Casio EXILIM Hi-Zoom EX-V8SR 8.1 Megapixel

The first thing you'll notice about this camera is how well it's built. That said, you'll also enjoy the fact that you can use it as a pure point and shoot or exert full manual control over pictures. It's a small camera that packs a huge punch. As far as I'm aware it's the one and only miniature digital camera that has a 7 times OPTICAL zoom. (Don't get conned by manufacturers that claim a "whatever digital zoom" - Digital simply means "No zoom at all" or a "you're kidding yourself zoom"). A 7x optical zoom means you can pull in distant objects easily and since it's an 8 megapixel camera, with a high quality lens and a superbly sorted interface, the results will actually be better than a top grade SLR digital camera that has a THREE times zoom. (This would only apply if filming a distant subject, of course). The movie mode is amazing for such a little camera. It's more like the sort of results you would have got from a high end Mini DV camcorder of 5 years ago. - ie perfectly adequate. Is this the ultimate camera? - No - of course not. My Pentax K20D beats the hell out of the Casio - but it did cost 10 times the price and weighs about ten times as much. Is there a better miniature Point and Shoot made? - No, not yet. Of course there will be but at present the EX-V8 is head and shoulders above all other competitors. The very small amount extra you'll pay to buy this little gem is easily worth it. It would be great value at double the price - can't say much more, can I?