I looked at this list of cameras that you are considering and from what I know about them, all of them are pretty good..

I am also interested in the Nikon P80, the Fujifilm S8100FD and also the Kodak Z1012 IS..

Good luck with the new camera..

Currently shooting: Kodak V1253 (HD 720p video capable), Canon S20 (8 year old 3 megapixel camera), FujiFilm E550 (reconditioned), Canon HG10 High Definition camcorder, Samsung G600 (5 megapixel cell phone)..

See more of my photos at http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v491/Captain_Marvel/OOBs/.

Raised in Tucson, Arizona, now living near Seattle..

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I might suggest that if you haven't already, read the reviews right on this website. I had ordered the finepix 8100 and was salivating over the thought of the superzoom 18x. Luckily I ordered it online and the shipment was delayed so many weeks that it was finally cancelled. The reason I say it was lucky is because just the previews say the Panasonic Lumix 18xer is dynamite.It's getting rave reviews and I can hardly wait until mine comes in the mail tomorrow!..

Indeed, the 8100fs is a new camera, also the Nikon P80. So I was wondering how those two new cams stand up vs the Panasonic ZF18 which is the better cam you can find in the 18x zoom range..

I know the 1000fd is not as good as the ZF18.I think my decision would be between the P80-ZF18-8100fd..

My dad went for the G9. I myself will wait till there comes a review about P80 and maybe the 8100fd..

Or when a dslr falls out of the sky right into my lap ..

I have the p80, and personally I'm not a big fan..

My husband bought it for me just recently and it's pretty slow after taking shots..

I don't know about any of the rest... lolHope this helps a bit!..

Canon G9 is one of the finest compact cameras. The downside is that it costs more than an entry level dSLR (like Nikon D40 or Pentax K100D). You will not have the reach (the kit lens is 18-55 mm or 27-82 mm in 35 mm equivalent) but the quality is there. Also what Canon G9 has is the portability..

I hope he enjoys this little camera (that is about the maximum of what present compact cameras can offer)..

Panasonic FZ18 is quite an interesting camera with quite unimpresive quality of the result.VictorBucuresti, Romaniahttp://s106.photobucket.com/albums/m268/victor_petcu/http://picasaweb.google.com/teodor.nitica/..