It's hard to get an ultracompact camera (the small carry-everywhere cameras you are talking about) for that little money (under $200) without making some kind of tradeoff. Personally, I'd think your choices would be better if you went up to $250. Anyway, try getting a Pentax Optio S series - they are the smallest cameras around with a decent quality. I have an old Pentax Optio S4i that does okay and I carry it with me everywhere. I have to say, it took me a while to learn the things I can and cannot expect of this camera. Put it this way, for the price you are paying and type of camera you are looking at, you will get good photos if you control the situation you are shooting in and have a bit of luck on your side.

Good luck...

Have a look at Canon A550/560/570IS. They use AA Batteries and offer good IQ. 550 and 560 are similar P&S except difference in LCD size/resolution and VGA movie clip length (A550 upto 1GB/clip, A560 upto 4GB/clip). 570IS is with image-stabilisation and full manual controls..

Further, all these have Optical Viewfinder, which additionally help preserve battery life (upto 900 shots possible!). These use AA batteries, which is helpful in a bind, as you can use off-the-shelf pair of AA alkaline..

Uniden wrote:.

Battery life will most likely bethe biggest sacrifice I would assume, as the battery has to be verythin and small. If I'm taking a train ride to the otherside ofEurope without being to charge my camera then I'll be in a badshape. The image quality seems pretty good, but I like my father'scamera a little bit more..

Regards, Ajayhttp://picasaweb.google.com/ajay0612..

Get a Fuji F30. Its not ultraslim but will fit into an American trouser pocket. Good lowlight capability, 3x zoom, good battery life. Get a 1GB card with it if you do a lot of video..

O.http://www.flickr.com/photos/ollivr/http://www.flickrleech.net/user/ollivr..

You asked about electrics: most chargers work anywhere in the world and will say something like "100 to 250 v" at 50 or 60 cycles on the backplate. So look first. Easiest way to use in Germany is to wait until you are there and buy a suitable lead with the right plug each end. This won't be too difficult and will cost a lot less than an un-necessary converter thing..

Regards, David..

Currency is 240 V with 50 Hz. If you buy a camera at home with a charger included, it will take anything from 100 to 240 V and 50 to 60 Hz, so no issue. If you buy a camera without charger, which eats AA batteries, you need to buy a charger, which accepts all currencies and cycles. You can buy one in USA or wherever you live. In your place I would not insist in in-camera-charging, if you like another camera more..

In any case you need a simple adaptor (not a converter), either for your US (?) model for using it in Germany, or for your german model for using it in US (?), which fits to the sockets. The first one is probably available at Radio Shack or Best Buy or similar shops, but in any case (for more $) at the international airport, where you start. It may be difficult to get one over here in any shop, if you have a US type plug, so better get one at the airport, if not earlier..

A bigger issue may be the language, even if you learnt some german at high school. It will be hard to understand some people there with their slang. It is sometimes even hard for me http://www.solidaridad.de/..

Forgot something. There is a quite good argument for buying a camera in US (still assuming that you live there): Cameras are reasonably cheaper there. I did not make a sound study, but I think they are about 30% more expensive in Germany.http://www.solidaridad.de/..

Like you will die if you don't have a camera? .

Uniden wrote:.

My main issues for the camera are these:.

- Great battery life as sometimes I won't be near an outlet- Good/Great picture taking (for $200, not expecting too much)- Small enough to keep in my pocket- Durable.

The way to start is to;.

1. Click on Buying Guide (in the upper left corner), then select "Ultra Compact" and <US $200. Then, chick on "Compare". It will list the first 10 choices. Go read about the ones that look good (do you like black, silver, or a designer color)..

2. Refine your search. As you learn more, you can select other things you like/dislike to minimize the short list..

3. Then come back here and ask us if your short list is OK and perhaps to help you make the final choice..

- I don't know much about voltage rates, etc. in Europe, but ifthere's a feature which changes the power required to charge thebattery without a converter, then that'd be awesome. However, Idoubt they make them like that, so I was just curious as to if theyexist. I know laptops/desktop PSU's have a built in converter..

Most cameras come with a battery charger. These normally accept something like 90-240 VAC 50-60 Hz, so the charger will pretty much work anywhere in the world. BUT, the plugs are different, so you will need a selection of adapters..

- Able to charge without taking the battery out.

Both kinds are out there..

- Able to read the files on the memory card through the camera, andnot only through a card reader(ie: just plug mini-usb into cameraand you're good).

Almost every camera does this..

Most of the things I believe I'm asking for are quite common incameras within the 200 dollar price range, I'm guessing. Sorry ifthe way I worded what I want weirdly..

No, you were quite clear. But there must be hundreds of choices!.

I really like the cameras my family has, though. My sister owns aEX-S500 by Casio, and the reason why is because it's so small. Ireally would love to have something this tiny, but I do not want tosacrifice too much quality for it. Battery life will most likely bethe biggest sacrifice I would assume, as the battery has to be verythin and small. If I'm taking a train ride to the otherside ofEurope without being to charge my camera then I'll be in a badshape. The image quality seems pretty good, but I like my father'scamera a little bit more..

My dad's camera is a Panasonic DMC-FX01. He got it at Costco lastyear for around 300 dollars or so. Last week I read about a discoutin which a higher model then the FX01 was going for 200 dollars.The camera is a bit thicker, but it shouldn't be that big of aproblem. The battery is nearly 1200mAH, while the Casio's is700mAH. I'm just assuming they have about the same power usage, sothe FX01 would last a long longer..

You know what people say about "assumptions", don't you?.

NewEgg has the DMC-FX01 for $195:.

Http://www.newegg.com/...=12&CMP=KNC-GoogleAdwords&ATT=DigitalCameras.

Just order it and save a LOT of time?.

What do you believe would be a good camera for me? Thanks a lot forreading this post. I don't plan on buying this camera until lateAugust, so I can wait for new and upcoming cameras, or soon-to-bediscounts on current cameras..

@#$%...all this work and you didn't really want a camera now anyway... .

Charlie DavisNikon 5700 & Sony R1CATS #25PAS Scribe @ http://www.here-ugo.com/PAS_List.htmHomePage: http://www.1derful.info'I brake for pixels...'..