A plea for help from you Photoguys! I am going to buy a new digital camera. For the last two years I have had a Canon Digital Ixus, the first version that came. I really love the size of it, it fits in my pocket and is easy to handle. But I don't like the quality of the images. Especially when the light is low it is far too much noise, and there is a heavy blue colorcast. So what I want is a camera that is 1. Small to fit in the pocket 2. Autoshutter for the lens, so I don't have to put it in a case every time. 3. 3 Megapix or more 4. 3 x zoom or more (optical) 5. Clear crisp images that are not destroyed by heavy compression. 6. Natural colors without too much colorcast when light is low. 7. Not AA batteries. The battery in my Ixus is perfect. Small and fast to recharge. 8. At least thre different image sizes. My Ixus have just two 640 x 480 and 1600 x 1200. The way I work with my pics is often that I choose a piece of an image and enlarge it. I have S-spline which I am happy with, but using it is no good if the original image is of bad quality. I know there have been a lot of new cameras this year, and I have no idea which one I shall choose. So I am very happy for advice from you.

Attached Link: http://www.dpreview.com/

I think Nico has given you the best advice....I'm unable to recommend anything....as I'm not familiar with any of the digital point & shoot cameras. Hope you find something that meets your needs. Good luck Gun!

If you're looking for a camera with the slide-over-lens cover, i suggest lookin at olympus or canon s-series I dont know much about olypmus, but the canon s30 is a 3mp camera with lots of good options, recently has dropped in price with the introduction of the 4mp s45 and 5mp s50. The s-series also does not use AA batteries, which makes for the cameras being quite compact, but replacement rechargeables are quite expensive and that's the trade-off. Full reviews are all at dpreview as suggested above.

I don't also want to suggest anything. But. ...few of my friends have Canon powershots (A-60, A-70 and S-40(r-good)), they are very happy with those cams. I have seen many images and gotta agree, those machines takes quite damn nice photos and got those features you said(and more). Do your own decision, but if I would be me in your shoes, I would get myself a powershot, perhaps that S-40. Have seen and used it many times, it's really good and handy one. .n

Yes Niko, I know these Powershot cameras ar very good, but for my needs they are to big. If I dont can easily put it in my pocket when I take a walk,then I will leave it at home. But today I am going to my daughter who has broadband, then I can wisit dpreview. I have been there before, so I know it it a big but very good site.

Gun, I'm a little out of date with the camera scene at the moment, but if I was you I wouldn't entirely rule out a camera taking AA batteries....... my last one did, and a pair of the NiMH batteries not only lasted ages but charged pretty quick too...... plus sides; a LOT cheaper to buy spare battery than a custom-design job (my current one cost me 25 for a compatible battery) and if you run out at that most awkward moment you can easily purchase a couple of Duracells and keep going...... Anyways, good luck with your choice! (",)

Gun, that S-40 is quite small, and fits at least in my pocket. But, if you want something really small, there is always Minolta X-serie. Worth of checking out, esp Xi. Good point Jordy, my Minolta 7i eats normal AA batteries, and I'm very, very happy for that. Prize of packet of four (best you can get) NiMH batteries is 1/5 compared to custom battery. (So I got two packages of four, and spent rest to beer, girls and fancy living.) I'm also carrying one package of normal batteries with me, so when NiMH's run out, I can still get ~30 shots. And if needed, can get new batteries anywhere. Happy hunting Gun. .n

I have looked araound a bit, and I wonder if not Canon Ixus 400 will be my choise. It is a bit expensive, but I get 4 megapix and 3xzoom and the format is just as my old one. The photo quality has improved a lot since the very first version I have now. I think that this camera was called Digital Elph in the US. I like the battery very much, it is small and it only takes an hour or so to charge it again. Of course I have to buy a larger memorycard, they only give a 32 mb in the package. But I have not definitively decided yet.