If you are looking at H9 you should also look at the Panny FZ8 (better reviews). Can still get Canon S3 IS which has great video but have your wife hold it. I couldn't get comfy with the ergonomics. The new S5 hasn't been reviewed yet.terryhttp://tbanet.zenfolio.com/..
Let me clarify. I am not specifically looking at an H9. I was speaking more on the lines of the size of the H9 and smaller. I still doubt my wife would go with anything bigger than a compact. However, I don't think a compact can do everything we want. My guess is that we will live with a compact or ultra-compact for now. Then next year, I will probably get a DSLR type camera for those shots the smaller cameras are not good at...
If you're considering the SD900 for moving kids, watch this video. Note that they went by the other name of this camera IXUS 900Ti..
Http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qFiEna9p4U.
I bought the F31 for my wife. It's about half way between a typical compact camera and a DSLR in terms of action stopping capability. The high sensitivity sensor allows raising the shutter speed (without underexposing the image), which freezes the action. The shutter lag is also among the best in the P&S camp, although no where nearly as instantaneous as a DSLR..
Personally I can't stand it, because it doesn't give me too many manual controls. For example, I can't adjust flash exposure compensation, or raise/reduce aperture and shutter beyond "safe" artificial limits the camera imposes. Still, for someone who uses the camera exclusively in automatic mode, it's the best one out there in the compact crowd..
If you would like to learn about photography, then Canon will be better. Better yet, buy a DSLR. I really didn't know how much pain it is to use these point & shoot until I got my first DSLR two years ago...
Thank you for the info. I decided to get the Panasonic TZ3. I found the more I looked, the more problems I would find with a camera and continue looking. I took several shots with the TZ3, 800IS, 850IS and F45fd at a local Wolf Camera. Just on auto, the pictures looked pretty much the same. I threw them on Picasa2 to play around with making them look better.
Reasons for my decision:.
1. Got sick of looking at different P&S cameras knowing that each one will have Pros and Cons.2. Sold my Nikon CP 4500 for $100 less than I paid for it 5 years ago on eBay3. 10x zoom4. 28mm5. Not an ultra compact (my fingers are too big)6.
If I need better pic quality, I can get a DSLR later for myself8. 30-day return policy (not like the B&M stores locally)9. Multi-shot mode at full zoom looked pretty good (no blurs).
10. No matter which I purchased, I will never have to see another throw-away camera in my house again..
I have the TZ3 and really enjoy it. Two things I would advocate......
Use Auto ISO indoors with flash. It gets it right between ISO and flash. Using 100 ISO doesn't give you the range and the pictures can actually end up worse than bumping up the ISO a bit..
IISO also works out well when you are in uncertain lighting conditions. Panny cameras are optimized to keep the ISO as low as possible and has image stabilization to help achieve this..
Both Auto and iISO use intermediate values for ISOs (numbers between 100-200). Values you can't manually get to on your own and this works well..
Also a good idea to use about -1/3 EV on bright outdoor shots..
All settings very easily made on this camera.terryhttp://tbanet.zenfolio.com/..