David,
any of the big name (Nikon, Canon, Panasonic, Sony) super zoom compacts
will do a good job for you for that sort of work, Panasonic have just
released a new type of camera which is sort of hybrid between a DSLR and
the compact styles, but it does attract DSLR level prices and has better
Autofocus and low light performance due to a DSLR size sensor, but in a
compact size body.
Where all of these compacts fall down a little is that the autofocus
will hunt around a bit in anything but the best light and Manual focus
is a bit hit and miss. What I would suggest to look at for
differentiation between them for _*you*_ is to go somewhere where they
hold stock and will let you try them out to see how they fit in the hand
and how easy the buttons are to access and how the interface works for
you. Also check what sort of memory card they take, SD cards are
becoming the "standard" and will be the cheapest. What type of battery
it takes and how much a spare is. Last on the list is Megapixels. I
would suggest the lowest available megapixel count! 8-10MP is more than
enough, those with higher counts won't give you an advantage in this
class of camera. Optical image stabilisation is pretty much standard
and does help a lot. Then of course $$.
The Canon SX20IS takes 4 x AA batteries, so you can use generic
rechargables in it. I recommend Eneloops or the equivalent type from
Jaycar. They have a lower mAhr rating but do not self discharge when
the camera is sitting not being used. The good thing about AAs is you
can buy a set anywhere if you get caught short and a spare set of
rechargables won't break the bank either. The SX1 IS may be an even
better bet having a better grade of sensor installed and a bigger rear
LCD. They both have the equivalent of a 560mm lens and will also go
wide for landscape shots.
regards
Chris Ross
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