For indoor shots you generally are looking for wider angle and not more zoom (unless your parties are in really large places). Can you give a bit more detail to what you are looking for. Ultra compacts don't usually have a lot of flash power so when you are zoomed in the flash can't reach how far away the subject really is..
For indoor shots without flash the Fuji F30/31/20/40 are the cameras of choice but they don't have the zoom range you want.terryhttp://tbanet.zenfolio.com/..
I am sure that a big zoome for indoor makes no sensebut when I use it outisde big zoom is greatso what flash range is minimmum for good indoor pics?..
This sounds like a job for two cameras. .
Here are some options :.
The Fuji F31 for indoor flashless and flash shooting ( parties, etc ). Good for general shooting, but only a 3x zoom. This is THE low-light compact..
The Panasonic TZ3 for outdoor compact zoom stuff. High noise makes it a problem for indoor or low-light shots without flash..
The Fuji S6000/6500 - same sensor as the F30 wrapped in a big camera package with a big zoom and lots of goodies. In no way describable as compact - big !.
I'd kind of suggest that you get the F31 for parties and the S6500 or the TZ3 for outdoors..
One other suggestion - get an adapter for the F31 so you can add a zoom to it. It's a compromise, but both photography is..
StephenG.
Fuji S9600Fuji S5200Fuji F30Fuji E900Canon A710ISPCLinuxOS..
I almost fully agree but before buying both cameras, I would get the TZ3, test it indoors and if it doesn't meet expectations add the F31. You can get good flash output from the camera by either using auto iso or baby mode (throttles back the flash).terryhttp://tbanet.zenfolio.com/..
I have the TZ-3, which I love, but if I need to take indoor shots or poor lighting, I use my Fuji S9100 (or now I can borrow my mom's F-30 that I convinced her to buy last week!) Indoors the Panny doesn't compare to the Fuji F-30. I compared both cameras last week when she first got it and the Fuji pics I took inside the house were amazing. Completely blew the Panny away. I'd say get both. Now that I have the wide angle on the TZ3 I don't know if I'd want to go back to 35mm. for outdoor shots...
These cameras are all much to big for a pocketwhat about sony t100and ricoh r6?..
Physics gets in the way. Long zoom range + small body = even tinier sensor = poor low-light performance...
I know thati know that there is no perfect productbut I am prettu sure that there is a product that fullfill this demands bestacording to others..