I have an Olympus C2000 Zoom. A brill camera that got even better when the C2020Z came out as they sorted the manual override on the external flash output. When you consider all these great new cameras think about these at the back of your mind:
1 How much are the batteries? If it takes the new 'chewing gum' packs they are big money.
2 How much are the memory cards with a card reader for your PC? PCMCIA readers are the *best* way of getting the little piccies into a notebook PC as the cards 'appear' as another hard drive to the Op system, Instantly. USB is OK, but who want's wires everywhere?
3 Do I need to use an external flash? Some cameras are not too good at handling an external flash gun.
4 Battery life / number of pics you can take on one memory card / how many do I want to fit on one card?
5 Make sure if your camera uses Smart Media cards that you use the Olympus version (3 Volt) cards as they are more popular than the 5 Volt Minolta et al. Flash cards are OK as well, and there's only one type of them.
6 What am I going to do with all these pictures once I have them on my PC? CD writer (even more expense!).
7 Does the camera have digital zoom only (naff)?
8 Does the camera need the TV screen on to take pictures? (Kills batteries in no time) Does it have the option of using an optical viewfinder?
9 If I buy the camera and it has a TV out facility, will it work on my TV? Far east cameras are set up for NTSC TV and UK TV's only talk PAL (normally).
The C2000 is a 2.1 Megapixel jobbie and pics generally come out at 1600 x 1200. About 64 of these on one 32 Mb Smart Media card, about 500Kb each one, Medium quality mode piccies are good enough to blow your socks off. Battery life depends on flash and TV screen use, but normally a set of (cheap) 4 x AA NiMh cells lasts longer than I can be bothered to take pics for.
Good luck with your shopping. I've just been through Amsterdam and their airport prices for Olympus are no better than UK inc VAT. Dubai prices are no good either as sterling took a dive against the Dirham.