[kb100]

Originally Posted by navin

KB answer the following:

1. what are you going to do with the photos?
a) send to friends via email - think small 4-6MP P&S 1/2.5"
NO

b) Print to 4x6, 5x7, or 8x10? - think 7-8MP sensor of 1/2" or larger like 2/3" (Fuji S100, Sony R100 etc..)
YES

c) display on large TV think 10MP+ APS-C or larger
YES

2. What do you want the camera for"
a. family occasions with 75% indoor and 25% outdoor (birhtdays, etc..) The other way around - some 60% OUtdoors
b. travel and family (as above)
c. special functions like school sports and plays + travel & family (as above) LOTS of this
as in the previous question the more demanding the situation the more useful is a better camera

YES -- ALL THREE OF THEM

3. How serious are you about photography
a. not serious just want good fun snapsNONO
b. somewhat serious what to learn about f stop, shutter speed etc while taking family and travel photos YES
c. deadly serious. want to preserve photos for longevity and develop into a good photographer. YES YES YES
you know the drill... :-)

You will find you will find the answer to your questions yourself.

BTW if you interested in the Panny FZ18 please also consdier the Oly 570UZ (hot shoe) and Nikon P80 (nice lens)
Olympus SP-570UZ digital camera specifications: Digital Photography Review
given that Oly will be setting up service center s in the metros to service their DSLRs maybe you will get service for their prosumers as well. Besides CCDs are not as sensitive to light as film so a hot shoe and external flash (which you can add later) will help in indoor situations.
a good review of the Oly 570
Olympus SP-570UZ - Magnificent Magnification - DigitalRev.com
a bad review
CrunchGear » Archive » Review: Olympus SP-570UZ
an ugly review
Olympus SP-570UZ Video Review - Digital Cameras - CNET Asia

My answers in BOLD

And see how the same cameras' get balsted by different websites/reviewers! ... Makes the job of selecting very difficult.

I went P&S shopping yesterday - for my Mother - so the most basic of P&S's. We discovered that company branded showrroms always had a bias(but naturally) to their own products - So this time we decided to walk into a multi brand camera store - that way I get to see choices. They showed us a Kodak, a Nikon and a Canon. Kodak seemd the 'meekest' of them all.. Luckily I saw a comp idling away ... so took identical shots of one particularly colourful wall and downloaded it onto the system.. and surprise surprise - the kodak had the other two beat hands down - much better exposure and saturation! The contrast was brilliant as well.. the other two everything seemed pretty washed out - 'bleached' is the term that came to mind! Even my wife was surprised. Left to myself I would never even have considered a KODAK - stoopid preconceived notions and prejudices! Bought the Kodak on the spot!

So have been wondering if these shops are the way to go - at least you get to try your equipment out before buying any of it!