Camcorder Suggestion

[sl1200mk2]

Hi,

I'm looking for suggestions on a new camcorder. It will be replacing Cannon Elura 70 (DV format) that's getting a bit old now. The primary driver for making a purchase is a trip to Africa I'll be taking in late May. I typically use the camera for vacations and family events -- I'm not any sort of amateur film maker or anything... purely home type usage. That said, I go for quality and don't mind paying for something I'll use for 7-10 years before replacing again.

I waited to see what was announced at CES 2012, but both models I narrowed it down to either had no changes or nothing really significant over previous models.

I narrowed my choices down to:

Canon Vixia HF G10
Panasonic HDC-TM900

The Panasonic is definitely smaller, but that's not hugely important to me. I would appreciate the smaller / lighter size traveling, but I'd rather have better image quality and features. I really like Cannon as a brand and my last unit held up very well (still perfectly usable).

I'm leaning toward the Cannon because of better low light capability (according to reviews), manual controls (which I like) and what seems like a better lens. My editing will primarily be done in FCP X, but I also fall back on Sony Vegas at times.

Cannon announce there won't be any replacement for 2012 over this model. Panasonic does have a slightly upgraded version coming out, but it's looking like more or less minor improvements, but the same overall unit.

Opinions?

Thanks -