The functions are useless. All you need it actually a decent camera. Right? Of course right!!!
Zoom: 3X +
display LCD, quality makes a huge difference.
memory, SmartMedia is cheap, but crapy. Sony uses its own thing, memory stick, expenssive.
3M pixel at least,
MEPG video is nice to have
Auto setting detective, (film type, flash, etc.)
other that that, juse being fancy. And my may never tough those functions.
Canon A70 is not really good, so, go for S class
Sony P72 and above,
I don't know much about Olypus, but it is a good brand.
DO NOT take KODAK, HP or whatever I haven't mentioned.