Panasonic Lumix G10 vs Cannon Rebel T2i

[Happy_Mummy]

I posted awhile back about considering upgrading to an slr, but we still don't have enough points to get it. I was out and walking past a camera store, so decided to tell them my spiel of what I was looking to use a camera for. Which is to take photos for fun of my 3 kids aged 1-4 years old. I don't do professional pics, so I like quality photos. Anyways, the clerk highly recommended the Lumix G10 rather than a "true" dslr. THe following were things that I thought I would really like about the camera:
-how fast it focuses and takes the photo, even in low light
-that you can "attach" the focus to a subject which the camera keeps in focus
-hd video recording. I know there is mixed feelings about using an slr for video, but I find it useful as I always have my camera with me, but rarely the video cam. Also I like that the camera time stamps the file, but it is out of site. I believe the T2i has this as well, so not really a selling feature.
-touch screen focus - not sure that I would really use this though since I'm so used to finding my focus by half depressing the button and I would likely use manual focus anyway.
-Swivel screen is no plus in my eyes - I have it with my current camera and the only time I find it useful is when taking close up gorup pics where I'm in the group, but even then I struggle to figure out which way to go!

Does anyone know how good these features are - in particular the locked focus on something that is moving. This seems like a brilliant idea to get kids in focus since they never sit still, I'm just not sure how good this feature is.

I'm also not sure about going with a panasonic. I have always felt that traditional camera company is better to go with, but typically avoid the film makers. I have heard that camera companies typically have better lenses because they have been in the industry longer. Is this a myth now?

Any advice or direction would be appreciated. Part of me feels that if I want to try an slr I should go with a true slr as I believe the Lumix G10 is a 4/3 camera? what does this mean? Does it make a big difference?

I will also add for what I use my photos. As I said I take zillions of pics of my kids. I am trying (unsuccessfully!) to make the coffee table style photo book that you can make now, so most photos are small. I do print the odd few to 8x12 for our baby brag wall. Sometimes those photos are cropped from portrait to landscape or vice versa, depending on the better orientation of the photo. I also use the camera to take photos of the kids' artwork so that I can make a photo book for them of their preschool art.

[inkista]

Well, Panasonic/Olympus (the two companies that make micro four-thirds cameras, which is what the G10 is--four thirds is an earlier SLR format--same sensor size, but different camera/lens mount configuration) have some lenses that were designed by Leica, so camera know-how is not really lacking here.

The main thing to keep in mind is that a G10 is likely to cost you about as much as a dSLR, and is a more limited system. It's a little smaller and more compact, but the real wins in this particular category would be cameras more like the Panasonic GF-1, Olympus E-PL1 and E-P2, the Sony NEX cameras, and the Samsung NX, which have more of a "compact" body design, vs. the gripped SLR-like design of the G10.

And the Sony and Samsung cameras have larger sensors (APS-C, vs. four-thirds).
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APS-C cameras have sensors that are 1.5x crop (i.e., 2/3 the size of a frame of 35mm film), while four-thirds and micro-four-thirds sensor have sensors that are 2x crop (i.e., 1/2 the size of a frame of 35mm film). The larger the sensor (generally) the better high iso performance, and the shallower the depth of field (more you can blur the background).

These large sensor compacts are a good alternative upgrade path vs. SLRs, but the lens/accesory choices this early on are much smaller, and we still don't know what the dominant sensor format/camera format is going to be. This sector of the market is evolving rapidly, and the Big Two companies (Canon & Nikon) are rumored to be entering it within the next year.

That said, I'd say, the G10 is a good choice, but you have to weigh that against the additional system flexibility you might have with an entry-level dSLR that might cost only $100 more.

I'd also recommend reading up on micro four-thirds.