In case you were wondering, I settled on the Sony DCR-TRV33. Compact, solid, quality images, all the features, decent stills and a nice price, especially after telling the wife I was considering a camera that cost twice as much.

I had a nice conversation with a salesperson at Talls Camera, then meandered over to Best Buy to look for demos of other models and ended up getting the same camera for $50 less. I mention this not because of the hot deal, but because I feel a bit guilty about it, and not just because Best Buy stole a sale from a smaller store and a helpful and friendly salesperson, but because they did it with such a horrible shopping experience. It would have been worth the $50 extra just as a personal statement against carpeted warehouses run by rude, clueless teens. Sure, I played a simple market and got a lower price, but it's the kind of play that will jilt the knowledgeable salespeople off the face of the Earth until all that's left is Best Buy-style shopping. (Naturally, my original plan was to test drive at Best Buy, not expect to talk to anyone, then purchase online for a better price. Which doesn't bode well for the conscientious B&M storefronts, either.)

I got my Olympus from Talls and never regretted it. There, I plugged them on my blog and feel all better.