Best point and shoot digital in $250-$350 range?

I am looking for a camera with a good sized LCD (2.5") and with good enough
shooting quality to make excellent 8x10 prints. The camera also needs to be
very compact (my wife doesn't like my Sony DSC 717). A 3-4x optical zoom or
thereabouts would be nice. It doesn't need to have fancy processing
features, since I take care of all that in Photoshop. Needs to have good
macro mode as well.

thanks,

brian

 

I like my sony w5, a w7 is near 320$ it has threads for filters and
lenses, but you have alot of good choises out, Canon, Nikon, Casio,
Fuji, Kodak, etc. Sonys new N1 has a 3" screen as does a Kodac. I enjoy
camera editing and viewing so much that I would have liked a 3" screen.
There are so many in that price range , check out www.dpreview.com
If I hadnt got sony it would have been Canon, The Nikon had only auto
exposure modes. I suspect prices to really drop early next year.

 

The only cameras that really meets those criteria are the Canon SD450
and the Panasonic DMC-FX8. The macro mode and the LCD size really narrow
it down.

Trade-offs

Panasonic has image stabilization.

Canon has settable ISO (not just auto), the ability to use an external
flash, an orientation sensor, closer macro focusing range, and better
auto-focus.

You might also add to your criteria: AF assist lamp, and Li-Ion battery
(helps when searching because the AA battery cameras are never very
compact).

http://buydig.com/shop/product.aspx?sku=CNPSSD450
http://buydig.com/shop/product.aspx?sku=PNDMCFX8S

The reviews of this series of Panasonic models hasn't been stellar.

One issue with these very small cameras, with large LCDs is that the
battery life isn't wonderful. One review said that the SD450 is good for
about 150 shots using the LCD.

I'd get the SD450.

 

RTFM