Critical focus with non-SLR digi cams?

[Bert]

My little Canon A60 has close-focus capability like most digital
cameras, but I find it's impossible to actually use the feature
effectively since I can never really tell when the image is truly in
focus when looking at the LCD. The fact that the LCD image is
completely invisible in a bright environment doesn't help much
either.

I'll be upgrading to a "real" digi cam soon (5+MP anyway), but still
not going the SLR route; does any vendor's camera work any better in
these respects?

[Ken]

Hi Bert...

I have many cameras, mostly Oly's, and I can't use the lcd to focus
either. Though it seems the evf is a little better, still not much
more than a shot in the dark.

I believe that the lcd is itself the limiting factor, just not enough
pixels to resolve much.

My work-around, it it helps, is to take many shots, then choose the one
I like. Just 5 minutes ago I took several macro shots of a marigold bud
just opening right outside the front door. Each had the leaves behind
the bud incredibly crisp while the bud itself was very soft. It was
easy (being outside the front door :) to see the leaves were about an
inch and a half behind the bud, and fix it by auto-focusing, locking,
and backing up an inch and a half. Not exactly the way we wanted to
do it, but...

Take care.

Ken