1. built-in rechargeable battery with longest possible battery life
2. image stabilization
3. an optical viewfinder
4. a lcd screen you can turn off or no lcd screen at all
5. fastest possible start up time. Not just the fastest time between pressing the button and taking the picture, but also the fastest time between an off camera and a taken picture.
6. built-in flash
7. relatively cheap and compact, but still good quality
8. very durable
9. the ability to turn off sound effects/beeps