Please help me find a FAST P&S!

[megang74]

Hi! I could really use some help finding the right camera. I'm a mom of 3 (2, 3, & 11 years old), so I need a basic point & shoot compact to ultra compact digital. I've been doing HOURS of research and banging my head into the same walls. I can't find any site to rate cameras by my interests, so I'm hoping someone can assist me by reading my needs and recalling what cameras could work best.

Things I want/need in order of importance from most to least:

1. Speed! I need lightning fast speed because I'm always missing moments due to slow startup, time from hitting shutter button to actual photo taking, time it takes to zoom in and out, and time in between pictures.
2. Size. I would prefer the smallest camera that has the most of what I'm looking for (so I can slip it in my pocket or purse).
3. Picture Quality. I'm not really particular, but it'd be nice to have something like Image Stabilization or Blur Reduction or something that actually helps because my current digital often takes blurry ones.
4. Decent movie mode (minimum 640x480 at 30 fps) with acceptable audio. And it'd be really nice (although not 100% necessary) to be able to zoom during movie mode.
5. Good maximum storage upgrade (like 2GB or better yet-4GB).
6. I'd really prefer a USB connection as opposed to a cradle.
7. Pretty good battery situation. I'd prefer AA, but a long lasting (like at least 300 shots) rechargeable would be acceptable.
8. Decent wide angle for the occasional landscape I like to take (again, not necessary-just nice).
9. Rugged and weather resistant would also be nice, but it seems Olympus has the corner here, and I'm not too keen on what I've read about their speed!

Things that you might think I'd care about but don't really:

1. LCD display. As long as it has one, I'm not too picky about size or quality. I mean a nice 2.5-3" would be super, but not necessary at all.
2. MPs. Since just about everything is above 5 MPs anymore, and all I'm doing is emailing and making normal size prints, it's not a huge deal either.
3. Brand. As long as the camera works, I'm not worried about names.
4. Price. While I can't afford a really expensive camera, about all I'm looking at retail between $249-499, which is acceptable.

I really appreciate whoever read this whole thing and can actually help me find what I'm looking for. If I could search by criteria like shutter speed, image stabilization, and all those other important things to me, I wouldn't be asking for help. But there are SOOOO many cameras out there, and I'm having a very difficult time finding what I need. Thank you very much!

[livin4lax09]

sounds like the canon s3is may be one to check out. It's just not too small.

1) yep it's fast, very fast zoom, quick picture taking, decent continous mode
2) A little bigger, but for all of these features, you're not going to be looking at a tiny p&s
3) Yes, it has IS and good picture quality
4) Yep, and i believe it is possible to zoom during recording
5) Yes, it can use bigger memory cards
6) USB it is
7) AAs
8) WIde angle not as much, but on a point and shoot camera you're not going to really get a wide angle with anything, at least a true one.
9) it's certainly rugged, but i dont know about water resistent

1) a little smaller LCD but it has a swivel screen and an EVF(Electronic Viewfinder)
2) 6 MP I believe
3) Canon
4) $399


and a 12x optical zoom.

hope this helps.

[Rocket_Scientist]

I have to concur with the S3 IS...

1. Speed is as good, or better than most inexpensive P&S I've seen. There are always issues such as flash recharge time, and image writing time (which can be improved with faster SD cards)
2. Size is not as small as some pocket cameras, but it does have a nice camera feel
3. Picture Quality - is excellent for a 6 MP P&S.
4. Decent movie mode - yes, though I do not use it, so I am unfamiliar with all its features
5. Good maximum storage - any size SD cards
6. I'd really prefer a USB connection - uses USB, no cradle, but I believe you would eventually want a card reader
7. Pretty good battery situation - uses 4 standard or rechargeable AA batteries. Get rechargeables rated at or above 1800 mAh and they will last quite a while.
8. Decent wide angle - there is a wide angle attachment, but this sort of thing is not very convenient on a P&S. I have not tried this on the S3, but I do have a wide angle attachment for my Canon video camera and it does pretty well
9. Rugged and weather resistant - as good as most, I suppose

[megang74]

Thanks everyone for your help, suggestions, and advice. I have decided to go with a Canon Powershot SD800 IS Digital Elph. It is apparently the fastest small digital available at the moment. I am very impressed with the image quality and the movie mode. It's pretty much exactly what I was looking for. Thanks again!!!