[quote=dodgygeeza;45280964]Superzoom lenses usually have one or two image quality sacrifices made in order to achive the large zoom range, but generally speaking you're better off using as much optical zoom as needed then cropping the resulting image slightly if required. High optical magnification leaves you more susceptible to unsharpness due to camera movement though, particularly if you don't have manual control of the shutter speed.
Better option is to get closer or use a smaller range zoom/fixed focal length telephoto lens but I presume we are not counting either of those as an option here.[/QUOTE]
Actually your final paragraph is exactly where I wanted to go with the original question. There are two megazoom cameras currently competing with each other, that I have been considering. The Canon Powershot SX30 and the Panasonic Lumix FZ100 (although, not really being interested in the video facility, I might look at the Panasonic FZ45). Some reviewes I've read, mentioned the noise aspect due to smaller sensors, that got me thinking about bringing distant objects in a picture closer, using the computer to zoom in (using of course, a high resolution camera with either a modest, or no zoom) rather than (say) one of the two cameras mentioned. To illustrate hyperthetically: A distant building or landmark that I am unable to get close to. I have two cameras, one with fixed focal length and a high resolution 10 megapixel sensor, the other camera, also with 10 megapixels, but equiped with a 24x zoom lens. From which do those with more knowledge than I think would produce the best samesize A4 print. Unfortunately I haven't seen much mentioned in reviews about which cameras have large, as against small sensors.