I started with a cheap SLR that was full of features but the lenses were of poor quality at larger apertures f4.8 to 2.0. Then started using high quality used range finders with excellent lenses but I like to take closeups, one foot or less, and it's tough with a range finder. Then along came digital photography, no darkroom needed. I resisted but then decided to try it after talking to high school photo instructor, I was worried about the resolution of digital cameras.
My first purchase was an HP 945 DSLR 5.2megpixels with a small, 1.5 inch viewing screen which I seldom use, 7x zoom and 8x digital zoom a total of 56x...incredible and it works. The flash is decent too and it has digital flash. I was always impressed with the zoom TV lenses especially when I saw one go from a close up of a spectator to a closeup of the moon. I don't know if they did it on purpose but they showed the maker of the camera unit FUJINON so I was impressed when I found out my HP had a FUJINON zoom lense. It does everything fairly well. If your taking time exposures make sure it's on a stand because it will work out the settings and take a one minute exposure. Problem is this camera's circuitry uses too much energy rechargeable batteries are gone in 20 photos. HP does not make anything equivalent to this camera today.
My next purchase was a Casio range finder. Battery life is just plain outstanding. So much so you forget to charge it. The flash is terrible something like 10 feet for good photos. My Minolta 35mm range finder was excellent. Great photos and of all things a 50 flash. I was able to take photos of the arch work of cathedrals with this built in flash.
So, what do you look for? A camera that can use both rechargeable and alkaline batteries and battery life is good, plenty of pixels 5meg plus (are you going to make a 4 x 5 foot poster?) the type of memory card or cards used, the quality of the lenses but almost all name brands use quality lenses. Panasonic has Leica lenses, Sony uses Ziess, Casio uses Pentax, Fuji uses Fujinon, and of course Nikon and Canon use their own and are very good too.
Features? Don't get too many features. If this is your first camera you'll need to take a class just to learn the features. You want something you can go out and have fun with NOW and digital cameras are full of features. Where are those features? Do you have to be careful about moving them from your settings too easily. The HP gets bumped and I'm taking videos! The little Casio has at least 10 ways to program the focus and another three to program the quality.
DSLRs are nice but they're expensive. Then, in is some cases, your stuck with buying lenses for them. Been there. Just when you've put your telephoto on you see a perfect closeup and it's gone. Are you a portrait, family, snapshot or sports photographer? DSLRs are bulky and heavy. I'm always blown away buy snapshots taken by inexpensive range finders with few features but a great flash.
Today I'd like a Panasonic Lumix, or maybe the Sony with the Ziess lense, or maybe a Kodak, there are so many good digital cameras it's impossible to chose. You might want to search Digital SLR Reviews they give you the good and bad points and their choices somethings.
Hope this helps.
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