user reviews starting to come in: this one is at :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sm9IV9Gslgw
11 mins of video - looks very tempting!
"I normally like the panasonic range of cameras, however this one tempted me to try the competitor' offering. Not entirely perfect, but the initial images look superior to my FZ100. This model has a lot of gimmicky features but the modes you really nead are well implemented. the super zoom to 35x is superb. You can judge for yourself but the full 840mm equivalent 35mm focal length is still pin sharp edge to edge. The record button is fine when you use the camera at arms length and using the lcd screen but is hopelessly in the wrong place when you want to use the evf. its to close to the viewfinder and you can't get your finger in to operate the button without disturbing the shot. EVF is small, perhaps a little better than the FZ38/100. The zoom assist is a great addition as it allows you to frame up on the subject at wide angle and then the zoom extends to the setting you had before you pressed the zoom assist button. ISO down to 80 means great quality stills. Compared to the FZ100 at 100 iso the grain pattern is better in the sx30. No external mike input is a let down and you don't get a lens hood and filters need a special adaptor - really bad marketing meaning you have to buy addition attachments which all aother manufacturers supply. Well enough bitching, the raw results are, in my opinion, outstanding, The still image jpegs are processed well, still would have liked to see a raw option as well buy canon target audience must just be happy snappers - pity as this camera ticks most of the boxes for the enthusiast. As reported the wide angle does suffer from purple/cyan fringes (chromatic aberration) but you have to really enlarge the image to be objectionable."