Camera Labs

Our choice is narrowed to the following:

PowerShot SX30 IS
DMC-GH1
DMC-G2

With the above choices we’re lost choosing between:

1) Mirrorless or not? We are by no stretch of the imagination even beginning to be professional photographers; we wouldn’t be here now would we?

2) 1080P or 720P (movie mode) while our TV can clearly handle both, we’ve always had a “bigger is better” view of point; figuring since the screen is bigger we should go for 1080P. However, we have now come to find the above posted devices appear to only allow you to shoot approximately 4GB of video at a time, unlike a camcorder. With that being said, is it possible to HDMI any of the above devices to a capture program e.g. Adobe Premier (elements) and capture the 1080P to the HDD?

3) Low-light -- taking pictures of both circuit boards (crisp pictures a must have), as-well-as pictures of images on HD and regular crt monitor screens for every imaginable purpose.

I must say, we do like the zoom on that Powershot device, however, we are not quite sure we will us it all that often. Our primary usage is for taking pictures of items within a 1’ to 50’ range and occasionally the grand children at play. Which of the above three would you suggest?

Thsnk you

1 - all your choices are mirror-less.

2 - 1080p is over rated. Huge files to deal with. Can you really tell the difference? We haven't had a TV for 10 years so my advice could be moot.

3 - Taking pictures of circuit boards in low light should be done with a tripod. No need for steady hands or IS really for static macro.

super-zoom is over rated too and underused. I'd discount that feature unless you're into nature/birding and besides, you have to negotiate significant compromises with compact superzooms.

Bear in mind that taking action shots (eg grandkids) especially indoors under low light will be very difficult with the Powershot. The Panasonics are little quicker but they're all be outperformed in this feature by the cheapest DSLR you can currently buy.

It's ALWAYS a compromise. Be informed, know your needs, then go and try out your needs with your shortlist in a shop.

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Panasonic G3: 9-18mm, 14mm, 20mm, 45mm