This is one of those questions where you have to decide what you want and need in a camera. What are you going to use it for ... Travel pix? Sports and action? Indoor hobbies?
It's like asking ... what car should I buy??? There are hundreds out there, both cars and digital cameras.
Here is the web-site I used when I taught photography in high school and I still use it in private classes ... it's not biased toward any one camera or brand and has some great decision assisting functions.
go to ...
http://www.imaging-resource.com/
go down the left side and look for the "Compare Models" and "Find the Best Camera For You" links. Both will help you make a decision.
Compare Models helps if you have an idea of what camera you'd like ... or a price range. You can chose up to 16 models, but keep it to about 5 or so (your computer model and connection speed will decide how fast this works). The website will post them on a single page. Then you can compare item by item. Again, this is what I make students do. What's important in a camera to YOU? I like things like Image Stabilization, ISO range of at least 1600, a higher level of Optical Lens Zoom rather than digital lens zoom, and a rechargeable battery. Others may prefer AA batteries and want a camera that's waterproof. Choose and click away. In the end, the site will also give you some buying options. I'll discuss that in a moment.
Find the Best Camera For You will open another page and take you to a site called MyProductAdvisor.com ... but don't be afraid. There are buttons at the top to click - answer questions to set your parameters, then click on "Make Recommendations" ... and in a few moments, you'll have some choices to compare.
You can also see "Dave's PIcks." Dave is the owner and camera guru and spends plenty of time using and writing about the cameras. They have really tekkie explanations, and they have reviews in plain English. It gets "straight to the point" as the copy says ... click on a section and see what they suggest. There are categories called Mom, Sports, Grandparents, Beginner, Budget, Most Popular, Megapixel and Most Popular This Week.
imaging-resource.com has a great monthly newsletter. You can click on the box on the right-hand side of the main page and subscribe. I read it and make notes. Spend some time at their web site and click around.
soooooo ... Canon versus Nikon versus Olympus versus the others ... ???
Personally, I have used Olympus and Canon digital cameras and like them. Olympus makes good single lens cameras and they were the first two I owned. I bought them because I saw the images produced by Deb and Neal and Johhny ... they looked the best and they had Olympus models (back in 2001, 02 and 03). I sold the middle camera (a Super Zoom as it was called) but still have my original 3-megapixel clamshell that I took to Alaska and the Pacific NW in 2003. It STILL takes great outdoor pix ... but I'm not going to use it on sports or action or family portraits. It came in handy a few weeks ago when the Xsi was in the shop.
Canon makes a good digital SLR and I'm on my second. I have experience in all of the models - from the original one I owned and we had at the high school to all the new ones. I currently have the Xsi and my best friend has the T1i. The T1i does HD video. I've also had good experiences with Canon repair. Yes, if you use your camera a lot (or if it's used by teenages in high school), it will need "repair."
I've seen the new Nikon ads and I'm intrigued with the model with swivel screen. I rarely uses the screen as a viewfinder, but there are times it comes in handy.
http://www.ashtonsdslr.com/?cid=usat09hold3000
I always shoot through the viewfinder because I think you can hold the camera steadier holding it closer to your body than using the screen at arms length!
You can look at all of the cameras locally at Best Buy and other places. I'm a Sam's Club member so I go there.
I get shopping info from ...
http://dealnews.com/digital-cameras/
If you subscribe, they'll send you daily info on camera prices (and other things if you ask) and you can make it specific to a camera brand. I've been a subscriber to DealMac and DealNews for 15 years. I've bought a number of products using their price alerts (over $10,000).
My favorite places to buy on-line are ... in order of preference ...
http://www.abesofmaine.com/
http://www.buy.com/
http://www.buydig.com/
I've had good experiences with all three places. I'm not getting any commissions from them or from DealNews or Imaging Resource for mentioning their pages here. If you have a good or bad experience with any of them, please let me know.
FINALLY ...
Here's a tip for entering sports stadiums. Many prohibit taking video. I've had several screeners ask me - "does that camera do video?" Learn to quickly say "NO!" or they'll ask you to take it back to the car or check it at guest services. The irony is - the 7 year old camera DOES take video, the newer (and more expensive) Xsi does NOT. If you do slip up and get rejected, go to another entrance ... practice your answer (no, no, no) ... and try again (again ... experience!!!)
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