bj wrote:
I looked at the up-to-US$200 range of B&H & J&R, with min. 4mpix & 5x optical zoom, and they have no Canon models in that range.

Closest I see for Canon would be the A520 with is about $170 at Costco.
It has 4mp and 4x optical. In the $225-$250 range there are few
models that meet your requirements.