Help!!!

[FONT=Palatino Linotype]I'm in the market for a new digital camera.....I was given a Nikon Coolpix 2100 :( :( (old and inexpensive), but it is not producundefineding what I want. I think that I need a higher pixel and definitely a higher optical zoom than what I have. My question is, is one more important than the other? I tend to take scenic pictures, close-ups of my children, and sometimes action shots and I like 8x10's a lot . Any advice? I'm looking to spend around $500, give or take, possible a little more. Thanks for any help you can give me.[/FONT]

A 2100 is a 2mp camera, and that probably could give you pretty good 8x10's in ideal circumstances. What kind of problems are you having with it?

Well, I'm sure it's just "user error", but they just appear to be so fuzzy once they are enlarged to 8x10 and printed. I don't have a quality printer, but even taking them to Kinkos for some Christmas cards produced a terrible picture, in my opinion. No I have had some fairly good scenic pictures blown up to 8x10 with Ofoto, but......What do you think about the Panasonic Lumix DMC FZ20?

the FZ20 looks like a bangin camera with that zoom, handfilling size and MPs , but REVIEWS tell the story

http://www.steves-digicams.com/2004_reviews/fz20.html

my only suggestion is .... BUY THE BLACK ONE if you get it :)