Tough vs Superzoom

[gammajonny]

I'm in the market for a new camera and I'm torn between going one of these 'Tough' cameras as a water/dust/drop proof camera would be a lot less to worry about but I don't want to compromise on the photo quality.

Essentially my question is, do super zoom cameras take better pictures than 'tough' cameras or is it simply that they can zoom in further.

(specifically I'm comparing the Lumix FT3 and the Lumiz TZ20)

Thank in advance.

Jonny.

[chris-p]

The TZ20 will produce better pictures than the FT3. Tough cameras are often compromised in terms of their technology and quality otherwise they'd cost too much.

I'd have the TZ20 every day of the week unless I really needed the tougher shell - and they're not water/shock/dust "proof" either - resistant, yeah, but they're not unbreakable...