Premium inexpensive zoom camera

I researched cameras for over a month because I needed one with a big optical zoom and video record capability. I initially narrowed the list down to cameras with an optical zoom of 8x's or greater, but a price below $500, since I was on a budget. After reading over 150 reviews on various cameras I decided to purchase the Kodak Easyshare Z612. I couldn't be happier with my decision. The Z612 has an impressive .03 shutter lag which allows me to take action shots with minimal delay. It also allows me to switch back and forth between still and video shots, with just a click of the button. Additionally, I can zoom in or out while recording, which is really nice during soccer or volleyball games. The camera does have built in memory, but I decided to also purchase a 2GB card which increased my picture taking capability to over 1000 pictures or 1 hour of video. I found the camera on line at Buydig.com for only $250.00
and the 2GB card at Walmart.com for only $39.00
Bottom line: This is a great camera for the everyday photog that just wants to take some family snapshots.