From personal experience i suggest you go read as much as you can online then make a list of several you feel you can afford and a few that are a step or two up from that. Read some more about these. Then throw out the affordably list and go with the other, lol. Better to get what you REALLY want than settle for what you can afford. I made a list of 5 MegaPixil cameras when my 3 MegaPixil one died. Then i followed the above advice and bought a 7 MegaPixil one lol. Nikon 7900 with extra battery and 256MB memory card plus shipping for $425 on-line. Camera was $309 and options were $100. Good luck, Lee