Which Digital Camera - Sony Cybershot or Panasonic Lumix?

kerri_gt

Hello techies..... I need a little advise. I'm planning to get my mum (in her 60's) a digital camera for Xmas (she'll become a first time granny next year so thought it would be a nice prezzie). She doesn't currently have a digital camera so I was looking for something that was a decent spec (as it won't be replaced/upgraded anytime soon) but that is compact and pretty easy to use.

My budget is £100 (ish) and based on Amazon prices I'd narrowed down two choices;

Sony Cybershot W320
Panasonic Lumix FS10

Both seem to have equally good reviews

Tonight I was about to purchase the Cybershot but then realised Sony have a specialist memory card - which generally requires an adaptor to make it fit an SD card slot.

Part of the idea of getting my mum a digital camera is so she can print from the memory card in store.

So my first question is whether anyone knows if the in store self serve machines accept the Sony Memory Stock Pro cards - or whether these would all need to have the adaptor used?

My thoughts are that if my mum constantly needs to use the adaptor every time she needs to print, it's going to become a bit of a faff (I know it's not a lot of extra effort but I want something really easy for her to use)

If anyone could also offer any other opinions on the two cameras, I'd appreciate this too.

Parva

The memory card readers do accept Sony Memorysticks without the need of an adaptor. I bought a Sony Cybershot DSC-P120 around 8 years ago now and regarding current cameras it's probably a bit long in the tooth with only a 5MP capability. That said, it still looks as good as any camera on the market now and despite many many trips abroad it still performs faultlessly. The resolution is still more than adequate for my needs.

I'm not knocking the Panasonic here as I dare say that they are equally capable, just offering the experience of my particular Sony which I have no desire nor need to replace anytime soon.

knightstyle

I would go and have a look at them, we bought a Panasonic a few years ago because its body is mainly metal. Our old Fuji broke when only a year old and was dropped. Very pleased with it and it has survived a few drops and knocks.
So if they are equal in spec etc. I would go for the most robust.

poppy10_2

kerri_gt wrote: »

A
Tonight I was about to purchase the Cybershot but then realised Sony have a specialist memory card - which generally requires an adaptor to make it fit an SD card slot.

The Sony W320 takes standard SD(HC) cards as well as their propietary Memory Sticks. However the Lumix is by far the better camera.

Laz123

My Lumix is the best camera I've ever had.

kerri_gt

poppy10 wrote: »

The Sony W320 takes standard SD(HC) cards as well as their propietary Memory Sticks. However the Lumix is by far the better camera.

Thankyou, that's really good to know - about the Sony taking the standard SD(HC) card too.

Thanks everyone for your replies, I know a lot is due to personal preference when it comes to cameras, I've read loads of reviews on the internet and the cameras tend to come out pretty even (pros and cons to both)

I'm going to take your advise and have a look at both instore before I buy. Personally I have a Pentax so I'm not necessarily in either camp (before you ask why I don't get her a Pentax, although I like mine, and it's a decent camera, I'm not 100% sure I'd buy another)

tonynw

have a look at this

http://www.castoff.net/search/results?Keywords=tz6&Ord=3&Src=1

tonynw

bengalknights

I love the Lumix camera compared to my old sony one i had the lumix has more features and to me is simpler to use.

kerri_gt

Well I had a look in my local camera shop today and I'm not really any the wiser. I had a look at the Sony W320 but they didn't have any Lumix cameras to compare with, and the girl was far more interested in trying to seel me a W360 - which granted was on offer, advising me of the HD video & panoramic sweep features (which I've already looked at but am 100% sure my mum would never use) - I had a look at their brochure which I bought home and turns out the W360 is unique to that store - no wonder it's on offer and she was trying to get me to buy it. TBH I didn't feel that she was listening to me at all - and although thr W360 was a slightly better spec, i didn't like the feel of it so much, so oddly I'm now swaying towards the Lumix. In fact, the best bit of advsie I got in store was overhearing a guy say to his dad about using a Lumix and that he'd thought it was great.