Most consumer level digital cameras (the $500 range) generally have trouble focusing in low light. Night shots, for example. And even once you get focus lock, the flash on those is pretty weak. You can get a bloom or two in a shot, but trying to get a large plant in the frame will probably exceed what a built-in flash can illuminate. The other thing to keep in mind is the "long term investment". Sadly, the manufacturing build quality of todays digital cameras (even the entry level DSLR's) is not as good as the Canon film camera lillypon22 mentioned. They will break easier and will wear out sooner. Figure 3-5 years as an average. The upside is that if you really enjoy the photography side of things you'll be ready to upgrade by then anyway. I had my Fuji S602Z (Approx. $600 new) for about two years before I felt the need to get a better camera because it was limiting what I could do. But then I went beyond the point & shoot stage about 15 minutes after getting the 602 out of the box. *grin* Digital is definately the way to go if you want to learn photography. The instant feedback and nearly limitless film supply makes learning much faster. Have a look through some of my galleries if you'd like to see what a rank beginner can accomplish in a couple of years. Most of the new camera's shots are under the "Nikon D70" & "Construction" galleries. Pretty much everything else was taken with the Fuji S602 which is much closer to your price range. (Althought the newer models similar to it may be higher, I don't know.) Click to enter galleries

I lost them from neglect. I got sick and couldn't take care of them. My neighbor also cut his tree down durring that time and my plants toasted.....I was getting constant panic attacks. Even laughing would trigger one. Since then I've learned to deal and not panic :) I'm remarried and this hubby likes plants. When I can't tend to my plants he will. I have a great support system now ❤

I've tinkered with several bundled software packages and they are far from junk. Yes, if a user has too many installed they can step on one another. However, to use a broad paint brush to condemn all applications and declare card readers the absolute messiah to photo transfers is a stretch. In all, a card reader is a quality viable option. In my mind what bundled software actually are are self-serving for the manufacturer, "lite" applications and redundant. I've only ever kept one which I found easy to use to stitch panoramas. For most amateurs like myself free applications like Irfanview and Picasa are more than adequate. Installing the camera driver is absolutely a minor task and historically safe. In fact, it is not harder than installing any other driver. Since as a reader I had no knowledge to the experience and the financial well-being of the poster as I normally try to do stayed within the parameters of the thread rather than forcing the writer off the original question. Though I have God knows how many card readers on the front of my system I personally find for my use connecting the transfer wire faster and easier. 1-2-3. Nothing to it. DA

My elder daughter recently started a blog about Vancouver Island (link below) and was using an old HP Photosmart 2.1 megapixel camera I bought her about 7 years ago for her blog photos. She has done pretty well with it and has taken some lovely photos but it has broken down and has been burning up batteries so quickly that I mentioned how happy Dlynn was with the new Olympus Stylus 1010. They don't seem to have that model in the shops where my daughter lives so yesterday she bought another similar one...the Olympus Stylus 9000. It has 12 megapixels and a 10 x optical zoom... wow! Last I spoke to her she was charging up the batteries getting ready for a week long trip to a remote island where there is no electricity. She was looking forward to photographing bald eagles and wilderness seascapes, so she decided she needed a better camera. Now I'm looking so forward to seeing what she is going to do with this one. It also has no viewfinder but the technology for bright LCD screens has improved since I bought my Stylus 800. She's used to having a viewfinder but we'll see how she gets on with this one. I'm sure it will be okay. I think I'm as excited as she is about it! SharonCb Here is a link that might be useful: Mich's West Coast Journal