I would suggest checking out this website to do a bit of in-depth research. It helped me narrow it down quite a bit.
http://www.steves-digicams.com/best_cameras.html
another great site is;
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs/Olympus/oly_c7070wz.asp
I ended up buying the Olympus C7070 (7.1mp enthusiast camera) and am very happy with it! Actually, I have a review posted on this very site about my new purchase. I Found it on www.buydig.com for $457 after shipping! Got a 1gig CF memory card for $60 bucks on ebay.
Depending on how much you want to spend I would suggest checking out my camera as well as the following;
Canon Powershot Pro1 8mp (this was my first choice but it was backordered on every site I found it in my price range)
Olympus C-8080 8mp (this camera gets the best and most consistant reviews. Won the DIWA platium medal award as well)
Sony Cybershot DSCV3 7.1mp
Sony Cybershot DSCH1 5.1mp (this one isn't released yet. Hit's the market in early July)
Nikon D70 (SLR)!!!!! ( didn't get this particular camera only because I was looking for a camera to travel with....something more compact. Plus I wanted the movie with sound feature for my trip)
Everyone will tell you something different so do your research, and a lot of it, figure out what you want it for and I think you'll find what you want.
I was a big fan of 35mm until I bought my Olympus C-7070. Obviuosly there is much to debate when it comes to Film vs Digital i.e. Color saturation? Speed? Slide film! Photoshop vs darkroom etc. etc. etc.... If you can afford it own both! All I can give you is my experience and that is, I've become a much better photographer since I discovered digital! I still use my 35mm Nikon n80 and Olympus point and shot Stylus Epic for slide film as I'm a big fan but......
I hope this helped a little.
eRik
Hi I need some help with buying a digital camera. I want a digital camera basically for the ease with which you can take pictures and get high quality images. I already own a 35mm camera, which I use in school. However, my teacher knows little about digital cameras so I need some help.
I want a camera with lots of shooting modes and special effects, like black and white, sepia, night photography, fireworks, text, etc.
I've done some research and I know I want a 5 Megapixel camera at least to make me happy with the image quality. Some cameras that I have been looking at are the Nikon Coolpix S1 and the Canon Powershot SD400. The Nikon has more shooting modes and special effects, and supposedly has a zoom lens but it does not zoom out like the Powershot. Does this make a difference? What the Powershot has going for it is a faster max and min shutter speed: 1/1500 sec and 15 sec.
Sorry this is so long but I know nothing when it comes to digital stuff, and these cameras both seem really good. I'd appreciate any and all help, especially from people who own these cameras. Thanks.

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