Newbie asks for help : )

[inuakamori]

Hi everyone,


I'm looking to upgrade my camera from an older digital olympus camera with a 4x optical zoom to an extended zoom camera... I've done quite a bit of research, namely at dpreview[dot]com... but I'm still so confused with all the information out there!
I was wondering if someone would be so kind as to give me a hand to choose a camera.
I'm looking to spend about $400 before tax... can be higher can be lower but about that price would be great
I want one with at least 15 optical zoom but I'm willing to look at others
Lithium battery would be perfered
Automatic and Manual Zoom/Focus would be cool, but not necsasary
another feature that would be cool would be SOME form of burst mode...

I'm using this camera for traveling, (4 month hike) I realize an extended zoom is bigger than a regular point and shoot... but it (or so i've been told) has better photo quality and I don't have the space to carry an extra bag for filters and lenses.


PLEASE HELP!! Any Help would be MOST appreciated!!!

Cheers,

I