I need a new camera. Looking for input.

[raccoon]

As I posted a few weeks ago:

"My camera died in my hands yesterday. It was a Nikon Coolpix L3 digital camera."

After a decent interval, I am ready to buy another.

I love taking pictures, especially nature pictures. I'm not a real photography buff who's willing to spend megabucks on different lenses, etc.

The Nikon was OK, but it would be real nice to have one that could zoom in on birds in trees and take close-ups of them.

If there is such a camera for less than $1000, please share your experience.

[Celebration]

1. Here's what I just bought--

http://www.amazon.com/Canon-Powershot-SX10IS-Digital-Stabilized/dp/B001G5ZTZO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1236271011&sr=8-1

I had much the same criteria as you. I wanted it to be as simple as possible and still be able to zoom in on animals from a boat. I bought it because of the Canon reputation and the reviews there. I don't really have anything to add to that, as I have not yet tried all the camera's features. But so far I have liked the pictures I have taken, of some animals and the snow.

Here are some pics I took of snow on fruit blossoms

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=280x51531

Here are some pics I took of animals at an urban park

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=280x51399

I should have done an override of the automatic setting for the blackbird. Must learn that!!

[raccoon]

2. Your pictures are beautiful. Thanks for the info, and for posting those pictures.

I'll look into that camera you bought.

[Fumesucker]

3. I like Amazon dot com for their reviews of just about everything..

What you want is called a "superzoom" camera these days, they have zooms all the way out to 20x now that I've seen.

I have personally had a Panasonic Lumix FZ18, with 8.1 megapixels and an 18x zoom, very nice camera.. They make a 10 megapixel version of basically the same thing now..

http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-DMC-FZ18K-Digital-Optical-Stabilized/dp/B000TM7GD8

Link for the 10 megapixel Lumix..

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001CCLBSU

Trusted reviews doesn't seem to mind saying bad things about cameras, here is their take on the FZ28.

http://www.trustedreviews.com/digital-cameras/review/2008/08/22/Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-FZ28/p1

Here's what they said about the lens on the FZ28 "The FZ28 unquestionably has the best lens of any current super-zoom camera. "

[raccoon]

4. Thanks for that info & links, I'll check out these too. nt