Olympus Just Raised the Bar

[gil850]

18X Optical Zoom
Fast Lens
RAW file format
Large ISO range
Image Stabilized
Macro mode
AF Assist Lamp
etc
etc
etc

This one just about has it all - assuming the all important image quality meets expectations.

Check it out here:
http://www.dpreview.com/news/0701/07012507olympusp550uz.asp

Gil

 

[Lan-Lord]

wow, that definitely raises the bar.

 

[el_vaquero]

Not too bad...I'm still waiting to see Canon's replacement for the S3 IS that is supposed to be coming out in Feb or March, according to one of the local camera shops. Heck, I'd be happy if they just increase the number of MP to 8 or 10 and a nicer lcd and keep everything else the same.

 

[gil850]

Don't chase the Megapixels. In most of these Ultra Zoom cameras, an 8 MP sensor will actually make a better image than a 10 MP sensor. There's a point where more MPs is actually a bad thing.

Gil