Cannon A70 or nicon coolpix 3100?

I have the flash cards so It comes down to those 2.
Just wondering about the video capabilities. I have poor video with sound on
my ancient kodak mc3. And some of it is on the web. Is there anywhere I can
see and compare video taken with the 2 above? Can you zoom as you take
video? The Cannon has a time limit on its video, I think. is that just
card specific? Bigger card longer video?
I use linux. Do they work directly with linux? (I use the gimp for photos so
I dont need camera software)
Thanks for your time
Brian White

 

Them Cannons use awfully big ammo!

 

I've got a C. A70, and though I don't do video/audio (just pics) I can tell
you it works with mandrake 9.2. You can plug your camera and import
pictures through gphoto2, flphoto or GTKam, or point konqueror to camera:/
to access it as some kind of a mass storage device.

I use The Gimp for pictures and panorama to stitch pictures, no need for
windows here.

 

Biggest difference between them is that A70 has manual focus.
Minolta s414 should be an alternative as well. Big but takes very sharp
pictures.

Video in digicams is never above 15frames /sec. which is too low. This makes
all digicams more or less equally bad at video......

The cp3100 feels like the most modern of those. It is not as manual as the
other two, but still a good overall choice if AF is enough.

Morgan O.