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New Camera! Hooray for Panasonic, boo hiss for Canon

I’ve got a new camera, a Panasonic DMC-FZ200!   I bought mine at Hunt’s Camera in South Portland in the interest of buying local, but they are also available here, at B&H Photo in NYC.  I’ve bought many cameras and equipment from B&H over the years, and highly recommend them.

My new camera (well, this is an internet photo, but mine looks like this minus the photo of the Jefferson Memorial!)

My new camera (well, this is an internet photo, but mine looks like this minus the photo of the Jefferson Memorial!)

And WHY did I buy a new camera:  Well…..

Up until this summer, 2 1/2 years after purchasing my Canon G12, I would have given this camera 4 to 4 1/2 stars out of 5. I missed my previous camera, a Panasonic Super-zoom FZ-30 that had a 12x lens; I fatally damaged that camera when I slipped on a hike and it banged into a rock and knocked the lens loose (oops). I wanted something lighter and more compact so bought the Canon G12. After 30 months, it started acting up, buttons not responding, zoom not responding.

After searching on the internet, I discovered that many others are having this problem. The short-term workaround, to eject and re-insert the memory card worked for a few weeks. Eventually, I did a total reset, removing the memory card, the battery and reformatting the memory card. Also tried a different memory card. The camera became more and more locked up, couldn’t delete photos, couldn’t zoom, couldn’t even access the set up menus to do a total re-boot.

I called Canon to see about repairs: $179 plus about $40 shipping both ways. As a “loyal customer” they would sell me a “refurbished G12” for $279 instead. So a 20 percent discount off their current price for a 4 year old refurbished camera that no one is selling that is now two generations old? They would NOT allow me buy a G15 or G1 X at discount, full price only. NO THANKS, Canon.

Instead, I’m ticked off that I paid $469 for a supposedly great camera that died in less than 3 years despite being treated with extreme care: no sand, no water, not bumped, not dropped. Took baby-tender care of the G12 and it just quit. NOT GOOD.  Sounds like Canon’s program is profit loyalty, not customer loyalty!

So yesterday I bought a Panasonic Superzoom, DMC-FZ200. It weighs about the same as the G12. The processor isn’t quite as large, but the display articulates (unlike the G15 and G16), has an optical viewfinder, and 24x zoom. For super fussy I can use my Nikon DSLR.  And so far, the shots on the Panasonic look great.

Panasonic has done a great job… I love DP reviews for an expert review on cameras, and the FZ200 is tops for the superzooms.  Here’s a link to their info, just in case anyone is interested .  Astonishingly, it weights significantly less than my old FZ30, about the same as the G12, but is a bit bulkier.  Won’t fit into a pocket but easily fits into my purse!  WOOT!  All the better for blogging!

One Response to “New Camera! Hooray for Panasonic, boo hiss for Canon”

  1. Maggie Szafranski Says:

    I have the G12 but as of yet had no problems with it. fingers crossed!