Canon SX30IS/Panasonic TZ8/Nikon S9100 - any opinions?

[littleredrooster]

Looking for the impossible again! Just been through a loop of getting something waterproof/shockproof/dustproof and had 3 cameras in the past 6 months until I found nirvana with a Panasonic.

Now I have the hots for something better than a compact - big zoom and manual control of aperture and shutter are pre-requisites. Wide-angle lens is also good. Good picture quality is essential - there's so much rubbish kicking about!

Any opinions on the above choices? I'm sort-of leaning towards the Canon because I have a little SD750 Ixus which produces results way beyond its specification

[JAM35F]

Had a play with the Nikon S9100 this morning in Jessops, really like it, nicely sized, feels good quality and seemed simple to use. One thing to note is that it is a high end point and shoot with no manual controls. Thats what I was after so if you want manual input maybe look at Panasonic Lumix (220 something) or the canon range

The Nikon got great reviews for the picture quality, particularly at the long end of the zoom range and the video is full HD which swung it for me, perfect little all in one hopefully.