SX50 HS or Panasonic DMC-FZ200?

Can't answer definitively since the full reviews aren't in, but seems to me you're asking the right questions.

• I think the $64 question is whether anything Canon's done with with ISO can compare with f/2.8, but the $64,000 question is how well do the features work in practice. I'm looking forward to seeing some zoomed overcast or low light hand held shots to settle my mind. So far, it's all a lot of specs on paper to me.

• the CHDK hack can provide a 64 second shutter delay, no problem, but of course we're in tripod land now, and all kinds of fancy things no longer make a difference on tripod.

• I saw RAW shots from the Panasonic on an amateur blog and they looked good (typical sunny day zoom). I frankly don't think anybody does better JPEG conversion in camera than Canon, and sight unseen I'm biased to Canon for the best image quality for the dollar.