Which one should i choose?? I can't decide and it's really really bugging me. Please help me out!

LUMIX DMC-FZ20
http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B0002W5OI4.03.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

OR

Canon powershot S2 IS
http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0009GZSSO.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

I'm gona order one of them from the internet i don't think i'll find them in my local store so i can't go down and test them...

My opinion, the Panasonic takes great pictures, aperture 2.8 in all range and Leica lenses.
But Canon has IS (very useful sometimes).

^ exactly, that makes it so hard to choose!

It's time there, to compare prices.

actually they both have IS! :D

I actually dont know which id take... but id go with the S2 because its newer tech!

I chose the S2. It's a fun camera. It's feature packed and the overall image quality is fairly good, but the image quality of the panasonic is definitly better thanks to the excellent Leica lens. The panasonic does have a noise problem though, even at low ISO values but the lens captures so much detail that a quick correction with Neat Image or Noise Ninja is no problem and still gives you an excellent photo. And of course noise reduction is not really necessary for a full 5 megapixel photo, only for a 100% crop. But I still chose the S2 for the following reasons:

The S2 won't fit in your pocket either but it's a lot smaller and lighter than the panasonic.
The S2 takes standard AA batteries. 2300 mAh batteries last twice as long as the panasonic's battery.
The S2 has a swivel LCD screen which makes picture taking so much more fun and easier.
The movie mode on the S2 is almost of camcorder quality, 30 fps at 640x480 with zoom and stereo sound. The panasonic does 30 fps at 320x240 without zoom.
The longest exposure time of the S2 is 15 seconds, the panasonic can only do 8 seconds (I like taking night shots)

Those were my reasons to choose the S2. Another great thing about the S2 is the super macro function. It can even focus on objects that touch the lens.
There are bad things about the S2 too:

It tends to overexpose pictures. Can be avoided by adjusting the exposure compensation but it's still annoying.
The autofocus fails to get a good focus a little too often.
In some situations there is quite some purple fringing of which the panasonic almost has none.
And the thing that annoys me the most is the terrible white balance. All the preset wb settings, including the auto wb, make the pictures look way too warm (yellowish). The manual wb however is excellent and makes the colors look perfectly natural leaning towards the cool side (which I like) but you don't always have time to set it when you want to take a picture.
I hope that some of these problems will be fixed with a firmware upgrade.

To make a long story short. The panasonic is pure picture quality. It's the next best thing to DSLR. No bells and whistles that true photographers probably find useless. The S2 is more a pimped point and shoot camera but a lot of fun to use.

I hope this helps. By the way, the price of both cameras is exactly the same. Here in Holland the cheapest price for both is 444 euros.

there's always the FZ30 as well. :P

Chem, nice answer :eek: :applause:

So Ringil... go with the Panasonic! It has a sexier look than the Canon, and it takes better quality photos.. Thats really what matters most.. And as you can see in Staffs earlier post in another thread, the noise from the Panasonic is really not that bad at all... so... as far as I, and most other people see it, the Panasonic is the best choice :yes:

Good luck with whatever camera u choose... and dont forget to buy one for me too!!!! :D If you do, i'll buy you a beer :cheers2:

Thanks guys!! I've now ordered the panasonic, and it will be in my hands in 2 days :D :cheers:

Chem, nice answer :eek: :applause:

So Ringil... go with the Panasonic! It has a sexier look than the Canon, and it takes better quality photos.. Thats really what matters most.. And as you can see in Staffs earlier post in another thread, the noise from the Panasonic is really not that bad at all... so... as far as I, and most other people see it, the Panasonic is the best choice :yes:

Good luck with whatever camera u choose... and dont forget to buy one for me too!!!! :D If you do, i'll buy you a beer :cheers2:
i don't see any tickets for santa.... ;)

you will be satisfied until you realise how good a swivel screen is and the first time you go out taking night shots :)

i don't see any tickets for santa.... ;)
It's coming! Just send the camera to me first, and then i'll send the tickets for santa :D