Elaine is over in the US for a week and a half, and forgot to bring a camera, so she is asking for advice on a basic point-and-shoot digital camera. On the requirement list is small size, decent (optical) zoom and some sort of image stabilization (we take a lot of pics from a moving vehicle). For quite a while we have been users of the canon ixuses, so we are used to their logic... Any recommendations?

I've got a IXUS 960IS and its quite nice. You don't need or want the ludicrous 12MP ability of it though. Get something lower and you'll save money and have a better image. You don't get very much optical zoom though on the IXUS cameras.

I just bought this:Canon A590IS. I needed something cheap, the wife has the other Canon (a SD700IS) that we've been happy with. The 590 came at the right price for me. I really didn't want to spend more than $150. The camera is scheduled to be delivered today. I've been happy with Canon cameras since my first Canon, an EOS 650.

Canon 570-IS -- really cheap, and really *really* good value. And it has IS, and everything else.

Cheers

Have to ask Elaine to check it out - looks a bit bulky compared to the ipod-form-factor canons.

It's about one AA-battery larger in size, which makes it a lot easier to hold and aim -- and has an optical viewfinder as well as a large back LCD.

But there are a ton of slimmer ones out there, if slimness is important here. Most of the Canon cameras share firmware / features with each other, so they're all quite similar to use (less to relearn there).

The differences between pricey and non-pricey models seems to be mainly in which features get included, and which are left out of a particular model's firmware build.

Cheers!

There is a firmware addon called CHDK which seems to add quite a few extra features. Most of the SD based Canon cameras are supported.

That CHDK project looks interesting! Thanks for the link. My newly arrived A590IS isn't supported yet though.

I'm not convinced that the form factor in the A series is better. My wife has the "ipod" shaped one with her so I can't compare directly, but the new one to me at least feels slightly awkward to hold. Time will tell suppose as I've only had the camera for a few hours. I'll take it out with me today and see if grows on me.

I would get her to look at anything from the Fuji range.

I am always impressed with the images that Nicola's Fuji gives, and it's as tough as old boots it even survived a full dunking in the river (by me!) on our recent canoeing trip.

My advice get the matching leather case, I think this is what saved Nicola's camera and it's such a small camera she can still fit it in her handbag.

I think as long as she checks the shutter lag isn't too bad before purchase and she likes the feel of the thing I don't think you can go wrong with the Fuji.

Cheers

Cris.

My Fuji F31fd has had a serious battering and was trampled on by a Camel. Still works great and I'm pretty happy with it, good low light performance, good battery life, fast startup time. But no Image Stabiliser and not as small and pocketable as an IXUS. Also takes that weird XD card memory.

You're welcome to play with mine this weekend.