I understand Bsteph. Believe it or not, I 'fell' into a photography job and HAD to have a camera with more resolution. I had sort of lusted for one with more manual operation like my SLR, but didn't expect to get it anytime soon. Then--this happened--just fell in my lap, and so I then spent a LOT of time researching and still was afraid I would make the wrong choice right up until I paid for it LOL. I've since decided that any one of my choices would have worked out, but this one made good sense (besides the wonderful photos I've seen made with it) because of the option for a microdrive, the swivel LCD and the very long lived batteries S. However, sometimes, you have to consider the money. I was in the position of knowing I could swing it at this time and hoped I would live with it for a period of time. A 3+ MP will work for what I need for quite awhile. Diane (someone wondered what I preferred. I've been around the forums for years--literally. I have always gone by picnic because that's what I used for a nic when I started on the net--before Internet Explorer, can you believe LOL. Then--it wasn't cool to be 'female', now it doesn't matter, and I use Diane because it seems more 'personal' and I've found R'osity to be sort of my family over the years and the fracuses and the coming together again).