Dazed & Confused!

[grantsmommy]

I had hoped that reading numerous reviews here would help narrow my selection. I went to Consumer Reports first, and am now more confused than ever!
I have had a digital camera for years, but use my 35mm for taking portraits of the kids. I would like to begin using a dependable digital that takes sharp pictures that can be blown-up to at least 16 X 20.
I was looking at the Olympus C-60 & Fuji Fine Pix E550 (6 pixels) & Canon Powershot A95 & Kodak Easyshare CX7530 & LS753 (5 pixels). From reading the reviews, it seems that I'll need the pixels because I do want the capability of enlargement.
What's your favorite digital camera(s) and why? And, most importantly WHAT STINKIN' CAMERA SHOULD I BUY?!?!?!?!? Thank you for taking the time to respond! :)

[PhilR.]

I would like to begin using a dependable digital that takes sharp pictures that can be blown-up to at least 16 X 20.

Wow - if your print requirements begin at 16x20, then I'm wondering how big is the maximum you want? Knowing your "at the most" is more important than knowing your "at least", since that drives the megapixel decision. I would think that you would need at least 6 to 7mp's just to do 16x20, and that is for photos that would only be viewed at arm's length. For prints above 16x20, you are going to need big number mp's, and that is going to run into some money.

Since there are others here that know more than I do about the big mp cameras, I will instead put forth a different idea that perhaps you haven't thought about. You could continue to use your 35mm, and use a film/slide scanner to turn the images into digital ones. I don't know how much a scanner capable of a file good enough for 16x20 and above prints actually costs, but it might be a lot less than a 8mp camera. Just something to consider, if you haven't already....

PhilR.