Originally posted by Bob Tuttle The Canon G12 has the optical view finder and the G15 does not.
That is not correct. The G15 has the same OVF as the G12. Maybe you were thinking of the articulated LCD on the G12? The G15 has a fixed LCD. The G15 LCD is larger and has almost double the resolution, and the fixed screen results in a slimmer camera. The main difference between the G12 and G15 is that the aperture on the newer model is 1.3 stops faster.
Originally posted by mikemike My dad asked for my recommendation for a new camera, point and shoot, he is not really an amateur photographer so I suggested the following please let me know if I am missing any good ones. I get a sense that his budget is $300-400.
I think your list covers the field pretty well. The Samsung EX2F is worth considering. I like the features on the Fuji X10 (2/3" sensor, OVF, hot shoe, pixel binning for extended DR or high ISO). It's above his price target, but so are some others on your watch list.
An OVF adds to the size of the camera but is a significant benefit in bright conditions. The OVF on the X10 is much clearer than the one on the G12/G15. A hot shoe adds a lot of capability to the camera. You should find out if he values either of these features more than small size. Would he ever buy an external flash? Add an EVF? How good is his eyesight? An LCD can be hard to see with older eyes.