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Question: Digital camera help!?
I need a little help with buying a good quality camera!.

I'm more into doing portraits of people and taking pictures of scenery!. (like nature shots)

My budget is anything less than $600!.

Any suggestions!?Www@QuestionHome@Com


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
Most of the answers you have already gotten are suggestions for DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) cameras, with interchangeable lens systems!. These will generally be excellent quality if you select a reputable brand but it is not clear if you want to get into the size, complexity and expense of that type of camera!.

If you do want to get into that type of camera a good place to start is at a web site called DSLR Guide!. That is a site designed mainly for first time buyers of DLSR cameras, to help them make an informed and educated buying decision!.
Here's the link to the site -

http://www!.digital-slr-guide!.com/index!.h!.!.!.

If that is NOT what you want to do there are many good quality intermediate, fixed lens cameras in your price range!. The main difference between these cameras and the DSLR will be that the image sensors will be smaller and you will not have the options to attach a wide variety of lenses and other specialized accessories to the camera!. also, because of the smaller sensor size you will be more limited in how LARGE printed pictures can be made from the captured photos!. On the other hand, the cameras will be much smaller and lighter and can have many features that will be suitable for portraits and landscapes of excellent quality without a lot of bulky/heavy equipment!.

If you want this type of camera Canon, Fujifilm, Nikon, Olympus and Sony are quality manufacturers that have many good intermediate level cameras that would be fine for this type of work!. Look for a camera with a minimum of 5-6 megapixels an OPTICAL (Not digital) Zoom!. If a camera has Digital Zoom it may still be a decent camera but don't use the digital zoom to take images you want to enlarge, digital zoom is a software function that degrades image quality!. I would suggest 4x to 10x optical zoom!.

A good place to look at reviews of many models of cameras is Steve's Digicams!. Look at models that he has reviewed in the past year or so from some of the brands above and see what looks appealing to you!. (He also reviews DSLR models so it is a good resource either way)!. Here's the link for his reviews -

http://www!.steves-digicams!.com/hardware_!.!.!.

HTH Email if you have specific questions!.!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Your budget will buy many different cameras!. Go to CNET!.COM and read the reviews on various cameras!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

The I would suggest one of the Canon Digital Rebel familyWww@QuestionHome@Com

I forget what it costs, but I use a Nikon F6, and it's really good!.Www@QuestionHome@Com