Well, right after she got back, I left for a trip back east for my high school reunion. I wanted to bring a small camera, so I had to get a new one, but I did not have the luxury of researching the different options. I stopped in Costco on the way to the airport to quickly pick one up.

They had a daunting selection, but I did not have a lot of time. After looking at the selection, I quickly narrowed it down to one, made my choice, and made it to the airport on time. Fortunately, I am very happy with my choice. Here is what I bought, and the thought process that went into my selection.

I wanted:

• A good quality camera – It had to be able to take good quality pictures in high resolution, so I can zoom and crop or blow up to large sizes.
• Good optical zoom – Good optical zoom, lets you zoom in closer without the distortion of digital zoom.
• Small physical size – The smaller the camera is, the more likely I am to take it with me and therefore use it. If the camera is too large to comfortably fit in my pocket, I will probably leave it at home or in my car. The camera I chose is smaller than my iPhone and takes much better pictures.
• Flash – Flash and low light sensitivity were a must. I want to be able to take pictures under all conditions, including at night, when out dancing etc.
• High Def (HD) Video – This is great. With the advent of YouTube and websites and high def (HD) TVs, it is great to take short videos and share them with family and friends anywhere.

After looking at all the options that they had on display, I narrowed it down to one single choice: The Casio Exilim EX-s12. It takes 12.1 Mega Pixel pictures, 720P HD video, has a flash, 3X Optical zoom, and is very small. It even came with a 2GB SD card, nice carry case, and all the different cables I would need to download pictures or view the movies on a TV.

Everyone at Costco was very considerate of the fact that I was racing to catch a plane. They let me cut in line, opened a new line and fast forwarded me through the process. I opened the packaging as I drove to the airport and took only the essentials with me. I was very happy with my selection. Here are a few pictures as samples:

HERE ARE SOME PICTURES OF THE CAMERA

Casio Exilim EX-S12 Next to an iPhone

Casio Exilim EX-s12 with iPhone 3Gs - compare screens

Casio Exilim EX-S12 as thin as an iPhone 3Gs

HERE ARE SOME PICTURES FROM THE CAMERA
Day Shots:

Casio EX-s12 Indoor Picture

Casio EX-s12 Indoor Picture

Casio EX-s12 Another Indoor Picture

Night Shots:

Casio EX-s12 - New Your City cafe at Night

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I DID!

The list price or this camera is $179.99.  You can get it here for ONLY $151 with FREE Shipping. That is a savings of over $28.

I do not know how long this deal will last, so act quickly.  And remember, I am always open to your requests.

Canon PowerShot A1000 IS 10 Megapixel Digital Camera w/ 4x Optical Zoom, 2.5 LCD, Optical Image Stabilizer, & Face Detection – Gray

Product Description:
The sleek design of the PowerShot A1000 IS is as refreshing as a breath of fresh air. Better still, its high-end features make everything simple: there’s the 10.0-megapixel resolution and powerful 4x Optical Zoom lens with Optical Image Stabilizer for sharpness along the full zoom range. A DIGIC III Image Processor with Canon Face Detection automatically lets every face stand out. Easy Mode and Easy Playback make this camera a marvel of simplicity. With a bright 2.5-inch LCD, it’s available in four two-toned colors.

12.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens

I found this camera because my wife keeps bugging me to get it for her.  Several of her friends have it and the pictures come out great!!

Click on this image for great specials and more details.