Each of the following offers an excellent value for quality/features. I will keep this post updated (Updated July 1, 2010) with my current recommendations. If you are looking for specific features ask me on twitter @camerarec or send me an email and I would be happy to  recommend something specific to your needs.

A note about Mega Pixels (MP). No longer should you choose one camera over another because it has more MP. Recently some camera manufacturers have reduced the number of MPs in order to increase low light performance. The SD400 and S90(both listed below) are two 10MP cameras that offer excellent low light performance for a P&S.

Super Budget
Panasonic Lumix LZ8K 8MP 5x Zoom Lots of features, easy to operate and image quality is excellent.

BudgetCanon PowerShot SD1300 IS 12.1 MP Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7-Inch LCD (Silver) Lacks some of the frills of the other cameras but provides the Powershot reliability and excellent image quality in a variety of situations

Mid Level
Panasonic Lumix ZS7 12 MP 12x Zoom 3.0-Inch LCDHuge Zoom, HD video recording and excellent image quality in a form factor that slips into a pocket.

Between these twoCanon PowerShot SD4000 10MP 3.8x ZoomVery similar to the S90 below but with HDvideo. You lose the slick control scheme and a tiny bit of low light performance. But if you are looking for a traditional P&S form factor with excellent quality in video and stills this camera is hard to beat!

High end
Canon PowerShot S90IS 10MP 3.8x Zoom Extremely high quality images with very little noise, even at higher ISOs, almost DSLR like quality. Genius control scheme lets you have as much or as little control over manual shooting.

Hope this helps and please let me know if you have any questions.

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• 14.7 MP
• Face Self-Timer
• Easily fits in a pocket

The SD990IS is top of the line in Canon's ELPH series. Here is a 14.7 MP camera with Image Stabilization, Face Detection and highly praised image quality. A new feature that Canon has added this last year is the Face Self-Timer- automatically detects an increase in the number of faces and makes the appropriate adjustments. For instance, to include photographer’s face in a group shot, there’s no need to rush in. Just put the camera on a stand or tripod, and specify Face Self-Timer, and the camera will wait for the photographer’s face to get on-camera before it takes the shot. Two downsides- you don't get HD movies, the movies are limited to the fairly standard 640x480. and although I just mentioned the 14.7MP on the plus side I feel I need to list it in the negatives as well. The images produced by the camera are going to be large and you may find yourself running out of hard disk space quickly. Of course you can take photos at lower resolution in the camera, saving you room. And when you are in a situation where you feel every megapixels counts you can increase the resolution back up to 14.7.

An incredible number of megapixels, cool features and a stylish look that will easily fit in your pocket.

Buy the Canon Powershot SD990IS 14.7MP

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• 10 MP
• Serious 20x Zoom
• Swivel Screen and Hot Shoe
• Manual Control

This camera is NOT going to be slipping into any pockets anytime soon and it is nearing the limit of what I consider a mid-priced digital camera but you get an amazing zoom (20x), a swivel screen and a hot shoe (a place to stick external flashes like the Canon Speedlite 270EX Flash. These features are on top of plenty of very positive reviews on Amazon and Dpreview.com. This is a camera to get if you want the zoom and the control possible on a DSLR without the having to buy and change lenses. Note: there is also a very similarly named camera, the Canon PowerShot SX1IS For $200 more you get full HD recording, ability to shoot in the RAW format, ability to shoot faster 4fps versus 1.4fps and a tiny bit larger LCD screen. Unless you really want the HD save your money and buy for the SX10

Canon PowerShot SX1IS - HD Movies, Raw File, faster framerate ~$200 more.

Sony Cybershot DSC-HX1 - HD Movies, manual noise control ~$100 more. Image quality scored a 7.5/10 on Dpreview.com

If you need the a super zoom, oodles of manual controls and the ability to add an external Flash this is your camera. Actually if you need two of the three features listed this is still your camera.

Buy the Canon Powershot SX10IS 10MP

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• 10x Zoom
• HD Movie Mode
• Smart Camera Controls
• 3.0-inch LCD; Mega O.I.S. and Intelligent ISO

Just over $200 for one heck of a camera. I think I will let the review of jayzee77 at dpreview.com do most of the honors "I have been searching for years for the perfect compact point and shoot camera. I probably buy three cameras a year and resell the others. I can honestly say I have owned atleast one model camera of every major camera manufacturer. This is the best all around compact camera I have ever used." And his praise matches up with what many are saying. This camera has very high reviews on man sites. You are getting an awesome zoom (10x), Smart camera controls and auto intelligent focusing along with HD movie clips. And it will still fit in your pocket. Downsides are very small. HD clips are limited to just over 8 minutes in length and you need a faster type of SD Cardto capture smoothly. Also the microphone placement seems to be in a place that some accidentally cover with a finger while filming. All in all one of the best cameras on the entire point and shoot list regardless of price.

The reviews are consistent. This camera is currently one of the best you can buy in this price range (higher even). The huge LCD screen and HD movie clips are icing on the cake

Buy the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5K 9MP

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