Does this camera exist?

OK - sorry to mislead. My point really is that the digital zoom part is not as useful as it might seem to be at first reading.
But I accept your point - i thought that he figure given was the total zoom - optical and digital together. It's seems as you suggestthat I was wrong.

sorry

David

IMHO you don't need 12x zoom - indeed 6x zoom is any amount for most photographers. Remember that with a good quality image you can zoom further in using computer software. The quality of the image is the most important factor in a digital camera. That in turn relies upon a good quality lens, and quality CCDs. To find that out you should look at camera review sites such as http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/ and http://www.cameras.co.uk/html/digital-cameras-overview.cfm

Long zooms are seductive and frankly I'd like one too. However that, plus huge megapixel size, tend to be used by manufacturers to attract buyers who forget that the quality of the camera itself is critical. Furthermore holding the cam steady at a long zoom is difficult even with image stabilisation.

Personally I think a viewfinder is essential, just to add to your list. Good luck.

<blockquote>Quote
<hr>I think a viewfinder is essential<hr></blockquote>

Agree entirely - I have a Nikon Coolpix - and although it is all good quality - I find the lack of a view finder problematic. Needing my reading glasses to use the focusing screen is a pain, because I don't wear them when out and about generally, and if the sun is in certain positons it just bleaches the screen.
I wouldn't buy another point and shoot without a viewfinder.

David

And just to correct the poster who said 18X is "a bit of a marketing ploy", that Olympus really is an 18X optical zoom...the lens extends way, way...way out of the camera. Starts at a wide angle too (28mm?). Sony will be releasing their 15X zooms soon, so seems like 'longer is better' is becoming the new mantra.

Review here

I'd go for the Panasonic FZ series. I have an FZ5 and the pictures it takes are outstanding, in my opinion (see my site below). Small, lightweight, 12x optical zoom, stabliser, superb Leica lens, modest number of inbuilt scenes etc etc. The newer models have good video. But why on earth you would want AA batteries is beyond me. Get a spare lithion one. I used two batteries, and never had a problem in running out of steam! It's also pretty robust. The FZ50 even shoots RAW.

PS: Not a typo..I have the FZ5 .. The FZ50 is a much newer model. And there are other FZs in between....

Quote: 'but why on earth you would want AA batteries is beyond me. Get a spare lithium one'

Well the reason I had to go for a powerful zoom with AA batteries is because I'll be trekking for 3 weeks on the Tibetan plateau where there is no electricity to charge anything.... and I want to capture festival scenes where people don't necessarily want to be photographed...

I thought about the battery problem long and hard and concluded that even if I carted along several spare lithium batteries, they'd soon run down in the extreme cold and high altitude.

Batteries don't run down simply because they are cold. They just put out less voltage when cold. Batteries generate electricity via a chemical reaction and temperature is a catalyst.

And I believe (someone needs to confirm this) that AA NiMH batteries are more sensitive to cold than lithiums. I know that I used to carry non-rechargeable lithium AAs for cold weather work when the NiMH AAs wouldn't hold up.

After market lithiums can be priced about the same as NiMH AAs.

I wouldn't let battery type totally drive camera selection. But the 18x is very, very interesting. (If you go with the 550uz consider packing some disposable lithiums for cold conditions.)

You're going to be trekking - really trekking? Or traveling around in a vehicle? If the latter, get a charger than can operate off the vehicle battery.

If you're going to be on foot for three weeks then you might want to consider a solar powered AA charger. You will probably be stationary enough during the middle of some days to give your batteries a boost.

The 550uz is now around, saw one in town today. Didn't play with it as I've just taken delivery of a new camera - well that and I didn't have time ;)

Yes, generally NiMH are more susceptable to cold issues than Li in general - but with all batteries, the specific model/manufacturer is important, some are far worse than others - check the spec sheets. Alkaline batteries are the absolute worst.

Keep your spares inside your jacket, or somewhere else that's warm when not in use - your camera bag is a bad location.

If you're using rechargeable AA's the Sanyo Eneloop range has very low self discharge - check the spec sheets for temperature data. Also as Bob suggests, also carry some Li disposables though as well, again check the specs, but the Energizer Ultimate Lithium range is an example.

I'm sure someone's going to start with the "use film and a fully manual camera" debate - problems there, film freezes and gets brittle in the cold. Still problems with x-ray, particularly the CTX hold luggage scanners. Metering requires batteries, which takes you back to square one again ;)

550uz vs. S3 IS vs. FZ5

I bought a S2 IS for my sister. It's a very good camera. And I own a FZ5. It's also pretty good. (It's now upgraded to the FZ8 I believe.)

What I don't like about the FZ5 is the low resolution EVF and focusing problems with low contrast images (and no manual focus to overcome).

I was never able to take a decent picture of a pale blue or white flower. The camera would never focus correctly. Also has problems when shooting in foggy/misty conditions.

I haven't shot the S2 IS enough to know if it's any better.

I've seen good pictures out of both cameras - given that you're operating within the limits of the camera.

But - the 18x zoom and 28mm wide end of the 550uz is VERY interesting to me. If the 550uz has a decent EVF and decent manual focusing I might just buy one.