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I'm looking to buy a new digital camera. I take lots of home videos chasing my kids around outside and some concert videos as well. I'm tossed between two models (the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 & the Canon PowerShot SX260 HS). One records 1080P video at 24fps and the other does 60fps (which apparently means 30fps). This clearly isn't necessarily a case of higher is better. Does anyone have an educated opinion between the two? I'm really over-analyzing it, but want to feel good about my purchase. I'm interested in quality on my big screen HDTV, not just on YouTube.

Help! The more I read, the more confused I get.

Dunno, I'm looking tp replace a camera too.

Maybe someone on BN can help!

FunkHouse & springparrot, I don't have an educated opinion as you asked for. However I do have a couple tips which I hope are useful to you.

1) do a side by side comparison, you may have already done this as your choice of a camera is narrowed down to 2.
If you haven't done this you'll be able to see the differences between the 2 cameras and decide what features are most important to you.

2) Buy BOTH of them!!!
Test drive them at home.
Make sure you can play them back on your tv and or computer (I'm not real familiar with camera/tv set ups,and I've only tried once, but I do know that I can't yet play video on my tv with my newest camera Don't know if it's me or the camera).
You'll be able to tell which camera is more comfortable for you.
You'll be able to see the results of each camera and know which one you prefer.

3) KEEP the one you like.

4) VERY IMPORTANT.......IMMEDIATELY RETURN the one you don't like.

Good Luck.

In this case, I'm not going to be able to do the video side-by-side justice, which is why I'm wanting input. It's about wanting to make sure the right decision on something I don't understand. I didn't really understand HD video until I had an HD TV. As I'm getting more into this, I'd hate to look back and wish my home videos had been done differently. I'm probably worrying too much about this since it's candid video and not film-making. But it's those treasured bike rides, trips to the playground and birthday parties that I want to make the best of, all high-motion things that could have a quality difference in my 24 vs 60fps question.

I consider myself an amateur enthusiast looking to essentially grow into what I'm getting. The benefit of time would allow me to test and educate myself more, but I had my mind set on one model, but am uncertain now. My old camera crapped out on me, so I'm needing to replace fairly soon due to upcoming stuff. Of course, if the old camera didn't die, I'd be trying to use it until it dies and I wouldn't be looking at replacements, so I'd end up in this position eventually anyway.

this is for your "internet friends" benefit, isn't it?

This was suggested to me:

http://www.google.com/products/catalog? ... 0BEPMCMAE#


any suggestions or comments?

RinglingRingling wrote:this is for your "internet friends" benefit, isn't it?

Shhh.... Hence why I need something that takes good low-light photos.

springparrot wrote:This was suggested to me:

http://www.google.com/products/catalog? ... 0BEPMCMAE#


any suggestions or comments?

I've heard great things about that camera and if I were in a slightly different market, I'd be giving that serious consideration. I LOVE the flip around screens too. If you're serious about photos and if you have the flexibility in your budget, take a look at the new PowerShot G1 X as well. Makes me wish I had bigger pockets (literally and figuratively) and didn't feel I needed the huge zoom.

springparrot wrote:This was suggested to me:

http://www.google.com/products/catalog? ... 0BEPMCMAE#


any suggestions or comments?

I've heard great things about that camera and if I were in a slightly different market, I'd be giving that serious consideration. I LOVE the flip around screens too. If you're serious about photos and if you have the flexibility in your budget, take a look at the new PowerShot G1 X as well. Makes me wish I had bigger pockets (literally and figuratively) and didn't feel I needed the huge zoom.[/quote]
Went to Best Buy tonight and bought my camera for a test drive and tinkered with yours as well. Seems pretty nice in person like I expected it to.

springparrot wrote:This was suggested to me:

http://www.google.com/products/catalog? ... 0BEPMCMAE#


any suggestions or comments?

I've heard great things about that camera and if I were in a slightly different market, I'd be giving that serious consideration. I LOVE the flip around screens too. If you're serious about photos and if you have the flexibility in your budget, take a look at the new PowerShot G1 X as well. Makes me wish I had bigger pockets (literally and figuratively) and didn't feel I needed the huge zoom.[/quote]
Went to Best Buy tonight and bought my camera for a test drive and tinkered with yours as well. Seems pretty nice in person like I expected it to.

FunkHouse9 wrote:

springparrot wrote:This was suggested to me:

http://www.google.com/products/catalog? ... 0BEPMCMAE#


any suggestions or comments?

I've heard great things about that camera and if I were in a slightly different market, I'd be giving that serious consideration. I LOVE the flip around screens too. If you're serious about photos and if you have the flexibility in your budget, take a look at the new PowerShot G1 X as well. Makes me wish I had bigger pockets (literally and figuratively) and didn't feel I needed the huge zoom.

to Best Buy tonight and bought my camera for a test drive and tinkered with yours as well. Seems pretty nice in person like I expected it to.

Thanks for the info!!!