<p>I know you’ve already limited your choices to two, but we’ve never had Canon, but I am delighted with the Panasonic Lumix, they have a larger one, but their is also a purse/pocjet size with a 10x optical zoom- I love the huge telephoto ability. They have them at Costco- just to make you think and only a consideration if you really like a quality zoom. I love mine.</p>
<p>This is a little late, but I thought I’d post anyway in case anyone else is debating cameras. I learn a lot by other’s recommendations.</p>
<p>I recently researched pocket point and shoot camera for a trip in September, and ended up purchasing the Canon 800is. (7 mp predecessor to the 870). I really wanted the 710is (now a 720 I believe), because it had more user over-rides, allowing more creative options, and a 6x zoom. But it is larger, and at the time I could not find it locally (the new cameras were ready to be released, and the local stores had sold out of some of the prior models. I didn’t have the time to wait for the new models, or to purchase online.
I’m glad I purchased the pocket size Canon. I carry it everywhere, and it has come in handy for all kinds of things I did not expect (shopping, candid shots, etc.). </p>
<p>What I like: the size, wide angle (I tend to take more shots of scenery & inside buildings), color, bright monitor, ease of finding and switching modes. What I don’t like: fewer manual options. You can compensate for aperture, but not for shutter speed. There are times I wish it had a better zoom, but I don’t think the difference between a 6x and 4x is enough to matter. A sales rep. recommended the Panasonic Lumix DMC TZ3K for that reason. It has a 28mm - 280 mm zoom lens, and is relatively small and inexpensive for a 10x optical zoom camera. This model was actually rated quite high, unlike many Panasonics, but I looked at it in 2 stores and the lens was broken at both! I took that a warning.</p>
<p>I had troubles with my Canon’s autofocus, and had to send it to the factory repair shop. I believe it was a factory defect, not something that happened over the short time. Of course, you might say that it is a negative that I had to send it in at all, but I was very impressed with the Canon service both over the phone, and the speed of return. </p>
<p>I thought the pictures were great until I had a friend for dinner to share our trips. Her pictures were amazing! (She had a 10mp Samsung NV10 ). It might have been the subject matter (hers were incredible shots of Italy and Germany…mine were only domestic ;-). Or, it could have been the difference in megapixels. Or, perhaps the photographer…nah! </p>
<p>If you have time and the resources, you might want to compare shots side by side. I had to rely on customer review sites such as Epinions, Consumer Reports, [Digital</a> Camera Resource Page: Camera Reviews & Info Database](<a href=“http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/cameraList.php]Digital”>http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/cameraList.php) , [Bob</a> Atkins - Digital Photography - Camera Reviews - Lens Tests - Canon EOS FAQ - Nature - Wildlife - Gallery](<a href=“http://www.bobatkins.com/]Bob”>http://www.bobatkins.com/) , [Recommended</a> Cameras](<a href=“http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/recommended-cameras.htm]Recommended”>Recommended Cameras by Ken Rockwell) , [Camera</a> Review - Photography & Camera Equipment Reviews](<a href=“http://www.camerareview.com/]Camera”>http://www.camerareview.com/) , [Digital</a> camera buying guide - CNET reviews](<a href=“How to buy a camera - CNET”>How to buy a camera - CNET)</p>
<p>The Canon received good or great reviews from most.</p>
<p>FWIW, I once had an Olympus OM-1 35mm SLR. I LOVED it. Pictures were great (okay, good). I bought 2 Olympus point and shoots after that (non-digital kind), because I was so happy with my first Olympus. I hated them both. The pictures were lousy. Same company, and same photographer, obviously. </p>
<p>I think she’ll be happy w/ the Canon!</p>
<p>I believe the Canon battery is one you can charge repeatedly without it losing memory. I charged it daily on our trip. However, if I were going to Europe, I’d probably take a second battery anyway (and an appropriate adapter). The Canon does not give you much warning when the battery is low. I have not experienced that disappointment, but a friend who has the same camera said they could only take 2-3 shots once they received a low battery warning, and Canon phone representative confirmed that is normal. If you’re thinking of a protective case, Circuit City had a combination package (extra battery plus camera case)which was reasonably priced – back in September. It cost the same as the battery alone. I purchased a 2GB Ultra memory chip for a 9 day trip, which was plenty for me, but it depends on the number of photos you take. I’d have at least one extra memory chip for a European vacation, unless she will have her computer or the ability to download. Remember to set the photos to “L” and “Superfine” (best quality = more pixels) That will result in finer pictures, and more cropping options, but of course uses more memory. It is not the factory setting.</p>
<p>Wife and youngest D both just got the Sony DSC_W80</p>
<p>Snowball, most of my shots are just slightly deviated from the way they came out of the camera. I do everything I possibly can while I am shooting. For example, all of my black and white photos were shot that way in camera.</p>
<p>Oh yeah, I hope none of you are buying into that megapixel ******** that camera companies convince you to believe. More megapixels do not make your camera better. Megapixels only determine the size print you can make. I have an 8 megapixel camera, so I can make a 21" x 32" print at the max. That’s all there is to it.</p>