[Talon]

I was thinking of buying a digital camera after Christmas and did some research. It seems like the Fujifilm FinePix F30 is a great compact camera, but everyone seems to say that the Canon SD700 is great also. What are your thoughts?

[Chioster]

http://www.imaging-resource.com/

This site is great for deciding what to buy, I went to there to compare for what Camera I needed. In the end I went for the A710 IS from Canon. You should check out the A series too from canon.

http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/F30/F30A.HTM
http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/SD700/SD700A.HTM

Click on Optics to see the pictures comparison.

But when ever you buy a camera, you always have to see what you need first.

simplicity people who just want a camera to shoot at stuff to keep as memery should go with a cheap compact one
Professional should go with SLR cameras with changable lenses

[watcher]

I was thinking of buying a digital camera after Christmas and did some research. It seems like the Fujifilm FinePix F30 is a great compact camera, but everyone seems to say that the Canon SD700 is great also. What are your thoughts?

both are great cameras. i think in this case, choose whichever one you like the most.
if you want to nitpick...i would say this...

the finepix f30 can take better action shots (people in movement)
the canon sd700 has image stablization, which comes in handy if your hands shake a lot when you take the picture.

both cameras have their own implementation of 'anti-blur' and a personal preference for me is canon's IS.
but i dont think you can go really wrong either way. they're just minor tradeoffs IMO.