Which camera should I get?

More than you think, this is a decision to be based on personal preference.
There are literally hundreds of cameras on the market and there are people that love and hate each one.

First, you need to decide what type of camera you want to have:
•Point and shoot
cameras generally have few manual settings and are set-up for the non-photography enthusiast. They are generally less expensive and physically smaller than Prosumer and SLR cameras. They also generally have less dynamic range, meaning they aren’t as capable at recording a large variation in colors and contrast.


•Prosumer cameras generally have much more in depth manual control than a point and shoot camera. These cameras still use one permanently mounted lens and have more bulk than a P&S camera.


•SLR cameras have several levels in themselves, but in all make up the top level of cameras that a typical enthusiast will purchase. These cameras have the ability to change lenses for more versatility and have a much higher dynamic range for increased color abilities. They also generally have a much better resistance to noise or grain at high ISO ratings.

Once you’ve decided on a camera type, you need to decide on your budget.
Now that you have a camera type and a budget in mind you should have a short list… best thing to do is go to a local store and compare the models in person. Resolution does not make a big enough difference in image quality
to be a deciding factor, and each camera will likely perform equally well in the same hands.

If you have a specific question between a couple different models, ask it here.

What lens should I buy next?

This is another highly subjective question. Assuming you are interested in a new lens because you are bored with the one(s) you have or you have found a deficiency in your current line-up, you should choose the lens that will best fit the need for what you shoot the most.

 

Here is a site to visit that has some helpful reviews.
--- http://www.dpreview.com/

Also, you can go to Flickr and see images categorized my camera to get any idea of what the camera can do. This is a bit bias though because they seem to pick the very best from each camera.
--- http://www.flickr.com/cameras/

Also, go to the store and hold the camera (with the lens you'd be using if possible) to get a feel of what camera you can handle the best.

 

thanks VRT!

 

Yeah anyone remotely interested in Photography that are buying a P&S need the "M" on the dial as in MANUEL

I really want this one. 10X optical zoom (dont bother worrying about digital zoom numbers)


The lens sticks out more than the camera body! its like magic!
I'd have to get it over a G10 hate to say