Digital point & shoot recommendations please

[marcr1230]

Budget under $400

constraints: pocketable, durable, movies and stills, easy to use

nice to have: optical finder (seems to be a shrinking market)

I hear good things about the Sony TX1
also the Canon S90

this is for my uncle

we have an Olympus mju 1030 which I like but can always be improved

Suggestions?

 

[rover]

The S90 is an intriguing camera. Performance looks very good. I handled one last week. It is very much just a little P&S. Build quality was nothing special, or bad either. Just a P&S. It is very small, but not tiny. If I was looking for a small P&S this would be my choice. Results trump everything else.

 

[mike goldberg]

If you don't need length on the tele end, I'd go for the Lumix LX3. The lens range is 24-60 equivalent in an f2.0 lens built to Leica Summicron specs. The mode options are many, with full Manual controls. I've had half a dozen Canon P & S models, and I prefer Panasonic.
Good luck in your choice.

 

[Bugleone]

My wife has just aquired a Panasonic Lumix FX-150,...14 mega,...f2.8,..RAW files,..28mm-100mm equiv.,...quick menu,....HD video...etc.....under £200

It is an excellent camera an makes superb pix which look great printed to A3 (11x16 inches) Just pull it out and start clicking,...or go to manual and take things serious. The very first pix were brilliant,..look at this wasp nest interior;

 

[camera.bear]

Not as small as some and it might strech your budget, but the Canon Powershot G11 is a very capable camera with loads of features and lots of shooting options. I have had mine for almost a month and have had consistantly nice results.