Panasonic LX5 vs ZS10

[jorf]

I am trying to decide on a higher end P&S to have alongside my DSLR and lately I'm stuck on the Panasonics. I know a woman who adores her ZS10 (a more sophisticated amateur photographer - in a class I take), and a woman who almost adores her LX5 (a not very sophisticated mommy photographer). What she doesn't adore about her LX5 is the sticky zoom - which I've read about. I'm planning to borrow it for a day.

Here are the issues that I'm stuck on. I'm a sucker for a super-zoom. I'm also a sucker for a wide angle. I also almost always shoot in RAW. So...will I be terribly frustrated not having RAW? (I use LR, BTW.) I do have some experience editing jpgs but I haven't tried really hard with them. I wonder how much I'll lose by not having the raw files especially since neither one of these is well-thought-of when it comes to high ISO capabilities. And, on the other side, are there problems with the LX5 that I haven't read about other than the sticky zoom?

Thanks for any insight.

(BTW, since someone's bound to bring this up, I was seriously considering the X10 until I started reading more reviews and I think the thing that would drive me the craziest is the viewfinder and that is one of the main reasons I wanted to consider it. The X100 is an option but it is smaller. The problem with that is that I have a significant tremor in my left hand. Thus the wanting the viewfinder in order to shove the thing up against my face. I think the Panasonics, being a little heftier, will be easier to hold still. I don't really know.... I am still open to other manufacturers.)