Panasonic Lumix ZS15 / TZ25 12.1 MP Digital Camera - Black

The Panasonic DMC-ZS15 is one or two models down from top of the range travel zoom by this manufacturer.

This should not be a concern to you at all. While the newer model sports a longer zoom, greater pixel count and GPS functionality, you pay for it dollar wise, noise-wise and battery wise........

In my opinion, this particular model has the best of both worlds: an eminently pocketable 16x zoom that does not waste your battery locating your GPS position, as well as well controlled noise at all reasonable ISOs (100-800). I mean, how often do you want the GPS function chugging away while u r in the local park taking pictures??....

Because of the small sensor in these cameras, colour and ISO are important contributors to overall picture quality.

This model does a much better job of keeping noise at acceptable levels, making buying the newer model unecessary.

The DMC-ZS15 (known as the TZ-20 in Oz) has a macro function in addition to image stabilisation and a 16x zoom. However, I have been less than impressed by the quality of the touted Leica lens in providing sharp macro images. Actually, I found it quite disappointing.

That said, the addition of AVCHD video to this model is welcome as it produces much smaller video file sizes and can be imported straight into consumer video-editing software without any trouble.

At under $200, this little beauty is unobtrusive, has an excellent video mode, is intuitive to set up and use and provides a very useful 24-384mm zoom range; perfect for cramped indoor travel shots as well as a respectable 384mm stabilised zoom ability for those far-off objects of interest. However, be aware that battery life isnt the greatest on this model, so a couple of extra after-market batteries will help keep you shooting till you can recharge.

Probably a good idea to hunt this model down before it is completely superseded......