want to have an SLR in a point and shoot body.  I know you have to make compromises.  Right now I'm stuck between the Canon SX 200 and the Panasonic Lumix ZS3.

First my requirements:

• portable/pocketable
  good zoom
  capable of recording in HD
  capable of zooming during recording
  panaromic pictures

So at first I found the CanonSX 200(review) and it seemed to have everything I wanted except for the zooming during movies.  I was willing to make that sacrifice because I like Canon but then I found the Panasonic Lumix ZS3(review) which seems to to be just as good or better in the most cases (longer battery life, apparently better quality shots, zoom during videos).  I like the looks of both of them a lot. I like the fact that the Panasonic has stereo audio recording whereas the Sony only has mono.  Anybody have experience with these two cameras?  Looks like the Panny would cost me about $50 more than the Canon.

[Hamsterball_Z]

The Fuji F70EXR is another 10x zoom P&S worth looking at.  This blog had a series if posts comparing the F70EXR to the ZS3.  Skip past the Rascal Flatts concert shoot to see the comparison posts.  I couldn't find a search that listed all the comparisons that didn't include that one.  One good thing, those concert shots were all done with the F70 so it gives you some idea of what it's capable of.

[wonderpug]

I basically want to have an SLR in a point and shoot body. 

First, have you considered the new micro four thirds cameras by Olympus and Panasonic?  "SLR in P&S body" is basically their entire premise.

Second, I highly recommend you take a look at the reviews on dpreview.com in addition to that review site you linked to.

Finally, if the Micro 4/3 cameras aren't for you, I'd advise adding to the consideration list the Canon G11, Canon S90, and Lumix LX3.   

[coopasonic]

Panasonic Lumix ZS3.

We got this recently. The poor low light performance is not exaggerated.

[Devil]

I got a Panasonic Lumix TS1 for a recent trip and it works pretty well.

You can drop it and drown it too!

[Daehawk]

Wow cameras have sure evolved in the scant few years since my wife got me my Canon A75. Same size really but a huge improvement in lens and zoomable video? damn. Mine only does 10 sec videos at 640x480 I think...30 sec in i lower it lol. I'd love to have one of those. I'd settle for one that did the 3 auto set and shoot pics for HDR combining. having to do 3 shots manual never works because I have to manually set each one then shoot it. Ugh.

[deadzone]

I just recently got myself a Sony Cyber shot DSC-H20 and I really like it.  It does all of the things on your list with the exception of the panaromic pictures.  The picture quality is really good if you control the settings and the picture quality is not too bad if you use it in Auto. 

The one thing I am really happy with is the video quality of this camera.  720p at 30fps makes for some really nice quality HD home movies! 

Little movie sample for you here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBoeygnG-pc

Picture samples here from the recent Mardi Gras celebrations:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/shad-o/sets/72157623326661417/

[lildrgn]

A friend has the Lumix GF-1 and is in love with it. Here are some shots of his: link.