Canon makes good small cameras like the SD 600 or 800 and you can expect to pay no more than $300.

Cnet has a quick, helpful guide on the basics of digital cameras here:
http://bestbuy-cnet.com.com/4352-13445_7-6569795.html
This should help you determine how many megapixels, what level of zoom, size, etc. are important to you in a camera.

After reading many, many, many reviews, 8 months ago I decided the best point and shoot camera for me was the Canon Power Shot A710. It is not one of the smallest, cool looking cameras on the market, but it is small enough for me. I have been VERY happy with this camera for my everyday photos (mainly of my son). It is priced at $329 on Amazon.
http://www.amazon.com/Canon-PowerShot-Digital-Image-Stabilized-Optical/dp/B000HATNH4

Another recommendation for Canon but what size camera are you looking for? The S3 always comes highly recommended and has a great zoom and Image Stabilization but it's not as pocketable as the more compact cameras. I have the Canon A610 (which we have an u/w housing for) and the S3, love both but especially the S3 for the zoom. You can get it online from buydig for $280 (this is who I buy most of my camera stuff from, very reputable) and they have fast shipping but I'm not sure if it's available in any brick and mortar stores now that the S5 is out. The S5 is currently around $475 but I haven't read the reviews to know whether it's really worth spending $200 more than what you can get the S3 for (I would guess not). Just did a search on dpreview, here's a link that lists the improvements over the S3...

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canons5is/

She said small so the S3 or similar will probably feel too big.

I am also a long time Canon fan - anything in the Powershot A series or the smaller SD series would do fine, most now have plenty of mega pixels etc. I like the fact that the A series takes good ol AA batteries, not some wacky proprietary camera specific battery, allows you to always have back up available.

4x to 6x zoom more handy than just 3x zoom. Auto setting on the Canon will give you wonderful results 98% of the time.

Target or similar will have prices close enough to on-line - go there and see what feels good in your hand.

Thanks for all the information. I wonder if the Canon Power Shot is the one I bought my son for Christmas - it flips open into an L shape ?? I rememebr his doing that.....and I think it ran about $350. Sounds familiar.

A scan of the reviews (thank you Jen and JeanneB) shows that Cannon seems to lead.

As far as size, I would like to it to fit into a purse...but I tend to carry small purses. The purpose is for capturing everyday images, not just vacatin or special events. So, being able to just take it everywhere is important.

Looks like the stabilization is the big issue nowadays.

jmcq, thanks for the tip about Target - and the battery issue. The reviews seem to recommend the Cannon model ending in IS.

Thanks again.

Bluester, one of the great things about a canon is that they normally have an underwater unit for the particular camera. I was going to buy a big Sony job when dear Mrs Promoguy suggested the canon sd800. You can get an underwater housing for it for about an additional 150.00. The camera I believe was through Best Buy when they had a special for about 300.00. I spent more time taking underwater this year than land.

You can set the controls to different shooting situation. Go to photo-forums.com and check out different comments. You can't go wrong.

The pix under the St John, 2007 gallery were taken with the camera....www.pbase.com/promoguy101

Blu, I bought my FIRST digital camera before our last trip to STT this summer. I am a 35mm type girl. I love my camera. It is a Sony Cyber-Shot H9. It is so easy to use. I love it! I haven't even thought about using my 35mm. It isn't one of those little things you put in a small purse. It is smaller than my 35mm. Good luck! I drove myself nuts trying to find a camera that was easy to use and didn't take a bunch of blurry shots. Oh it also takes video too. That is really fun! KK

Good point KK on the video. You can get some good videos without the video camera on todays digitals. Caveat is to make sure you're carrying enough memory. I actually have two 2 gig discs. You can shoot and shoot and never run out of space.

KK, I am also an old 35 mm guy with some nice pro Minolta camera and lenses. Now I don't even look back. The only thing I really want to do is buy the SONY A100 so that my minolta lenses can be used.

It's a sickness when you're into photography.

Thank you Promo and KK. A vote for each...Canon and Sony.

Promo, your photos are wonderful. Love the underwaters you took this year.

P.s. Promo, Philly has Southern California weather today (without the haze)- just amazingly perfect!!

Promo- I bought a 4GB card and then did the dumbest thing ever! I set my camera to 3.1 mega pixels rather than leaving it on 8.1. Now I can only blow my photos up to something like 12x18. I was worried I'd run out of space! DUMB DUMB DUMB! Being a 35mm girl I had no idea what I was doing! However, I did learn something! KK

IS stands for Image Stabilization = more critical with a camera that has a longer zoom capabitiy of say 6x or greater or if you shoot a lot in low light situations.

IS is a great feature of the Canon SD800is.

Blu -
I have a great small Olympus 7.1 mpxl with a 5X zoom. Lots of scene options, IS, too. Takes great pix - but then I took it to STX and learned where I went wrong. Still took great shots but it does not have a viewfinder - only an LCD screen. BIG MISTAKE! Even with adding a pop-up sunshield to the display I couldn't see what the heck I was looking at in the sun or in the tropical shade, either. So, I am now looking for camera that has a viewfinder - learned my lesson that a viewfinder is a must - can't just rely on the LCD screen. Just wanted to pass that on to you.

When I went to STT one of my traveling companions had a Kodak Easy Share - a bigger camera but she had a 12X zoom -great shots. I am interested in the Canons and Nikons, though, too, and will be sure to get one with a viewfinder next time. Good luck - let us all know what you find out and decide upon.

- Margy

Margy, the sd800 doesn't have a viewfinder and that was one thing that bothered me. The truth of the matter was that it didn't make any difference. The LCD screen was easy to use for viewing.

Bluwater, I've had maybe 5 point and shoot digitals, and when I was teaching Photoshop Elements, I had the opportunity to see lots of photos from different cameras. My opinions follow:

1. Every Kodak I've had, seen, or given as a gift, took very good photos regardless of who was taking the picture. Even the ones I had without image stabilization focused quickly and took very clear photos with vivid color. However, I know of two people who had problems with the lens not retracting after a while (still under warranty). I also read online that others had that problem, so maybe there's some bug with Kodaks. They also don't manage power well, so batteries run down very quickly, and be careful if a Kodak requires their proprietary battery.

2. Believe it or not, the HP Photosmarts take great photos, and have features you won't find in other cameras (like their advice feature which I've forgotten the name of). They're small and well priced. Of course, since HP isn't a dedicated camera company, they seldom get respect, but they're good. Unfortunately, they don't make an ultrazoom model or I would have bought another HP.

3. I've never liked the photos I've seen from the Sony Cybershot series, and most people I know that have them call themselves experienced photographers. Not only that, Sonys have that proprietary memory stick which costs more. From what I've seen, people seem to like them because they're Sony, and they're small.

4. Be careful with small. Small cameras have small buttons, and I have small hands, and like buttons that are easy for me to press and many of the small buttons I can only press with the tip of my fingernail. Small usually also means no optical viewfinder, which can be a pain if you're taking pictures in the sun.

5. I now have two Canons - the S2IS, and the A540. The A540 was on sale in STT for $103 which was cheaper than ebay, so I bought it just in case. The S2IS took some getting used to after a Kodak - at first most of my pictures were blurry, but now I've overcome that. You really can't live without an ultrazoom in my opinion if you want photos that people will appreciate. The 540 is small and has a viewfinder, but I don't think it has IS. The buttons are easy enough to press, and it's got 4X zoom instead of the usual 3X.

6. Unless you plan to blow your photos up to poster size, 6MP should be enough. That's why the A540 was such a good deal. Most currents are 8+, but I knew I didn't need that much right now.

7. Summary - if you're the type who wants to take decent photos without reading the manual at all, get a Kodak, HP, or the Canon A series if they have IS. If you want to learn more about taking photos and learning how to use manual settings, get the Canon S3IS (thought it's pretty much the same as the S2IS, but it's 6MP). I think there's a more current model out, but I don't think it's as well reviewed yet as the others.

8. This ends my dissertation. 🙂

Whew, I just read every word! Thank you all. I appreciate it that you guys have reiterated the importance of the viewfinder. I recall trying to take photos on the sailboat last week and I couldn't see the subject. Luckily, it was Geoff's Canon and he had a viewfinder. I didn't even know they had cameras without them. Good point!

Ms411, you mentioned an ultrazoom....what is that? Is that a zoom above a certain level?

I bought myself a Canon SD630 a while ago. I like the camera. I went for the largest LCD screen (3""). No viewfinder, which is fine---most of the time. But outside, at mid-day, I was guessing what was in the display. But I can edit it so easily on the computer that's it's less a factor. The larger screen was also nice to be able to see all the little icons better. The zoom was 3x---okay, but I'd had a 35mm with some very nice lenses. But I adjusted. I also wanted to have a rechargeable lithium battery rather than AAAs. It's small and light. i drop it into the pocket of my cargo shorts and don't even feel it's there. I often take along a spare battery and memory card. Don't want to have to start conserving and passing up shots.

After using it for a while I bought a camera for my wife---I got to think about what I'd prefer to have after using the SD630 for a while. I got her a Canon SD700. It has a slightly smaller display (2.5"), but does have a viewfinder. It has a stronger zoom (4x). It also has IS. I'm still happy with mine, but the next one will have those features.

Blu, you guessed it! Nowadays, digital cameras with OPTICAL ZOOMS above, say, 4X, are considered ultrazooms with most ultrazooms having 10-12X. I think Olympus (and maybe somebody else), has a compact ultrazoom model (I may be able to find it later in one of my magazines), that has all the features you'd need.

One thing I notice about my S2IS is that it doesn't photograph blues well, so now I'm looking for the manual to learn about the color saturation feature. The blues on some flowers look faded or purpley instead of the blue that I remember seeing.

You can get hoods to shade most LCDs if you don't have a viewfinder and you're taking photos in the sun.

Another feature that I love about the S2IS is its video feature. Most digital cameras use the QuickTime format, so the videos are not as sharp as those from the S2. You may think you just want stills now, but trust me, you're gonna want video when you go to your next carnival parade! I can't remember the name of the format for the S2, but I'm sure someone will help me out here!

http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/SD800IS/SD800ISA.HTM

I had no problem not having had a view finder after all the years of having one. The Kodak is a very good camera and the pix taken in Napa and St John, 2005 galleries were taken with the 4200 model. I will tell you however, that the kodak after a couple of years would not hold the battery charge AA batteries. But who keeps a digital more than two years, LOL

I would buy at least a 7/8 meg camera and you should be set for many many years.

www.pbase.com/promoguy101