Help Deciding Between Sony TG3 or Panasonic SD9

[GaryClough]

My 10 year old Panasonic camcorder has just died and I have been trawling these forums looking for a replacement. I have narrowed it down to either the Panasonic SD9 or the Sony TG3 as they are both size friendly

I noticed that Currys are currently offering £50 cashback and a free 3 year warranty on the SD9, with the warranty being particularly tempting.

Alternatively, I know that John Lewis offer a 2 year warranty.

Anyway, the real question is, has anyone compared the 2 camcorders and which way should I be pushed and why.

I will only be using it to film the kids growing up, so no manual controls will be used, just point and shoot. Low light level would be nice, but not essential.

Looking forward to your advice.

Thanks

[chrishull3]

Originally Posted by GaryClough

My 10 year old Panasonic camcorder has just died and I have been trawling these forums looking for a replacement. I have narrowed it down to either the Panasonic SD9 or the Sony TG3 as they are both size friendly

I noticed that Currys are currently offering £50 cashback and a free 3 year warranty on the SD9, with the warranty being particularly tempting.

Alternatively, I know that John Lewis offer a 2 year warranty.

Anyway, the real question is, has anyone compared the 2 camcorders and which way should I be pushed and why.

I will only be using it to film the kids growing up, so no manual controls will be used, just point and shoot. Low light level would be nice, but not essential.

Looking forward to your advice.

Thanks

http://www.camcorderinfo.com/content...nnectivity.htm
here is a test of the panasonic,there are plenty of opinions on the sony in its thread.
specs http://www.letsgodigital.org/en/1886...tg3-camcorder/

[redsox_mark]

Low light performance is the weak area on the SD9. From the clips I've seen (thanks to folks on this forum), the TG3 appears to be better in low light - though I've not seen a direct, same shot for same shot comparison. In good light they are close; maybe the SD9 has the edge in good light.

[rhubarbe]

I had an SD9 and I have seen quite a lot of footage from the TG3. The SD9 is really not very good at all in low light and what little footage I have seen from the TG3 makes me think that it is quite a bit better.

In good light I find the TG3 video a bit soft; SD9 is better.

Realistically though you'll either like or dislike the format of one or the other and I imagine that this will be the overriding factor.

You can put a TG3 in your pocket. An SD9 you can't because it's barrel shaped.

[GaryClough]

Thanks for all the advice. I popped into the local store last night and had a play with the Sony TG3. I was very impressed with the size & build quality, it felt very nice to in the hand.

I was a bit worried about creating camera shake with the zoom control, but a bit of practice, and you soon get used to it, although it is not as easy as a traditional rocker.

All your comments about the poor low light level capability of the Panasonic SD9 has put me off this unit. If you are going to spend this sort of money, I would expect it to be highly usuable in all lighting conditions.

So the TG3 it is then, the only hesitation is that I want a minimum of a 3 year warranty with it (I have had a run of items breaking recently) which is pushing the cost up a bit.

As it is so new, I think the price will drop in the next few months as demand falls off and there is more supply in the market, hopefully there will be some direct competition soon. So I will wait a while and see what happens.

Cheers

[rhubarbe]

If by direct competition you mean an upright form factor, I seriously doubt it. The last Panasonic upright was the HDC-SD7 (that I have) but this was never sold outside Japan - US and Europe "didn't want it". Canon's last upright was the HV10, now long since gone from the shelves. Sanyo HD1010 - hmm, I still don't think so, and the rest are all toys.

If you want a three year warranty I should bite the bullet and go to John Lewis..

[hecmac]

on the price i got my TG3 for £509 from DIXONS PRICE MATCH.Do a search on google and then follow down to the twenga link,see it there at £499+£10 delivery,write down the internet address for that store,go to dixons site and get their price match number,phone and get it for that price.
always pays to shop around

hecmac