Check out the Canon d60 for high end DSLR HD resolution on a DSLR body with articulating screen! the price will come in just over a grand and the camera should be out sooner rather than later.

Hey Gamblor,

I'm probably still going to get the the EX FC150 and have just found it for a reasonable price on the Dell Canada site. Anyhow, I noticed when reading the tech stuff that the battery's operating temps only go down to 0 deg C. Which is nothing compared to our current -26 in Whistler hahaha! Have you had any problems ever taking it in the snow? Did you use it for your latest photos of that crazy run in Japan?

Cheers!

Don't worry about the battery since you can keep the camera in an inside pocket, where your body heat will keep it warm.
No, I took those shots with the lumix lx3. It's got a super wide lens so those hand held self portraits can capture a lot.

A few things to add about the fc150. It's not the greatest lens so indoors the quality is just okay. But if you want something for on the mountain, then this is the camera for you.

Ok, thanks for the tip.

Being able to adjust the flash strength would at least improve indoor shots somewhat. My current crappy camera is terrible for indoor/night photos. Everyone comes out way too bright and glary. I've often wanted to have the option of toning the flash down.

Just throwing it out there...

I'm super happy with our new point and shoot camera. Best quality images I have personally ever seen with a compact point and shoot. HD video (720p), great in low light, wide angle lens, takes photos really fast, small size for riding, stylish.

Canon Ixus 300 HS (AKA PowerShot SD4000 IS in North America)

http://canon.com.au/en-AU/For-You/Digital-Cameras/IXUS-Digital-Cameras/300HS-Camera

f/stop is your focal range.

eg: at 1.8 f/stop everything is out of focus except the point you focus on.
at 22 f/stop everything is in focus, including the background.

The higher number refers to 1.8
While Lower is 22

It can become a bit of a brain fart! Think like golf; the lower your score the better.

To be more appropriate it's like your eye; the more open your iris is the more detail and precise you can focus. That's your F/stop. But more light is coming in the more open it is (1.8 f/stop) so it can make your image 'over exposed' because of too much light (your eyes self adjust). In a P&S it mimiks your eyes natural response. On a DSLR you can vary the settings to achieve more precise focus by adjusting the shutter speed (exposure) to reduce the light coming into your lens. Human eyes (the optical nerve) shutter speed is set at around 25fps but we are talking still photos (a single moment in time (not video- continues images) you can choose how long that 'moment' is with shutter speed, be it 20,000/s or 30min exposure (exposure=shutter speed). It will also determine the amount of colour and motion your camera can capture during that moment.

eg: an eagle (one of the best known eyes (lens if you will) of any animal) has a shutter speed of 600fps and can focus on an object the size of a mouse from 100's of meters away. Humans struggle at 2 meters and generally focus on an object the length of your arm and the size of your fingernail at any one moment (1/25th of a second)

When using a camera it's your job to determine what you want your image focused on in accordance to how much light and the detail and colour you want when setting your lens. And it's pretty much in that order when doing it. Additionally you have the ISO setting (film speed) as a cheat.

More expensive lenses have better glass refinement and larger f/stop settings (big iris) to allow the photographer to set the lens to capture their desired image. There is also the length or zoom (magnification) of the lens.

High Definition is a cheat, as are full frame DSLR camera's. So if your image isn't what you expected you can make further adjustments in post processing. Like an insurance policy.

If you have a good lens, a 10MP camera and the right settings- nothing can surpass what is possible. You pay more for the insurance.

Thanks again for all the advice guys. I finally got the casio Gamblor. I haven't played around with it too much yet but am very amazed by the burst speed!! Wow it's awesome!