Okiedoke – So last year, I asked the same question and got a few good answers, however, I had to put off purchasing a new camera due to lack of funds. Now that the new year is here, I’m sure nicer cameras are on the shelves.. so I’m still in the market. Now, Despite the wall of text below, I hope I have some serious camera enthusiasts that will read this for me and help me choose. I advise that if you don’t want to read my wall of text, skim down to my list of requirements at least.
Here is the situation – I currently have a Kodak and am quite unhappy with it. It has relatively good picture quality, but it makes doing my job harder with its slower shutter speeds. It’s also clunky and at times, quite unresponsive. So, I’m looking for an upgrade that fits my needs and budget.
What I need it for – I am a pet publicist for the local cat shelter that I volunteer for, which means I need to take pictures of cats that have newly arrived to the shelter so I can post them online to a site that lists all available, adoptable animals. Now keep in mind, these cats are in desperate need of new homes and most people that are looking for a new friend judge the animal by their picture first, which prompts them to click on their profile.
If you’ve ever tried to photograph a cat, you might know how hard it really is. They are like ADD children drinking Red Bull. lol So because of this, my camera needs to be ready to fire at a moments notice, have good battery life and take relatively good quality pics. Because I can’t keep purchasing batteries for my cam on a weekly basis, I try to use the the camera on my ITouch 4, but obviously it’s not doing the job that I want.
I also will be using this camera for other things such as family gatherings, trips to the zoo or museum or simple picture taking of my family and pets around the house.
MY REQUIREMENTS -
1) Price – Within the 200 – 300 dollar range.
2) Above average image quality in just about every situation, but I need it most for taking cat pictures. Better quality images = Better chance at them getting adopted.
3) Battery Life – Very important. My current cam only accepts double A batteries and even my rechargeable batteries have a hard time lasting. I want a cam that has a chargeable lithium-ion battery and charger. I also want to be able to buy one or two extra, so I can alternate between them.
4) Shutter lag and how fast I can snap pics – As fast as possible, but still able to provide quality shots. If the cam has a multiple picture capture mode, the better, but not necessary.
5) Size of camera – I don’t want a DSLR. (Well, of course I do, but I know it’ll be too large for my needs. If I drop it mid-session and it happens to break, I can’t replace it!) I also don’t want a teeny-tiny one. Must be as easy to hold one handed as possible.
6) Design – Not that I have a desperate need for this, but fashionable is nice.. I’m a techie, so nice looking things make me happy. 
Note – I’ve already done a lot of research… used guides and helpers. Looked at CNet, Amazon and various camera websites, so showing me lists or helpful guides won’t.. help. I want a list of the best of the best that fit my budget.
If you’ve gotten this far.. thank you ahead of time for helping! I WILL choose best answer if I find one. 
@ LovingYou – Quick question, I saw that you’ve also mentioned another camera to someone else’s question, surprisingly, one I was looking at before. The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20? Could this be another one that could be on the radar for me? I know it’s lower than my price range, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing, hehe.
