As I see it there are 4 important differences between these two cameras.

1) 8 mp vs. 5 mp
2) GT lenses vs. Leica lenses
3) manual zoom vs. power zoom
4) 7X optical zoom vs. 12X optical zoom

I enjoy taking pictures of landscapes and wildlife. I want to be able to
produce quality 11x14 prints. I am concerned about the positioning of the
FZ20 zoom control. Which one and why? I am assuming that I will either use
a wide angle extension on the FZ20 or a telephoto on the A2.