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I bought a Canon S1 IS. It has a 10x optical zoom, can record 640 x 480 30 fps movies, and uses standard AA batteries. I bought two sets of 2100 mAh (millampere hours) rechargeables, and used the first set for FOUR WEEKS to take something like five hundred photos before having to swap sets.

It's only 3 megapixels, but with a 10x zoom, that doesn't matter as much for me. It has other lens options with adapters, but that's not critical for my decision, either.

check out the sony dsc-v1. it's more than $400, but you might be able to find a used one cheaper on ebay.

http://www.steves-digicams.com/2003_reviews/v1.html
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/sonydscv1/

One thing I missed after I ditched my Sony was the adjustable color LCD frame. With the Sony I could adjust the LCD to show me what I was framing and then hold the camera in the air and click a picture with the hope of getting close to what I was shooting at. My Canon limits me to what I can see through the viewfinder or to random frame-age if I hold it above my head, because the LCD is not adjustable on the Canon. But then, it does have a viewfinder, which my particular Sony had too. With the viewfinder you get the transparent eyeball shot, and - there in the land of Emerson - I understand why this would be important. If you can get both a viewfinder and an adjustable LCD, what a wonderful versatility that would provide!

My cameras are uniformly big and clunky (from the Sony Mavica with floppy disk image storage) to the Canon EOS300D) because I have given up hope of ever being cool. Cool guys who are into the digital SLR buy the Nikon. I don't know what cool guys who are into slick little cameras buy. I will find that out when you have made your final choice.

Take a look at the Pentax Optio s4i, while not 5M, I have been dazzled by it. It will fit into an Altoids box. Two of my friends have it and rave about it. Also, it appears that the bottom either has for is about to fall out of the market for the cost of SD cards. I found a 512 meg one on www.ecost.com for $61 after a mail in rebate.

I haven't been able to tell the difference in the 4 vs. 5 meg images, unless you really blow them up. The more important factor for me in my next camera will be fitting it in either a jeans pocket or shirt pocket. Whichever one you get, get an extra battery, they all seem to use more battery than the materials claim.

i had a pentax optio s (the 3M version of the s4i) and the delay between pressing the shutter release and taking a picture was just long enough that i blurred a lot of shots. i finally had to turn on the audible "click" to train myself to wait.

if you want super small and 5M, the sony dsc-t1 is remarkable. for me, the super large lcd makes up for the lack of viewfinder. especially since most digital cameras have awful coverage with the viewfinder (typically 95% and less)

you can take decent indoor shots with the dsc-t1, but you need a steady hand (or stable surface). the flash isn't that great.

http://www.steves-digicams.com/2004_reviews/t1.html

there's also the dsc-w1 -- a little bigger, similar size LCD, viewfinder, cheaper, takes AA batteries. you'll want to check it out in person, it feels more "plastic-y" and less robust.

http://www.steves-digicams.com/2004_reviews/w1.html

both the dsc-t1 and dsc-w1 also come in black. the black t1 is only available in japan, but you can usually find it online. the black w1 should be available in the states.

I've have an S500 and previously had the S400. The S500 takes MUCH better pictures than the S400 did. The color depth, accuracy, and vividness can't be matched. The only real drawback is that it has a pretty small sensor, so that means ISO400 is reasonably grainy, and there's no ISO800.

Sony DSC-P10. It is your price - $400. It is easy. It is 5M pixel

You may find that 3x zoom is not enough. This will become increasingly apparent when you want to take a long shot, and then be able to have a close-up of the same shot..Given that you may find yourself very far from the podium at the DNC, here a suggestion that you go for more zoom, fewer megapixels.

Anyway, those increased megapixels are wonderful if you intend to print wallpaper, but otherwise, unless you intend to become either an artist or a hanger of wallapapers you created, it is not worth the cost.

Go for the extra zoom, you'll find more uses for that than for picture size/quality that can cover the garage door.

I always love a good story about guys shopping together.

;-)

This is actually a pretty tough list of criteria. But I am not sure you really need five million pixels. I myself shoot four and that's only because I couldn't find a 3 megapixel camera I liked at the time of my purchase. Good quality images is a given, as is (to my mind) at least a 3x optical zoom. Good in low light is tough, especially for a point-n-shoot. Suffice it to say, then, that it must have a focus-assist lamp in addition to ISO400 or greater. Even with those conditions met, however, I find it hard to imagine you taking great pictures at long distance in dim light. IF you shoot at 400, IF you nudge the exposure 2 stops, IF you hold the camera (and the subject) really still.. then maybe you'll end up with a blurry, grainy, but still recognizable photo of Al Gore.

Here's a camera that might make you smile. Canon's Powershot A80. Four megapixels, focus-assist lamp, ISO50-400, fully automatic AND a nice spread of manual controls, too. It's also not too small to use and not too large to carry around all day. I've been a big believer in the Powershot A-series ever since the A20. I have three A70's at work and I recently bought my daughter the A60. (I myself shoot a Powershot G2.)

YMMV, of course. I don't work for Canon, nor am I a professional photographer.

My Olypmus is great. Lightweight. Easy to use. Pretty decent on batter life, and great looking pics.

Another bonus for the Powershot A80. It has that slick swivel-out LCD on the back, like you see on camcorders. This enables you to shoot a variety of angles that would otherwise be impossible. Like over the heads of your fellow conventioners!

I just bought a Canon Powershot SD20 5MP Ultra Compact Digital Camera and it's amazing. It take unbelievably sharp, crystal clear pictures. It's very small so that might not be a great selling point for you, but since it's small the view finder is smaller and the batteries will last longer then some of your larger cameras.

You can see all the camera features here: http://www.digitalcamreview.com/products/B00064OB1E

Comment posted by Digital Cam Review