Ultra-compact pocket Camera

[GoBruins]

Hey Everyone:
My answers to the questions are in CAPS below. Thanks in advance for your advice!

Budget

* What budget have you allocated for buying this camera? Please be as specific as possible.
AROUND $300 -- ABSOLUTE HIGHEST WOULD BE $350

Size

* What size camera are you looking for? Or does size not matter at all to you?
I'M ONLY CONSINDERING ULTRA COMPACT CAMERAS. I HAVE A GREAT DSLR I LOVE, SO THIS IS MY TAKE EVERYWHERE CAMERA, MEANING SIZE IS OF UPMOST IMPORTANCE.

Features

How many megapixels will suffice for you?
FIVE+ IS FINE.

* What optical zoom will you need? (None, Standard = 3x-4x, Ultrazoom = 10x-12x, Other - Specify)
3X-4X IS ACCEPTABLE, BUT CERTAINLY MORE WOULD BE APPRECIATED.


* How important is “image quality” to you? (Rate using a scale of 1-10)
8--IT'S OF COUFRSE IMPORTANT, BUT SINCE POCKETABILITY IS THE #1 FACTOR, I HAVE TO MAKE CONCESSIONS SOMEWHERE.
Do you care for manual controls?
MANUAL CONTROLS FOR SHUTTER/APP WOULD BE NICE, BUT NOT A NECESSITY.
General Usage

* What will you generally use the camera for?
PHOTOS AT NIGHT OUT WITH FRIENDS, WALKING AROUND CAMPUS, TO HAVE WITH ME AT NEARLY ALL TIMES FOR THOSE QUICK PHOTOS YOU DONT WANT TO MISS.
* Will you be making big prints of your photos or not?
NOT BIGGER THAN 8X10
Will you be shooting a lot of indoor photos or low light photos?
YES, DEFINITELY A LOT OF LOW LIGHT AT NIGHT.
Will you be shooting sports and/or action photos?
SOME BASKETBALL GAMES, BUT NOT AS MUCH AS GENERAL LOW LIGHT.
Miscellaneous


Are there particular brands you like or hate?
I AM A HUGE FAN OF PANASONIC. NO BRANDS I HATE, BUT I FIND CANNON OVERPRICED.


Are there particular models you already have in mind?
I'M THINKING OF PANASONIC FX01/FX07, RICOH R4/R5, AND OLYMPUS STYLUS 740. WILLING TO CONSIDER OTHERS, THOUGH, OF COURSE!


(If applicable) Do you need any of the following special features? (Wide Angle, Image Stabilization, Weatherproof, Hotshoe, Rotating LCD)
[/B][/U]

I REALLY LIKE THE WIDE ANGLE OF THE PANASONIC AND RICOH'S, BUT ITS NOT A REQUIREMENT.

THANKS EVERYONE FOR YOUR INPUT OF WHICH CAMERA WOULD BE BEST FOR ME!

[GoBruins]

Anyone have thoughts?

[David Metsky]

If you plan on taking a lot of low light photos, you need to look at the Fuji models. I forget which is the ultracompact in their line, but it has the best high ISO performance of the bunch.

-dave-

[ggweci]

If you plan on taking a lot of low light photos, you need to look at the Fuji models. I forget which is the ultracompact in their line, but it has the best high ISO performance of the bunch.

-dave-

You're thinking of the F30

[David Metsky]

No, not the F-30 which really isn't an ultracompact. I thought there was a slightly older ultracompact from Fuji which, while not as good as the F-30 was still the best of the crop.

-dave-