Looking to replace Canon Powershot S2 IS

[auntlatoya]

Budget

* What budget have you allocated for buying this camera? Please be as specific as possible. no more than $400

Size

* What size camera are you looking for? Or does size not matter at all to you?
doesn't really matter

Features

How many megapixels will suffice for you? 7

* What optical zoom will you need? (None, Standard = 3x-4x, Ultrazoom = 10x-12x, Other - Specify) ultrazoom

* How important is “image quality” to you? (Rate using a scale of 1-10)
10

Do you care for manual controls? nice but not sure i will use them

General Usage

* What will you generally use the camera for? taking pictures of my family

* Will you be making big prints of your photos or not? probably not

Will you be shooting a lot of indoor photos or low light photos? yes

Will you be shooting sports and/or action photos? yes
Miscellaneous

Are there particular brands you like or hate? no preconceived ideas

Are there particular models you already have in mind? panasonic lumix DMC-FZ18, sony cybershot DSC-H50, Canon S5 IS
(If applicable) Do you need any of the following special features? (Wide Angle, Image Stabilization, Weatherproof, Hotshoe, Rotating LCD) IS

I currently have the canon S2 IS. I have been using it for 3-4 yrs and have been pleased with it. I recently dropped it from the table. It continues to take pics, but it powers off if moved around and takes an excessively long time to come on and be ready to take pics. I am looking for a camera with similar options that is going to give me the best quality for my money.

Thanks

[cmaw63]

I recently went from the Canon S2 IS to the Fuji S700. I find the S700 to be similar in in size and ease of use. But, I've also found the S700 to take much better pictures with several more auto mode choices and more megapixels. The manual controls are there if you choose to play around with them. I bought the S700 for about $200.

[Beowulff]

Sorry, but I'm gonna give you the classical "non-answer"!

For what they are, their build quality and ergonomics, their features, their ease of use, and their image quality they're all pretty much on an equal footing. With the 3 choices you favour, each will have its unique pros and cons when compared to the other two, but how do you decide? I guess it comes down almost to a matter of personal (maybe idiosyncratic) preferences, which is all I can offer you.

The top of my list would be the Panasonic FZ-18. I've owned an ultra-zoom Panasonic, and it was fabulous (apart from its ergonomics — which have now been vastly improved upon). Its Leica-branded lens was a beauty, and contrary to what most people say about Panasonic's lack of high ISO noise control, I never had this problem with its 1/1.25" sensor. The FZ-18 also has the most versatile zoom range, starting off at a nice wide 28mm (for those family-group type pics at close range).

Second would come the Canon S5 IS. It doesn't have as versatile a zoom range, only starting off at 36mm, but it's surprising the difference that 8mm less can make particularly for wider group shots. It does have a slightly faster lens at ƒ2.7 which means theoretically your ISOs might be a bit lower (with less noise) under poor lighting conditions.

Last would come the Sony H50. It has (only slightly) the largest sensor, but the differences between 1/1.25" and 1/2.3" are purely academic. Image quality at these figures has more to do with processing algorithms than pixel density. Its zoom falls midway between the S5 IS and the FZ-18, so it's the flip of a coin there. Sony probably come in at a somewhat higher dollar value than the Panasonic and Canon, and for no meaningful reason other that it's branded Sony!

The other guys will be sure to have vastly differing opinions to me. . . :p . . . but you'll undoubtedly get some (far better!) feedback from owners of each of those cams.

Cheers :)