I have a Nikon Coolpix 2500, which seems fine for a less expensive and easily portable camera since I am not really a photography buff: [url]http://www.tristatecamera.com/lookat.php3?sid=9nvf1wqh&sku=NIKCP2500&cs=find.php3&action=search&target=products&keywords=coolpix&search_method=all[/url]

My girlfriend is more into photography and bought a Coolpix 5000, but we haven't used it yet.

[url]http://www.tristatecamera.com/lookat.php3?sid=9nvf1wqh&sku=NIKCP5000&cs=find.php3&action=search&target=products&keywords=coolpix&search_method=all[/url]

Tri-State's prices have been pretty competitive in the past and they ship quickly. We have bought several cameras from them after shopping around.

We just got a Nikon Coolpix 3100, and it's a great little camera.  Pocket sized, 3.2 megapixels (plenty enough for an 8" x 10" print, 3x optical zoom, it'll even do little Quicktime movies (no sound though).  It uses CF cards for memory, has USB connectivity, and uses either 2 AA batteries (I recommend the NiMH), or you can get a lithium battery (shaped like two AAs).  The lithium actually lasts a pretty long time, but I like the rechargable ones (personal preference).  For a $350 camera, you get a bunch.

The above camera replaced our Coolpix 950 (2.1 megapixel), but I still use the 950 for some stuff.

That Coolpix 5700 looks pretty cool, but I'll save my $1100 for something gun related [:D]

I've been shopping and have nearly decided on the Sony DSC-P8. I'd rather have an Olympus, but I have many devices that use the Memory Stick that the Sony uses. I am having a hard time finding one in stock. Seems to be very popular.

If you're planning on printing photos as well as sending them electronically, I would stick with the 3-megapixel or higher category.

You're sort of asking what kind of firearm I should buy for shooting animals. Shooting bear is different than shooting p'dogs at 350 yards.

First you're not going to need an $800 5 megapixtel camera for taking snapshots. I own at least six different digital cameras none of which are larger than 3.4 Mb. Unless you're shooting professionally or doing poster sized pictures it's a waste of memory and time.

Want to lose a friend? Send them three or four 3.4 Mb pictures in their e-mail.

Most people don't need more than 2 Mb which print out find 4x6 prints and 8x10's. If you have an $18,000 HP color plotter sitting around you can print big 11x18 or even poster sized pictures with your 5 mb camera. Each print will run about $10 between glossy roll paper and ink. Printing 4x6's on my home photo printer cost about $.25 each, Target will print them for $.39 each. {edited to add) I've printed out hundreds of photos in the last six months and haven't heard one complaint - nothing but complete amazement and total enjoyment of the the 2.1 Mb prints on 4x6 paper.

Optical zoom is better than digital but having said that most snap shots are taken at less than 3x. I have a nice Olympus 2100UZ that has a 10x lens, Minolta makes some with 7x lens. My Nikon has a tiny 28mm lens which takes a wild fisheye lens giving 180 degree photos.

Media is cheap. I have both SmartCard and CompactFlash and haven't broken either. The tiny little waffers look like they'd not take much effort from a 7 year old to break.

A good starter camera would be a Canon Digital Elph. I have one that I use for snapshots. It's tiny flash is good for about 10 feet. The exteral unit for my Olympus is good for about 80. The Canon fits in your pocket or the wife's purse without a care. It runs on a box battery so you can't use AA's in a pitch.

The difference between the $200 2Mb camera and the $1200 5Mb camera isn't going to be noticed by your mom and dad when you e-mail them photos or prints. The $1200 camera will have advanced creative and control features that a camera bug would enjoy ... and take you hour and hour of study to learn.

Careful, Paul - that's dangerously like saying I don't need a car that will do 150 when the speed limit's 55 or, God forbid, like saying I don't need an UZI to hunt deer... [:D]

The camera I bought for work (State $$$) is 4 megapixel, but I don't use the highest resolution setting unless I want really high resolution, for publication or say to magnify & crop, etc.  Just because I have it doesn't mean I have to use it all the time.

[b]AR_Shorty:  [/b] Unless size is an issue (i.e. you want a tiny, pocketable camera), if you want something high-end don't overlook the Sony Mavica CD cameras.  They are about the size of a good SLR, and they have an internal CD-R/RW drive.  They store your pictures directly on mini-CDs that you can drop in your computer's CD-ROM drive for viewing/downloading.  You never even have to use any of the connector cables if you don't want to.  The one I bought for work was the Mavica CD-400, and it has been great.  My wife & I are expecting our first child in November & between now & then I will buy the newer CD-500 - 5 megapixels @ $500+/-.  They're not for everyone, but worth considering, IMO.

added:  Forgot to mention they also shoot high-quality digital video/audio in MPEG format and store it on the same mini-CDs.  Unless you'll be shooting a lot of video, this could prevent you from having to buy a dedicated digital camcorder...

edited to add:
BTW, I LOVE your Sledge Hammer avatar...

Here's a link to what Microsoft thinks on the topic:

[url]http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/digitalphotography/getstarted/bigpicture/rightcamera.asp[/url]