Over the past seven years I’ve owned three different Canon digital cameras, upgrading as each camera reached its limit in terms of current features. Actually I probably would’ve held off for another year if my trusty SD800 hadn’t broken.

In the past I’ve considered Panasonic but with my last two purchases my familiarity with the Canon functions/operations stopped me from trying a Panasonic. Another factor that has attracted me to Panasonic has been the Leica lens. When making this most recent purchase decision I compared the DMC-FS15 to comparable Canons. The main difference was the price with the Panasonic Lumix’s being significantly less expensive.

I decided to finally give Panasonic a chance. The Lumix has not disappointed. I’ve taken two weeks worth of photos while on my family vacation. I took a variety of photos during the day and night and with a lot of movement (i.e. my family at Disney World). I really like how well the FS15 takes pictures without my needing to adjust settings. At the same time it still has a multitude of manual and other automatic settings that come in handy. For me the 5x Optical Zoom and the wide angle lens were the main selling points. I considered the Lumix ZS3 for its 12x wide angle zoom but decided that for my purposes the 5x would suffice.

There are only three things that I do not like about the FS15. First it does not use a standard USB cable, so I might be in trouble if I ever forget to pack the cable or lose it. Also the extra batteries are on the pricey side and it seems (based on internet reviews) that there are issues with 3rd party batteries. The other annoyance is the manner in which one switches the camera to movie mode. With the Canon it was turn a flick of the dial. With the Lumix, you’ve got to press the mode button, scroll down to movie, and select. This can be problematic if you want to capture a video right away. However despite these minor issues I still really like the FS15. Based on my picture current experience with the FS15 I can highly recommend it. Plus the price on Amazon is great!

Panasonic LUMIX DMC-TS3 (FT3) (US) Red 32GB SDHC US $338.97 End Date: Wednesday Feb-08-2012 1:54:38 PST

Panasonic LUMIX DMC-FH7 (FS22) Black 32GB SDHC US $190.88 End Date: Wednesday Feb-08-2012 2:05:35 PST

Panasonic LUMIX DMC-FZ5 Digital Camera w/12x ZOOM & ALL ACCESS+BAG US $99.01 (0 Bid) End Date: Wednesday Feb-08-2012 2:40:56 PST

Panasonic Lumix DMC-S1 12.1 MP Digital Camera with 4x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom with 2.7-Inch LCD (Black) USD $61.00 Order Now

Rokinon TTL Olympus/Panasonic-compatible Digital Camera Flash USD $109.99 Buy Now

There are Digital cameras that use AA-size batteries and those that are powered by lithium-ion batteries that only work with a particular type, make or brand of camera. If you travel, particularly if you enjoy remote or rustic locations, choose a camera with AA batteries.

Why?

When a camera that uses proprietary batteries runs out of power, you have no choice but to plug the battery into a power outlet to recharge it. This requires an available outlet, a battery charger, and, if you’re in a foreign country, a power converter. If access to an outlet is ever in doubt, or if you don’t want the hassle of carrying cords and chargers, then the limitations of this system are obvious.

You have the option to purchase the proprietary battery pack your camera uses – but they can be expensive and how many will you need?

If you use a camera that uses AA-size batteries when batteries run out of power on a trip, you can simply throw out the old batteries and drop in a new set of high-performance AAs like the Energizer E2 Lithium line. Two or three sets of such batteries can usually take you through a 10-day trip. If you’re out of high-performance batteries, you also have the option of using standard alkaline batteries, which are available anywhere in the world, and make a cheap and convenient source of backup power (though they only offer a fraction of the life of high performance batteries).

Before you buy check. Get a camera that uses AA batteries if you travel. My Canon PowerShot is one such camera.

CANON POWERSHOT A3300 IS DIGITAL CAMERA PINK US $159.00 End Date: Wednesday Feb-08-2012 0:45:23 PST

CANON POWERSHOT A3300 IS DIGITAL CAMERA BLUE US $159.00 End Date: Wednesday Feb-08-2012 0:45:23 PST

Canon PowerShot A3300 IS 16.0 MP Digital Camera - Blue US $70.00 (0 Bid) End Date: Wednesday Feb-08-2012 0:59:53 PST

Canon PowerShot ELPH 300 HS / IXUS 220 12.1 MP Digital Camera - Black US $194.00 End Date: Wednesday Feb-08-2012 1:26:26 PST

Canon PowerShot SX230HS 12.1 MP Digital Camera with HS SYSTEM and DIGIC 4 Image Processor, 14x optical zoom (Black) Too low to display Order Now

Canon PowerShot A2200 14.1MP Blue Digital Camera USD $89.00 Buy Now

Naturecamhd posted a photo:

One of the many fine sculptures at Woodlawn Cemetery.