please help me choose

[MinnieMommy]

First, let me say thank you to everyone on the photgraphy board. I am amazed by the wealth of information you offer and the kind encouragement you deliver.

I've read the threads on how to choose equipment. I think I've followed the advice. I was planning on picking a camera out for Christmas '07... but just couldn't decide. I think I've narrowed it down now.. but still need a little help deciding.

My experience: non-existent, I've been using a Sony DSC-P72 for years (a simple 3.2 mega pixel with a 3x optical zoom)

My wants: well, I would LOVE a really nice camera and a really good photography course. I'm thinking of signing up for a course next fall... a DSLR will have to wait until I know more about photography, but I still need to buy a P&S camera now.

My needs: We live in the country and are surrounded by beautiful flora and fauna. A few more months and we will likely see the darling little fawns around the back yard. We LOVE to take photos of the wildlife, but from afar. So, I would really like a camera with a good zoom I would also like something that's fairly friendly for a newbie like me.

A few that I seem to keep picking up to play with at local retailers are:
Sony DSC-H3
Canon PowerShot SX100 IS
Canon PowerShot A720 IS
Canon PwerShot S5 IS (but this is quite a bit more $$ than the others)

Please HELP a confused newbie!

 

[Master Mason]

Based on what your looking for, in both your wants and your needs, I would suggest the S5 or equivalent from one of the other manufacturers.

These are called bridge cameras, they are larger than a pocket camera, but offer you much more features and functionalities to allow you to fulfill your "wants" of learning more about photography.

The fuji in this range, sorry do not know the current number, but it will have a slightly larger sensor than the others, which will give it slightly better low light performance if you need that, but at the cost of using a non standard memory card.

What I would finally suggest is to play with the bridge cameras in a store, see which one feels betting in your hand and has a more intuitive layout of the contols. It is better to spend a few extra bucks to get one your comfortable with and will therefore use, than one you don't like and therefore will collect dust.

 

[MinnieMommy]

Thanks for the input!