Need new Canon...need advice

[disneybride96]

Here's my setup.
I have a Digital Rebel....one of the first generation model, so it is a little larger than the current ones. Takes great pictures, but I don't want to haul it around switching lenses on our upcoming WDW trip with my nephews. I had a Minolta Diamage pocket size camera that I just sold to a co-worker, so I am looking for a new, smaller camera.

I know many of you are Canon S3 fans. I drool over the 12x optical zoom, but honestly, I never use half the features on my DSLR, so do I really need the S3? Any feedback on the Canon SD700? I like the size, but of course I am always tempted to go "big". Which is the best of the ELPH series?

I'm so confused!

 

[Groucho]

If you're going from a DSLR, chances are that you are going to be disappointed with the quality of any PnS camera.

Beyond that, you need to decide that features are most important to you... zoom, size, etc. A big-zoom PnS is still not going to fit into an average pocket (though certainly will be smaller than your Rebel), and most PnSs other than the big-sensor Fujis will have poor low-light performance, especially when you're used to DSLR performance.

 

[jenseib]

I have just bought a Rebel XTi. I love it too, but I know what you mean about bulk. I also own a Canon powershot A540. I LOVE this camera. It is much smaller, but still not as small as some. It has 6 megapixals, which is the max anyone doing snapshots really needs. I have several different settings, as well as manual setting too. I have AP and TV as well. Color accent too, which I love! It is cheaper and smaller than the S3. I can't say enough good things about it. The color is awesome and just using auto is fabualous as well. I took it on our Disney trip and all our pics turned out so nice. (my signature is done with it too)
I have alot of friends that have the S3 and it is a really nice camera as well, and I thought of upgrading to that and then after playing with one ,I didn't think it did a whole lot better than mine. I also have tried out the G6 and G7. Both awesome cameras as well, and I decided that when I upgraded it would be the G7. Then I started learning about SLR's and decided that was more the way I wanted to go. (and did )
So when I go on trips, my point and shoot goes with me ,and the Rebel is more for at home, or special things I want to take pics of. When I take it, it is alot more bulky and I usually only take one lens with me, because it is too much to haul.

If you know how to use paint shop or photo shop you can tweak any picture as well, if you feel the need to.