On Wed, 26 May 2010 23:19:01 +0100, F news@nowhere wrote:

I'm looking to replace my ageing Panasonic FZ30 and am considering the
Canon SX1 IS and the Panasonic FZ38. Does anyone know whether or not
either of these is likely to be replaced in the next couple of months?

TIA

Both are excellent cameras. Depending on your level of photography skills
and level of creativity, you might want to consider too that the SX1 has
had CHDK ported to it (nearing the end of its beta phase at the moment,
just a few CHDK features are not enabled yet). See links below. Keep in
mind though that most of the features of CHDK are for *very* advanced
photographers (browse the online user's manual). It may be something that
would be of no use to you. In that case the FZ38 would be just as good.

Don't bother waiting on replacements, that's a fool's game. Unless you know
for certain something is being released in a set amount of time with a
feature that you've been waiting for your whole life. Even then, newer is
not always better. I have found it is often better to buy the tried, true,
and tested camera of this or last year at a lower price than the next model
that has had features crippled or the manufacturer cut quality to cut
costs. I still have one camera made in 2003 with an image quality that
still can't be beat by today's models.

Another point in the SX1's favor is that I found it is best to switch
manufacturers every other camera. Features from one camera company will
often compliment features on another manufacturer's cameras. For example, I
bought a Sony for its infrared-capabilities, an excellent camera, but it
lacked things like stereo video recording, almost essential to the nature
documentary photographer. So my next camera included a CD quality stereo
feature, but that had to be obtained from a different maker. I now have
both capabilities at my disposal. Since you already have the FZ30, the SX1
might give you some features that are lacking in the Panasonic line. Then
you'll have a choice of whichever features you need between the two. I
found too that by becoming comfortable with any camera from any maker that
I am then more spontaneous and creative in using any of them. The camera no
longer becomes such an important part of the photography process. It
becomes just something that exists between you and the photograph that you
want to create. I also don't become stuck in a photographic rut by taking
all my images the same way, constrained by that one maker's features or
limitations.


http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/Main_Page

http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/CHDK_User_Manual