Camera choices narrowed down - any thoughts?

[tmfranlk]

I have narrowed down my camera choices to a few, but just don't know what to do. Can thoughts on these choices? What are your top two choices? (I'm not sure I can afford my top choice so far.) Anything I should absolutely avoid? Budget-wise, this is as high as I can go, but I'm open to cheaper suggestions. My priorities are zoom and some improvement on my current 4mp.

The choices:
Canon S2IS
Kodak Z710
Kodak C875
Kodak Z612
Panasonic DMC-TZ1S

Thanks photo board!!! I really appreciate any advice. If it helps, my main photo ops are WDW and my DD around the house and town.

 

[BrerMama]

I've had the Panasonic for about a month now. I have a 4MP Fuji Finepix S5100 that is my "portrait" camera and the Panasonic will be my everyday snapshot camera. So far I've noticed that it rocks in low light. Really wonderful with that. I haven't tried out the zoom too much yet, but will get heavy use out of it when we go on a Thanksgiving trip in a few weeks.

I'm very happy with the camera and also happy with the price. On our Disney trip, I'm taking both cameras, but I expect that the Panasonic will be used for 90% of our pictures. You just can't beat the many features -- amazing zoom, great low-light capabilities (it will take photos up to ISO 1600... granted, you get noise, but there's always Neat Image for that), and small enough that it can fit in a pocket.

 

[jann1033]

canon and panasonic...however to be honest i didn't really care for the feel of the panasonic and i would personally stear clear of kodak just cause my daughters didn't last at all. she could have had a lemon but why take the chance when there are other choices.

 

[Anewman]

For me it would be between the Canon and Panny.

Edge in size and price to the Panny, it is almost half the size.
Edge in overall picture quality and zoom to the Canon.

 

[Jeanne B]

I have the S3 and love it, the image stabilization is a great feature so my vote would be for the S2. I have a Kodak DX6490 which I never had any real complaints about (other than blurry pictures because of no IS) but I've read a lot of negative things about the Kodaks from others. I really like the Canons so I would probably always choose a Canon over a Kodak. I can't help you with the Panasonic because I'm not familiar with them.

I do like cameras that take AA's because they're easier to find in an emergency situation when your battery dies but that wouldn't be my primary decision maker.

 

[manning]

I'm biased, I own a TZ1, like it and am learning how to use it. If you know what you are doing you can get results like these. (pictures not mine)

click expand/contract to see the whole pictures.

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1033&message=20454366