A Step-up for my Sony W80

[niknan]

I am planning on replacing my Sony W80 which I bought last year with a new digital camera. I really like my current Sony camera, but would like one a bit better. I am open to any brand, but am leaning toward the Canon cameras.

Qualities which I want:
*Compact, Stylish
*Image stabilization
*Very,very nice image quality
*Some basic manual features (not important to me, but would be nice)

I am planning on purchasing my camera in late November (Black Friday). My budget is $250 or less.

Thanks for all the help!

[KCook]

Canon A-series have manual control, but few would call them stylish. Canon SD-series have no manual control at all. Canon SX100 has manual control, but may or may not be your idea of compact and stylish. Fujifilm F50fd comes the closest, though it has aperture and shutter priority instead of full manual control. Last but not least there is the Nikon P60, which like the Canon SX100, may not be your idea of compact and stylish.

All of my prior cameras did have manual control. My current camera, a Fuji F45fd, does not. This has been a heck of an adjustment for me, but the results are actually pretty good. Unless you're happy with a Canon A-series or SX100, making manual control a must-have cuts out a lot of fine cameras from consideration. Where manual control really becomes important, in my view, is the SLR-like models.

Kelly Cook

[niknan]

Thank you Kelly for your feedback. Like I said, manual controls are not at all very important to me; it is just an extra bonus.

I should also mention, that I am not unhappy with my Sony W80. I will be giving it to a relative and am looking for another to buy. The Sony camera was fine for me...I am just interested in exploring different brands.

[KCook]

At that price level my own shopping list for an ultracompact would be the Canon SD870 IS, Panasonic DMC-FX55, and Sony DSC-W130. Be sure to check the LCD brightness for daylight use. Unfortunately the reviews don't measure this.

Somewhat less compact and stylish is the Canon SX100. Heck of a bargain for the features though.

Or just wait a couple of months for the new cameras coming out this Fall.

Kelly