PowerShot A710is

I am strongly considering this camera as my next purchase, and I have a few questions for anyone who owns it or is familiar with it.

My current camera is a Minolta Dimage S414, quite a few years old. With it I cannot adjust the zoom level while filming a video clip. I can zoom in or out, hit record, but then I must leave it at the current zoom level for the remainder of the clip. In general, is this pretty much dinosaur technology? And specifically, with my new camera (A710is) will I be able to adjust the zoom while recording?

Flash recycling is listed at 8.5 seconds, which is apparently rated as slower than average. For most users is this a big deal? I don't see that it would be, but maybe there's something I'm not considering.

Also, if you could just give me your general thoughts on the camera... Good, Bad?

I appreciate any help. Thanks!

Yes, you can zoom while using video mode. Works pretty well.
I am very much enjoying this camera. Is a great niche model for those like me who are often point and shoot but do want to play around with specific settings at times.

I just bought this camera for my parents - it's a very nice piece of equipment. The flash recycle times are a bit slow, but still suitable for most situations. The zoom range is very nice, the IS works like a charm and the camera is very fast in every regard. So far my parents like it very much

Thanks guys, I picked it up a couple of days ago... so far I love it. The flash is performing much better than listed specs - don't know why, but I'm not complaining! The orange-ish light that shines before the flash goes off helps in that my wife used to always blink during flash pictures, but now they turn out perfectly! Very nice camera so far.

i choose the 710is for the zoom range and IS. yes, flash recycle times are pretty poor, but i knew that before buying, so I'm learning to live with it. I'm just happy to have a pocket-sized camera that still gives me the creative-zones that my dslrs give me.