just about every digital camera has a quirk. either too many settings to go through to make a picture, or autofocus doesn't work under low light (well, at least until today's cameras). cnet reviews. for tips on buying a camera and digital photography in low light, try here. A higher ISO means it works better in low light: ISO 3200 can make dark look like day. Got a tripod handy? You may have to make sure to get a camera bag that fits too - try a camera shop (you are more likely to find one there) or buy one from Tamrac. almost noiseless. dirty or oxidized battery contacts can cause the battery to appear dead. I've only just learned that 75-300mm zoom lenses only offer 4x zoom. those little lenses on cameras that offer 5x zoom or more offer greater range. A guy who works at a camera shop told me that with the higher MP a lower ISO range would be better (however, my personal choise is high ISO for night and low light shots). The features I want in a camera are image stabilization and high ISO, but image stabilization is not typically found in DSLR's.

ISO 100-800. 28-300mm range. Lenses: 35-90mm zoom, 50-110mm zoom, 1.7x converter. HTS 1.5 Tilt/Shift adapter (separate?) for 5 HC/HCD lenses (28-100mm). CF lens adapter. TIFF 8-bit:180MB, RAW:80MB 3FR compressed. Storage capacity: 4GB CF card stores 50 images. use SanDisk Extreme Pro UDMA CF cards. camera can do 90MB/s. Firewire 800 interface. Operating temp: 0 - 45 C / 32 - 113 F. Weight: 1.8kg (body, viewfinder, battery, cf card). Unlike Sony alpha series DSLRs, I don't think this camera has image stabilization, so use a tripod. TrueFocus is not clustered around the center of the shot.

ISO 200-3200(100-6400 expanded range). no built-in flash. hot shoe on top and flash sync terminal in front. remote control. F2.8 Sensor. 9-point AF system with 10-point assist. 920k-pixel 3" LCD. Anti-dust (for changing lenses). continuous shooting at 5fps. image stabilization(sony calls it steady shot), high ISO, and autofocus. accessories, lenses. no red-eye reduction. battery life 880 pictures. JPEG, Raw, RAW+JPEG. aspect ratios: Aspect ratio 3:2, 16:9, APS-C size capture. media: Memory Stick Duo, Memory Stick PRO Duo, Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo, CompactFlash (Type I / Type II, UDMA Mode 5 compliant), Microdrive. USB 2.0 port. HDMI output. Image Styles: Standard, Vivid, Neutral, Clear, Deep, Light, Portrait, Landscape, Sunset, Night view, Autumn leaves, B/W, Sepia, Contrast, Saturation, Sharpness, Brightness, Zone.

ISO 100-3200. remote control. F2.8 Sensor. 9-point AF system with 10-point assist. 3" LCD. Anti-dust (for changing lenses). continuous shooting at 5fps. image stabilization(sony calls it steady shot), high ISO, and autofocus. accessories, lenses. red-eye reduction. support for wireless flash. battery lasts 230-510 images on a charge. dual card slots for Memory Stick PRO Duo media SD and SDHC memory cards. USB 2.0 port. aspect ratios: Aspect ratio 3:2, 16:9. RAW, RAW+JPEG, Fine, Standard. HDMI output. anti-dust(for lenses). Scene modes: Portrait, Landscape, Macro, Sports, Sunset, Night portrait/Night view.

4272 x 2848. ISO 100-1600. A guy who works at a camera shop told me that with the higher MP a lower ISO range would be better. Pictbridge, direct print, integrated cleaning system, liveview mode, 53 shots@3.5fps, USB 2.0, SD/SDHC, supports sRGB & Adobe RGB color space, 500-shot battery with 50% flash, 14-bit conversion, extensive noise reduction technology, and new Auto Optimization for superior highlight-shadow control. Fast 9-point AF system, and two types of AF during Live View Function. Large 3.0-inch LCD monitor, with 170 wide viewing angle, superior viewing in daylight, and Live View Function. spot metering, external flash settings on the cameras menu, and a new higher-magnification viewfinder. Fully compatible with over 60 EF/EF-S Lenses and a wide range of EOS System accessories.

4,256 x 2,832. ISO 200-6400 in steps of 1/3, 1/2, or 1 EV; can be set to approx. 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, or 1 (ISO 100 equivalent) EV below ISO 200, or to approx. 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, 1 (ISO 12800 equivalent), or 2 (ISO 25600 equivalent) EV over ISO 6400. Image sensor self-cleaning function, Image Dust Off reference data acquisition (Capture NX 2 required), Electronically controlled vertical-travel focal-plane shutter. Shutter Speed: 1/8,000 to 30 s in steps of 1/3, 1/2 or 1 EV; Bulb; X250. 72mm. 24-120mm. Exposure metering: 3D Color Matrix Metering II, Center-Weighted and Spot Metering. CompactFlash (Type I, compliant with UDMA). Exposure modes Programmed Auto (P) with flexible program, Shutter-Priority Auto (S), Aperture-Priority Auto (A), Manual (M). usb 2.0. a number of different power sources & battery packs. CMOS sensor: 36.0 x 23.9 mm (WOW!); total pixels: 12.87 million; Nikon FX format. Shoot at up to 5fps. no built-in image stabilization. color accurate. fast AF. heavy. good exposure. Capture NX is only 60-day trialware, but a must if you want to remove digital noise from low-light pictures or work with RAW files. top B&W LCD does not appear to be backlit. 3in LCD 170° viewing angle. Built-in flash with 24mm lens coverage and Nikon’s dependable i-TTL flash control.
I have not seen a camera that has this kind of low-light sensitivity (goes to ISO 25600). And I don't think you're going to have too many problems with digital noise except with the lower registers with a sensor that size - most companies use a really small sensor. however, it is CMOS, not CCD. Why is CCD no longer top of the heap?

10.3 Megapixel, Interchangeable Lens, Rangefinder Digital Camera Body. High sensitivity ISO 160-2500 in few (power of 2) steps - LEICA M8.2: additional automatic setting with free choice of ISO range. These have the famous Leica lens. has a new “extra quiet, low-vibration metal blade focal plane shutter,” a top shutter speed of 1/4000th of a second, a new largely automatic snapshot mode, the “first professional digital camera” to use scratch-resist sapphire glass on the LCD screen. specs and 8.2 rangefinder update specs .

12.3MP, 3in LCD, 51pt autofocus (very accurate), bundled with Nikkor AF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 lens, too many options in the menu (but logically organized), HDMI out, great color, low noise, compensates for lighting error, bulky, weighs 2 pounds w/lens. see here for accessories.
CF memory card slot. [note: CF currently goes up to 32GB]. specs.

Prosumer DSLR. 12.3MP, 3" LCD, ISO200-3200,6400. DSLR Movie function (320x216,640x424,1280x720). 3d color matrix metering II, 11pt AF (very accurate), HDMI out, retouch menus, scene recognition, face recognition, 4.5 fps continuous and quick response of 0.15-second start-up and 65-ms shutter release time lag (CIPA standard), flash has 18mm lens coverage and Nikon's original i-TTL flash control for Advanced Wireless Lighting, approx. 850 images on a recharge of the Li-ion Battery EN-EL3e 50% are flash, optional Multi-Power Battery Pack MB-D80 extends shooting capability and enables use of (6) R6/AA-size batteries, optional photo-editing software Capture NX 2 allows quick and easy photo editing (suggest you buy), lightweight compact body. dust reduction system. SD/SDHC memory card slot. [note: SDHC currently goes up to 32GB, SD to 4GB]. specs.

Prosumer DSLR. 10.1MP, 3" LCD, 9pt autofocus allows 6fps sharp, bundled with 28-135mm, f/3.5-5.6 lens. sensor unit removes particles off of itself. internal components eliminate grime. ISO setting visible in the viewfinder. no shade included with lens kit. see here for accessories.
∅72mm lens socket.
CF memory card slot. [note: CF currently goes up to 32GB]. specs.

Prosumer DSLR. 15.1MP, 3" LCD, ISO100-3200,6400,12800, 9 cross-type high-precision sensors for accurate target subject acquisition and diagonal center cross-type AF point with f/2.8 and faster lenses, New Lens Peripheral Illumination Correction setting to automatically even the brightness across the image, Updated EOS Integrated Cleaning System with a fluorine coating for better resistance to dust (cleans sensor). Creative Auto goes a step beyond full auto with on screen setting display, HDMI out, Compatible with over 60 Canon EF/EF-S lenses and most EOS System accessories, . ISO setting visible in the viewfinder, Enhanced Live View shooting includes Face Detection Live mode, 6.3fps up to 90 JPEGS (14.3sec.) using UDMA CF cards; 60 consecutive JPEGS (9.5sec) or 16 RAW (2.5sec) using standard CF cards. see here for accessories.
∅72mm lens socket.
CF memory card slot. [note: CF currently goes up to 32GB]. specs.

Prosumer DSLR. 14.6MP, 20fps@1.6MP, weather sealed, great quality up to ISO1600. optional 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 lens, compatible with decades of Pentax's lenses (∅62mm). one-touch auto-exposure bracketing. noisy shutter & af. popup flash is weak.
∅62mm lens socket.
SD memory card slot. [note: CF currently goes up to 4GB]. specs.

Prosumer DSLR. 10.1MP, 2.5in articulated LCD, 11pt biaxial focusing grid is the fastest out there yet, sensor cleaning system, weather-sealed body for shooting in the rain, image stabilization top notch, falls short on high-ISO (up to 800) image quality and usability and scattershot backside button.
XD memory card slot. specs. high sensitivity ISO 100-3200 in lots of steps.

seems to be a good camera. requires no post-processing. DSLR. long lenses w/hoods, so get appropriate Tamrac camera bag. specs. ISO 100-1600 in lots of steps.

Leica lens! This may explain the price... 10.1MP Live MOS CCD censor. 35mm equivelant 28mm-100mm focal length (zoom). Panasonic says this is supposed to be an "entry level" camera. see article. specs. ISO 100-1600 in power-of-2 steps.

10.1MP, 18-70mm lens (75-300mm 4x available $230), High Sensitivity ISO 3200 (works in low light conditions). anti-dust coating on CCD filter, and sensor shakes dust off (less worries between lens changes). Downward-tilting 2.7" LCD. Super HAD CCD sensor. This is a practically a $1400 camera for ½ price. There is an alpha 200 for $100 less that doesn't have Live Preview and an Alpha 200 kit with 75-300mm zoom for $800. The 200 may be preferable if you don't want to wear out your batteries. that extra zoom lens could come in handy. review.

can generate noise on higher ISO settings due to commonly small sensor size - OK if not used for print. autofocus is good even under low light. shoots video. specs. ISO 80-1600 in few (nearly power of 2) steps.

15x zoom, Dual Image Stabilization, HDMI out, high speed continuous shooting, face detection with red eye removal. sounds like a good basic DSLR to me.

9.1MP 20x optical zoom, 40fps hi-spd burst mode, 1000fps hispd video, HD movie (1280x720@30fps), continuous shutter functions triggered by the action (move in/move out), flash continuous shooting for 10 shots @ 5fps. I think it uses an LED flash (I have seen LED's spec'd up to 15W now, very bright). SD/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus. contrast detection AF. macro,super macro mode. ISO100-1600 in power-of-2 steps. Auto : 1 - 1/2000 second, Aperture Priority AE: 1 to 1/2000 second, Shutter Speed Priority AE: 30 to 1/2000 second (high-speed continuous shutter: up to 1/40000 second), Manual Exposure: 30 to 1/2000 second (high-speed continuous shutter: up to 1/40000 second). white bal: Auto WB, Daylight, Overcast, Shade, Day white FL, Daylight FL, Tungsten, Manual WB. mono microphone/speaker. 3"lcd. batt life: Approx. 230 stills (alkaline), approx. 400 stills (Ni-MH), Continuous Playback - Approx 5 hr. 20 min. (alkaline), approx 6 hr. 20 min. (Ni-MH). what mAH of rechargeable did they use???. pictbridge-enabled.

ultra-compact. not sure if this is a DSLR - I think not. 10MP, 4x Optical zoom, SD/MMC slot . These have the famous Leica lens. specs. High sensitivity ISO 100-3200 in few (power of 2) steps. this is the best point-and-shoot you can get. and it has what looks to be a large sensor size (1/1.65) for this class of camera, so you can probably expect good image quality.

24x optical zoom. VR lens 4.6-110.4mm 1:2.8-5.0. 26mm wide-angle capability. optical image stabilizer. face detection. wide lens and nice body like DSLR, 3" variangle LCD (90° upward to 45° downward). ISO to 6400. quick retouch. scene autoselector. smart portrait system. motion detection. smile detection. blink detection. time lapse movies (up to 1800 frames on a 512K card). anti-reflection coating on LCD. sport continuous mode at 15fps. Advanced shooting modes (P, S, A, M, [U1, U2]). LOTS of scene modes(16) including Portrait, Landscape, Night portrait, Party/indoor, Beach/snow, Sunset, Dusk/dawn, Night landscape, Close-up, Food, Museum, Fireworks show, Copy, Backlight, voice recording, panorama assist mode (tied to Arcsoft Panorama Maker 4). If you can't already tell, this is my pick.

15x optical zoom. VR lens 5.0-75.0mm 1:3.5-5.4. 28mm wide-angle capability. optical image stabilizer. face detection. wide lens and nice body like DSLR. 3" LCD. ISO to 3200. sport continuous mode at 13fps.

10x zoom, 28mm lens, optical image stabilizer, face detection, thin body style

CCD, 5x optical zoom, 100-12800 ISO AUTO-3200, face recognition, SD/SDHC/xD slot, 256-segment thru-lens metering, 3" LCD. review. AVI w sound/JPEG/WAV output. lots of modes within SP incl fireworks mode. Li-Ion batt included.

CCD, 10.1MP, 80-1600 ISO, 5x optical zoom, face recognition, SD/MMC slot, 3" LCD. get an 8-pack of some powerful ~2500mAH NiMH batteries: on alkalines it will be good for about 10 shots. specs. ISO 80-1600 in few steps (near power of 2).

CCD, 10.1MP, 80-1600 ISO, 5x optical zoom, face recognition, SD/MMC slot, 3" LCD. get an 8-pack of some powerful ~2500mAH NiMH batteries: on alkalines it will be good for about 10 shots. specs. ISO 80-1600 in few steps (near power of 2). ISO 64-3200(3200@3MP only) in power-of-2 steps, Auto, High Auto. 1/2000 sec. 1/2 sec. (up to 4 sec. in Night Scene mode). 1/2.35 CCD. 2.7" LCD. 8MP (3,264 x 2,448), VGA (640 x 480), 16:9 (1,920 x 1,080) and other sizes. Movie: AVI Motion JPEG with Sound 640x480 (30/15fps) 320x240 (30/15fps). xD-Picture Card (1GB, 2GB), microSD (included MASD-1 microSD adapter is required). Multi-Terminal (USB Connector, Audio/Video Output). Li-ion Rechargeable Battery (LI-60B) lasts 200 shots.

This is their lowest end DSLR. 6.1MP, 2.5fps of up to 100 JPEG frames, 3D Color Matrix Metering II, Advanced 3-area AF, ISO 200-1600, 0.18-second power-up, shutter speed control with a range from 30-1/4000s,plus bulb, retouch menu, 2.5-inch LCD monitor, SD memory cards of up to 4GB capacity (SDHC compliant) (didn't say, but SDHC can go to 32GB), Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL9 allows up to 470 images in single-frame shooting mode on a charge 50% are flash, Built-in flash with Nikon's i-TTL flash control

15x optical zoom, optical image stabilizer, face detection, looks like DSLR. not good at night shots.

I guess the polaroid 600 instant cams are dying out - not offered anymore in stores except on amazon.com. film can be had at wal-mart and other places - check the web site for stores that carry it. Some of us still have these things (like the sx-70). The battery is in the film cartridge and it's flat - holds a good charge.

everything from simple stuff to full-blown backpack rigs.