Features for the outdoor life:
Rugged
Doesn't have a problem with water.
Lightweight
Batteries last forever and don't weigh a ton.
Then start to look at the other features like resolution. In short - the best camera is only the best when it works, so concentrate on getting something you can rely on in the wild.
For outdoor work I think it's hard to beat the Xacti.
http://sanyo.com/xacti/english/products/index.html
The one I have is weather proof, but they now offer full water proof (which is supposed to mean underwater videos). The still photos are good, it seems to have good software. I like the format in terms of being able to shoot easily with one hand.
Why not have a look at Utube or flickr and see the real results from any camera you are looking at?
What quality do you want? The best you can buy will cost the earth and be outdated yesterday, so I've always tried to buy just under the best.
