Could someone explain this...?

The front rim of the sx100 IS says 6.0-60.0mm zoom. I assumed that meant that was the zoom range. These numbers are always different on point and shoots that say 10x and I always went by them to see how much zoom it really has. But as you can see below in what I found on B&H, it claims this camera's zoom is much greater... so what is the 6.0-60.0?

"Incredible 10x Optical ZoomLens

The lens is actually 6mm-60 mm zoom, for 10X. What B&H said (and you'll also find on Canon's web site) is that it gives you the same coverage that you'd get with a 35 mm camera having a 36-360 mm zoom (35mm focal range equivalent). The sensor on the SX100 is smaller than a frame of 35 mm film, so you don't need as long a lens to get the same coverage.

BlueTreePhoto wrote in post #4792584
I know on my s5is the zoom is supposed to be 10x like my dad's fz30 but his has a much greater zoom range.

The S5 zoom is 12X.

Part of the complication is that the S5 and the FZ30 do not have the same sensor size.

Canon S5
1/2.5" sensor, 6.0-72.0mm zoom range (36-432mm equivalent on 35mm film)

FZ30
1/1.8" sensor, 7.4-88.8mm zoom range (35-420mm equivalent on 35mm film)

So actually the Canon has slightly more reach. If the Panasonic seem to be greatly longer, it is possible the "digital zoom" is enabled. Digital zoom is nothing more than cropping in camera, something better done on the computer later if you really must.

Wait a sec, do you have the SX100 IS or the S5IS you state both.