Help deciding on a compact Canon digital.

[blattin]

So a friend of mine asked me to help him pick out a new digital compact for his girlfriend's birthday. Simple enough, right? After cruising the Canon website I realized that life with DSLRs has left me with absolutely no knowledge of modern point and shoots.

Canon lists about 10 models that range in price from about $130-400. I checked the specs on a few models and notice that nearly everything is the same between models! Most of them were f2.8-5.6 35-130mm 35mm equivalent focal range, about 10-12 megapixel resolution, and shots per second ranging from .8-2. That's all fine and dandy, but what exactly is justifying the $250+ price gap between the low and high end models?

Are there any "must have" features? Are there any features that would be beneficial to a girl in her mid-20's who has no photography experience?

I should also mention some guidelines for suggestions:
1. Cheap ($100-250)
2. Small (if it doesn't fit into her tiny little purses, she'll never use it)
3. Rugged (I'm sure it will be dropped at least once in its lifetime)
4. Movies (must be able to capture them, that's about it. preferably encoded with an industry standard codec)
5. Battery life (moderately long battery life is a plus. AAA or AA preferred, will probably use NiMH rechargeables)
6. 4x optical zoom or better

Thanks in advance for your input. It is greatly appreciated!

-Brandon

[Gaurav Prabhu]

Try if you can find Canon SX 110 IS in your budget.

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by blattin

I should also mention some guidelines for suggestions:
1. Cheap ($100-250)
2. Small (if it doesn't fit into her tiny little purses, she'll never use it)
3. Rugged (I'm sure it will be dropped at least once in its lifetime)
4. Movies (must be able to capture them, that's about it. preferably encoded with an industry standard codec)
5. Battery life (moderately long battery life is a plus. AAA or AA preferred, will probably use NiMH rechargeables)
6. 4x optical zoom or better

2 and 5 preclude eachother: AA batteries (you'll never get AAA) always mean larger camera. 3 Canon don't have (the D10 is only rated to a few feet, and I wouldnt recommend it).

Essentially, if we stick to #5 as a hard and fast rule:
Canon A640
Canon SX110/120IS
Canon SX20IS

That's it.

You should be able to find a SX120IS in that price range, and it fits all the criteria except size (it;s on the big size, but it's not SX20IS sized)

[blattin]

Thanks for your replies! I'll grab my friend and go check out those models. I may reconsider suggesting a AAA cam after all since size is an issue.

Regardless, thanks again!

-Brandon

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by blattin

I may reconsider suggesting a AAA cam after all since size is an issue.

I think you missed part of my post: Nobody makes a AAA camera.

[blattin]

Originally Posted by OsmosisStudios

I think you missed part of my post: Nobody makes a AAA camera.

Whoops, meant AA.

[castman]

I found that if they are small like that they are all about the same. I got one for my wife and all she wanted was it to be small so I got her a Canon SX110 and found it didn't any more than are other P/S it is just small and the pixels are up.