Help buying best fit digital camera?

Hi

I am really confused in regard to which camera should i buy for myself. I have seen reviews of SonyT70, cannon SD950 IS, Cannon SX1100, cannon sd 790 and a few more and am confused all the more. I somehow have a bend towards cannon because of its picture qualities.

I am looking for a camera with the following specifications
1. atleast auto and manual functions if not lens focus
2. atleast 3.5+ optical zoom, the more the better
3. i am more of a on the go clicker, i click ppl, places, landscapes, roads, cars, parties, individual leaves, stones,trees, sky etc etc. Bottomline i click everything that i like the first go
4. I dont really print the pictures in sizes 8'x10' so ISO should not be that big a problem i guess
5. price $300-$400
6. sleek body nothing bulky
7. Megapixels as i undersatnd does not play that big a part but yeah something like 10 would be great

Bottomline i am looking for the best camera with best pictures and maximum features that my budget can get me

Any help will be great
Thanks

Check out the Canon S5, or if you want to bump up in price the new Canon G10. I agree with you on Canon's picture quality, and I think one of these cameras will better fit your requirements.

With a drop in price thanks to the new G10, the G9 is a real attractive choice.

But again, Sher, you're falling into the "more MP is better" trap. It most definitely isn't. I only mention the G9 because it has a larger chip to accomodate the extra MP. But most, including those you mention, have smaller CCD chips which means more MP is stuffed into them, making them LESS sensitive to light, not more. As such, you end up with more noise in low light situations. Not to mention clarity and diffraction issues due to small focal lengths.