Looking for good advice on purchasing a camera

[sdodd]

I am looking for a camera that will allow me to take pictures in gymnasiums inside with no flash and outside for great action shots of my children's sporting events. I want to be able to catch the details of a smile up close or tumbling though mid air.
I have been looking at the Canon Rebel SLR cameras, however, I'm not sure if that's the route to go. I am wanting to take up photography as a hobby sometime in the future after I have learn a little more, but right now I want to be able to make great prints and clear enlargements of the finest details.

[Photo-John]

I have been looking at the Canon Rebel SLR cameras, however, I'm not sure if that's the route to go. I am wanting to take up photography as a hobby sometime in the future after I have learn a little more, but right now I want to be able to make great prints and clear enlargements of the finest details.

You will get the best image quality and long-term value from a digital SLR like the Canon Digital Rebel cameras. What you'll be trading is more money and portability. A digital SLR is not a replacement for a pocket camera. But if excellent print quality is your top priority, then buying a digital SLR is probably the right thing to do. Here are a couple of digital camera guides that might help you better understand and make up your mind:

Digital Camera Buyer's Guide >>
Digital SLR Guide >>

Let us know what other questions you have. I imagine that reading those two guides will probably bring up as many or more questions than they answer. But we're here to help

[sdodd]

Thanks. I went out today and purchased the Nikon D80 with 18-135mm lens. I'm hoping this will give me what I am looking for. I didn't realize the simplicity of this camera. I was afraid of buying something that was out of my league. However, I think I can learn a lot with this particular one.
Tomorrow is my first big event, so we'll see. It's my daughters gymnastics event. No flash photography, so this will be a challenge.