Which bridge camera?

[agrumpycow]

I'm planning on replacing my camera with another bridge camera and I'm getting bogged down with all the website reviews, etc and was wondering if anyone would recommend one.
I've currently got a Panasonic DMC-FZ18 and am looking to upgrade to one with more zoom at a price range of around £300. I also like the idea of a lcd screen that moves. I take a variety of pics (agrumpycow Gallery - Wildlife Photography) so one that's a good 'all-rounder' is a must.
Any recommendations?

[Jersali]

Hello Claire,
my dad bought an upgraded version of the Panny FZ18 as he was so impressed with my wife's.
My brother has since purchased the newest version (with 24 x zoom)
I think it's an FZ45.
He is delighted with it, but here's a thought.
Rather than replace the FZ18, I purchased a teleconversion lens to beef up the zoom.
Works really well and brings the camera back to a respectable 30+ x zoom
We also discovered a feature on the FZ18 camera that increases it's zoom!

In any event, best of luck

Al

[Lancashire Lad]

Fuji Finepix HS10 still gets my vote.

I've stated the case for this camera many times on WAB.
(Use WAB's custom search facilty for "Lancashire Lad Finepix HS10" and it will take you to those threads).
I still think it can match anything available for the price - and compared to the price it originally sold at, it is a bargain these days.

The biggest plusses are:-
Takes ordinary AA size batteries.
Has a proper zoom ring like a dslr and not a fiddly tele-wide switch.
Has a vari-angle lcd screen
Has optical zoom of 24mm to 720mm
Has a super-macro facility for extreme close-up macro shots.
It takes darned good quality photos. (Loads of HS10 fungi shots is my WAB Gallery).

Regards,
Mike.

[diggleken]

Hi Clare, I can certainly support Mikes suggestion as a terrific camera, but if you want the new FZ 45, I'm strongly thinking of getting a DSLR, and my 1 yr old FZ45 would be for sale.............am I allowed to suggest that on here?
If you prefer Panasonic, PM me if interested.
Cheers
Ken

[Paul mabbott]

There was a quite long thread earlier with, I think, much the same title - might be worth looking at?

[enthusiast jules]

Though I am a confirmed SLR man I have been trying out many of the current models as a friend wanted advice.I very much liked the ergonomics of the Fuji HS20, and for landscape fans the wide end of the zoom is considerably wider than quoted, wider even than the Nikon P500 22.5 mm equivalent.The current price is also very tempting at a little over £200, due to the new HS30 with the rechargeable battery.Remember to budget for a good fast memory card.
The stand out for quality at long range, so vital for nature has to be the Canon HX 40.The stabiliser system is incredible, I couldn't believe how easy handholding at over 800mm was.Canon have also been wise to put low noise, above chasing pixel counts.The downside of the Canon is a so so EVF and all plastic build.If ultimate zoom is not so important, the extremely high spec new Fuji S-X1 offers a superb EVF and the complex lens has low distortion.The Fuji also boasts the x10's extra large(for a compact) sensor to give class leading noise performance.The penalty is a slightly short zoom , still over 600mm, but much more weight, almost a kilo, and double the price.
Regards Jules.