Hi all!

I currently have a Fuji S5500 camera. I've been happy with it so far but now it seems like it's grown old or something, gives a strange noise when it's trying to focus and the picture quality seems worse than it used to be. Any idea why this happpens? Can it be fixed?

Plus, it's BIG, uncomfortable to carry around. So, I was thinking, perhaps it's time to buy a compact camera, but I can't make up my mind about the model I should choose.

My main concern is, of course, picture quality. I'm not looking for anything professional, I found that I have never really used any of the "special" features of the S5500, I didn't get the maximum out of it. So I'll be happy with a point-and-shoot, especially if it fits my pocket. But can these tiny, feather-light gadgets really take excellent quality pictures? (At least as good or better than the S5500 takes. Preferably better ^^).

Thanks in advance for any comment/advice!

What level of photographer are you? (beginner, novice, expert, pro)
Beginner

How "deep" into settings do you want to be? ("just point-and-shoot", I want full control over aperature and gain, I don't know much yet and will probably be mostly automatic, but I want a camera that I can grow into.)

Point-and-shoot

What is your primary subject. (Wildlife, landscapes, portrait, sports, underwater, astronomy etc..)
Landscapes, indoor/evening settings, portraits

Will you be shooting mostly in low light?
Ocassionally

What is your budget?
~$200ish, but I'm willing go further for a better deal

What cameras are you considering now and what attracted you to them?
Fuji A920, price
Fuji F47fd, I like the look
Canon powerShot SX100, looks "more serious"

Rank what features are most important to you? (Image quality, low light, fast shutter speed, wide angle, zoom, low noise, flash system, image stabilization, movie modes, ease of use. etc.
1. Picture quality above all
2. Speed
3. Durability

What type of camera would you prefer and why? (SLR, Point and Shoot, TeleZoom)
Point-and-shoot, I'd like it to be easily portable, and I don't need a lot of manual options.

Do you have size preference? (Very small, small/slim, does not matter)
I find the tiniest and slimest cameras too plastic and "toy-like", so I'd vote for an average size (like the Canon PowerShots) but it's a secondary concern.

Do you have lenses or accessories that are brand specific that you want to use?
I have a set of xD cards which would be nice to use but it's not a main concern.