For ease of use I would give the edge to Canon and Sony. Unfortunately IQ comparisons can be a bottomless pit .....

Kelly Cook..

Hi, thanks for the reply. Ease of use isn't at the top of my list, though an intuitive menu & layout helps. It's the IQ in automatic mode that's key. Certainly IQ comparisons can be tricky & subjective, etc. etc. but, frankly, I'm too lazy to buy each one and spend a weekend with it and then return all but the one I like  I may end up doing that but I was wondering if anyone with any experience with the four cameras I listed above has any head-to-head comparisons or info.Thanks,-B..

Each of those has it's fans. The thing I was hinting at is that the compression / noise reduction / sharpening processing built into the camera will influence IQ almost as much as the lens quality. And grading those processing factors is to a large degree subjective. One guy will praise cameraXYZ for "natural" noise handling while the next guy condemns it for being too noisy. So we end up going 'round and 'round when nit-picking IQ..

Kelly..

Thanks again for your reply Kelly. Are you familiar with the Olympus 1030sw? I don't know enough to know if the Oly's lens/processor combo is similar to the Canon, Fujifilm or Panasonic but I know I didn't like the photos taken with the Oly. Hopefully, we'll get a pro review of the Lumix DMC-FX500 soon and it will be highly recommended ..

So far I haven't heard a rave review for the IQ of any of the camera designs with the internal lens up in the corner. Whether Oly or Fuji or Nikon or Sony. Had you even gotten a conventional Oly with the extending lens then it's likely you would have been happier with the results..

Online reviews are now out for some of those cameras on your list. Have a look..

Kelly..

Thanks Kelly. I will. Also looking forward to some professional reviews of the FX500. Thanks for all your help.-B..