[photo-3d] point and shoot

["Dana Nibby" <dnibby@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

This is a non-3D question, but I thought y'all might have a few opinions on 
this subject.

What would you recommend for a good small point & shoot zoom lens camera for 
around $150-$250? I'm looking at the Canon Sure Shot Classic 120 for ~$200 
(It's got a 38-120MM zoom and only weighs 9 oz.) and the Samsung Maxima Zoom 
140s which has a 38-140MM zoom - don't know how much it weighs; prob. a 
little more.

Less weight is better, as I always try to travel as light as possible.

Both models are available at Best Buy (time is short - I'm leaving in a few 
days so I can't do mail order). Does Hunt actually have good deals on point 
and shoots? I can get there easily enough.

Anything else I should look at in that price range? $200 seems about right. 
How about the Pentax IQ Zoom series? What about an Olympus Stylus?

I've heard the shutter speed slows toward the end of the zoom range in Point 
and Shoots, and that one must use ASA 400 film or faster to compensate for 
this (without using a tripod, otherwise you get blurry shots).

I'm trying to avoid taking an SLR or my Realist (3-D) camera to Bali 
Indonesia (too heavy for travel); but I need something better than my Kodak 
Cameo. I've sold a few articles this year as a freelance writer but have 
never done a destination travel piece. I may have the opportunity to sell a 
few destination pieces on Bali, so I'll need some photos of acceptable 
quality for magazines. Can I actually get acceptable quality from a point & 
shoot? I've heard that some point & shoots meet or exceed the quality of an 
SLR.

As far as manipulation goes, I'm a complete amateur - so a model that 
doesn't allow a great deal of manual tweaking isn't that much of a problem. 
Quality of the pictures using auto mode is more important to me right now.

Also, can I get prints or digital photos made from slides at the point of 
processing? I'm told I need to use slide film to sell photos, but I'd like 
to have my pictures in other formats without having to purchase a slide 
scanner.

Please don't recommend an SLR - I need to pack light, and I've never heard 
of an SLR, including a zoom lens, weighing less than a pound.


Thanks.

  - Dana

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