Panasonic TZ7 vs Samsung WB550 - which to buy?

5 Posts

danpooley
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Joined: 3 Apr 2009
Posts: 1

3 April 2009, 03:36 pm

The Panasonic TZ7 looks pretty awesome as an all round package goes - except according to some the lack of full manual control (although for me this would probably help prevent me ruining my photos).
Every review I've read is pretty much raving about it - particularly the HD video recording, use of zoom whilst filming and the surround sound recording with the option to cut out noise from wind.

Then I came across the Samsung WB550 which purports to do pretty much the same stuff (although can't find any info on audio recording - surround sound or wind reduction - anyone heard anything? Samsung's own website neglects info on this too).

The optical zoom is only 10x vs 12x on the Panasonic, but the no. megapixels is higher - 12.1 vs 10.1 - for my purposes both would probably be adequate.

I can't, however, find any reviews (independent or otherwise) on the Samsung yet so want to know if anyone can fill me in on which of the two to buy (especially given the Samsung looks set to be cheaper).
Anyone seen a decent review, or better yet a comparison of the two cameras (many suggest they are rivals, but no comparisons to be seen as yet)?
Is cnet going to review the Samsung soon?

I'd be grateful for any suggestions or help - I'm off travelling in the not too distant future and a new, decent camera is a must!

Thanks (in anticipation),

Dan

robpinion
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Joined: 7 Apr 2009
Posts: 1

7 April 2009, 10:37 am

I'm waiting for the Samung WB550 (aka HZ15W in the US). Can't find one in Poland or Germany yet. I was going to get the Olympus Stylus 9000 for its superzoom and general ease of use of Olympus features, but no HDMI connector, which the Stylus 7000 has with less zoom. What gives with these people?!?!

Then I saw the Panasonic TZ7, which is now available in Poland. Decided I'd rather have the 24 mm of the Samsung and wasn't too confident that Panasonic's HDMI connection to TV might be a bit more proprietary. Looks like Samsung's is just plug and play: plug into the TV and play the slide show. Also it has manual focus, which I haven't seen on any other camera in this class (compact, high-zoom).

Alas --- I have been waiting on it to hit the stores for over a month now. No news. Will it ever arrive? It's not even on some of the Samsung sites in Europe. It's on the German site but not in the stores. The flash on the web site for Samsung is awfully slow and unintuitve. I am leary of switching from Olympus, which I think is GREAT at user interface, to the interface of the Samsung which I fear will be clumsy (and have read a review to that effect). But the HDMI and manual focus have won me over. I might be foolish thinking I can manually focus using an LCD screen. I am interested in seeing how well that works.

Let me know what you decide.

Edited by robpinion (Member) on 7 April 2009 at 09:38 am

kuriousv
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Joined: 13 Apr 2009
Posts: 1

13 April 2009, 11:18 pm

Even I am eagerly waiting for the feedback and about the availability of WB550

wdc
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Joined: 19 May 2009
Posts: 1

19 May 2009, 12:37 pm

kuriousv says:
Even I am eagerly waiting for the feedback and about the availability of WB550

The WB550 is quite a good camera except for 1 or 2 things - placement of flash isnt thought out and low light performance isn't great. Menus are more fiddly than the NV series (which seems a step back). On the upside the 24-240mm is an excellent range to have, which is essentially the upsell. Plus Play.com has it for £230. Check out What Digital Camera.com, a full review is up there.

Overall, however, it's hard to say whether the Panasonic TZ7 is the pick of the two. Whilst it lacks a full manual mode - the WB550's is somewhat limited (you may as well just use P mode) - there's a 25-300mm zoom, better image quality, smaller package, but a few quid more. If the extra zoom will benefit you then it's the choice, plus Lumix compacts are up there with the best on the market.

Edited by wdc (Member) on 19 May 2009 at 11:43 am

1000125993
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Joined: 5 Jun 2007
Posts: 1

22 May 2009, 11:47 am

Personally I am going to recommend the panasonic whilst the samsung is maybe technically better than the panasonic, the panasonic will be built to withstand the bumps of everyday life. The best thing about the panasonic and lumix in general is - the built quality - the menus/buttons - the lens quality is unbelievably brilliant. A good camera is one with a good lens not a huge sensor. My experience with samsung cameras (had a couple) is that they break and they don't take good quality pictures (appear quite washed out at times or over saturated) . Whereas with the TZ5 (old version of the TZ7) which I took on a trekking trip to nepal this easter made it clear it was the best thing I had ever spent my money on because of
-Long battery life
-Great wide angle/telephoto with no barrel distortion (where the picture curves a the edges - I want to see samsung achieve that with a no-name branded lens. And its HD mode worked perfectly for both panoramic 360 spins, traffic, sister's baby (not in nepal!), a helicopter, horse riding etc.
-taking a picture of the scene exactly how you see colour reproduction etc
I found the camera so great that I recommended it to friend who got one in time for nepal and as a testament to the TZ5's popularity I saw and had a chat with no fewer than 3 other people on the trek who also owned the simply brilliant camera. As a note on the TZ7 review I would have liked to have seen to review compared to the TZ5 since this is what it replaces and in my opinion the TZ5 appears to be better value at the moment since the TZ7 just introduces better audio and a new compression format whilst being lighter.
BTW buy your camera on ebay I saved £50 whilst buying it and got a lot of free gifts 8gb class 6 card, case, tripod, cable to watch on HDTV, extra battery and a lens/screen cleaning kit. Not bad for £205
BTW2 get a semi-hard case they are superb and make the camera indestructible.

(I have samsung televisions (two of them), hdd recorder and phone - so I'm normally a samsung lover - but I just wish they made decent camera's, whereas the TZ5 is the only panasonic thing I have so please don't call fanboy alert I am just trying to give my honest two cents)

5 Posts