the bigger the better?

[Bubba.fatass]

Barkinglama has pretty much summed it up, there is no one camera that is perfect for all situations.
You can't beat an SLR for all circumstances perfect photogprahy since you simply change the lens as required.
Of course an SLR is large and expensive, mine is over a grand with accessories and still growing.
A compact camera is a good compromise and their quality is growing all the time. They are also easyier to use to use for the begginers...I got a Samsung one for my wife which seems fine.
Talking of better quality compacts, my mobile phone (Nokia N95) has a cracking camera built in that allows you to alter many of the settings like a normal compact and is a massive 5 mega pixels

[barkinglama]

Originally Posted by Bubba.fatass

Of course an SLR is large and expensive, mine is over a grand with accessories and still growing.

And so the slippery slope begins again

I moved from film SLR to digital compact then onto dSLR so I'm kinda back to square one on the equipment front- just bought a decent backpack "gadget bag" I need a decent prime lens, large zoom and a decent flashgun and I'll be happy

ish

till the next thing comes along

[Bubba.fatass]

Sounds familiar, got the D80, reasonable Zoom, flashgun, gadget bag and picked up a nice 50mm F1.4 last week. Now looking at upgrading the Zoom to a VR type but at £500+ for a lens alone it makes you want to cough a little!

[barkinglama]

Where did you get the prime lens?
Good price?

I think I'll be steering away from the "digital lenses" as I think it won't be long till I end up with a full size sensor dSLR and I don't want to be buying lenses for a third time

[Bubba.fatass]

I got the lens off ebay, ended up that I knew the seller from work so he ended early for me and we did the deal outside ebay (tut tut I heal...LOL).

Was nice since it cost me £130 and is mint.

It's worth looking through the listings since there is cheap stuff from time to time...beware since there is also stuff at silly prices so do lots of research first.

[JimmyC70]

I have both a canon digital SLR and a Canon Ixus 50. Both are good cameras in there own right. The DSLR takes the better picture by far, especially in low light, But i have taken many more pictures with my little ixus, because its so small and compact and drops in your pocket. Ideal for parties and round by the pool on holiday etc, where a larger DSLR would be difficult.
Have you thought about something like a canon Powershot or olympus SP500 style of camera.These are a good range of cameras, larger than the small compacts but offering some of the features of a DSLR. More manual features allowing you to be slightly more creative. Longer zooms.
Don't get to caught up in the mega pixel race though.