The biggest new feature is the 3x optical zoom. While only a small step up from the original 2x, the new zoom requires a slightly enlarged body. Also added is a movie mode. The new movie mode allows up to 30 seconds of footage to be recorded at a resolution of 160 x 120. You can also record at 320 x 240 or 640 x 480 resolution, but the recording time shortens correspondingly.

The diminutive 1.5-inch color LCD screen remains small. However, the control scheme is slightly modified to incorporate the camera's new capabilities--a wheel now controls the camera mode and has a power button in its center. The S300 includes several white-balance presets, exposure compensation of +/- 2 EV in 1/3 EV increments, and a black-and-white mode. Essentially, the S300 is a classy digital point-and-shoot with enough features and control for most hobbyists.

Let me get this point across: the photos are crisp. Absolutely, crisp. You don't even need to use the highest setting for crisp, clean photos that are 100% true-to-life.

What really convinced me that I had a great camera was the consistent brightness of an LCD screen. When you're taking a picture, you want to be able to look into that little TV screen and see exactly how your pictures will look once you press that button. If the screen is dark, you generally can't adjust it using the "brightness" button; that just washes out the colors in the image. (Same thing with your computer -- when you significantly adjust the brightness, you're basically just fading out the colors.) I can be in any light with this camera, and I know I'll be able to see what I'm taking a photo of.

As I previously stated, this would be a five-star camera, except ... one detail. Uploading pictures has been a total pain for me. I could never properly install the software that came with this camera! I'm an avid computer user and I generally know what I'm doing, but for some reason this software drove me (and my computer!) nuts. (FYI, it's a Pentium 4 machine, loaded with Windows 2000 Pro.)

I've been using Photoshop 6.0 to upload my photos, but this is slow, and I lose the original date/time when the photo was taken. AAAAARGH.

Still, I'm very happy with the camera -- it's worth it to have your photos digitally stored for a lifetime. The picture quality is incredible and the camera is easy to use -- don't worry if you blow your budget purchasing this, you'll be glad you did later.