[.38sw]

Can either of you give me some info on digital cameras? Hubby is taking me shopping for one this weekend (Christmas present, won't be a surprise, but I'll have what I want). You had mentioned the Nikon Coolpix before. I don't know much about digitals, but I do know a little about photography. I did a fair bit of amateur photography in the 80's, and did a decent job. I used a Pentax ME with a variety of lenses and filters. I know that 2 megapixels isn't going to be sufficient for me, but I don't want to spend a fortune on a professional quality camera either, since I won't be doing professional work. I just want decent quality photos for myself. When a camera has 2x or 3x digital zoom, what does that mean? Optical zoom? Like I said, I know nothing about digitals. how does that compare to say, a 35mm lens, or a 210, or a 50? What about macro function? Confused...

[lodwick]

The Olympus D-550 has lots of fans over on the doorway thread. grannie9 has become a whiz with hers in a couple of months. Good luck with it.

[ValerieUSA]

I had a Pentax with lenses and filters, too, back in my film days.
I am really happy with my Olympus E-10... the E-20 is out now.
I saw the new Nikon at CompUSA last weekend and it looks pretty good. The thing you might want to consider is the feel of it in your hand. So many of the digital cameras are tiny and just don't feel like a camera to me after working with the Pentax for so many years. That's one of the many things I like about my Olympus - it feels like a REAL camera!
My sister has a Minolta Dimage 7 and I think she likes it, but it is an expensive camera and she isn't a photographer, so I am not sure what it can do in competent hands (don't tell her I said this *L*)