need help finding the right camera

[JAM]

I'm looking for a medium size camera
Resolution of at least 4mp unless the lesser performs as well as 4 or greater
CCD sensor
Image stabilization- not as big of a deal on lesser zoom
Optical Zoom -5X or greater
Red Eye Reduction
Compact Flash Card
ION lithium battery - not as important
Time/Date Stamp
LCD Screen 2 - 2.5 in. - not as important if has other specs
Noise Reduction
Low Compression
Good Lens
No interpolated
Macro Mode
Flexible ISO
Burst Mode
Low Shutter Lag
Built in and removable memory
Aspherical Lens
USB port
Built in Flash
Timer
Auto/Manual
Use LCD and regular as viewfinder
Short Recycling Time
LCD that rotates to front would be great
Image quality is very important
Shots will be taken of everything indoor/outdoor action/sports wildllife family
Prints from 4x6 to 11x14
Budget 0-1000
I would like a great all around camera. I had been looking at the Canon S1 IS and have read good and bad reviews about it so don't know if that is a good chose for what I want
I have heard that Canon, Nikon, Fuji, Sony, and Olympus make the best lenses so those companies I am very interested in. Any camera and any company would be great if it can perform well and make quality prints. I mainly need a camera that is quick has zoom and takes quality pictures. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[D70FAN]

I'm looking for a medium size camera
Resolution of at least 4mp unless the lesser performs as well as 4 or greater
CCD sensor
Image stabilization- not as big of a deal on lesser zoom
Optical Zoom -5X or greater
Red Eye Reduction
Compact Flash Card
ION lithium battery - not as important
Time/Date Stamp
LCD Screen 2 - 2.5 in. - not as important if has other specs
Noise Reduction
Low Compression
Good Lens
No interpolated
Macro Mode - SORT-OF
Flexible ISO
Burst Mode
Low Shutter Lag
Built in and removable memory
Aspherical Lens
USB port
Built in Flash
Timer
Auto/Manual
Use LCD and regular as viewfinder - NO
Short Recycling Time
LCD that rotates to front would be great - NO
Image quality is very important
Shots will be taken of everything indoor/outdoor action/sports wildllife family
Prints from 4x6 to 11x14
Budget 0-1000
I would like a great all around camera. I had been looking at the Canon S1 IS and have read good and bad reviews about it so don't know if that is a good chose for what I want
I have heard that Canon, Nikon, Fuji, Sony, and Olympus make the best lenses so those companies I am very interested in. Any camera and any company would be great if it can perform well and make quality prints. I mainly need a camera that is quick has zoom and takes quality pictures. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

From looking at your requirements, and your budget, you might want to check out some of the consumer dSLR's. The Canon 300D with a decent lens will be right about $1000. While the Canon 300D is a tad slower on start-up, it is very quick, compared to all-in-ones, in all other areas. Also, Nikon is comming out with a new low cost dSLR model called the D50, but that could be a few months away.


Beyond that the Nikon D70, Canon 350D/XT, Pentax *ist DS, and Olympus E-300 are all in the $800 to $900 area for the body. A decent lens should run between $250 and $400.

If a dSLR looks like a possibility then head over to the local camera store and try some out. Then come over to the dSLR forum, and our "team" will help.

As far as dSLR's go, you can't make a bad choice. I have made a few notes on your original post to show things that dSLR's don't offer.

If you are looking for an all-in-one then someone else should be along to help you momentarily. ;)