Fiji CCD is really crap. Noise is really high (Max resolution. ie 6MP). Another thing about noise. newer CCDs have smaller noise grain so it looks more like flim iso grain.
I meant no reviews done by Phil. Some of the tests done in his review are objective and make for easier comparison across cameras (e.g. noise, resolution, focussing speeds, lags). Owners generally like to justify their purchases ;p Anyway, on a like-to-like basis, check out user reviews for S602Z:
I say go for the Panasonic if the saturation, noise and AF is comparable to the S602Z.... for the simple reason that it is newer, longer zoom, and has IS....
dpreview has a very biased review against S602z. It gave recommended rating becoz its iso 800 and 1600 can be taken only at 1mp. But tell me which prosumer cam designed in yr 2002 can have iso 1600/800 setting, with 30 fps movie, fastest focusing/ least shutter lag (at Prosumer class) and combined shutter speed and aperture at 1/10000 sec with Max F11 valueselling at 1000 plus dollars that time and now is selling 2nd at $600?