PANASONIC DMC-FH22 AVAILABILITY

<p>I'm attracted to the Panasonic DMC-FH22 P&S for my daughter or the Panasonic DMC-FH20. The former has a 3" touch-screen LCD while the latter has a smaller (2.7", I believe) convential LCD with a joystick and a couple of extra buttons for control. However, except for Best Buy, I cannot find any other store which carries the FH22- it isn't even listed on Panasonic's own web-site. I have two questions:</p>

<p>1. Has anyone used the FH22 and what is your experience with it?<br>

2. Does anyone have an idea why it is generally unavailable? I'm concerned there may be a reliability problem or other reason why it's essentially off the market, as far as I can tell, and am concerned that only one retailer is currently selling it, while virtually everyone carries the FH20.</p>

<p>Thanks for your help!</p>

<p>When I go to the Panasonic home page and type in the search box 'Panasonic DMC-FH22', it automatically corrects this to FH20 and reports that info.</p>

<p>At dpreview.com, there is no mention of an FH22 that I quickly saw.</p>

<p>Are you sure about the model number? If it was in an ad, did they perhaps transpose some numbers? Could it be a re-badged FH20 made just for BestBuy?</p>

<p>Just some thoughts. It's odd tho.</p>

<p>Jim</p>

<p>Jim- thanks for your response.<br>

Both fh20 and fh22 models exist. I emailed Panasonic and they finally came back with "Dear Valued Customer, Thank you for your inquiry.The DMC-FH22 is still available for purchase and it is still being manufactured.This unit is only available from select location.We hope this information is helpful to you. Thank you for contacting Panasonic. "<br>

The cameras are the same EXCEPT the fh20 has a 2.7" monitor LCD and conventional arrows-with-center-button control, while the fh22 has a 3" touchscreen LCD.<br>

It seems strange that Panasonic would engineer and manufacture that different a model and only sell it through 1 outlet. Should I be concerned about that in your opinion?<br>

Thanks- Bob<br>

<br /><br /></p>

<p>No knowledge here Bob. Sears does the good, better, best routine real well.<br>

I know Home Depot sells some models of Ariens snowblowers that are only sold thru them, for whatever reason of quality, volume or pricing. (I'm shopping for one, so I've noticed that disparity between Depot and the Ariens website.)<br>

All I can say is that if all things are equal, mechanical teeny weeny switches are prone to fail at some point from our gargantuan fingers over pressing them. Cannot say how well a touchcreen holds up, but look at their proliferation in cell phones as a clue, perhaps. One thought, if it's cold and you have gloves on, does the screen have adequate ability to discern a bigger finger 'surface area" and will it work without body capacitive loading/coupling (i.e., the glove present)?</p>

<p>Jim</p>

<p>Jim- good point about the gloves- I think I'll toddle over to Best Buy with a pair of ski gloves and do a "live" test on their display model to see how that would work. On the other hand, pushing small buttons on a joystick control is no easy task with bulky gloves on either!<br>

At this point I'm on the fence- I actually bought the Best Buy model a few days ago but dare not open the box due to their onerous "restocking fee" rules. I have about 11 more days to return it but can also return it for 2 weeks after Christmas. It was only $130, by the way- about $10 cheaper than I can find the FH20 for.<br>

Given the larger display screen I'm leaning towards keeping the FH22 for my daughter but haven't made a final decision.<br>

Thanks for your help, and Merry Christmas! Bob</p>