Wondering if anyone can help me. I would like a new camera for my christmas (my birthday is days after so have asked my boyfriend to combine the 2 and get me a really nice camera) not wanting to spend too much if we can help it. was just wondering what i should look for. ive had my current digital camera for 4 years so a bit out of touch. how many pixels is considered good, screen size etc.
not for anything too serious, mainly for pictures of the dog and cat and for holiday use. thanks in advance!

nikon D40 for us

Nikon D40 for me too, I've had some nice photos from it and the price is very good. I'd thoroughly recommend it.

depends on how much you want to pay??? i love canon's but i do think that the d40 is a perfect entry level slr and is a really good camera! i bought one for my dad for his birthday and he loves it!
if you want to pay abit more i would go for a canon EOS 450d! it is such a great camera i love it!

Canon 450d here but it is maybe a bit more expensive than you would want to pay.  Think Argos are doing the one already mentioned for about £250 with one lens which is great value.  Or do you want a point and shoot camera?

What sort of camera do you want, a DSLR, Compact or a point and shoot.

The DSLR is the sort of camera that has lens you can take on and off and you have to buy the camera body and the lens although they are often sold a kit. That is the body with one or two suitable lens.

The Compact is a camera with the lens attached, smaller than the DSLR but larger than the point and shoot, it also has less features than the DLSR but more than the compact and often a better lens and zoom distance, and more options for the photographer to adjust the settings and input to the finished image.

The Point and shoot are the small cameras that will normally fit in the pocket and do most things automatically.

And don't forget the phone camera that into days phones can be as good as the cheaper point and shoot.

It is best to go to one or two shops and handle the camera you think you may like, some cameras feel awkward in the hand and other have the controls in a place that is difficult to reach.

Canon EOS 450d for me too.

ive only ever owned a point and shoot. what is the differences with the pictures? do the DSLR and compact have higher megapixels etc? sorry i am totally useless with technology and terminology!
i want to be able to take nice pictures close up, like head shots of the dog in high definition, and also be able to take pictures some way into the distance.
budget is only around £200, my boyfriend is on his notice for the third time this year   he works for persimmons homes, and has kept his job so far, so fingers crossed he'll be three times lucky!

At £200 you would be best to go for a top end point and shoot, as to pixels that is not that importaint unless you wish to print our your shots poster size. Look for a well known make because the quality of the lens is all importaint and make sure you have the sort of control over the finished product you want.

At the price you are looking at you could get a compact but you would gain little in quality but some more control over the shot you are taking.

Think you should visit a few photographic shops ask lots of questions and handle a few cameras, if you waited a bit and added a little to your nest egg you could get a low end DSLR and you would really have full control then, or you could look for a secondhand camera but because you are not sure what you are doing then use a camera shop and not Ebay.

for £200 this is a really good camera! http://www.jessops.com/online.store/categories/products/Canon/Powershot%20SX110%20IS%20Digital%20Camera-75242/Show.html sorry im rubbish at doing links
this is the camera my OH has, it is a really good one,have taken so many nice shots with it and its easy to use.if you look on there you can get a good deal if you get a bundle where you get a memory card,case for the camera and a battery charger
i know the feeling about worrying about jobs! we are in the same situation my OH is a plasterer and has just been told work on the site he is on is finishing in a week!!! hes gone round loads of other sites and rang all the contacts he knows but cant find anywhere to go

Here's a cheaper one    [url=]
http://www.aldi.co.uk/uk/html/offers/58_7898.htm?WT.mc_id=2008-11-17-10-52[/url]

Barry 

You will almost certainly be able to find something cheaper than at Jessops.

i was only giving jessops as an example, i got my camera from jessops and was the cheapest anywhere, they did a great deal for me! i got over £2000 worth for £1200 and sorted insurance for camera with factory lens and 2 other lens for v. cheap

I have a SLR canon EOS. I also have a casio Exilm compact I;ve not a any issue with either of them and very happy with the quality of photos i get from them. I think that my compact is 7.2mp and i print A4 size posters from them on my computer and they come out fine..

I know that the EOS range is a good one and when i've previously had a canon compact and had problems, i sent it off to the their HQ over here and also in Oz and they repaired if free of charge under the warranty.