Thanks for reading Aroundoz. The camera is not perfect as evidence from its slow flash recharge and sometimes noisy imagise in low light. However, based on the OPs critieria, takes AAs, is compact, long zoom, HD video, I would say its a good choice and I really like mine. In fact, while I dropped it several times along the ride with it continueing to work, I eventually dropped it again at home and it died. More my fault than the faulty of the camera but I bought another SX130, even though the newer sx150 is now out, because I liked it so much and there are very few AA battery cameras on the market right now.

Here is a link to my CGOAB journal with lots of example photos. I liked the pictures from Tibet and Nepal the best so you can skip to those if you would like: http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/thecyclingvagabond

Here are some pictures that I happen to have uploaded on BF before as examples since you seem to be interested in this camera in particular.