I want to buy me a new camera that is the "ultra-slim" style that is small enought to carry around in my purse or pocket. Has anyone bought one of these small cameras lately?

I have been looking at the Canon Powershot SD550. I'm looking for a large LCD screen and a decent lens with some zoom capabilities. I would appreciate any input.

You should take a look at the Nikon S4 - new swivel body camera. Not as thin as some, but 6MP and a 10X Optical Zoom + 4X digital zoom. 38mm->1520mm (35mm equivalent). No image stabilization like your 8800.

The view screen is BIG at 2.5". It can shoot in auto-mode or one of many creative modes. $399 SRP. Amazon has it for $349.

You already have the Nikon 8800 - this would make a nice companion, back-up or alternate.

Note that they've switched to the SD cards for this one (although it has some built-in memory for when you forget your card or fill it up.)

Works with AA batteries or rechargeable.

Details at NikonUSA.com

4.4" x 2.7" x 1.4" weight 7 oz.

The Powershot 550 has same size screen, 4x zoom, uses the same SD card, and is 3.50 x 2.25 x 1.10 inches and 6 oz. $449 at ritz.com

Lorie, I'm looking at

Canon S80 8.0MP

Canon S80 8.0MP
3.6x Optical 14x Total
Battery & Charger
2.5" LCD
Movie Mode with Sound
32MB SD Card

Bob

Lorie:

Go to dpreview where you can do a side by side comparison of several cameras at once. They also have reviews of each camera, so it is definitely worth checking out.

Lorie, I am no great photogrpaher, but I have taken some great pictures with my new Kodak DX7630. It is very good at "point and click", but also has some amazing manual functions. Have a look at:
http://www.kodak.com/eknec/PageQuerier.jhtml?pq-path=9/19/131/1840&pq-locale=en_US

Oh and by the way... this one lives in my purse and still leaves room for all the other stuff one absolutely needs in one's purse

Lorie, I am so glad you asked; I can really use all the great tips from everybody. Thanks!

Thanks for everyone's helpful suggestions. I bought a new camera last Christmas which has been great. The main thing I want now is something small without needing a camera bag to carry it in.

One friend suggested I go to a camera shop and feel the cameras in my hand. He said some will just feel better than others for the grip and size of hand you have.

This is a very important point. I did the same thing when I went camera shopping last winter. The one that felt the best in my hand was the Olympus Evolt E-300. It's a big SLR 8.0 mega pixel camera that won't fit in your pocket book but it is one heck of a camera. I'm really enjoying it. No small cameras for me anymore.

Bob

Bob your pictures are wonderful, so you obviously have the right camera !
And I actually tried my DX7630 before I bought it at Amazon (they had a very irresistable offer on). We tried our granddaughter's camera. And now we have four in the family - ours, daughter's, son-in-law's and granddaughter's.

And we are all very happy with it!