I'm a bit puzzled as to why this 2 1/2 year old thread has popped up again, but I do appreciate all the photography expertise that everyone has shared. PM2, there's a second thread that came after this one if you'd like more info, linked below. I ended up getting a Nikon Coolpix P600 which has a 60x zoom (a bit longer than the 50x Cannon which I also checked out) which I like for long shots of critters in the field. I followed Jane's advice to go and hold a bunch of cameras and try them out, and found both the Canon and the Nikon comfortable, though the Nikon is a bit larger. The Nikon is also slower processing images to get ready for another shot than the Cannon, I think. I am still just beginning to learn to use it, largely using it on the standard landscape setting, though I have started checking out the different options and menus. I most often use it to take photos of critters and scenes we've spotted when we were inside since that's where it's easily available, though I also take it with me when I am going outside specifically to take photos. As Steve said above, "I also use my iPhone a lot because it's in my pocket, and it is often said that the best camera is the one you have with you." It doesn't do a great job on distance or small birds, but it has good color and is great to keep in my pocket to catch some of the surprises I see in the garden. I also use it for many of my landscape shots since it's with me and available when I'm working outside. The few times I've taken the Nikon out while I work in the garden, I've either lost track of where I've set it down, or found it in the way, so I usually just stuff the phone in my pocket when I am doing more than wandering around taking photos. In the birds and mobile features #12 thread, I've posted photos taken with both cameras: Sat, Nov 22, 14 at 9:05 - iPhone Sat, Nov 22, 14 at 9:19 - Nikon Dec 3, 14 at 18:04 - Nikon Thu, Dec 4, 14 at 7:59 - Nikon In the summer, more of the photos were phone photos since I was more likely to be out working during warm weather. Here is a link that might be useful: the second camera question thread

In America it's known as the Olympus SP-550 UZ - price $500 (US):- - 4.68 84.24mm (28  504mm equivalent in 35mm photography) - Dual Image Stabilization eliminates blur (so you can photograph even when panicing) - The world's most powerful ultra zoom (at present) - 7.1 megapixel (so your UFO pix will make the FULL front page) - high-speed sequential shooting (get those shots of everybody running from the UFO) - shoot in low light without a flash (UFOs usually appear at night) And further propaganda:- - FULL MANUAL EXPOSURE CONTROL - ISO 5000 - "The SP-550 UZ offers the highest ISO sensitivity of any ultra zoom for superior low-light and fast-action photography" - With a burst rate of up to 15fps, you can freeze moments in time to get the shot you want. - macro (as close as 1cm) - wow!! gotta have one. -30 Shooting Modes including Movie with sound (HEAR the panicked screams) -Maximum Aperture f2.8  f4.5 - Shutter Speed 1/2000 sec.  15 sec., Bulb -ISO Auto, High ISO Auto, 50, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200*, 5000* (*approx. 3MP) - now you can photograph the famous "black cat in a coal mine". - Adjustment Resolutions 3,072 x 2,304, RAW / SHQ / HQ 3,072 x 2,048, 3:2 / SHQ / HQ 2,560 x 1,920, SQ1 High, Normal 2,304 x 1,728, SQ1 High, Normal 2,048 x 1,536, SQ1 High, Normal 1,600 x 1,200, SQ2 High, Normal 1,280 x 960, SQ2 High, Normal 1,024 x 768, SQ2 High, Normal 640 x 480, SQ2 High, Normal - 30 Shooting Modes: Auto, Program Auto, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, Manual, My Modes, GUIDE, Scene Presets (Portrait, Landscape, Landscape & Portrait, Night Scene, Night & Portrait, Sport, Indoor, Candle, Self-Portrait, Available Light Portrait, Sunset, Fireworks, Cuisine, Documents, Auction, Shoot & Select1, Shoot & Select2, Beach, Snow, Underwater Wide1, Underwater Wide2, Underwater Macro), Movie - Panorama Modes Up to 10 frames automatically stitchable with OLYMPUS Master Software when using Olympus brand xD-Picture Card - Sequential Shooting Hi-Speed2: 15 frames per second for 20 frames (1.2MP) Hi-Speed1: 7 frames per second for 15 frames (3MP) Normal Speed: 1.2 frames per second for 7 frames (7MP) - Bracket: Exposure bracketing up to 5 frames - Interval Shooting - Shooting Assist Functions - Histogram, Frame Assist - Noise Reduction - Set automatically at shutter speeds of 0.5 second or longer - Flash Working Range Wide: 14.8 ft. (4.5m), Tele: 9.2 ft. (2.8m) at ISO 200 Wide: 42.3 ft. (12.9m), Tele: 26.2 ft. (8.0m) at ISO 1600 - Date/Time Calendar Automatically recorded with each image (up to 2099) (after 2099 it goes into "Millenium melt-down" - remember that contrived scare-?) - Removable Media Card xD-Picture Card (16, 32, 64, 128, 256, 512MB, 1GB or 2GB) - Operating Environment Operation: 32°  104°F (0°  40°C), (Oh bother - that means no more desert trips, then); - 30%  90% humidity - So, why wouldn't you want one? Now I can get rid of my 35mm (Canon) and medium format film cameras, and give my back a rest - and even though the Panasonic (with Leica lens) has served me well, it's showing it's age.

Hi, Try these 1)Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ5, 5.0 Megapixel, 12x Optical/4x Digital Zoom, Digital Camera Mfr# DMCFZ5 Â B&H# PADMCFZ5 Price: $ 499.95 http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=371070&is=REG 2) Sony Cybershot DSC-F828, 8.0 Megapixel, 7x Optical /2x Digital Zoom, SLR (EVF), Digital Camera Mfr# DSCF828 Â B&H# SODSCF828 Our Price: $ 799.95 http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=305994&is=REG

Hi Pam...The best thing to do it get on to the Camera reviews and look up all the good and no so good things about the cameras you are interested in. Camera Reviews. Go try them all out, feel them to see what is comfortable in your hand. Iam a Canon Fan I have two of their Dig Cameras and a 35mm one..My first dig camera was the Canon A70 and I loved it and still use it my other is a SLR its a 8 mp... Cameras are a personal choice you really have to buy what you want...I found with the Olympus I was not happy with the way I held it and using my daughters one I would often find that the top of my finger was always in the pic, so I then looked for other brands and settled on the Canon because that bulge where the four batteries go was terrific for me to hold the camera It just felt more secure with my arthritic hands. And yes look for one with more Optical Zoom, my dig zoom is always off to get the dig zoom look all you do is crop your pics...About batteries just remember the bigger the mps the more power you are going to use ..My A70 3.2mp camera uses four AA NiMH rechargeable batteries when new I used to get about 250 pics as the LCD Monitor was on all the time, as the batteries got older I got less...My 8 mp camera uses a lithium battery (rechargeable) and I get over 1000 shots, if the camera manufacturer recommends one of them then its the best for that model remember the more mps your camera has the more power you need, with my SLR camera even the IS on my lens uses lots of power. I get beautiful clear pics from my 3.2 mp camera you dont need big mps for a good pic you only need them if you want to print big pics and as Tony said smaller mps are fine if you want to take 6x4 pics..I have had some of mine enlarged to the next size with my smaller camera and they were still clear..And just remember the pic is only as good as the person behind the camera and if you cannot hold a camera steady it does not matter how much it costs or how big it is..Hope this helps...Cheers..MM.