My Coolpix still works fine and I still love it; but, by today’s standards, it’s huge. I can’t slip it into my pocket; and, it’s heavy to carry in my purse. I’ve got a camera cell phone; but, its photos will never have sufficient clarity for my standards. Sooo, I decided it was time to buy a new teeny digital. Here’s the criteria I came up with:

• I don’t print my photos; I display them on the web; so, uber-high megapixels don’t impress me—and I won’t pay extra for them.

• I’m a photographer, not a gadget freak or rocket scientist; so, if I can’t figure out how to take a picture by looking at the buttons, it’s too complicated.

• I’ve got small hands; so, the camera’s got to fit them comfortably.

• I prefer cameras that use off-the-shelf batteries, so I can buy them at a local supermarket in a pinch.

• This would be my in-purse, knock-around camera; so, something in the $150-$200 range would fit my budget nicely.

After doing some online homework, and examining a friend’s Sony Cybershot T5, I decided that the Cybershot T-series or a Fujifilm Finepix Z-series camera would be ideal. Well, ideal except for price.

The only models I could find within my price range were online. Many had been repaired by the manufacturer and came with warrantee—but not necessarily all the goodies packed in the original box. Shipping costs were high, and usually put the units over my price range. With the wide range of prices, conditions, and extras, I quickly concluded I’d only feel comfortable buying a camera I could see in person.

Though I’d had good luck before, Shoplocal.com was a disappointment. Few local stores carried the camera models I wanted; and those that did, were charging close to list price. Even my bargain-hunter friends couldn’t find one of the models I wanted for the price I wanted to pay.

Totally frustrated, I perused the camera department of my local WalMart, while shopping there for household necessities. With a semi open mind, I methodically examined every digital camera on display. Naturally, WalMart had none of the models I wanted—though they were available from WalMart online , for more than I wanted to pay.

I quickly eliminated most of the display models. In most cases, I either didn’t like the placement or couldn’t figure out the buttons. None of the cameras were as slim as I wanted, though most were pocket-size.

I finally settled on a Pentax Optio E10 . The button layout was similar to the Sony and Fuji cameras I liked. It was fatter than I wanted, but small enough to fit into my purse. Though Pentax recommends using rechargeable batteries, the camera came with two AA batteries. Finally, even with an extra memory card, it was well within my budget.

Though I’d already figured out how to use the Pentax camera before I bought it, I did peruse the Quick Start instructions that came with it. And, after taking a few test photos, I even browsed through the user manual, which told me how to get rid of the date stamp, and reduce the resolution—so more photos would fit on the memory card. For my online work, I don’t need 6 megapixels!

Am I happy with my purchase? Yes and no. I prefer the quality and flexibility of my Coolpix, and will continue to use it for my studio shots of items I auction on eBay. But, I’ll keep the Pentax in my purse for casual photos of friends, vacations, and unique antiques that catch my eye and demand further research before purchase. Because the Pentax is easy to use, I can also loan it to my partner, so he can document his 1966 Corvette build project. By staying within budget and buying a camera that was adequate, if not exactly what I wanted, I won’t go crazy if something happens to it. My friends and family would agree that’s a huge plus.