Canon PowerShot SX200 IS Review

Be careful - I purchased this camera - it has major flaws in zoom and vdeoing. You can start recording at no zoom and going to 4 x Optical or you can start recording at 12 x Optical and 4 digital (48 times) - zoom back minimum 12 x optical zoom. It does not have full range of zoom facility diring video recording. Then looking at the Panasonic its zoom i no way as good as the canon - my advice keep hold of your money until either manufacturer comes out with the correct product.

I'm really keen to buy a "compact" with manual aperture and shutter functions or at least "priority" ability. I also can't understand why a brave manufacturer couldn't also include a simple viewfinder and a degree of manual focus? I appreciate that many inexperienced photographers would not find these facilities a big draw however there is plenty to choose in the marketplace for such tastes. As an ex press photographer (news international regional staffer) i can see the market for a compact such as the SX200 and am seriously considering buying one but the "extras" would be a huge draw. It could be a real step up to people wanting to go DSLR but needing some experience first. Can anyone suggest a better contender than the SX200 at present?
Incidentally, i really like the TZ7 but without manual settings it would not be a big enough improvement on my Ixus 65 to justify the expense.
I have tried the SX200 in the shop and it seemed to me that by putting a tiny strip of cellotape on the flash would hold it down and did not seem to interfere with the funcionality other than flash photos? any comments from users please?
If this is the case then i would leave it on almost all the time as i prefer not to use flash unless impossible without.(ie close ups in very dark lighting)
sorry about the length of my piece. best wishes ian.

Well, the video has no optical zoom. But the quality of video is simply "superb", when you watch it on a computer screen. Sound is mono, but loud and crystal clear. After owning this camera, now i dont just shoot a portrait, but also record a 30 sec video of the person while talking or doing his common activity, and that's great fun watching and a grreat way to record memories of your elders and friends / relatives.
Second thing about this camera, shoot outdoors on auto. But indoors, if you keep auto, it increases the ISO instead of switching on the flash, resulting in grainy pictures. I suggest to keep it on 'P' mode, fix the ISO value and keep the flash on, unless if you dont want it.
A great camera.

Is there any other compact camera with the same amount of zoom and with the manual setting but without this pop up flash??? I like almost everything about the SX200, but the flash. I dont want the camera just because of it.