I am looking to purchase a pocket size digital camera for snapshots outdoors. Most photos would be 3X5, no large prints. I do use my cameras around water a lot. Any recommendations?

Any advantage, disadvantage to optical vs digital zoom?

I got a Canon SD-550 that fills my needs very well.

the best i found was a minolta dimage. they're not made anymore so you'll have to look a bit to find. The optical zoom doesn't rely on pixels so the image is blown up without the pixel grain. much clearer image

My SD 550 Cannon works grate , fits in my shirt pocket. Took it on a coues hunt in Mexico where weight counts when hiking long hours.

Take a look at the Nikon Coolpix - P1 - 3.5 zoom - - It will fit in your top pocket and is 8.0 mega-pixels Great Digital!

Pentax optio. I've got one and it's pretty decent. It's about the size of a pack of cigarettes, a little thicker though. Does stills, video-with voice, Records audio. It's water resistant to 8 (feet I think). Lots of guys like this one to mount on the front of their kayaks to take videos while they're shooting the rapids.

the chef

You can't go wrong with the Canon digital cameras. I would recommend the Canon A610 it has 5 MP and is full of features for if you want to get a little bit more advanced. As for optical vs. digital zoom...an optical zoom is a true zoom lense vs a digital zoom which only increases the pixel size. An optical zoom will always give you a better image quality. Check out www.cnet.com for reviews

I think this will do the job

http://www.letsgodigital.org/html/review/ricoh/gr/digital_camera_EN1.html

Almost the perfect poket camera and no delay i shutter.
Hunt safe wisent

I bought a Kodak 530 for my wife last Saturday. Small enough to fit in a shirt pocket. It's 5 Megapixel and it surprised me with the quality of pictures. Wally World has them for $199.

Nashcat

try www.dpreview.com

J Scott

I have done the rounds on the same search for a Weatherfroof compact, I keep coming back to the the Pentax WP,WPi,WP10. I like a camera that keeps the lens movement within the body.
Olympus also has the new Stylus 720SW.