Best point and shoot camera for a good price?

I had a little Panasonic Lumix 10 megapixels, and after many bars and caribbean destination vacations, she has been dropped in the ocean and is not coming back to life. I just bought a Nikon J1 of my trip to Africa but I do not plan on taking it out in the field while I'm volunteering so I want something that is small and compact that is going to come with me everywhere while the J1 will reside at camp. My idea point and shoot camera is going to be small, good zoom, good quality photos, and quick snap but it needs to be a good price (I did damage on my camera allowance with the J1 and did not plan for buying another digital point and shoot but sometimes things just happen!)

The J1 is a bad buy. No view finder, and no hot shoe for a flash.
I'd look at a Nikon Coolpix P100.

Canon 310hs
google it

Well how much exactly do you want to spend?

I rather like the Canon ELPH 300 HS, which is a super tiny, but seemingly durable

Do not buy the Nikon. Nikon makes great DSRLs but lousy P&S cameras. Get a Canon S100 or S95. Maybe a cheaper Canon if they are too expensive. The 530HS is good. You will be happy with those.

Sony Cybershot.