confused about buying a digital cmera

[raj]

i have been looking to buy my first digital camera,but ca'nt make up my mind. my budget is less than $ 300.i would like the camera to be used as a point and shoot plus have some manual controls to explore. i prefer a ultra zoom lens with image stabilization.i do'nt want the camera to be too bulky and heavy.as far as image quality , i would say 7 or 8. is it okay to buy older models such as canon s1 ,panasonic z4? help me find a one.

[Jason25]

You can probably find a Panasonic FZ5 for right around $300, maybe a little more. It's small, has a big zoom range and OIS. Sounds right up your alley I remember seeing it for around $320 one time.

[coldrain]

Yes, it is ok to get an older model. The FZ4 is not old though, it was introduced at the same time as the FZ5 (just the 4mp version). The FZ4 is very small, you will probably like it a lot.