georgevedwards Loc: Essex, Maryland.

My Canon point and shoot recently stopped functioning.
I need a new point and shoot and was impressed with the
Sony hx9v 16 mp, with photos posted in a recent discussion in this forum. However, my finances are limited right now, and when I review the specifications for these new state of the art cameras, I keep noticing the raves for the "HD Video" capabilities. I have no interest in using this feature, only still photos. I do not want to pay an extra $100 or whatever for something I don't want. My question is this: are there point and shoots that are exceptional and just take photographs? I have the same issue with the new DSLR's too.

LKincaid Loc: Tampa Bay, Florida

My mother in law got me an Olympus FE-340 P and S for a birthday gift a while back. Sometimes it is nice to have a P and S. It takes really good photos and I don't think it was very expensive.

georgevedwards Loc: Essex, Maryland.

I did a search and that is a camera that came out a few years ago, for a similar price nowadays the megapixels have gone up a bit, like Samsung ST09 for $59 has 14 megapixels. I know the lens is important but I wonder how to appraise the different lenses in point and shoots, what to look for in the specs...anyone up on that? I have a couple of DSRL cameras but need something small for certain situations. I am a artist/photographer, and I make some money doing party caricatures. You need samples taken at the event of a caricature drawing with the person who posed, this can be crucial in getting future jobs. Carrying around a DSLR is not feasible, you can't get up and walk away for a few minutes without worrying about someone stealing it, and you can't carry it around your neck while working either. The Samsung can be carried in a shirt pocket!

RaydancePhoto

Look at the Fujifilm x-100 - it does have video, but most all do now, I cant think of one that does not. The x-100 is supposed to be a killer camera, APS-c sensor and a really fine lens. I m waiting for the price to come down on used ones.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

The way they do electronics, adding video is just another blip added to the chip to attract buyers. Sony also has a 3D video feature, but I doubt that it adds to the price of the camera. When they develop a feature, they just stick it on the chip and advertise it as a wonderful feature. There are times when video might come in handy.

georgevedwards Loc: Essex, Maryland.

Wow thats more expensive than my DSLR. I see it has a 23mm lens, as opposed to the usual 50mm or so of a DSLR. I assume (correct me if I am wrong) that this is one of the keys to measuring the quality of the lens, like megapixels for measuring image quality, although there is more to it than that, it gives a quick idea. You knew back in the beginning that a 1 megapixel camera wasn't going to give a good image, despite the lense, especially not for cropping or enlarging.Ok, while doing an info search I got impulsive and ordered a Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W620 14.1 MP for $69. It looks like it is small and slim and fits in my shirt pocket. It also has a feature I hadn't heard of before: by pressing the shutter button and making a panoramic sweep the camera can take a series of quick shots and stitch them together in camera. I sell a lot of photos of a waterfront tourist spot here in Baltimore and if had small panaramas of the area it could be a big seller. My large prints arent selling well, but my small 8.5x11's are selling well. I figure the small print size doesn't require a DSLR necessarily and I can slip the camera in my shirt pocket for taking sample shots while drawing caricatures at parties. I was persuaded that Sony's experience in digital imaging would come through. I guess I will find out; I'll post some results.

dragonfist Loc: Stafford, N.Y.

Take a look at some of the Panasonic offerings. A good many of them have Leica lenses. I don't think there are any p&s that don't have video.
As Jerry said it just comes with the package.