Vakkotaur

I have a Kodak Cameo film camera that I bought some years ago because it was inexpensive and the flash folded so as to cover the lens. That meant I could jam the thing in a pocket and not worry about damaging the lens. It's nice, but it is a film camera. In early July I was with various folks who were using digital cameras and single-use film cameras. Someone looked at me rather incredulously and asked, "Is that a film camera?" Being supposedly behind the times doesn't bother me, but digital is now quite good, fairly inexpensive, and the savings in film and development costs will add up quickly.

What I'm looking for is a digital camera (of course) with:

* An optical site so I can frame a shot in dim light if I have to. Also, I prefer to look through the camera than at an LCD screen. There are many cameras that lack an optical sight. I will not be buying one of them.

* Optical zoom. Digital zoom can be there as an option, but I want real optical zoom. There's no point in throwing resolution away right at the start.

* A form factor that will let me carry the camera without needing a special case on my belt or around my neck. It will get stuffed in a pocket at times.

* A protected lens when not in use. This thing will get tossed around and jammed in a pocket and the like.

* A fast response time. I don't want to have to wait for the thing to wake up or boot up any longer than I wait now for a flash to (re)charge. When I press the shutter button, it should take a picture. It should not sit there and think it over a while and then eventually get around to taking a picture.

* SD memory card preferred. Other storage, such as XD, will be considered, however Sony's memory stick need not apply. USB connections are nice, but I know I can read a card with my Linux machines. I don't know that USB camera interfaces will work with my machines, especially my laptop, however.

* Taking AA cells would be nice, but is not essential. I can buy a large memory card and have room for hundreds of full-resolution pictures, but I know that with digital I'll likely be swapping batteries as often as I am/was swapping film rolls.

Considering my form factor limitation, I'm certainly not looking for super-fancy high end SLR stuff or the like here. Just a good, solid digital camera that will do what I want without making me wonder why I bought the thing.

So, what camera(s) should I be considering?