Point and Shoot Camera recommendation?

The best camera for your needs is Sony's HX5.

It has an extra wide angle lens, a decent zoom,

good quality in low light, 1080 video resolution,

10 frames per second in burst mode, and the

great Sony sweep panorama feature.

It costs a little more than you mentioned,

but in my opinion, is worth the extra money.

I wanted the perfect combination between point-and-shoot and a full-blown SLR. Canon PowerShot SX210IS is a little heavier than I expected, and I'm always nervous about moving parts like the motorized retractable lens, but the optical zoom gives me exactly what I wanted to determine wide angle versus 50mm shots without losing resolution. The manual features that allow you to set the shutter speed or the aperture or both is exactly what I wanted. There are a number of automated settings (portraits, landscape, indoor) that look useful, but there's no documentation to say what the settings are or how they are determined. This camera will be a favorite friend over many years if it lasts that long. I think I'll be able to get exactly what I want in a quick shot when I get used to the camera settings for different lightings. It also allows you to set the ISO, but I haven't researched how these words from the old days of film translate to a photon collector. What I remember about my old SLR was that with 400 ISO film I could set the shutter to 1/125 or 1/60 and get a pretty decent photo in low light without blur if I kept steady. We'll see how it works with this one. You can also do tricks like setting the aperture really small and giving a long exposure for something like a sunset, and that way you get the depth of field as well as bring out the red wavelengths if you're on a tripod. Haven't tried the movie yet, but with a 16GB memory it says I can do an hour of video. I don't expect wonders from the micro tho. Haven't tested the batter life. All in all, I'm really pleased.

I would consider Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H55 14.1MP Digital Camera

* 10x optical zoom Sony G-Lens (25mm-equivalent wide angle);

* Capture breathtaking images in Sweep Panorama Mode

* 14.1-megapixel CCD sensor; 3.0-inch LCD screen

* HD Movie mode (720p); take stable movies while walking in Active Mode

* iAuto automatically optimizes camera settings;

* Smile Shutter technology automatically captures a smile

* Card slot for optional Memory Stick Duo media and SD media

i could evaluate Canon PowerShot SX130IS 12.a million MP digicam Shoot 720p HD video with stereo sound jointly as utilising the optical zoom severe-powered 12x extensive-attitude optical zoom with Optical photograph Stabilizer Scene modes like Miniature consequence for action picture and Fisheye consequence; more suitable clever motor vehicle DIGIC 4 photograph Processor, with 12.a million megapixels; 3.0-inch extensive liquid crystal exhibit seize pictures to SD/SDHC/SDXC memory enjoying cards (no longer coated)

nice thought..