Assuming you stick to the criteria mentioned above - "My primary requirement would be best zoom,best anti shake qualities when hand held,best video mode,fine crisp pictures"
Best zoom does not necessarily translate into longer zoom, as rightly pointed out by 'theironhorse', you need to consider the usable zoom and other parametres. Current generation superzoom flaunt 24x to 36x, but in reality you will hardly use anything above 20x. The lens in all these bridge cameras aren't sharp enough beyond 18x. Quality of image stabilisation is another issue that creeps in beyond this range. In terms of higher usable zoom, image stalisation and quality of picture @ long zooms, I would rate Canon high > Panasonic > Fuji and Olympus, Nikon being the worst. I dont have much experiance with Sony. Recent Canons are not as good as the two generation old models. The best of the series was SX10IS and then SX20IS. Thereafter the new releases are just average. Try and get a used SX10IS (approx 15K, note all other models sell for less price, that should implicitly indicate something to you), that will serve you more for still pics than any other other camera (current or last three years models). You can find several reviews comparing this model with the recent models from Canon / across brands. The only flip side it does not have high definition movie recording facility (which in your case in a criteria) + 4 AA size batteries which run out in 400 shots (manual mode) :sad:
A review by me
CANON POWERSHOT SX10 IS Review, Price, Model, Picture, Quality, Battery, An awesome bridge camera, India - MouthShut.com
Video: Fujifilm HS series are all manula zooms (barrel based zoom like SLR/DSLR lenses), hence it will cause camera shake (even with stabilisation on), unless you have very sturdy hands. Overall the HS20EXR, HS30EXR and HS40EXR are all good still cameras for the price, given the competition. They are much better in low light compared to all bridge superzooms.
Fine crisp pictures : In bright daylight most of premium superzooms will give similar results except Nikon and Fuji (they are soft, not sharp whatever be the condition). However low light performance can be very different. Low light, Fuji rules followed by Canon and Panasonic. In a bright day, most of these bridge cameras will outperform budget / entry level DSLR...and I'm firm on this. Note: I mentioned budget / entry level DSLRs only.
Budget DSLR Vs Premium bridge superzooms : Unless and untill you are doing lot of low light shooting, bridge will outperform budget DSLR. For low light performance, bridge will terribly loose to the DSLRs. Note the overall package is something that premium superzooms are striving on compared to a
budget DSLR. To get a reach of a superzoom (even if it is 20x, 560mm equivalent on DSLR) you will have to shell hefty money, add to this a macro lens as well (which most of the superzooms are well capable of). When price of all this is added budget DSLRs actually changes the segment and cannot be compared with a superzoom bridge.
Nikon: I will not keep them in the list of prefered superzoom bridge cameras at all. Nikon manufactures horrible superzooms. A review posted by me for old version P110
NIKON COOLPIX L110 Review, Price, Model, Picture, Quality, Battery, Nikon Coolpix L110 no way!, India - MouthShut.com
So my list of Superzooms will be like this
Canon SX10IS or SX20IS or Panasonic Fz150 or Fuji HS30 EXR
Panasonic & Fuji other models + Canon S120IS
Olympus
Sony
No No to NIKON.
If you can do away with long zooms and can shell out a bit more, then do check out micro3/4 cameras, Canon G series, Fuji XS series.
Do update us on your purchase.
