we will likely be getting a new digital pns within the week. any suggestion in the $200- $250 range and some type of reliable site that rates them?

dcresource

steve's digicams

you can go two main directions in that price range....you can go real slick and compact, which is great for travel, etc. or you can sacrifice a little on size and slimness and get something with a greater zoom range, like this.

Az posted solid sites.
For about $200 more Look at the Canon G10...
No knee jerk reactions, but this is camera seems to have all the gingerbread, shoots RAW, and has features that usually only exist on DSLR's, yet is nube friendly. They include really good s/w for editing, and as Keg will attest to..."Once you shoot RAW it becomes the LAW!"

It's a great transitional camera, that is, enuff features to appease a nube, yet more to appease the Pro-sumer. I'll prolly buy it before my next trip, mainly because I am getting tired of lugging 12#'s of equipment w/ me.
A few extra $$$ now will save more later. Consider it.

if we were going to spend $200 more, we'd prob buy a dslr. we were talking more about this today and don't want anything too bulky. we had it down to a cannon, nikkon, and sony...with the sony currently being the front runner.

Believe me...$500 will only get you an DSLR body. Add lenses, etc. and there is no way you are under $1200 for a decent setup. One macro and one telephoto lens will set you back at least $700.
That is why I sugg'd the camera I did. @ $450 it gives you a lot of features only found on DSLR's. With DSLR s/w. Consider it a training period. If you start using the manual/AP/SP settings you'll be ready for your first DSLR. If not you still have a camera w/ a decent zoom, great features, and photo quality that will blow away a $250 P&S! Consider a transition that makes you want/get a DSLR in the future, but the wife just wants to "snap shots".
Call me if you want. I invite that! Not trying to twist your arm, but all I want you to get is a decent camera w/ future possibilities!
Only the best for you my friend! Lets talk!
If I were a salesman, I'd be broke, so to the rest of you guys....don't rape me, but give your opinion.
Tom

well, I kinda just have to disagree. one, you CAN get DSLR with a lens and on-board flash for $450 bucks. both the sony a200/230 and nikon d60 basic kits are in that range, off the top of my head. granted, at some point you would probably want to expand on that, with some additional lenses and a flash and such, but with a $450 p&s you can't even expand really. you max out with the on-board flash and attached lens. so for my money, if you want to spend $400-500 on a "transitional" camera, just get a DSLR. the modern entry level SLRs are very noob friendly, so if you just want to click away and take snapshots, it works very well for that. if you get into it, you can just buy new gear for that setup, start utilizing more manual settings, etc. in other words, it can grow with you. spending $450 on a 15 megapixel point-and-shoot camera just doesn't make a lot of sense to me, when the same money will get you into an SLR and half that will get you into a perfectly capable p&s.

went for the dsc-h20. so far so good, but i am not liking a delay from pushing button to actually taking the shot...but quality is very nice

that is more than likely the red eye reduction feature that causes the delay

I'm considering it for the weight reduction on vacation. I toted my SLR+equipment around last year for 6 days, and though I got some nice shots, I got to the point of hating it. Crowded boats, buses, museums...not to mention my unsteadiness (due to all my freaking surgeries) are making my decision. But I see where you are coming from.

Here's a quote from "Dpreview"
"The Sony takes around 1.7 seconds to start up; making it fractionally slower than most but nearer to the rest of the bunch than to the slowest (the Olympus). The zoom takes around 2.3 seconds to work its way out from the short to the long end of the range, putting it around the middle of the performance range. It's focus that really appears to be the Sony's strong point, with it taking just 0.5 seconds to achieve focus in our moderate indoor lighting test."

Not bad times, but typical for P&S. Like Keg said, the Red Eye reduction will slow it down even more.
Good choice by the way.