Any camera suggestions?

[Elana]

Alright. I'm a fairly new photographer, and the camera I have currently doesn't fit my needs. I don't need anything special, really, just something that'll work. Here are my priorities, in order.

1. Something in the three digits. Keep in mind I'm not rich by any means.
2. Lens capabilities. (i.e. I could go out and by a macro lens for it and not fart around for hours trying to get it on.)
3. 5x optical zoom or above.
4. Preferably not huge, but not microscopic either. Just something easy.

Any help would be very very appreciated.

[Lionheart]

Well, three digits is a little tough to pull off in the digital SLR category when you include lenses, or even one lens with 5x optical zoom and limited macro capability. But there are a number of advanced point and shoot/wannabee DSLR's for under 1K out there. Panasonic's FZ30 comes to mind, and Canon, Nikon, and Sony all have similar models in the advanced point-shoot/semi dslr category, all under the 1K sticker, but responsiveness will be an issue if sports or fast action photography are your main subjects. I have an EOS 1D mark II, with all the fixin's, but guess what camera I shoot 80% of the time these days? Canon SD550 :-), little point and shoot wonder, 3x optical zoom, fits in my shirt pocket, and takes a beating in rain or shine. Unless high speed photography is your thing, the little p/s are a nice way to go. However, if learning photography as a serious hobby or eventually future profession, then you really need to consider expanding your budgetary constraints and get an SLR (film) system, or DSLR system.

[Broncosaurus]

I would recommend figuring out what focal lengths you think would be using. 3x, or 5x, or 10x don't tell you anything useful. A 15-45mm and a 100-300mm are both 3x lenses, but hardly interchangable. On the other hand, a 20-100mm (5x) and a 10-100mm (10x) would be very comparable, twice the "x", but only 11% diff in focal length.