Looking for a compact camera for quality pictures

It should have a macro mode, the symbol looks like a flower (tulip). Once in that mode, just move the camera closer or further to get the focus you want. Keep in mind the camera will default to it's largest aperture opening (smallest f-number) which makes the depth of field very small. So a picture of a large rose may show the closest petals in focus and the farther petals out of focus/blurry. Hope this helps!

Wow, I just looked at the specs for the A650 IS, seems it's a better choice than my S5, hotshoe and 12x zoom aside. UGH!! Why couldn't Canon put the 1/1.7 CCD in the S5??? Why???
Anyway, great camera choice! You will be very happy with it and will, I'm sure, get great shots!

The Canon A series is nice but so bulky, can't fit in a pocket (unless you wear ultra baggy jeans )

I use 2 different compacts for different reasons.

I use a Canon Elph SD250 that I got a couple years ago. I love the size, the pictures are great and color reproduction is fabulous - at only 3MP though, not much in the way of prints. I love that camera because it is nearly indestructible and slips in my pants pocket easily. There are newer versions of this camera that are higher MP and bigger screens, but I have no reason to upgrade at this time.

My carry-everywhere camera is a Panasonic LX2. It is the closest thing to a dSLR I have been able to find in the pocket category. It is 10MP and shoots at 16x9 which is nice. One thing I really like about it is that most settings are operated via switch or dial rather than having to go into the menu system. It has a mode dial with the same settings as a Canon 20D, a switch for the flash (because sometimes you don't want the camera deciding), a switch for AF/AF-Macro/MF, a switch for shooting in 4:3/3:2/16:9, full manual mode on a dial, and a great LEICA lens. It also shoots in RAW and has ISO settings from 100-1600.
The downside to the LX2 is that it's lens sticks out from the body so it doesn't fit in my pocket as well as the Canon does, but it Does fit in my pocket and has a nice hard cover over the lens.