The New Bridge Cameras - advice please

[Strangways]

I know this has been discussed many times, but I'm hoping somebody can offer some advice on which one to buy.
I own a Canon 40D DSLR with numerous lenses and a Canon S95 Compact. Because I'm not a professional and I don't need to print large size photo's I am finding that 95% of my pictures are being taken either with the 40D and an 18-200mm lens or my S95 compact. The results have been more than adequate for my needs and I have been surprised at the quality. Carrying the S95 in my pocket all the time is no problem, but I miss the reach I get from the DSLR.
I have decided it is time to try one of the new superzoom bridge cameras with a view to selling the 40D and all the lenses, but I would like some input from anybody who has used one.
The options I'm looking at are:-
Canon Powershot SX30
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ150K
Fuji Finepix X-S1 EXR

Any input would be useful as to how they actually perform.

 

[ozyboyross]

I've not used them but the latest canon is the sx50! And the Panasonic is the fz200!

I've used an sx40 a few times as my dad owns one and I borrowed it for the zoo! It's very capable camera! The only thing I struggled with/found frustrating was that the zoom is slow to react and the shutter lag! But I think that's just part and parcel of having one of these cameras! They can't make them too good or no one would upgrade to a DSLR!

For what its worth my dad has owned lots of Canon SLRs and still does, and also owns a fair few L glass lens's and he swears by the canon bridge cameras as a lightweight take anywhere option! he's gone from S1, to S3, to S5, to SX10, to SX20, to SX40, and is now looking at the SX50 as it has a 50x zoom!

Hope that's of some help

As an example, this was handheld, on auto, with the SX40 at the zoo (I know I should of been looking at the big animals, but the butterfly in the hedge caught my eye!)


IMG_4596-2 by ozyboyross_40D, on Flickr

 

[Strangways]

Thanks for that. What a lovely photo. I know I will find it hard to let go of the DSLR, but these new bridge cameras appear to be producing some wonderful results.

 

[modchild]

I had a few of the Panasonic FZ range before coming to a dslr. I started with the FZ20 and went through to the FZ50 in the end. If I had to give up using a dslr now I think I'd go for another of the FZ range as the IQ is excellent, the controls are easy to use and there's not much shutter lag with them. I got some good aircraft shots with them but the Macro mode works very effectively too.

 

[Strangways]

I had a few of the Panasonic FZ range before coming to a dslr. I started with the FZ20 and went through to the FZ50 in the end. If I had to give up using a dslr now I think I'd go for another of the FZ range as the IQ is excellent, the controls are easy to use and there's not much shutter lag with them. I got some good aircraft shots with them but the Macro mode works very effectively too.

The previews of the new FZ200 do look good and it is one I will look at closely. A zoom range of 24-600 at f2.8 is amazing and shutter lag seems to have been resolved on these new bridge cameras.
Thanks for your input.

 

[Nod]

Just bought myself a Fuji HS30EXR and am very impressed. I've reviewed it in the review section and would be happy to e-mail a file straight from the camera or post a print (up to A4 but that'll be folded to fit in a normal letter envelope to reduce postage costs!)