Basically your choices come down to:
- Super-zoom optical range (e.g. 10x), but not so good in low light, or
- Moderate zoom range (e.g. 4x), but much better in low light
For the former, the Panasonic ZS series are quite good; for the latter, Nikon P300 or Canon S95 are both outstanding.
To add to this. I also have a Panasonic DMC-ZS7. Really like both cameras, but I find myself reaching for the Nikon P300 because of the faster lens/better low light sensor performance much more often than the Panasonic. I just don't do that much that needs the superzoom and when I would like it (at venues in the back) the loss of low light sensitivity negates the superzoom benefits. I can only really see them being useful outdoors in good light (think vacation outdoors or daylight festival). For normal stuff, (shooting the kiddo indoors, bands as small clubs, family snapshots) I like the control of depth of field and better light sensitivity of the P300.
Here's an example. Shot of my daughter playing dress up from a few months ago. Total cheesy kid pic, but it was shot in a dark living room, with just a single light fixture turned on in the kitchen, shallow DOF from the 1.8 aperture, and the sensor hit White Balance & ISO noise pretty well for a P&S...
DP Review also have really good in depth reviews of most cameras. So be sure to check them out....