What's the very best point and shoot camera?

Good lord, after having done some research I'm even further from a decision.

The Canon S3 is still in the lead but I've discovered some others (shamefully non Canon).

Olympus SP-550 not available until March. A 7.1MP 18X zoom (35mm equivelant of 28-504mm). Full manual controls, RAW, IS and very slightly bigger than the S3.
http://www.dpreview.co​m …07012507olympus​p550uz.asp

Panasonic FZ8
http://www.dpreview.co​m/reviews/panasonicfz8​/

Possibly the
Panasonic DMC-LX2
http://www.dpreview.co​m/reviews/panasoniclx2​/

Anyone have any experience with the above? I wish I could find a "shoot out" style article comparing the S3 to other non Canons but haven't had any luck.

EllenC wrote in post #2698299
Good lord, after having done some research I'm even further from a decision.

The Canon S3 is still in the lead but I've discovered some others (shamefully non Canon).

Olympus SP-550 not available until March. A 7.1MP 18X zoom (35mm equivelant of 28-504mm). Full manual controls, RAW, IS and very slightly bigger than the S3.
http://www.dpreview.co​m …07012507olympus​p550uz.asp

Panasonic FZ8
http://www.dpreview.co​m/reviews/panasonicfz8​/

Possibly the
Panasonic DMC-LX2
http://www.dpreview.co​m/reviews/panasoniclx2​/

Anyone have any experience with the above? I wish I could find a "shoot out" style article comparing the S3 to other non Canons but haven't had any luck.

I had an FZ7 and it was noisier than my S3IS by a fair margin, not to mention inferior build and handling.S3IS is much better, however, I would implore you to read this review of the Olympus SP550 before you decide:

http://scaredofthedark​.typepad.com …02/olympus_sp55​0_r_4.html

Lawrence is a superb photographer and his review of this camera bodes extremely well.
I will certainly buy one and donate my S3IS to my 16yr old daughter (she keeps stealing it anyway!) They are going to have a street price of £290 UK & $490 US.
Dave

If you're in the market for a superzoom, check out the Sony H2 and H5, also the Fuji S9000. The latter has a larger sensor than most of its peers but whether that results in better real world photos is questionable as it doesn't have IS capability. That new Olympus is rattling a few cages though, and even if you don't like it, it's going to force prices of other cameras down in order to compete.

Saudidave wrote in post #2701363
I had an FZ7 and it was noisier than my S3IS by a fair margin, not to mention inferior build and handling.S3IS is much better, however, I would implore you to read this review of the Olympus SP550 before you decide:

http://scaredofthedark​.typepad.com …02/olympus_sp55​0_r_4.html

Lawrence is a superb photographer and his review of this camera bodes extremely well.
I will certainly buy one and donate my S3IS to my 16yr old daughter (she keeps stealing it anyway!) They are going to have a street price of £290 UK & $490 US.
Dave

Good to know about the FZ7, I'll scratch it off my list. Lawrence's review is what got me very interested in the Olympus. I wish there was a release date for it in the US. I'll I can find is March. Lawrence appears to have the only real review of the camera.

EllenC wrote in post #2702861
Good to know about the FZ7, I'll scratch it off my list. Lawrence's review is what got me very interested in the Olympus. I wish there was a release date for it in the US. I'll I can find is March. Lawrence appears to have the only real review of the camera.

The FZ7 wasn't that bad, in fact it is very good indeed, especially at the current price it's available for, but the S3 is better all round. The Oly SP550 is now being advertised by Oly in magazines (just got March Practical Photography (UK) and its the full back cover). It appeared on ebay for the 1st time today and several on line retailers are advertising it, both UK & US, so it is out now, or imminently.

Dave

If size and weight matters, I'd go A640/A710IS or G7. The S3 is quite good (with excellent controls and absolutely awesome movie mode), but for myself it became rather redundant after more investment into dSLR equipment.

SP-550 sounds very interesting, but I don't hold high hopes for image quality on something which boasts 18x optical zoom. I'll be looking forward to some review samples on this one when it comes out.

@Collin85, the linked review of the Oly has some 100% crops. To me they look a little soft when compared to my own S3 results, which could mean a lot of in-camera processing against noise, and I wonder why there are no high iso pictures shown. But that is one heck of a zoom range, and I can't wait to see a pro test.

EllenC wrote in post #2702861
Good to know about the FZ7, I'll scratch it off my list. Lawrence's review is what got me very interested in the Olympus. I wish there was a release date for it in the US. I'll I can find is March. Lawrence appears to have the only real review of the camera.

Thanks for the link for the Olympus review, if you check the comments, you will find other test shots with the 550. I now feel very compelled to get this P&S for my next vacation as a alternative to my 300D...

very interesting here.
i didnt think the s3 was so popular