A photographer鈥檚 advice: which camera is a better choice?

Hello, I am currently looking for a new digital camera. My budget is $300 and I have my choices narrowed down to two choices.

One is the Canon S2-IS and the other is the Fujifilm FinePix S5200. I'm a full-time student so buying a digital SLR right now is out of the question. I'm looking for something more than a simple point and shoot. I'm interested in taking pictures of birds while I'm hiking or on trips so a good optical zoom is important to me.

I understand there exist websites with reviews, and please believe me when I say I've read them. I'm asking for opinions of these cameras or comparable SLR-like camera suggestions with my uses for it in mind.

Here are two quick links to the camera specs:

Fujifilm FinePix S5200:
http://www.megapixel.net/reviews/fuji-s5...

Canon S2-IS:
http://www.megapixel.net/reviews/canon-s...

Thanks in advance for all serious responses. ;)

I'd go for Canon anytime. Fuji build nice cameras, but Canon tend to be superior in consistent image quality in all or any circumstances. Both are stabilised, but the Canon has a 12x zoom lens vs. just 10x for the Fuji.

The Canon will also probably retain its value longer (for the day you want to resell).

You are aware I'm sure that both have successor models that came out earlier this year (but I understand you are constrained by your budget, right?).

An alternative, and one that actually did receive better reviews than either of those two at the time when superzooms were at 5mp (vs 6mp or 7mp today), is the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ5. It is just as good, faster in operation, very good image stabilisation, excellent lens (Leica). And nice small details such as a supplied rechargeable battery pack, rather than the batteries wou need for the Canon (or else you need to buy rechargeable batteries, which adds to the bill).

best site for reviews is www.dpreview.com

Hopes this helps.

a

Go for vintage cams.

Cyber-shot 4.1 MegaPixel digital camera has 3x optical zoom with10x SmartZoom for great photos both near and far and a Vario-Tessar lens that is specially engineered for quick auto-focus and great zoom range. DSC-S40. Cost is about $280.00

I don't know anything specific about the two you mention. When I was doing research for both a digital SLR and an ultra-compact ($300) model, I wound up with Canon for both. Canon has really good "glass". I'd probably go with the Canon - good quality glass, better zoom for your bird pix.
If you haven't looked here http://www.dpreview.com/, I'd recommend it, too.

Fuji is crap while Canon is usually the best brand for most classes of camera.

She has only had it for about a week now, but my daughter (adult) just got the Canon S2-IS after quite a bit of comparison shopping. She loves it. She has had a couple digital cameras and a Canon 35 mm with some lenses, so she's not all "golly gee" and just saying it's a cool camera. In other words, she is coming from a bit of a knowledge base herself when she says that she really likes the camera. I won't see it until Saturday, though, so I can't comment. It sounds like a good choice to me, though. It has been the #2 or #3 popular choice on Comcast Shopping for months and months now, but I see it has finally dropped to #4. (This is out of 784 cameras listed.) The S5200 is about 35th.